# US 8,739,965 B2 · Wing pulley having central reinforcing disk > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,965 B2 - Document ID: US8739965B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/010,286 - Filed: 2011-01-20 - Published: 2012-07-26 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-20 - Assignees: Precision, Inc. - Applicants: Leo J. Laughlin - Inventors: Leo J. Laughlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739965B2 ## CPC - B65G 23/04: Drums, rollers, or wheels {(B65G23/18 takes precedence)} - B65G 39/073: for cleaning belts - B65G 2201/045: Sand, soil and mineral ore - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract Wing pulleys that engage a conveyor belt during conveying operations are described. The wing pulley includes a central reinforcing disk that strengthens and stabilizes the pulley. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor pulley comprising: (1) a drum having a first end, a second end and a centerpoint midway between the first end and second end or (2) a shaft comprising a central portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions both extending outward from the central portion, the central portion having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the central portion defining a centerpoint midway between the first end and the second end; a reinforcing disk concentric to the drum or shaft, the reinforcing disk being an annulus with an inner radius and an outer radius, the reinforcing disk being attached to the drum or shaft generally at the centerpoint and at the inner radius of the reinforcing disk; a first plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the first end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft; a second plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the second end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft, each wing of the first and second plurality of wings having a lower end, an upper end, an outer end and an inner end, the lower end being attached to the drum or shaft; and a plurality of contact bars that are attached to the upper end of each wing, each contact bar having an overhang portion that extends beyond the inner end, the contact bar contacting the reinforcing disk at the outer radius of the reinforcing disk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein each wing has an outer end and an inner end, the inner end being attached to the reinforcing disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 2 wherein each wing is attached to the reinforcing disk at a circumferential position different than each other wing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 2 wherein the wings are spaced apart on the reinforcing disk, the spacing between each wing being substantially equal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley includes an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the axis and each wing forming an angle, the angle being between about 10° and about 60°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley includes an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the axis and each wing forming an angle, the angle being between about 30° and about 60°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley includes an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the axis and each wing forming an angle, the angle being between about 40° and about 60°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley comprises a shaft, a first hub at the first end of the shaft and a second hub at the second end of the shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley does not comprise gussets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulley comprises a drum. ### Claim 11 A conveyor pulley having a first end, second end, and a centerpoint midway between the first end and second end, the pulley comprising: a reinforcing disk at the centerpoint; a first plurality of wings that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the first end; a second plurality of wings that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the second end, each wing of the first and second plurality of wings having a lower end, an upper end, an outer end and an inner end; and a plurality of contact bars that are attached to the upper end of each wing, each contact bar having an overhang portion that extends beyond the inner end, the contact bar contacting the reinforcing disk at the outer radius of the reinforcing disk; wherein each wing is substantially equally spaced at the centerpoint of the pulley. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pulley comprises a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end and second end of the pulley being the same as the first and second ends of the shaft, the shaft comprising a central portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions both extending outward from the central portion, the wings being attached to the central portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 11 wherein the inner end of each wing is attached to the reinforcing disk. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pulley does not comprise gussets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pulley comprises a drum. ### Claim 16 A conveyor pulley having a first end, second end, a centerpoint midway between the first end and second end and an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the pulley comprising: a reinforcing disk at the centerpoint; a first plurality of wings that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the first end; a second plurality of wings that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the second end, each wing of the first and second plurality of wings having a lower end, an upper end, an outer end and an inner end; and a plurality of contact bars that are attached to the upper end of each wing, each contact bar having an overhang portion that extends beyond the inner end, the contact bar contacting the reinforcing disk at the outer radius of the reinforcing disk; wherein the axis of the pulley and each wing form an angle, the angle being between about 30° and about 60°. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pulley comprises a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the pulley being the same as the first and second ends of the shaft, the shaft comprising a central portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and the second coupling portions both extending outward from the central portion, the wings being attached to the central portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 16 wherein the angle is between about 40° and about 60°. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pulley does not comprise gussets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The conveyor pulley as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pulley comprises a drum. ### Claim 21 A belt conveyor system for transporting bulk materials, the system comprising: a conveyor belt; a tail section at which bulk material is loaded onto the conveyor belt, the tail section including a tail pulley around which the conveyer belt is looped, the tail pulley comprising: (1) a drum having a first end, a second end and a centerpoint midway between the first end and second end or (2) a shaft comprising a central portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions both extending outward from the central portion, the central portion having a first end and a second end; a reinforcing disk concentric to the drum or shaft, the reinforcing disk being attached to the drum or shaft at a point between the first end and the second end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft; a first plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the first end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft; a second plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the second end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft, each wing of the first and second plurality of wings having a lower end, an upper end, an outer end and an inner end; and a plurality of contact bars that are attached to the upper end of each wing, each contact bar having an overhang portion that extends beyond the inner end, the contact bar contacting the reinforcing disk at the outer radius of the reinforcing disk; a head section at which bulk material is discharged from the conveyor belt, the head section including a head pulley around which the conveyor belt is looped. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The belt conveyor system of claim 21 wherein the inner end of each wing is attached to the reinforcing disk, each wing being spaced apart on the reinforcing disk, the spacing between each wing being substantially equal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The belt conveyor system of claim 21 wherein the pulley includes an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the axis and each wing of the tail pulley forming an angle, the angle being between about 30° and about 60°. ### Claim 24 A method for transporting bulk material by use of a conveyor system comprising a conveyor belt and having a tail section and a head section, the conveyor belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising: loading bulk material onto the outer surface of the conveyor belt at the tail section, the conveyor belt being looped around a tail pulley and a head pulley, the tail pulley comprising: (1) a drum having a first end, a second end and a centerpoint midway between the first end and second end or (2) a shaft comprising a central portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and the second coupling portions both extending outward from the central portion, the central portion having a first end and a second end; a reinforcing disk concentric to the drum or the shaft, the reinforcing disk being attached to the drum or the shaft at a point between the first end and the second end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft; a first plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the first end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft; and a second plurality of wings attached to the reinforcing disk that extend from the reinforcing disk toward the second end of the drum or the central portion of the shaft, each wing of the first and second plurality of wings having a lower end, an upper end, an outer end and an inner end; and a plurality of contact bars, each contact bar being attached to an upper end of a wing and having an overhang portion that extends beyond the inner end of the wing, the contact bar contacting the reinforcing disk at the outer radius of the reinforcing disk and contacting the inner surface of the conveyor belt upon rotation of the tail pulley; rotating the tail pulley and head pulley to cause the conveyor belt to rotate and to cause bulk material to travel from the tail section to the head section; and discharging bulk material from the conveyor belt at the head section. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the inner end of each wing is attached to the reinforcing disk, each wing being spaced apart on the reinforcing disk, the spacing between each wing being substantially equal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the pulley includes an axis which extends through the first end and second end, the axis and each wing of the tail pulley forming an angle, the angle being between about 30° and about 60°.