US3765525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for and method of adjusting location of shaft bearings on grate conveyor
Assignee: Allis Chalmers Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-06
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for and a method of adjusting the location of the shaft bearings, particularly the tail shaft bearings, on a grate conveyor or the like, to maintain proper tension on the chains of the conveyor to compensate for change in length of the chains due to temperature change and wear, while also insuring parallelism of the head and tail shafts of the conveyor with respect to each other. Each shaft bearing whose position is to be adjusted is supported on a slidably adjustable mounting means, and a fluid motor such as a hydraulic ram is mounted with the cylinder thereof in a fixed position on the shaft support structure for a given range of adjustment of the bearing, the ram being pressurized to move the slidable mounting means and the bearing carried thereby to an adjusted position. Precisely dimensioned shims are interposed between the cylinder of the hydraulic ram and the adjustable mounting means to maintain the bearing in a given adjusted position, and after the shims have been so interposed the hydraulic ram is depressurized but the ram cylinder remains in its fixed position to serve as an abutment for the shims.
Inventors
- 👤 W Hartwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:44
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G23/00; B65G23/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a first pair of laterally spaced bearings supporting said head shaft, a second pair of laterally spaced bearings supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises supporting each bearing of one of said pairs on a separate slidable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the shaft supported by said one of said pairs of bearings to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid motor corresponding to each slidable mounting means, each of said fluid motors including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder of each fluid motor in a fixed position relative to a stationary support comprising a lug member affixed to the respective cylinder, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in a corresponding stationary support member, each respective piston being engageable with a corresponding one of said slidable mounting means, whereby to slidably adjust the position of said corresponding mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between the corresponding mounting means and the cylinder of the corresponding fluid motor, whereby to hold each respective mounting means in a given adjusted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a first pair of laterally spaced bearings supporting said head shaft, a second pair of laterally spaced bearings supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises supporting each bearing of one of said pairs on a separate slidable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the shaft supported by said one of said pairs of bearings to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid motor corresponding to each slidable mounting means, each of said fluid motors including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder of each fluid motor in a fixed position relative to a stationary support comprising a lug member affixed to the respective cylinder, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in a corresponding stationary support member, each respective piston being engageable with a corresponding one of said slidable mounting means, whereby to slidably adjust the position of said corresponding mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between the corresponding mounting means and the cylinder of the corresponding fluid motor, whereby to hold each respective mounting means in a given adjusted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conveyor system as defined in claIm 1 in which the bearings of said one of said pairs support said tail shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A conveyor system as defined in claim 1 in which said shim means between each respective mounting meanS and the corresponding cylinder is adapted to straddle the corresponding piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A conveyor system as defined in claim 1 in which each respective stationary support member comprises a box beam contiguous a lateral side of said conveyor for supporting a corresponding bearing of said one of said pairs, the slidable mounting means for supporting each respective bearing being mounted for slidable movement along the upper wall of the corresponding box beam, said upper wall being provided with an aperture to receive said lug member whereby said lug member extends into the interior of said box beam, and a stop block mounted on the interior of said box beam and engageable with said lug member to absorb forces on said lug member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid operated motor associated with said mounting means, said motor including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder of said fluid motor in a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixed to said cylinder, said lug member being adapted to engage an aperture in said stationary support, said piston being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said cylinder, whereby to hold said mounting means in a given adjusted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid operated motor associated with said mounting means, said motor including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder of said fluid motor in a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixed to said cylinder, said lug member being adapted to engage an aperture in said stationary support, said piston being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said cylinder, whereby to hold said mounting means in a given adjusted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 5 in which said stationary support comprises a box beam contiguous a lateral side of said conveyor for supporting said one bearing, the slidable mounting means for said one bearing being mounted for slidable movement along the upper wall of said box beam, said upper wall being provided with an aperture to receive said lug member whereby said lug member extends into the interior of said box beam, and a stop block mounted on the interior of said box beam and engageable with said lug member to absorb forces on said lug member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid operated motor associated with said mounting means, said motor including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, said piston being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said cylinder, whereby to hold said mounting means in a given adjusted position, and cooperating means carried by said cylinder and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the cylinder of said fluid motor at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning of said chain, a fluid operated motor associated with said mounting means, said motor including a cylinder and a piston linearly movable in said cylinder, said piston being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said cylinder, whereby to hold said mounting means in a given adjusted position, and cooperating means carried by said cylinder and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the cylinder of said fluid motor at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 7 in which said one bearing supports said tail shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 7 in which said shim means is adapted to straddle said piston.