Connection means for a scraper-chain conveyor

In a scraper-chain conveyor comprising a plurality of channel sections joined together end-to-end, each channel section having a pair of side walls joined together by a floorplate, the floorplates separating upper and lower runs for a scraper-chain assembly which circulates within the conveyor, each of the side walls having a generally sigma-shaped cross-section defined by a V-shaped recess in that side wall, each floorplate being connected to the side walls of its channel section at the bases of their V-shaped recesses, each side wall of each channel section being connected to the adjacent side wall of each adjacent channel section by respective connection means, wherein each connection means is constituted by a pair of coupling elements and a coupling member, one coupling element of each pair being attached to one side wall of a given channel section, the other coupling element of that pair being attached to the adjacent side wall of the adjacent channel section, and the coupling member connecting the two coupling elements together, wherein the two coupling elements are provided with recessed portions which receive the coupling member, the improvements comprising providing coupling elements which project laterally beyond their respective side walls, and forming apertures in the upper inclined portions of the side walls that define the V-shaped recesses, the coupling members being inserted through said apertures and into the recessed portions of the coupling elements from the upper run of the conveyor thereby completing said connection means.