GB2040248A - Connector arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector arrangement for connecting together two adjacent members (e.g. armoured pans 1 and 2 of a scraper chain conveyor) disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end relation, comprises two projections (15, 22) on the members, respectively, and projecting in a direction transverse to the in-line direction, and a connector element (30) which is looped around the two projections for limiting relative in-line motion of the two projections. The connector arrangement also comprising means (33) e.g. a spring clip for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position. The connector element is generally ring-shaped and has lugs 50 and 46 engaging respectively under the spring clip 33 and a bridge member 29. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector arrangements This invention relates to connector arrangements for connecting together adjacent members.

In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to connector arrangements for articulately connecting together adjacent pans of a scraper chain conveyor.

Typically, two adjacent pans of a scraper chain conveyor are connected together by a pair of bolts engaging in holes provided in the end margins of the adjacent pan ends, the bolts being left slack to permit limited vertical and horizontal articulation between the pans. Unfortunately, in use the bolts can become bent or damaged making disconnection of the conveyor pans difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector arrangement for connecting together adjacent conveyor pans which tend to overcome the above problem encounted with bolts.

According to the present invention a connector arrangement for connecting together two adjacent members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end relation, comprises two projections on the members, respectively, and projecting in a direction transverse to the in-line direction, a connector element arrangeable to loop around the two projections for limiting relative in-line motion of the two projections, and means for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position.

Preferably, the connector element comprises a generally ring-shaped link component for looping around the two projections.

Preferably, the connector element comprises a lug engageable by a removable clip constituting at least part of the means for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position.

Preferably, the clip is engageable in a guideway provided on one of the members.

Conveniently, the connector element comprises a further lug for retainable engagement in a recess provided on one of the members.

Preferably, the two projections are movable within the connector element to permit limited universal articulation between the two connected members.

Conveniently, the two members are constituted by pans of a scraper chain conveyor, each pan comprising two side walls connected by a conveying deck, and in which case at least one connector arrangement as defined above is provided adjacent each of the side walls of the pans.

Advantageously, one of the projections of each connector arrangement is set back from the end of the associated pan and the other of the projections of each connector arrangement projects beyond the end of the associated pan such that the connector arrangement provides means for positively maintaining the two pans in alignment.

Advantageously, the projections are located in recess means provided in the side wall of the associated pan such that the projections do not project beyond the side face of the pan.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the connector arrangement of Figure 1 shown on a larger scale; Figure 3 is a section along line Ill - III of Figure 2, the arrangement being shown in one operational position; Figure 4 is a section similar to that of Figure 3 but with the arrangement shown in an alternative operational position; Figure 5 is a section along line V - V of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a section along line VI - VI of Figure 2.

In the drawings two scraper chain conveyor pans 1 and 2, are shown connected for limited universal articulation by a connector arrangement 3 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The conveyor pans are in-line and arranged end-toend relative to each other. Each conveyor pan 1 or 2 comprises two generally vertical side walls 5 or 6 (only an end portion of one of which is shown) and a generally horizontal conveying deck 8 rigidly connecting the two side walls. The end margins of each side wall are constituted by hardened cast pieces 10 or 11 welded onto the remaining main body of the wall section. In operation broken rock material is urged along the in-line, end-to-end arranged conveyor pans by endless chain means (not shown) comprising a plurality of spaced flight bars hauled over the deck by an endless driven chain.

Each side wall 5 or 6 is of a generally sigmashaped form defining an open sided, tapered, generally trough-shaped recess 12 extending along the length of the wall.

The central portion 13 of the cast end piece 10 extends inwardly to engage in a cut-away recess provided in the conveying deck 8 (see particularly Figures 3, 4 and 5) and projects outwardly, transversly to the in-line direction of the pans to define a projection or boss 15 which is set back from the end face 16 of the associated conveyor pan and which is located within the tapered recess 12 such that the outermost face 17 of the projection 15 does not project beyond the outer side face 18 of the side wall.

As seen in Figure 2, the projection 15 is generally 'D' shaped having a curved face remote from the end face 16.

The central portion 20 of the cast end piece 11 extends inwardly to engage in a cut-away recess provided in the conveying deck 8 and projects outwardly, transverslyto the in-line direction of the pans to define a projection or boss 22 which extends beyond the end face 23 of the associated conveyor pan and which is located within the tapered recess 12 such that the outmost face 24 of the projection 22 does not project beyond the outer side face 18 of the side wall. As seen in Figure 2 the projection 22 is of generally extended 'D' shape having a curved face directed towards the associated side wall and being tapered towards the adjacent pan. The extreme end face of the projection 22 is slightly domed at 25 enabling a rolling engagement to be achieved with the co-operating projection 15 during articulation between the connected pans 1 and 2.

The cast end piece 11 has a generally vertical bridge 28 extending across the recess 12 to define a recess 29 for retainable engagement by a connector element 30 as explained later in the specification.

A clip retaining bracket 32 is welded into the recess 12 of the pan 1 adjacent to the cast end piece 10 for retainable engagement by a spring clip 33 as explained later in the specification.

Further brackets 35 are welded in the recesses 12 of both pans 1 and 2 for attachment of spill plates (not shown) which, in use, are arranged along the upper side of the conveyor pans to help prevent spillage of material.

The previously mentioned connector element 30 comprises a generally ring-shaped link component 38 looped around the two adjacent projections 15 and 22 to permit only limited relative in-line motion of the two projections. In Figures 1,2 and 3 the two projections are shown in contact with each other while in Figure 4the projections are shown in the maximum spaced positions with the curved face of each projection abutting the opposite curved inner faces of the ring-shaped link connector. From Fi gurus 2,3 and 4 it can be seen that the extent by which the projection 22 extends beyond the end face 23 is greater than the maximum limit of relative in-line motion between the projections. Thus as seen in Figure 4, the cast end piece 10 always lies within the projection 22.Therefore, as a connector arrangement is provided on each side wall of the pans, the pans 1 and 2 are retained in alignment by the connector arrangements.

As seen in Figure 5, the upper and lower straight leg portions 41 and 43 of the ring-shaped link component 38 are generally wedge-shaped in order to fit snugly in the portions of the tapered recess 12 on either side of the projections 15 and 22. It also will be noted from Figure 5 that the outer face 44 of the ring-shaped link component 38 does not extend beyond the outer side face 18 of the side wall.

A stepped lug 46 is provided on the curved portion 47 of the ring-shaped link component adjacent to the pan 2, the lug being stepped inwardly relative to the side face 18 of the pan side wall and extending beyond the curved portion 47 to be retainably engaged within the previously mentioned recess 29 defined by the bridge 28 of the cast end piece 11.

A further stepped lug 50 is provided on the opposite curved portion 51 of the ring-shaped link component 38 adjacent to the pan 1, the lug 5D being stepped inwardly relative to the side face 18 of the pan side wall and extending beyond the curved portion 51 to be retainably engaged by the previously mentioned spring clip 33 which itself is retainably engaged in a vertically extending guideway 58 defined by the clip retaining bracket 32 and by the adjacent side wall of the conveyor pan 1 which is cut-away at 59 and 60 to form the ends of the guideway. The spring clip is curved as seen in Figure 6 so that when placed in the upper end 59 of the guideway 58 it is urged around the adjacent curved face 61 of the lug 50 towards the lower end 60 of the guideway.The lower end of the clip is tapered to assist its movement along the guideway and the upper end of the clip is bent over to form a retaining lip intended to prevent further downward movement of the clip beyond the engaged position as seen in Figure 6.

The conveyor pans are of similar construction to each other, each having a pair of projections 15 adjacent to the side walls at one end and a pair of projections 22 adjacent to the side walls at the other end of the pan.

In use, two adjacent conveyor pans 1,2 are arranged in-line end-to-end relationship with the two end faces 16, 23 closely adjacent to each other. A connector element 30 is then applied to each side of the pan by first sliding the lug 46 into the recess 29 defined by the bridge 28. The ring-shaped link component 38 then is looped around the two projections 15 and 22 which thereby are retained within the ring-shaped link component. Finally, the spring clip 33 is driven along the guideway 58 through the opening 59 until it reaches the fully engaged position as seen in Figure 6. The connector arrangement then is applied at the other side of the conveyor pan to connect the two pans 1 and 2 together.

The connector arrangement as described above, permits a desired limited universal articulation between the two pans 1 and 2 while retaining the two pans in alignment, the cast end pieces 10 on the end of pan 1 being retained within the projections 22 on the end of the pan 11.

The maximum extend of horizontal articulation is illustrated by Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3 the two projections 15 and 22 are shown abutting each other while in Figure 4 they are shown parted by a maximum allowed extent determined by the ringshaped link component 38. Thus, when the two pans 1 and 2 are subjected to maximum horizontal articulation the connector arrangement on one side of the pans would be in the position shown in Figure 3 while the connector arrangement on the other side of the pans would be in the position shown in Figure 4. Typically, the maximum extent of horizontal articulation between the pans 1 and 2 would be about seven degrees. When varying the amount of horizontal articulation the domed face 25 of the projection 22 rolls over the abutted portions of the projection 15.

The connector arrangements cater for up to a maximum vertical articulation of about seven degrees by allowing sufficient clearance between the upper and lower extends of the projections 15 and 22 which permits slight pivotal pin movement of the component 38 relative to the projections.

From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides a connector arrangement for use with scraper chain conveyors which does not require bolts and thereby tends to overcome the problems associated with bolts and which is robust and strong enough to withstand the substantial faces generated when, in use, the conveyor is snaked or articulated.

The connector arrangement can be assembled and disassembled rapidly by inserting and removing the spring clip 33, removal of the clip from the guideway 58 being achieved by driving a punch upwardly through the lower opening 60 of the guideway until the lug 50 is released.

Claims (3)

1. A connector arrangement for connecting together two adjacent members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end relation, coinprising two projections on the members, respectively, and projecting in a direction transverse to the in-line direction, a connector element arrangeable to loop around the two projections for limiting relative in-line motion of the two projections, and means for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position.

2. An arrangement claimed in claim 1, in which the connector element comprises a generally ringshaped link component for looping around the two projections.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the removable element comprises a removable clip.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the connector element comprises a lug engageable by a removable clip constituting at least part of the means for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, in which the clip is engageable in a guideway provided on one of the members.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 or4, in which the connector element comprises a further lug for retainable engagement in a recess provided on one of the members.

6. An agreement as claimed in claim 5, in which the two projections are movable within the connector element to permit limited universal articulation between the two connected members.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the two members are constituted by pans of a scraper chain conveyor, each pan comprising two side walls connected by a conveying deck.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, in which at least one connector arrangement is provided adjacent each of the side walls of the pans.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, in which one of the projections of each connector arrangement is set back from the end of the associated pan and the other of the projections of each connector arrangement projects beyond the end of the associated pan such that the connector arrangement provides means for positively maintaining the two pans in alignment.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, in which the projections are located in recess means provided in the side wall of the associated pan such that the projections do not project beyond the side face of the pan.

11. A connector arrangement for connecting together two adjacent members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end relation, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A pan for a chain scraper conveyor substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 21 December 1979 Superseded claims 1 and 3 New or amended claims:

1. A connector arrangement for connecting together two adjacent members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end relation, comprising two projections on the members, respectively, and projecting in a direction transverse to the in-line direction, a connector element arrangeable to loop around the two projections for limiting relative in-line motion of the two projections, and means for releasably securing the connector element in its connecting looped position, said means comprising a removable element adapted to engage a lug on the connector element.