Laterally articulable belt conveyor systems

A laterally articulable belt conveyor system, comprising:

• a loading end assembly having:
• a first roller wheel;
• first upper and lower guide rails forming a first guide rail pair having a first gap therebetween;
• and
• second upper and lower guide rails forming a second guide rail pair having a second gap therebetween and positioned laterally across the loading end assembly from the first guide rail pair;
• an intermediate assembly articulably coupled to the loading end assembly, the intermediate assembly having:
• third upper and lower guide rails forming a third guide rail pair having a third gap therebetween;
• and
• fourth upper and lower guide rails forming a fourth guide rail pair having a fourth gap therebetween and positioned laterally across the intermediate assembly from the third guide rail pair;
• an unloading end assembly articulably coupled to the intermediate assembly opposite the loading end assembly, the unloading end assembly having:
• a second roller wheel;
• fifth upper and lower guide rails forming a fifth guide rail pair having a fifth gap therebetween;
• and
• sixth upper and lower guide rails forming a sixth guide rail pair having a sixth gap therebetween and positioned laterally across the unloading end assembly from the fifth guide rail pair;
• a central chain forming a loop extending around the first roller wheel and the second roller wheel;
• a plurality of elongate slats having a central portion operably coupled to the central chain spaced apart from each of the other of the plurality of elongate slats along the central chain, each elongate slat having a first lateral end including a first rolling member and a second lateral end including a second rolling member for directing the plurality of elongate slats along the loading end, intermediate, and unloading end assemblies;
• and
• a belt carried by and operably coupled to each of the plurality of elongate slats, the belt configured to carry excavated muck from the loading end assembly to the unloading end assembly,
• wherein the loading end, intermediate, and unloading end assemblies are articulable with respect to each other to place the system in a curved state wherein the belt travels in a laterally curved path between the first roller wheel and the second roller wheel based on the first rolling member being received within the first, third, and fifth gaps, and the second rolling member being received within the second, fourth, and sixth gaps.

A laterally articulable belt conveyor assembly having a loading end portion and an unloading end portion, the assembly comprising:

• a central chain forming a loop extending around a first roller wheel positioned at the loading end portion and a second roller wheel positioned at the unloading end portion;
• a plurality of elongate slats having a central portion operably coupled to the central chain spaced apart from each of the other of the plurality of elongate slats along the central chain, each elongate slat having a first lateral end including a first rolling member and a second lateral end including a second rolling member;
• a belt carried by and operably coupled to each of the plurality of elongate slats, the belt configured to carry excavated muck from the loading end portion to the unloading end portion as the central chain travels around the first and second roller wheels;
• and
• an upper guide rail and a lower guide rail extending at least partially from the loading end portion to the unloading end portion, the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail spaced apart to form a gap for receiving one of the first and second rolling members therebetween and directing the plurality of elongate slats along the gap,
• wherein the upper and lower guide rails are articulable from a straight configuration, wherein the belt travels in a straight path between the loading end portion to the unloading end portion, to a curved configuration, wherein the belt travels in a laterally curved path between the loading end portion to the unloading end portion, and
• wherein the first and second roller members comprise a circumferential flange extending radially outward from the first and second roller members, wherein the circumferential flange is configured to interface with the upper and lower guide rails to direct the plurality of elongate slats along the laterally curved path.