Power conductor takeup system

Claim 2

In an apparatus comprising a relatively stationary first base member with a power source provided in association therewith and a second member movable with respect thereto and having a power utilization means provided in association therewith, an improved power conductor system adapted to conduct power from power source to said power utilization means comprising: a rotatable pulley adapted to move in substantially linear direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the second member; substantially lineal flexible power conductor means engaging and rotatably transversing the pulley, the power conductor means being attached at one of its ends to the power source and at its other end to the power utilization means; and power conductor takeup means in engagement with the pulley adapted to move the pulley so that the power conductor is held in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the second member.

Claim 3

An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the takeup means comprises a takeup cable attached at one end to the first member and at its other end to the second member and position so as to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and the power conductor and the takeup cable are positioned to cooperate with the pulley so that movement of the second member causes the pulley to move in such a manner as to hold the power conductor means and the takeup cable in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the second member.

Claim 4

An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assembly which is mounted in engagement with the first member for translational movement with respect thereto.

Claim 5

An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first member comprises a flanged channel member and wherein the carriage assembly has a plurality of rollers rotatably attached thereto, which rollers engage the flanged channel member and allow the carriage assembly to translate freely in engagement with the flanged channel member.

Claim 6

An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pulley comprises a pulley wheel having a pair of pulley grooves formed thereon, with the power conductor engaging a first one of the grooves and the takeup cable engaging the other of the grooves.

Claim 7

In a telescopable belt conveyor system for conveying material comprising a first conveyor belt unit and a second conveyor belt unit, with the first and second conveyor belt units including a continuous conveyor belt loop, roller means for supporting the belt, a frame supporting the rollers, and power utilization means on the frame for causing the belt to move across the rollers, the first and second units being mounted so that the second conveyor belt unit is telescopably movable with respect to the first conveyor belt unit, and with the belt of the first conveyor belt unit being adapted to discharge its contents onto the belt of the second conveyor belt unit, an improved power conductor takeup system comprising: a pulley movable in a substantially linear direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the second conveyor belt unit; substantially flexible lineal power conductor means for conducting power from a power source mounted on the first unit to the power utilization means on the second unit; the power conductor means being attached at one of its ends to the power source and at its other end to the power utilization means and being position to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and takeup means in engagement with the pulley operably responsive to the movement of the second conveyor belt unit to move the pulley so that The power conductor means is held in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the second conveyor belt unit.

Claim 8

In a telescopable belt conveyor system for conveying material comprising a first conveyor belt unit and a second conveyor belt unit, with the first and second conveyor belt units including a continuous conveyor belt loop, roller means for supporting the belt, a frame supporting the rollers, and power utilization means on the frame for causing the belt to move across the rollers, the first and second units being mounted so that the second conveyor belt unit is telescopably movable with respect to the first conveyor belt unit, and with the belt of the first conveyor belt unit being adapted to discharge its contents onto the belt of the second conveyor belt unit, an improved power conductor takeup system comprising: a pulley movable in a substantially linear direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the second conveyor belt unit; substantially flexible lineal power conductor means for conducting power from a power source mounted on the first unit to the power utilization means on the second unit; the power conductor means being attached at one of its ends to the power source and at its other end to the power utilization means and being position to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and takeup means in engagement with the pulley operably responsive to the movement of the second conveyor belt unit to move the pulley so that The power conductor means is held in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the second conveyor belt unit.

Claim 9

An improved power takeup system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the takeup means comprises a takeup cable attached at one end to the first conveyor belt unit and at its other end to the second unit and positioned so that it engages and rotatably transverses the pulley; and the power conductor and the takeup cable are positioned in cooperation with the pulley so that movement of the second unit causes the pulley to move in such a manner as to hold the power conductor means and the takeup cable in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the second unit.

Claim 10

An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assembly which is mounted in engagement with the first unit for translational movement with respect thereto.

Claim 11

An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first conveyor belt unit comprises a flanged channel member and wherein the carriage assembly has a plurality of rollers rotatably attached thereto, which rollers engage the flanged channel member and allow the carriage assembly to translate freely in engagement with the flanged channel member.

Claim 12

An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pulley comprises a pulley wheel having a pair of pulley grooves formed thereon, with a first one of the pulley grooves being engaged by the power conductor means and the other pulley groove being engaged by the takeup cable.