US3887061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable modular materials distribution system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-03
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1992-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A materials distribution system includes generally a plurality of main conveyor spans serially located so that each preceding conveyor is feeding the next succeeding conveyor span. The first of the main conveyor spans is loaded with material, such as earth, to be handled. The main conveyor span feeds a movable distribution conveyor mounted on two motor vehicles. The head section of the movable distribution conveyor is adjustably located under the tail section of the last serially located main conveyor span. The tail of the movable distribution conveyor span can be rotated through an arc greater than 180* while varying the radial distribution distance from the tail section of the last serially located main conveyor span. The main conveyor span and, if desired, the movable distribution conveyor spans are composed of at least one modular conveyor segment including framework and belt-supporting rollers. The main conveyor spans also include a head material receiving section and a tail material dispensing section. The main conveyor spans are preferably supported above the ground by the framework portion of a modular conveyor segment. The modular conveyor segments, tail sections and head sections have quickly connectable and reversible couplings to provide portability, ease in assembly and disassembly. A simplified control system for the serially located main conveyor spans is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry R Hopkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; B65G65/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
424 words
A modular conveyor system comprising: a main conveyor span including a primary conveyor section formed from at least one modular conveyor segment, said conveyor segment including framework means for support, each segment carrying a plurality of sets of belt-supporting rollers, each said modular segment including four elongate spaced bars of substantially equal length spaced from and parallel to each other, said bars being trussed together to form a trestle segment, diagonally adjacent ends of said bars at one end of said segment having coupling means of a first type thereon, the remaining diagonally adjacent ends of said bars at said one end having coupling means of a second type thereon which are capable of mating with the coupling means of said first type, said bars with coupling means of said first type thereon having coupling means of said second type on the opposite ends thereof, said bars with coupling means of said second type at said one end having coupling means of said first type on the opposite ends thereof, a head section having at least one set of belt-supporting rollers and having a belt return idler roller mounted on the end thereof, said head section including a frame having at one end thereof sets of first and second coupling means so arranged spatially to removably couple said first coupling means on said head section to said second coupling means on said primary section and to removably couple said second coupling means on said head section to said first coupling means on said primary section, thereby to removably connect said head section to an end of said primary section, a tail section removably connected to the other end of said primary section, said tail section having at least one set of belt-supporting rollers and having a belt drive roller mounted on the end thereof, said tail section including a frame having at one end thereof sets of first and second coupling means so arranged spatially to removably couple said first coupling means on said tail section to said second coupling means on said primary section and to removably couple said second coupling means on said tail section to said first coupling means on said primary section, thereby to removably connect said tail section to an end of said primary section, a continuous flexible belt engaging said belt idler roller on said head section and said drive roller on said tail section, said belt resting on said belt-supporting rollers, means for supporting said primary, tail, and head sections, means for driving said belt drive roller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
424 words
A modular conveyor system comprising: a main conveyor span including a primary conveyor section formed from at least one modular conveyor segment, said conveyor segment including framework means for support, each segment carrying a plurality of sets of belt-supporting rollers, each said modular segment including four elongate spaced bars of substantially equal length spaced from and parallel to each other, said bars being trussed together to form a trestle segment, diagonally adjacent ends of said bars at one end of said segment having coupling means of a first type thereon, the remaining diagonally adjacent ends of said bars at said one end having coupling means of a second type thereon which are capable of mating with the coupling means of said first type, said bars with coupling means of said first type thereon having coupling means of said second type on the opposite ends thereof, said bars with coupling means of said second type at said one end having coupling means of said first type on the opposite ends thereof, a head section having at least one set of belt-supporting rollers and having a belt return idler roller mounted on the end thereof, said head section including a frame having at one end thereof sets of first and second coupling means so arranged spatially to removably couple said first coupling means on said head section to said second coupling means on said primary section and to removably couple said second coupling means on said head section to said first coupling means on said primary section, thereby to removably connect said head section to an end of said primary section, a tail section removably connected to the other end of said primary section, said tail section having at least one set of belt-supporting rollers and having a belt drive roller mounted on the end thereof, said tail section including a frame having at one end thereof sets of first and second coupling means so arranged spatially to removably couple said first coupling means on said tail section to said second coupling means on said primary section and to removably couple said second coupling means on said tail section to said first coupling means on said primary section, thereby to removably connect said tail section to an end of said primary section, a continuous flexible belt engaging said belt idler roller on said head section and said drive roller on said tail section, said belt resting on said belt-supporting rollers, means for supporting said primary, tail, and head sections, means for driving said belt drive roller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a pair of bars slidably mounted on said head section in substantially parallel, spaced relationship and extending generally longitudinally relative to said head section, said idler roller rotatably mounted at the ends of said bars, retention means for holding said bars in a predetermined longitudinally extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said frame of said head section comprises at least two laterally spaced tubular members running horizonntally along the upper side of said frame, each of said pair of bars mounted for sliding movement in one of said spaced tubular members, said pair of bars having a plurality of laterally extending longitudinally spaced holes therein capable of receiving a retention pin for restraining said bars from longitudinaly inward movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising: power means for extending said bars in a longitudinally outward direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said means for powering comprises a hydraulic cylinder means, and meaans for supplying said hydraulic cylinder means with hydraulic fluid to extend said bars, said meaans for supplying fluid being responsive to the material load on said belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
The modular conveyor system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of main conveyor spans each of which includes a primary conveyor sectiOn formed from at least one modular conveyor segment, each of said plurality of main conveyor spans including a head section and a tail section, and each of said plurality of main conveyor spans having continuous flexible belt and belt-supporting roller means thereon, said main conveyor spans being so arranged to serially transfer material from a first of said spans to at least one subsequent span, the tail sections of said spans being positioned over the head section of a next serially located main conveyor span, the tail section of the last serially located conveyor span being positioned over means for distributing material being conveyed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a conveyor distribution system, a mobile distribution conveyor span comprising: a central section having a plurality of belt-supporting rollers thereon, a head section having an idler return roller thereon, and a tail section having a drive roller thereon, a first ground-engaging vehicle, first mounting means for connecting said head section of said conveyor span to said first vehicle for sliding movement relative to the longitudinal dimension of said distribution span, said first mounting means including a fiirst frame member having a plurality of load bearing rollers thereon, the head section of said distributionn span resting for longitudinal, sliding movement on said rollers, a second frame member, a third frame member pivotally connected along a vertical axis to said second frame member, one of said second and third frame members pivotally attached to said first frame member along a first axis transverse to said vertical axis, and a fourth frame member pivotally connected along a second axis to the other of said second and third frame members, said second axis being oriented transversely to said first axis and to said vertical axis, a second ground-engaging vehicle, second mounting means for connecting the tail section of said conveyor span to said second vehicle for rotation about an axis that is upright and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said conveyor span, a continuous, flexible conveyor belt engaging said drive and idler rollers and supported on said support rollers, and drive means for said belt mounted on said conveyor span.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a conveyor distribution system, a mobile distribution conveyor span comprising: a central section having a plurality of belt-supporting rollers thereon, a head section having an idler return roller thereon, and a tail section having a drive roller thereon, a first ground-engaging vehicle, first mounting means for connecting said head section of said conveyor span to said first vehicle for sliding movement relative to the longitudinal dimension of said distribution span, said first mounting means including a fiirst frame member having a plurality of load bearing rollers thereon, the head section of said distributionn span resting for longitudinal, sliding movement on said rollers, a second frame member, a third frame member pivotally connected along a vertical axis to said second frame member, one of said second and third frame members pivotally attached to said first frame member along a first axis transverse to said vertical axis, and a fourth frame member pivotally connected along a second axis to the other of said second and third frame members, said second axis being oriented transversely to said first axis and to said vertical axis, a second ground-engaging vehicle, second mounting means for connecting the tail section of said conveyor span to said second vehicle for rotation about an axis that is upright and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said conveyor span, a continuous, flexible conveyor belt engaging said drive and idler rollers and supported on said support rollers, and drive means for said belt mounted on said conveyor span.