Conveyor chain for mining machinery

A conveyor system comprising:

• A conveyor chain including a plurality of chain links connected together in a chain, the chain links each including a pair of forward arms extending in a forward direction on both sides of the link and having a space therebetween and a rearward arm extending in a rearward direction;
• the forward arms of one link configured to receive the rearward arm of an adjacent link in the space between the forward arms, the rearward arm of the adjacent link configured to couple with the forward arms of the one link and form a continuous chain;
• the rearward arm of each link extending a distance from the forward arms so that when adjacent links are coupled together, an engagement space is created between the forward arms of the one link and the forward arms of the adjacent link on both sides of the links;
• and
• a drive device, the drive device including at least two sprockets with teeth, with one sprocket engaging the forward arms of the links on one side of the chain and another sprocket engaging the forward arms of the links on another side of the chain in respective engagement spaces so that the teeth of each sprocket engage the forward arms of the links to drive the chain.

A conveyor chain comprising:

• a plurality of chain link assemblies connected together in a chain, the chain link assemblies each coupled together so as to allow articulation between adjacent link assemblies so that the chain can travel in a curved path;
• each of the link assemblies using a pin for coupling the link assembly with an adjacent link assembly for articulation, with each link assembly having a freedom to rotate about a chain center;
• the pins of the link assemblies extending laterally beyond the chain center on either side of the chain center;
• a sprocket engagement area formed on each side of the center of the chain proximate to where the pins laterally extend, the sprocket engagement area configured to receive part of a sprocket;
• at least one flight arm link assembly in the plurality of link assemblies, the flight arm link assembly using a pin for coupling the flight arm link assembly with an adjacent link assembly;
• a separate flight arm coupled to extend laterally from the flight arm link assembly, the flight arm having a connecting portion for connecting to the flight arm link assembly;
• the separate flight arm coupled with the flight arm link assembly so that the connecting portion is maintained at a position that is laterally spaced from the chain center outside of the sprocket engagement areas of the link assemblies.

A conveyor system comprising:

• a conveyor chain including a plurality of chain link assemblies connected together in a chain, the chain link assemblies each coupled together so as to allow articulation between adjacent link assemblies so that the chain can travel in a curved path;
• each of the link assemblies using a pin for coupling the link assembly with an adjacent link assembly for articulation, with each link assembly having a freedom to rotate about a chain center;
• the pins of each link assemblies extending laterally beyond the chain center on either side of the chain center;
• a sprocket engagement area formed in the link assemblies on each side of the center of the chain proximate to where the pins laterally extend, the sprocket engagement area configured to receive part of a sprocket;
• at least one flight arm link assembly in the plurality of link assemblies, the flight arm link assembly using a pin for coupling the flight arm link assembly with an adjacent link assembly;
• a separate flight arm coupled to extend laterally from the flight arm link assembly, the flight arm having a connecting portion for connecting to the flight arm link assembly;
• the separate flight arm coupled with the flight arm link assembly so that the connecting portion is maintained at a position that is laterally spaced from the chain center outside of the engagement areas of the link assemblies;
• and
• a drive device, the drive device including at least two sprockets, with one sprocket engaging the link assemblies at a sprocket engagement area on one side of the center of the chain and another sprocket engaging the link assemblies at a sprocket engagement area on another side of the center of the chain.