US3738478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor chain
Assignee: Cross Co
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Filing: 1971-03-26
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor chain having top load supporting plates mounted for limited vertical rocking movement and normally occupying a slightly nose-down position but adapted to move to flat horizontal positions when work carrying pallets or the like are supported thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 F Tourtellotte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:00
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/38; B65G17/42; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A conveyor chain adapted to carry and sometimes to slide beneath and relative to a load disposed thereon, said chain comprising, a plurality of successively arranged load supporting top plates adapted to carry a surface lubricant to minimize wear as the plates slide under the load, each of said plates having forward and rearward end portions and mounted on the chain for independent limited rocking movement between a generally nose-down position wherein the forward end portion thereof is disposed below said load and below the rearward end portion of the immediately preceding plate and a nose-up position wherein the forward end portion thereof is in substantially coplanar relation with the supported surface of the load and with the rearward end portion of the immediately preceding plate, means for biasing said plates toward said nose-down position whereby the forward, nose-down end portions of said plates can pass under the load without contacting the same and without appreciable loss of lubricant disposed thereon, each of said plates being movable from said nose-down position toward said nose-up position by engagement thereof with a load as the chain moves beneath the load, whereby lubricant is retained on said plates and is distributed between the underside of the load and the upper surfaces of said plates instead of being scraped from the latter by the load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A conveyor chain adapted to carry and sometimes to slide beneath and relative to a load disposed thereon, said chain comprising, a plurality of successively arranged load supporting top plates adapted to carry a surface lubricant to minimize wear as the plates slide under the load, each of said plates having forward and rearward end portions and mounted on the chain for independent limited rocking movement between a generally nose-down position wherein the forward end portion thereof is disposed below said load and below the rearward end portion of the immediately preceding plate and a nose-up position wherein the forward end portion thereof is in substantially coplanar relation with the supported surface of the load and with the rearward end portion of the immediately preceding plate, means for biasing said plates toward said nose-down position whereby the forward, nose-down end portions of said plates can pass under the load without contacting the same and without appreciable loss of lubricant disposed thereon, each of said plates being movable from said nose-down position toward said nose-up position by engagement thereof with a load as the chain moves beneath the load, whereby lubricant is retained on said plates and is distributed between the underside of the load and the upper surfaces of said plates instead of being scraped from the latter by the load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said top plates are mounted and formed to permit movement thereof about axes extending generally vertically with respect to the plates and transversely of said chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 having vertical pivots and wherein said top Plates are mounted on and attached to said pivots at points behind the centers thereof to cause said forward end portions of said plates to tilt toward said nose-down position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pivots extend through said mounting plates, and wherein sufficient radial clearance is provided between said plates and said pivots to provide for the rocking movement of said plates to the normal nose-down position and to define the limits of said rocking movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the major portions of said top plates are disposed sufficiently forwardly of the pivots on which they are mounted, whereby the weight of each plate ahead of its respective pivot is sufficiently greater than the weight of the plate behind said pivot to assure a normal nose-down position of said plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A conveyor chain as defined in claim 3 wherein said forward end portions of said plates are in close proximity to the rearward end portions of the immediately preceding plates, whereby to define a top surface for the chain which is continuous except for the joints therebetween and the normally tilted top surfaces thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 6 wherein said forward end portion of each top plate is arcuately curved about a radius extending from the pivot on which said plate is mounted continuously through the sides thereof to permit each such plate to turn horizontally relative to adjacent plates, and wherein said rearward end portion of the preceding plate also is arcuately curved about a radius extending from said pivot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said conveyor chain is a type having longitudinal links connected by vertical pivot pins, and wherein the pivot pins which connect said links extend through the clearance holes of said top plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A conveyor chain as defined in claim 8 including bottom plates also mounted on said pivot pins and defining supporting members for said chain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor chain as defined in claim 9 wherein said upper plates are substantially wider than said bottom plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |