Shaft driver device and conveyor system embodying the same

Abstract

Abstract A SHAFT DRIVER IS DISCLOSED FOR USE, ILLUSTRATIVELY, IN A ROLLER-TYPE LOAD CONVEYOR OR LIKE SYSTEM IN WHICH LOAD UNITS ARE HALTED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF AN OPERATION THEREON, WITH A CONSEQUENT INCREASED DRAG ON A NORMALLY POWERED ROLLER OF THE CONVEYOR WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE DEVICE. THE SYTEM AND DRIVE DEVICE INCORPORATE MEANS WHICH ACTS QUITE INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY CONTROL FACTOR, OTHER THAN THE DRAG EFFECT, TO INTERRUPT THE DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR ROLLER, OR EQUIVALENT ELEMENT IN A DIFFERENT INSTALLATION, IMMEDIATELY UPON THE ARISING OF THE DRAG IN EXCESS OF A CRITICAL VALUE, RESTORING THE DRIVE WHEN THAT VALUE DIMINISHES OR THE DRAG CEASES. THE DRIVE CONTROL MEANS REFERRED TO IS BUILT IN ITS ENTIRETY INTO THE STRUCTURE OF A DRIVEN ROLLER OR OTHER SHAFT-DRIVEN COMPONENT COMPARABLE THERETO. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE SYSTEM COMPRISES A FIRST HUB MEMBER NORMALLY ROTATING WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT AND POWERED FROM AN APPROPRIATE SOURCE, A SECOND HUB MEMBER COAXIAL WITH THE FIRST MEMBER, AND MEANS IN THE FORM OF A TORSION SPRING CLUTCH DEVICE NORMALLY COUPLING SAID MEMBERS FOR ROTATION AS A UNIT UNDER A DRAG LOAD LESS THAN THE CIRTICAL VALUE. THE FIRST MEMBER IS SHOWN AS HAVING A RESILIENT DRIVING CONNECTION TO THE SECOND MEMBER WHICH, ON EXCESS LOAD, YIELDS AND CAUSES THE TORSION SPRING COUPLING MEANS TO BE DE-CLUTCHED, THE SHAFT DRIVE THEN COMING TO A HALT. THIS DRIVE CONNECTION IS ADJUSTABLE AS TO ITS RESILIENT BIAS TO DETERMINE THE CRITICAL VALUE.

Inventors

• 👤 William E Cowen Jr

Bibliographic Details