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US 6,601,692 B2Granted
Device for cleaning endless conveyors
AssigneeSchaefer Brush Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorsHarold G. Schaefer, Anthony A. Brooks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is provided for cleaning an endless conveyor. The device includes an endless brush belt engageable with the endless conveyor. A tension mechanism is provided for placing a tension on the endless brush belt. A clutch mechanism is operatively connected to the tension mechanism. The clutch mechanism prevents the placement of additional tension on the endless brush belt in response to tension exceeding a predetermined maximum tension.
Claims26
A device for cleaning an endless conveyor, comprising:
- first and second sheaves spaced along a longitudinal axis and rotatably supported above a supporting surface, each sheave being rotatable about a corresponding axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and including a radially outer surface;
- an endless brush belt extending about the radially outer surfaces of the sheaves and having an outer surface engagable with the endless conveyor, the endless brush belt traveling about the sheaves in response to rotation of the first sheave;
- a drive structure operatively connected to the first sheave for rotating the first sheave;
- a tension mechanism operatively connected to one of the sheaves for adjusting the spacing therebetween and providing a tension on the endless brush belt;
- and
- a clutch mechanism operatively connected to the tension mechanism, the clutch mechanism releasing the tension mechanism from the one of the sheaves so as to prevent the placement of additional tension on the endless brush belt in response to the tension exceeding a predetermined maximum tension.
3 more elements
A device for cleaning an endless conveyor, comprising:
- a support frame extending along a longitudinal axis and having first and second opposite ends, the support frame being supported above a supporting surface;
- a rotatable drive shaft extending laterally from the support frame along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support frame;
- a drive sheave assembly supported on the drive shaft, the drive sheave assembly including:
- a spindle housing having an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the drive shaft therethrough and an outer surface, the spindle housing being connected to the support frame;
- a drive sheave having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a bearing assembly positioned between the outer surface of the spindle housing and the inner surface of the drive sheave to facilitate rotation of the drive sheave on the spindle housing;
- and
- a clamping structure for interconnecting the drive sheave and the drive shaft;
- a driven sheave rotatably supported by the support frame at a spaced location from the drive sheave, the driven sheave rotatable about a corresponding axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and including a radially outer surface;
- an endless brush belt extending about the radially outer surfaces of the drive sheave and the driven sheave and having an outer surface engagable with the endless conveyor, the endless brush belt traveling about the sheaves in response to rotation of the drive shaft;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft;
- a tension mechanism operatively connected to the driven sheave for adjusting the spacing between the drive sheave and the driven sheave so as to provide a tension on the endless brush belt;
- and
- a clutch mechanism operatively connected to the tension mechanism, the clutch mechanism disconnecting the tension mechanism from the driven sheave in response to the tension exceeding a predetermined maximum tension so as to prevent the adding of additional tension on the endless brush belt.
11 more elements
A device for cleaning an endless conveyor, comprising:
- an endless brush belt engagable with the endless conveyor;
- a drive sheave for driving the endless brush belt along a predetermined path and a driven sheave for guiding the endless brush belt on the predetermined path;
- a tension mechanism operatively connected to the driven sheave for providing a tension on the endless brush belt;
- and
- a clutch mechanism operatively connected to the tension mechanism, the clutch mechanism disconnecting the tension mechanism from the driven sheave in response to the tension exceeding a predetermined maximum tension so as to prevent the placement of additional tension on the endless brush belt.
2 more elements
The device of 21 wherein:
- the endless brush belt includes an inner surface;
- the drive sheave includes an outer surface engaging the inner surface of the endless brush belt;
- the driven sheave includes an outer surface engaging the inner surface of the endless brush belt;
- and
- wherein the drive sheave and the driven sheave are axially spaced.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.