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said chain, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, means for anchoring said housing at a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixed to said housing, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in said stationary support, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said housing, whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said chain, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, means for anchoring said housing at a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixed to said housing, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in said stationary support, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, and precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said housing, whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 10 in which said stationary support comprises a box beam contiguous a lateral side of said conveyor for supporting said one bearing, the slidable mounting means for said one bearing being mounted for slidable movement along the upper wall of said box beam, said upper wall being provided with an aperture to receive said lug member whereby said lug member extends into the interior of said box beam, and a stop block mounted on the interior of said box beam and engageable with said lug member to absorb forces on said lug member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 10 in which said shim means is adapted to straddle said ram element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A grate conveyor system as defined in claim 10 in which said one bearing supports said tail shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidable movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said chain, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said housing, whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved, and cooperating means carried by said housing and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the housing of said motor means at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a grate conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor chain trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a plurality of grate members connected to and movable with said chain, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidable movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said chain, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, precisely dimensioned shim means extending throughout the space between said mounting means and said housing, whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved, and cooperating means carried by said housing and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the housing of said motor means at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said conveyor, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, means for anchoring said housing at a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixEd to said housing, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in said stationary support, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, the space between said mounting means and said housing being adapted to receive precisely dimensioned shim means whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said conveyor, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, means for anchoring said housing at a fixed position relative to a stationary support, comprising a lug member affixEd to said housing, said lug member being adapted to detachably engage an aperture in said stationary support, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, the space between said mounting means and said housing being adapted to receive precisely dimensioned shim means whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
A conveyor system as defined in claim 15 in which said stationary support comprises a box beam contiguous a lateral side of said conveyor for supporting said one bearing, the slidable mounting means for said one bearing being mounted for slidable movement along the upper wall of said box beam, said upper wall being provided with an aperture to receive said lug member whereby said lug member extends into the interior of said box beam, and a stop block mounted on the interior of said box beam and engageable with said lug member to absorb forces on said lug member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a conveyor system as defined in claim 15, precisely dimensioned shim means interposed in the space between said mounting means and said housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said conveyor, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, the space between said mounting means and said housing being adapted to receive precisely dimensioned shim means whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved, and cooperating means carried by said housing and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the housing of said motor means at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a conveyor system including a head shaft and a tail shaft, a conveyor trained around said head shaft and said tail shaft, a bearing supporting said head shaft, a bearing supporting said tail shaft, the improvement which comprises mounting one of said bearings on a slidably movable mounting means whereby to permit adjustment of the location of the corresponding shaft to permit tensioning adjustment of said conveyor, motor means associated with said mounting means, said motor means including a housing and a linearly movable ram element, said ram element being engageable with said mounting means whereby to slidably adjust the position of said mounting means, the space between said mounting means and said housing being adapted to receive precisely dimensioned shim means whereby to hold said mounting means in an adjusted position to which it has been moved, and cooperating means carried by said housing and by a stationary support for selectively detachably anchoring the housing of said motor means at any one of a plurality of fixed positions along said stationary support whereby to provide a plurality of adjustment stations for adjustment of the location of said corresponding shaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a conveyor system as defined in claim 18, precisely dimensioned shim means interposed in the space between said mounting means and said housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a conveyor system as defined in claim 18, said linearly movable ram element including a free end facing said mounting means, said free end being engageable with said mounting means but not connected to said mounting means.
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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |