US3603416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weighing apparatus for belt conveyor
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-18
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A weighing apparatus for a conveyor belt includes at least one belt supporting roller mounted on a flexible but nonextensible supporting cable or linkage which has at least one end thereof operatively connected to a load cell to measure the tension or tensile force in the supporting cable or linkage. Belt speed is transmitted to the load cell by a tachometer generator so that the output from the load cell is proportional to the flow rate and can be fed into a totalizer and rate indicator for visual recordation.
Inventors
- 👤 William V Spurlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G39/00; B65G39/02; B65G39/04; G; G01; G01G; G01G11/00; G01G11/003; G01G11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of weighing material carried by a moving conveyor belt supported by flexible supporting means and having means for measuring the speed of the belt, comprising the steps of measuring the tensile force in said flexible supporting means and continuously multiplying said tensile force times the speed of the conveyor belt to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of weighing material carried by a moving conveyor belt supported by flexible supporting means and having means for measuring the speed of the belt, comprising the steps of measuring the tensile force in said flexible supporting means and continuously multiplying said tensile force times the speed of the conveyor belt to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for weighing material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means including two arms for suspending at one end thereof the ends of said flexible supporting means, means for pivoting said arms intermediate their length, connecting means joining the ends of said arms opposite said one end, a load cell operatively linked to said connecting means for measuring the tensile force in said connecting means, tachometer means for measuring the speed of the moving belt, means for transmitting a signal indicative of the speed of the belt from the tachometer to the load cell wherein the tensile force in said connecting means and the speed of the belt can be integrated over a period of time to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for weighing material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means including two arms for suspending at one end thereof the ends of said flexible supporting means, means for pivoting said arms intermediate their length, connecting means joining the ends of said arms opposite said one end, a load cell operatively linked to said connecting means for measuring the tensile force in said connecting means, tachometer means for measuring the speed of the moving belt, means for transmitting a signal indicative of the speed of the belt from the tachometer to the load cell wherein the tensile force in said connecting means and the speed of the belt can be integrated over a period of time to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for weighing at any instant material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means including two arms for suspending at one end thereof the ends of said flexible supporting means, means for pivoting said arms intermediate their length, connecting means joining the ends of said arms opposite said one end, and a load cell operatively linked to said connecting means for measuring the tensile force in said connecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for weighing at any instant material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means including two arms for suspending at one end thereof the ends of said flexible supporting means, means for pivoting said arms intermediate their length, connecting means joining the ends of said arms opposite said one end, and a load cell operatively linked to said connecting means for measuring the tensile force in said connecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further including roller means rotatably mounted on said flexible supporting means and contacting the underside of said belt to provide a substantially frictionless relationship between the belt And the said flexible supporting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said roller means are elongated cylindrical rolls and said flexible supporting means comprises a plurality of center shafts for said rollers which shafts are pivotally connected at their respective ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for weighing material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means for suspending the ends of flexible supporting means, at least one load cell operably connected to said flexible supporting means, tachometer means for measuring the speed of the moving belt, means for transmitting a signal indicative of the speed of the belt from the tachometer to the load cell wherein the tension in the belt supporting means and the speed of the belt can be integrated over a period of time to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for weighing material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means for suspending the ends of flexible supporting means, at least one load cell operably connected to said flexible supporting means, tachometer means for measuring the speed of the moving belt, means for transmitting a signal indicative of the speed of the belt from the tachometer to the load cell wherein the tension in the belt supporting means and the speed of the belt can be integrated over a period of time to produce a signal proportional to the flow rate of the material carried by the belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible supporting means is rotatably mounted to said frame means at its ends and comprises an elongated flexible cord having concentric spaced resilient discs integral therewith along its length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including roller means rotatably mounted on said flexible supporting means and contacting the underside of said belt to provide a substantially frictionless relationship between the belt and the said flexible supporting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said roller means comprise a plurality of relatively narrow rolls, and means for affixing said rolls to said flexible supporting means for free rotation but preventing their movement along the length of said flexible supporting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for weighing at any instant material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means for suspending the ends of said flexible supporting means, and at least one load cell operably connected to said flexible supporting means to measure the tension in said flexible supporting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for weighing at any instant material carried on a moving conveyor belt comprising in combination, flexible supporting means extending across the width of the conveyor belt in supporting relationship thereto, frame means for suspending the ends of said flexible supporting means, and at least one load cell operably connected to said flexible supporting means to measure the tension in said flexible supporting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further including roller means rotatably mounted on said flexible supporting means and contacting the underside of said belt to provide a substantially frictionless relationship between the belt and the said flexible supporting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flexible supporting means is a wire rope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flexible supporting means comprises a plurality of rigid center shafts for the said roller means which shafts are pivotally connected to each other at their respective ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said roller means comprise elongated cylindrical rolls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3390731A
Cited
US3387675A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |