Support structure for radial conveyor
AssigneeConstruction Equipment Company
InventorRoger G. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments herein provide a support structure for a radial conveyor. The support structure may include first and second wheel assemblies that may be selectively rotated between a travel position and an operating position. The support structure may include a drive assembly having a motor. The drive assembly may selectively engage and/or disengage the motor with one or more of the wheels of the first and/or second wheel assemblies. In some embodiments, the drive assembly may include a pinion coupled to the motor, and an actuating arm to selectively engage and/or disengage the pinion with a ring gear coupled to a first wheel of the first wheel assembly.
Claims20
A support structure for a radial conveyor, comprising:
- a body portion configured to support a conveyor belt structure;
- a first wheel assembly pivotably coupled to the body portion and including one or more wheels including a first wheel, the first wheel coupled to a ring gear;
- a second wheel assembly pivotably coupled to the body portion and including one or more wheels;
- a drive assembly coupled to the first wheel assembly, the drive assembly including a motor operatively coupled to a pinion, and the drive assembly configured to selectively engage and/or disengage the pinion with the ring gear of the first wheel, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the pinion and thereby rotate the first wheel when the pinion is engaged with the ring gear.
A support structure for a radial conveyor, comprising:
- a body portion configured to support a conveyor belt structure;
- a first wheel assembly pivotably coupled to the body portion and including one or more wheels including a first wheel;
- a second wheel assembly pivotably coupled to the body portion and including one or more wheels;
- a first actuating member coupled between the first wheel assembly and the body portion and configured to selectively pivot the first wheel assembly between a travel position, in which the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor, and an operating position, in which the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are oriented radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor;
- and
- a second actuating member coupled between the second wheel assembly and the body portion and configured to selectively pivot the first wheel assembly between a travel position, in which the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor, and an operating position, in which the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are oriented radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor;
- and
- a drive assembly coupled to the first wheel assembly, the drive assembly including a motor and a third actuating member, the third actuating member configured to selectively engage and/or disengage the motor with the first wheel of the first wheel assembly.
A method comprising:
- rotating a first wheel assembly of a support structure for a radial conveyor from a travel position, in which one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor, to a radial position, in which the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the radial conveyor;
- and
- engaging, by a drive assembly coupled to the first wheel assembly, a pinion coupled to a motor with a ring gear coupled to a first wheel of the one or more wheels of the first wheel assembly so that the motor is operatively coupled to the first wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.