Clamping system for a sealing element on a conveyor system, and a method of maintaining a sealing element on a conveyor system

In combination:

• a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon;
• a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface;
• a sealing element to block passage of material between the conveying surface and wall;
• and
• a clamping system for the sealing element, said clamping system comprising:
• a) a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted for movement relative to the wall between i) a mounting position and ii) a holding position, the sealing element residing between the wall and the bearing portion with the locking assembly in the holding position;
• b) a fixing element on the wall;
• and
• c) a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable, slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• said wedge assembly, in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the clamping system further comprises a base assembly that is attached to the wall and the locking assembly is attached to the base assembly,
• wherein the locking assembly is pivotable relative to the base assembly for movement between the mounting and holding positions,
• wherein the locking assembly and base assembly each have a C-shaped edge and the C-shaped edges interengage to guide pivoting movement between the locking assembly and the base assembly.

In combination:

• a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon;
• a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface;
• a sealing element to block passage of material between the conveying surface and wall;
• and
• a clamping system for the sealing element, said clamping system comprising:
• a) a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted for movement relative to the wall between i) a mounting position and ii) a holding position, the sealing element residing between the wall and the bearing portion with the locking assembly in the holding position;
• b) a fixing element on the wall;
• and
• c) a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable, slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• said wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the clamping system further comprises a base assembly that is attached to the wall and the locking assembly is attached to the base assembly,
• wherein the fixing element comprises a bolt with a head, and the bolt head is captively held against the wall by the base assembly.

In combination:

• a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon;
• a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface;
• a sealing element to block passage of material between the conveying surface and wall;
• and
• a clamping system for the sealing element, said clamping system comprising:
• a) a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted for movement relative to the wall between i) a mounting position and ii) a holding position, the sealing element residing between the wall and the bearing portion with the locking assembly in the holding position;
• b) a fixing element on the wall;
• and
• c) a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable, slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• said wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the body of the wedge assembly comprises an elongate slot through which the fixing element extends and a cam surface and the fixing element comprise a shank which extends through the elongate slot and an enlargement on the shank which is guided against the cam surface as the wedge assembly is changed between the first and second positions.

A clamping system for a sealing element to be situated between a movable conveying surface and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, said clamping system comprising:

• a base assembly for attachment to the wall;
• a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted to the base assembly for movement relative to the base assembly between a) a mounting position and b) a holding position,
• the bearing portion in the holding position acting against the sealing element to maintain the sealing element in an operative position on the wall;
• a fixing element for attachment to the wall and having a threaded shank;
• a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions;
• and
• a nut attached to the threaded shank so that the wedge assembly body is in a captive relationship between the nut and the locking assembly,
• the wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position.

A clamping system for a sealing element to be situated between a movable conveying surface and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, said clamping system comprising:

• a base assembly for attachment to the wall;
• a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted to the base assembly for movement relative to the base assembly between a) a mounting position and b) a holding position,
• the bearing portion in the holding position acting against the sealing element to maintain the sealing element in an operative position on the wall;
• a fixing element for attachment to the wall;
• and
• a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• the wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the locking assembly is pivotable relative to the base assembly for movement between the mounting and holding positions,
• wherein the locking assembly and base assembly each have a C-shaped edge and the C-shaped edges interengage to guide pivoting movement between the locking assembly and the base assembly.

A clamping system for a sealing element to be situated between a movable conveying surface and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, said clamping system comprising:

• a base assembly for attachment to the wall;
• a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted to the base assembly for movement relative to the base assembly between a) a mounting position and b) a holding position,
• the bearing portion in the holding position acting against the sealing element to maintain the sealing element in an operative position on the wall;
• a fixing element for attachment to the wall;
• and
• a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• the wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the fixing element comprises a bolt with a head, and the bolt head an be captively held against the wall by the base assembly.

A clamping system for a sealing element to be situated between a movable conveying surface and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, said clamping system comprising:

• a base assembly for attachment to the wall;
• a locking assembly having a bearing portion that is mounted to the base assembly for movement relative to the base assembly between a) a mounting position and b) a holding position,
• the bearing portion in the holding position acting against the sealing element to maintain the sealing element in an operative position on the wall;
• a fixing element for attachment to the wall;
• and
• a wedge assembly comprising a body that cooperates with the fixing element and is movable slidably and guidingly relative to the locking assembly between first and second positions,
• the wedge assembly in the second position urging the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with a force that is greater than a force with which the wedge assembly urges the bearing portion of the locking assembly toward the sealing element with the wedge assembly in the first position,
• wherein the body of the wedge assembly comprises an elongate slot through which the fixing element extends and a cam surface and the fixing element comprises a shank which extends through the elongate slot and an enlargement on the shank which is guided against the cam surface as the wedge assembly is changed between the first and second positions.

A method of mounting a sealing element in an operative position on a conveyor system comprising a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, so as to block passage of material between the conveying surface and the wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a locking assembly to the wall for movement relative to the wall between a mounting position and a holding position by hanging the locking assembly under its own weight at a pivot location about which the locking assembly is pivotable guidingly between the mounting and holding positions,
• a part of the locking assembly being closer to the sealing element with the locking assembly in the mounting position than with the locking assembly in the holding position;
• connecting a body to a fixing element on the wall;
• and
• sliding the body guidingly relative to the fixing element from a first position into a second position and thereby camming a portion of the locking assembly against the sealing element with the sealing element in the operative position.

A method of mounting a sealing element in an operative position on a conveyor system comprising a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, so as to block passage of material between the conveying surface and the wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a locking assembly to the wall for movement relative to the wall between a mounting position and a holding position;
• connecting a body to a fixing element on the wall;
• and
• sliding the body guidingly relative to the fixing element from a first position into a second position and thereby camming a portion of the locking assembly against the sealing element with the sealing element in the operative position,
• wherein the fixing element comprises a shank and an enlargement on the shank and the body moves guidingly against the enlargement on the shank as the body is moved from the first position into the second position.

A method of mounting a sealing element in an operative position on a conveyor system comprising a conveying surface that is movable to advance material supported thereon and a wall projecting upwardly from the conveying surface to confine material on the conveying surface, so as to block passage of material between the conveying surface and the wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a locking assembly to the wall for movement relative to the wall between a mounting position and a holding position;
• connecting a body to a fixing element on the wall;
• sliding the body guidingly relative to the fixing element from a first position into a second position and thereby camming a portion of the locking assembly against the sealing element with the sealing element in the operative position,
• attaching a base assembly to the wall,
• wherein the step of attaching the locking assembly to the wall comprises attaching the locking assembly to the base assembly,
• wherein the step of attaching the locking assembly to the base assembly comprises interengaging C-shaped edges on the locking assembly and base assembly.