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US 5,489,018 AGranted
Stem for mounting reciprocating slat conveyor
OwnerRaymond K. Fosterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive frame assembly includes opposite transverse drive frame members (64), each of which includes a metal plate (66) with a central portion having a plurality of longitudinal corrugations (68). The plate (66) is stiffened by transverse beams (78, 80). A plurality of piston-cylinder drive units each have opposite ball ends (24, 26) which are secured to end portions of the corrugations by means of ball blocks (50, 52). Opposite side portions of the plate (66) are secured to laterally spaced portions of a main frame of a structure. The connections are made by a fastener/shim arrangement to accommodate variations in vertical spacing of the drive units relative to the portions of the main frame.
Claims24
A reciprocating slat conveyor, comprising:
- at least two sets of conveyor slats;
- a conveyor drive for moving the conveyor slats in a first direction, for conveying a load, and for retracting the conveyor slats in the opposite direction;
- said conveyor drive including a separate piston-cylinder drive unit for each set of conveyor slats;
- said drive units being positioned below the conveyor slats;
- and each said drive unit including a movable portion connected to its set of conveyor slats and a fixed portion including a mounting end part;
- a main frame below the conveyor slats;
- a transverse drive frame member below the conveyor slats, connected to the main frame;
- said frame member including a generally horizontal metal plate formed to include a plurality of corrugations extending longitudinally of the conveyor generally in line with the drive units, said corrugations being connected to the mounting end parts of the drive units so that said corrugations carry axial drive forces generated by the drive units;
- and said metal plate including opposite side portions projecting laterally outwardly from the corrugations, each said side portion including an outer end;
- and
- at each said outer end, a fastener securing said outer end to a portion of the main frame, and a shim positioned between said outer end and said portion of the main frame;
- said shims providing compensation for variations in vertical spacing of the drive units relative to said portions of the main frame.
9 more elements
A reciprocating slat conveyor, comprising:
- at least two sets of conveyor slats;
- a conveyor drive for moving the conveyor slats in a first direction, for conveying a load, and for retracting the conveyor slats in the opposition direction;
- said conveyor drive including a separate piston-cylinder drive unit for each set of conveyor slats;
- said drive units being positioned below the conveyor slats;
- and each said drive unit including a movable portion connected to its set of conveyor slats and a fixed portion having a mounting end part;
- a main frame below the conveyor slats;
- a transverse drive frame member below the conveyor slats, connected to the main frame;
- said frame member including a generally horizontal metal plate having a central portion provided with a plurality of strengthening ribs extending longitudinally of the conveyor, and opposite side portions extending laterally outwardly from the central portion, each to an outer end;
- and
- at each said outer end, a fastener securing said outer end to a portion of the main frame, and a shim positioned between said outer end and said portion of the main frame;
- said shims providing compensation for variations in vertical spacing of the drive units relative to said portions of the main frame;
- wherein said mounting end parts of the drive units are connected to the central portion of the metal plate, to place the drive units in substantial axial alignment with the ribs on the central portion of the metal plate.
9 more elements
A method of mounting a reciprocating slat conveyor on a structure, said structure including a main frame having laterally spaced apart support portions, comprising:
- providing a conveyor drive including a piston-cylinder drive unit having a movable portion and a fixed portion with a mounting end part;
- providing a drive frame including a transverse drive frame member having a metal plate with a central portion and opposite side portions extending laterally outwardly from said central portion, each to an outer end;
- stiffening said transverse drive frame member, including stiffening the metal plate to resist bending about a longitudinal axis and providing the central portion of the metal plate with a plurality of strengthening ribs extending longitudinally of the conveyor;
- connecting the mounting end part of the drive unit to said central portion, including placing the drive unit in substantial axial alignment with the ribs on the central portion;
- positioning said outer ends of said side portions of the metal plate adjacent to said laterally spaced apart support portions of the main frame;
- providing a plurality of conveyor slats, and positioning the slats above the drive unit, the main frame, and the transverse drive frame member;
- connecting the conveyor slats to the movable portion of the drive unit;
- and
- securing said outer ends to said spaced apart support portions, including using a fastener to connect each said outer end to one of said support portions and positioning a shim between said outer end and said support portion to compensate for variations in vertical spacing of the drive unit relative to said support portions.
6 more elements
A method of mounting a reciprocating slat conveyor on a structure, said structure including a main frame having laterally spaced apart support portions, comprising:
- providing a conveyor drive including a piston-cylinder drive unit having a movable portion and a fixed portion with opposite mounting end parts;
- providing a drive frame including first and second longitudinally spaced transverse drive frame members each having a metal plate with a central portion and opposite side portions extending laterally outwardly from said central portion, each to an outer end, and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal drive frame members extending between and connecting said transverse drive frame members;
- stiffening each said transverse drive frame member to resist bending about a longitudinal axis;
- connecting the mounting end parts of the drive unit to said central portions of said metal plates;
- positioning said outer ends of each said metal plate adjacent to said laterally spaced apart support portions of the main frame;
- providing a plurality of conveyor slats, and positioning the slats above the drive unit, the main frame, and the drive frame;
- connecting the conveyor slats to the movable portion of the drive unit;
- and
- securing said outer ends of each said metal plate to said spaced apart support portions, including using a fastener to connect each said outer end to one of said support portions and positioning a shim between said outer end and said support portion to compensate for variations in vertical spacing of the drive unit relative to said support portions.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.