Conveyor or elevator system
AssigneeGough Econ, Inc.
InventorGeorge T. Gough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bucket elevator includes a continuous driven chain supporting inter-engaging buckets on swinging links. The links carry rollers which travel along guidance tracks which diverge from the track which guides the chain. Thus, the buckets pass around a curve of greater radius than the chain due to movement of the swinging links and will separate from each other while remaining horizontal.
Claims8
An elevator or conveyor system comprising a series of buckets supported by a driven chain or cable along a predetermined path, each bucket being supported on the chain or cable by means of an individual swinging link, each said swinging link being pivotally attached to the chain or cable at one end thereof and pivotally supporting the bucket at the opposite end thereof, guidance means being provided throughout the path, said guidance means including a first guide which guides the chain or cable and a second guide which engages the opposite end of said swinging link, said first and second guides being substantially parallel throughout the path except at a vertical curve or bend in the path where said second guide diverges from said first guide while engaging said swinging link to cause the link to swing outwardly away from the chain or cable independent of the chain or cable movement so that the buckets in turn move independently outwardly and follow a diverging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.