US3955593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor for flexible slurry hose
Assignee: Consolidation Coal Co
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Filing: 1975-04-04
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Granted: 1976-05-11
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Expires: 1995-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor for a flexible slurry hose of the type carried on a plurality of wheel-supported carts interconnected by an articulated linkage. The conveyor provides guidance and track means for transporting the carts and hose through a 180° turn by lifting the wheels from the ground and guiding the linkage through the 180° turn. The hose linkage and carts are guided through portions of an elliptical path before and after passing through an arc of a circle facilitating greater ease in negotiation of the entire turn, and a lesser degree of lateral displacement of the linkage than in systems guiding through a 180° path of travel formed on a constant radius.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald W. Umphrey
- 👤 David L. McCain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/52; B65G53/54; E; E21; E21C; E21C35/00; E21C35/20; F; F16; F16L; F16L3/00; F16L3/16; F16L3/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855; Y10T137/6903; Y10T137/6918
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a system for transporting a slurry from a mining machine in a mine having a floor and which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of spaced, wheeled carts, and further supported by a flexible linkage interconnecting the carts, which system further includes a mobile conveyor movably supporting some of the carts off the floor and a 180° bend in the hose and linkage, and located between the storage section and a parallelly located active section as the need for the hose changes, the improvement comprising: means on said conveyor for guiding the linkage and hose supported thereon through a curving path defining said bend of 180°, which curving path includes a first portion having a radius of curvature which continually diminishes and a second portion having a radius of curvature which continually increases to complete said curving path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system for transporting a slurry from a mining machine in a mine having a floor and which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of spaced, wheeled carts, and further supported by a flexible linkage interconnecting the carts, which system further includes a mobile conveyor movably supporting some of the carts off the floor and a 180° bend in the hose and linkage, and located between the storage section and a parallelly located active section as the need for the hose changes, the improvement comprising: means on said conveyor for guiding the linkage and hose supported thereon through a curving path defining said bend of 180°, which curving path includes a first portion having a radius of curvature which continually diminishes and a second portion having a radius of curvature which continually increases to complete said curving path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said curving path defines an elliptic curve with the point of joinder of said first portion and said second portion being a radius transition point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor further includes: a subframe; and a generally U-shaped ramp mounted on said subframe and having said guiding means mounted thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 additionally including a third curved portion positioned between said first and second portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second curving path portions are segments of an ellipse in which the major axis - minor axis ratio is 3:2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein the radius of said curving path third portion plus the radius of the smallest of said hoses is at least 5 feet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is further characterized to include: a platform; load bearing rollers mounted on the platform and supporting the weight of the hose, linkage and carts supported on the conveyor; and wherein said guiding means comprises a plurality of inner race guide rollers mounted on the platform and positioned to bear against said linkage and guide said linkage through the defined curving path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said load bearing rollers are positioned to gradually elevate said linkage, hose and carts through a gradient to a point where the wheels of the cart are spaced above said platform as said inner race rollers contact said linkage, and said linkage is supported at an elevation to track on said inner race rollers in traversing said curving path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said load bearing rollers include a plurality of bogied rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 and further characterized as including: a pair of inclined, parallel ramps connected to, and extending from, the platform; and rollers rotatably mounted at the upper side of each of said ramps for rollably supporting said linkage as said linkage, carts and hoses move to or from a position over said platform, and for guiding said linkage to a position of horizontal alignment with said guiding means to facilitate tracking of said linkage on said guiding means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said ramp is inclined and includes a pair of substantially parallel legs having their free ends at the lowest portion of the ramp, and wherein said improvement is further characterized as including a plurality of load bearing rollers mounted on the upper side of said ramp for contacting said linkage and retaining the linkage in a position to track on said guiding means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 and further characterized as including a hold down plate mounted on said subframe and including a portion positioned for passage of a part of each of said carts therebeneath as the respective carts move through said curving path whereby said carts, hoses and linkage are restrained from moving upwardly relative to said subframe and ramp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said guiding means comprises a plurality of spaced inner race guide rollers mounted on said ramp and positioned to bear against said linkage and guide said linkage through the defined curving path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 and further characterized as including a pair of steerable wheels mounted on said subframe for steering the conveyor as said conveyor is moved by said moving means; and means on said subframe for preventing yawing and fishtailing of the subframe as said conveyor is moved by said moving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said U-shaped ramp includes a portion conformed in shape to said defined curving path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said U-shaped ramp is a tube of rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said curving path first and second portions are segments of an ellipse in which the major axis-minor axis ratio is 3:2.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement defined in claim 13 wherein said U-shaped ramp includes a portion conformed in shape to said defined curving path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement defined in claim 18 wherein said ellipse segments are segments of an ellipse in which the major axis - minor axis ratio is 3:2.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 19 wherein said curving path first and second portions are segments of an ellipse in which the major axis-minor axis ratio is 3:2.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2803498A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-11 | 1979-11-10 | 1980-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-11 | 1983-11-10 | 1984-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-11 | 1987-11-10 | 1988-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |