Rail conveyor system
AssigneeNewcastle Innovation Limited
InventorCraig Anthony Wheeler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail conveyor system combining the low friction attributes of railway transportation with the continuous bulk handling advantages of belt conveyors, uses a multiplicity of spaced carriages running on steel wheels on rail tracks to support a continuous carry belt. The system is driven by various means including a rope extending between the carriages. Various other drive means including drive belt technology are also described along with loading and unloading stations and distributed drive stations.
Claims16
A rail conveyor system comprising a rail track, a plurality of carriages spaced apart from one another and connected together by a flexible rope arranged to provide tension and variable spacing between the carriages and wherein the carriages are arranged to run on wheels supported by the track, there being at least three wheels on each carriage with two or more of said wheels spaced apart in the intended direction of travel such that each carriage is independently supported on the track, and a continuous carry belt supported by the carriages.
A rail conveyor system comprising:
- a rail track;
- a plurality of carriages spaced apart from one another and connected together by a flexible rope arranged to provide tension and variable spacing between the carriages and wherein the carriages are arranged to run on wheels supported by the track, there being at least three wheels on each carriage with two or more of said wheels spaced apart in the intended direction of travel such that each carriage is independently supported on the track, and
- a continuous carry belt supported by the carriages,
- wherein the continuous carry belt is not fixed to the carriages but is driven directly or indirectly by friction surfaces between the carry belt and the carriages.
A rail conveyor system comprising:
- a rail track;
- a plurality of carriages spaced apart from one another and connected together by a flexible rope arranged to provide tension and variable spacing between the carriages and wherein the carriages are arranged to run on wheels supported by the track, there being at least three wheels on each carriage with two or more of said wheels spaced apart in the intended direction of travel such that each carriage is independently supported on the track, and
- a continuous carry belt supported by the carriages,
- wherein the carry belt is lifted from the carriages at a head drive station, allowing material to be discharged from the carry belt while the carriages are directed around a return loop before being reunited with the carry belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.