Preformed strip and method for splicing conveyor belts
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsRobin Bovaird Steven, David Joseph Maguire, Steven Andrew Lederer, William James Head, Larry James Gehrett, James Alfred Benzing, II
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Abstract
A preformed strip (20) of unvulcanized rubber having a plurality of strand receiving grooves (22) for splicing the ends (11, 12) of steel cord or strand reinforced rubber conveyor belts (10) is disclosed along with a method of forming the spliced joint.
Claims3
The method of splicing the ends (11, 12) of conveyor belts (10) having vulcanized rubber (12) with steel strands (1) embedded in the vulcanized rubber comprising the steps of:
- exposing a plurality of strands (1);
- providing at least two unvulcanized strips (20) of rubber, at least one strip (20) being a bottom strip having a plurality of substantially parallel strand receiving grooves (22) located on an upper surface (24), the other at least one strip (20) being a top strip;
- placing the exposed strands (1) of the belt ends (11, 12) being joined in the grooves (22) of the at least one bottom strip (20);
- placing the top strip (20) overlying the bottom strip (20) and vulcanizing the strips (20) together and to strands (1) thereby forming the spliced joint, the method characterized in that the step of providing the top or bottom strips (20) includes the steps of calendering in strips (20), the calenders (350), 352) having a plurality of parallel component forming ridges (356), the ridges (356) forming the strand receiving grooves (22) of an upper surface (24) of the strips (20);
- and
- the step of calendering includes the step of applying the bottom strip (20) onto a strip of pulley contacting rubber compounds (3) as the bottom strip (20) is being formed at the calender roller thereby forming a dual compound bottom strip (20).
The method of splicing the ends (11, 12) of conveyor belts (10) having vulcanized rubber (12) with steel strands (1) embedded in the vulcanized rubber comprising the steps of:
- exposing a plurality of strands (1);
- providing at least two unvulcanized strips (20) of rubber, at least one strip (20) being a bottom strip having a plurality of substantially parallel strand receiving grooves (22) located on an upper surface (24), the other at least one strip (20) being a top strip;
- placing the exposed strands (1) of the belt ends (11, 12) being joined in the grooves (22) of the at least one bottom strip (20);
- placing the top strip (20) overlying the bottom strip (20) and vulcanizing the strips (20) together and to strands (1) thereby forming the spliced joint, the method characterized in that the step of providing the top or bottom strips (20) includes the steps of calendering in strips (20), the calenders (350), 352) having a plurality of parallel component forming ridges (356), the ridges (356) forming the strand receiving grooves (22) of an upper surface (24) of the strips (20);
- and
- the step of calendering includes the step of applying the top strip (20) onto a strip of top cover rubber compound (4).
The method of splicing the ends (11, 12) of conveyor belts (10) having vulcanized rubber (12) with steel strands (1) embedded in the vulcanized rubber comprising the steps of:
- exposing a plurality of strands (1);
- providing at least two unvulcanized strips (20) of rubber, at least one strip (20) being a bottom strip having a plurality of substantially parallel strand receiving grooves (22) located on an upper surface (24), the other at least one strip (20) being a top strip;
- placing the exposed strands (1) of the belt ends (11, 12) being joined in the grooves (22) of the at least one bottom strip (20);
- placing the top strip (20) overlying the bottom strip (20) and vulcanizing the strips (20) together and to strands (1) thereby forming the spliced joint, the method characterized in that the step of providing the top or bottom strips (20) includes the steps of calendering in strips (20), the calenders (350), 352) having a plurality of parallel component forming ridges (356), the ridges (356) forming the strand receiving grooves (22) of an upper surface (24) of the strips (20);
- and
- the bottom or top strips are applied to a separation liner (50) as they are being formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.