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said second means mounts said distribution span for rotation through an arc greater than 180*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said fourth frame member is connected to said first vehicle and comprises upper and lower portions pivotally connected to each other along a third axis parallel to said first axis, extensible means connected between said upper portion of the fourth frame member and said vehicle for adjusting and holding the fourth frame member in predetermined position about its second and third pivot axes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said second mounting means comprises: a first frame member connected to said distribution span, a support member affixed to said second vehicle, a ball and socket interconnecting said first frame member with said support member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said drive means for said belt on said distribution span comprises: a self-contained prime mover coupled to said drive roller by power transmission means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
A modular conveyor trestle section comprising: a plurality of rectangular trusses of substantially equal lengths having their elongate sides joined together, each end of the trestle section lying substantially in a plane perendicular to the plane of said trusses and having a rectangular shape, coupling means affixed to each end of said trestle section, said coupling means being of a first type on a given corner and being of an opposite type at the corresponding longitudinally opposite end corner, coupling means of said first type being located on one set of diagonal corners at both ends of said section and coupling means of said opposite type being located on the other set of diagonal corners at both ends of said trestle section, said coupling means of said first type capable of mating with coupling means of said opposite type to join together end to end a plurality of said trestle sections to form an integrated conveyor trestle, a plurality of belt-supporting roller means mounted on one side of trestle section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A modular conveyor trestle section comprising: a plurality of rectangular trusses of substantially equal lengths having their elongate sides joined together, each end of the trestle section lying substantially in a plane perendicular to the plane of said trusses and having a rectangular shape, coupling means affixed to each end of said trestle section, said coupling means being of a first type on a given corner and being of an opposite type at the corresponding longitudinally opposite end corner, coupling means of said first type being located on one set of diagonal corners at both ends of said section and coupling means of said opposite type being located on the other set of diagonal corners at both ends of said trestle section, said coupling means of said first type capable of mating with coupling means of said opposite type to join together end to end a plurality of said trestle sections to form an integrated conveyor trestle, a plurality of belt-supporting roller means mounted on one side of trestle section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
A modular conveyor trestle section comprising: a plurality of rectangular trusses of substantially equal lengths having their elongate sides joined together, each end of the trestle section lying substantially in a plane perendicular to the plane of said trusses and having a rectangular shape, coupling means affixed to each end of said trestle section, said coupling means being of a first type on a given corner and being of an opposite type at the corresponding longitudinally opposite end corner, coupling means of said first type being located on one set of diagonal corners at both ends of said section and coupling means of said opposite type being located on the other set of diagonal corners at both ends of said trestle section, said coupling means of said first type capable of mating with coupling means of said opposite type to join together end to end a plurality of said trestle sections to form an integrated conveyor trestle, a plurality of belt-supporting roller means mounted on one side of trestle section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
170 words
A modular conveyor trestle section comprising: a plurality of rectangular trusses of substantially equal lengths having their elongate sides joined together, each end of the trestle section lying substantially in a plane perendicular to the plane of said trusses and having a rectangular shape, coupling means affixed to each end of said trestle section, said coupling means being of a first type on a given corner and being of an opposite type at the corresponding longitudinally opposite end corner, coupling means of said first type being located on one set of diagonal corners at both ends of said section and coupling means of said opposite type being located on the other set of diagonal corners at both ends of said trestle section, said coupling means of said first type capable of mating with coupling means of said opposite type to join together end to end a plurality of said trestle sections to form an integrated conveyor trestle, a plurality of belt-supporting roller means mounted on one side of trestle section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
The trestle section of claim 12 wherein said coupling means of said one type comprise a longitudinally extending flange having a hole laterally extending therethrough, said coupling means of said opposite type comprising a longitudinally extending yoke having a laterally extending hole therethrough, said coupling means further comprising a retention pin for insertion through said holes as they are mated when the ends of said trestle sections are aligned for interconnection, said retention pin attached to said trestle section by a flexible member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |