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United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,303,813

de Rooy 45 Date of Patent: Apr. 19, 1994
54). SEALING APRON DEVICE FOR THE FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
LOADING TROUGH OF ABELT CONVEYOR
2208838 4/1989 United Kingdom............. 198/836.1
75) Inventor: Johannes J. de Rooy, Cothen, Primary Examiner-Joseph E. Valenza
Netherlands
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz
73) Assignee: Mass Flow Equipment B.V., Da 57 ABSTRACT
Doorn, Netherlands Sealing apron device for a moving conveyor belt or
(21) Appl. No.: 958,900 loading trough of a belt conveyor, has at least one
mounting plate which is fitted above the belt and which
22 Filed: Oct. 9, 1992 has a vertically adjustable sealing apron on a side wall.
The underside of the apron interacts with the belt for
30 Foreign Application Priority Data sealing, and the sealing apron comprises a number of
Oct. 10, 1991 NL Netherlands ......................... 9101698 adjacent sections which are vertically slidable relative
to each other on the mounting plate by means of slide
51) Int. Cl. .............................................. B65G 47/19 guides on the mounting plate and the apron sections
52) U.S.C. .................................. 198/525; 198/836.1 respectively. Each apron section is so fixed to the
58) Field of Search .............................. 198/525,836.1 mounting plate with a clamping plate or bracket and
fixing members that an apron section is clamped be
(56) References Cited tween the clamping plate and the mounting plate. A
friction element between the clamping plate and sealing
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS apron sections permits a downward movement of the
4,236,628 12/1980 Stahura ............................... 198/525 section relative to the mounting plate, but impede an
4,874,082 10/1989 Swinderman .................... 198/836.1 upward movement thereof.
5,048,669 9/1991 Swinderman .................... 198/836.1
5,154,280 10/1992 Mott .................................... 198/525 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Apr. 19, 1994 Sheet 1 of 3 5,303,813
U.S. Patent Apr. 19, 1994 Sheet 2 of 3 5,303,813
U.S. Patent Apr. 19, 1994 Sheet 3 of 3 5,303,813
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1. 2
sure of the apron sections on the conveyor belt becomes
SEALINGAPRON DEVICE FOR THE LOADING too great, because the sections cannot be set back up
TROUGH OF A BELT CONVEYOR again since the toothing present prevents this. The only
way of correcting this faulty setting is to break out the
The invention relates to a sealing apron device or 5 apron sections in the same way as during their replace
conveyor skirt board for a moving conveyor belt or ment and to insert them into their guides again from the
loading trough of a belt conveyor, provided with at top. The chance of damaging the apron section in ques
least one mounting plate which is to be fitted above the tion and/or the sections lying next to them is very great
belt and which bears a sealing apron in a vertically here.
adjustable manner on a side wall, the underside of 10 The object of the invention is a sealing apron device
which apron can interact with the belt for sealing, and in which a number of apron sections are fixed on a
which sealing apron is made of a number of adjacent mounting plate, and in which each apron section can be
sections which are vertically slidable relative to each changed in a simple way independently of the other
other on the mounting plate by means of slide guide apron sections and if the adjustment is too deep, the
means on the mounting plate and the apron sections 15 faulty setting can easily be corrected.
respectively. This object of the invention is achieved with a device
Such a sealing apron device is known from the British through the fact that each apron section can be fixed in
Patent Specification GB 2,208,838. such a way to the mounting plate with the aid of a
The known sealing apron device has a sealing apron clamping plate or bracket and fixing means that an
which is made up of a number of adjacent sections 20 apron section is clamped between the clamping plate
which are fixed so that they can slide in the vertical and the mounting plate. The advantage of such a
direction on a mounting plate. Each apron section is method of composing a sealing apron device is that the
preferably slotted and individually bolted at a predeter clamping plate can be removed in a simple manner,
mined torque by bolt and nut assembly to the mounting following which the apron section can be removed very
plate. A disadvantage of this method offixing is that the 25 easily between the other apron sections. A new apron
friction between a clamping plate and the correspond section can then be fixed in a simple manner on the
ing skirt board section changes very sudden what makes vacant position, and the new apron section is then fixed
it very difficult to fix each skirt board section with a tightly on the mounting plate with the aid of the same
predetermined torque to the mounting plate. Due to clamping means.
trembling the tension of the predetermined torque 30 In a preferred embodiment of the sealing apron de
changes in time. Another disadvantage is that in order vice according to the invention, friction means are fitted
to be able to change the sections, they have to be moved between the clamping plate and the sealing apron sec
in the vertical direction, i.e. upwards or downwards by tions, which friction means permit a downward move
means of a hammer. In the downward direction this ment of the section on the mounting plate, but impede
causes the problem that the predetermined torque 35 an upward movement thereof. These measures ensure
changes, while for the vertical movement of the apron that the apron sections cannot make an upward move
sections in the upward direction the disadvantage is that ment, which would cause the seal of the sealing apron
the nut has to be loosened and then fixed to a predeter device to be inadequate.
mined torque. Removing the sections forwards, i.e. out The clamping plate of the sealing apron device ac
of the vertical plane of the mounting plate, is very diffi cording to the invention is preferably U-shaped in
cult, and for this three apron sections havae to be loos cross-section with legs which extend downward on
ened, due to the fact that the sections are interconnected either side in the direction at right angles to the cross
to each other by tongues. section and can be accommodated in grooves on either
Such a sealing apron device is known from American side of the longitudinal hole in each apron section, and
Patent Specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,628. 45 the two legs of the U-shaped plate and/or the grooves
The known sealing apron device has a sealing apron in an apron section are provided with friction means. It
which is made up of a number of adjacent sections has been found that such a clamping plate holds the
which are fixed so that they can slide in the vertical apron section very well in a tight fit in the correct posi
direction on a mounting plate. Each apron section is tion, which prevents the apron sections from being able
preferably fixed by means of dovetail-type guides on the 50 to turn and any cracks from being able to occur be
mounting plate. A disadvantage of this method offixing tween the different apron sections. Such a U-shaped
is that, in order to be able to change the sections, they clamping plate can also be provided very simply with
have to be moved in the vertical direction, i.e. upwards friction means consisting of teeth which are directed in
or downwards. In the downward direction this causes such a way that they permit only a downward move
the problem that the conveyor belt is situated below the 55 ment of the section relative to the mounting plate. Such
sections, while during the vertical movement of the preferred embodiments make it possible to release a
apron sections in the upward direction the disadvantage clamping plate fully or partially by undoing the fixing
is that a toothing is present which is for the very pur means, with the result that the sealing apron section
pose of preventing the sections from being able to move clamped under it is then also adjustable in the upward
upwards in the vertical direction. Removing the sec direction, because the pressure of the friction elements
tions forwards, i.e. out of the vertical plane of the is removed through the release. This is very useful if,
mounting plate, is very difficult, and for this an apron for example, an apron section has been moved too far
section has to be more or less broken out, which means down, so that too great pressure is being exerted on the
that the apron section in question is more or less de conveyor belt.
stroyed and the chance of damage to the remaining 65 Making each apron section of the sealing apron de
apron sections is very great. Another disadvantage is vice preferably symmetrical both in the longitudinal
that, if the separate sealing apron sections are adjusted direction and in the transverse direction means that
too far downwards, great wear occurs because the pres when one end of such an apron section is worn out it
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5,303,813 4.
can be turned over and the other end can be used. An a smooth plastic, in order to obtain a lower friction.
apron section is consequently used more efficiently, for When steel guide strips are used, they are preferably
the centre part, which is no longer of any use after the welded onto the mounting plate, and when plastic or
apron section is worn out, now lasts twice as long. other materials are used, screws or pop rivets can, for
In another preferred embodiment of the device, the example, be used for the fixing. The sealing apron sec
mounting plate is flanged in the lengthwise direction tions 10 are provided with two grooves 17 into which
near the underside, and each apron section is provided the legs 18 of the U-shaped clamping bracket 15 fit. The
with a recess near the underside, so that it can interact legs 18 of the clamping bracket 15 are provided with
with the raised edge of the mounting plate. Such an one or more 2 sawteeth 19 which are directed in one
edge not only strengthens the mounting plate, but also O direction, with the result that the sealing apron section
prevents the apron sections from being worn more than 10 can be hammered only downwards with a hammer,
is efficient, otherwise the sealing of the apron sections while the sawteeth 19 at the same time prevent an up
will no longer be adequate. This flanged edge also pre ward movement of the sealing apron section. The seal
vents the accumulation of material between the apron ing apron sections 10 are also provided with an elon
sections and the mounting plate. 5 gated aperture or longitudinal hole 20 through which
The distance between the U-shaped legs of the clamp said section can move over the spacer 13 in the vertical
ing plate is preferably at least half the width of an apron direction. At the rear side each sealing apron section is
section, which means that the different apron sections provided with a space 21 having on either side project
can be fixed well so that they are flat and sturdy. In a ing parts 22, said space 21 being exactly the same width
preferred embodiment the mounting plate can, if de 20 as the guide strips 12. The projecting parts 22 do not run
sired, be provided with several guide strips which can entirely to the bottom, with the result that when the
interact with several recesses in an apron section, which sealing apron sections are fixed on the mounting plate 7
means that each apron section can be moved only in the they can be moved in the vertical direction only until
vertical direction, and twisting of an apron section can the projecting parts 22 come against the flanged edge 8
no longer occur at all. 25 of the mounting plate 7. The movement distance of each
The invention will be explained in greater detail with sealing apron section is also determined by the elon
reference to the drawing. In the drawing: gated aperture 20.
FIG. 1 shows a part of a loading trough with loading FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show another example of an embodi
trough hopper and a sealing apron device according to ment of a sealing apron section 10, which in this case
the invention; 30 comprises a sealing apron section which is symmetrical
FIG. 2 shows a mounting plate with apron section both in the lengthwise direction and in the transverse
and fixing means according to the invention; direction, which means that both sides of the sealing
FIG. 3 shows a mounting plate with a number of apron sections can be used.
loose parts of an apron section; I claim:
FIGS. 4, 5, 6 show a view and cross-section of an 35 1. Sealing apron device for a moving conveyor belt
other embodiment of an apron section. or loading trough of a belt conveyor, having at least one
FIG. 1 shows a belt conveyor 1 with a moving con mounting plate which is fitted above the belt and which
veyor belt or loading trough 2 on which the materials 3 bears a sealing apron in a vertically adjustable manner
to be conveyed are deposited through a chute 4, and are on a side wall, the underside of which apron can inter
conveyed from there, the conveyor belt 2 being sup act with the belt for sealing, and which sealing apron
ported by a number of rollers 5. A U-shaped sealing comprises a plurality of adjacent sections which are
apron device 6 according to the invention is fitted near vertically slidable relative to each other on the mount
the position where the chute 4 deposits the materials 3 ing plate by means of slide guide means on the mounting
on the moving belt 2. The sealing apron device 6 com plate and the apron sections respectively, each said
prises a mounting plate 7 consisting of a rigid flat metal 45 apron section (10) fixed in such a way to the mounting
plate of which the underside is flanged, thereby forming plate (7) with a clamping plate or bracket (15) and fixing
a flange 8. The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a means (13, 16 such that an apron section (10) is clamped
mounting plate 7 which is in this case welded to the between the clamping plate (15) and the mounting plate
plates 9 forming the end of the chute 4. (7) and friction means between the clamping plate (15)
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the mounting 50 and the sealing apron sections (10), for permitting a
plate 7 together with a vertically movable apron section downward movement of the section (10) relative to the
10 of the sealing apron device. In this case the mounting mounting plate (7), but the clamping plate (15) is U
plate 7 is flanged both at the underside, producing a shaped in cross-section with legs (18) which extend
flange 8 at the underside, and at the top, forming a downward on either side in the direction at right angles
flange 11. A number of guide strips 12 are fitted, for 55 to the cross-section, and can be accommodated in
example welded, at equal intervals on the mounting grooves (17) provided on either side of a longitudinal
plate 7, on which strips a spacer 13 provided with a hole (20) in each apron section (10), and in that the two
threaded hole 14 is fitted. With the aid of a U-shaped legs (18) of the U-shaped plate (15) and/or the grooves
clamping bracket 15, a sealing apron section 10 can be (17) in an apron section (10) are provided with friction
fixed in the correct position on the mounting plate 7 by eaS.
means of a bolt 16. The distance between the guide 2. Sealing apron device according to claim 1, wherein
strips 12 with spacer 13 corresponds exactly to the the friction means comprise teeth (19) on the ends of the
width of a sealing apron section 10. legs (18) of a clamping plate (15), which teeth are di
FIG. 3 shows the various parts before they are fixed rected in such a way that they permit only a downward
on the mounting plate. The sealing apron section 10 is 65 movement of the section (10) relative to the mounting
made of rubber, polyurethane or another soft material. plate (7).
The guide strips 12 are preferably made of steel, but 3. Sealing apron device according to claim 2, wherein
they can also be made of other materials, for example of each apron section (10) has a longitudinal hole (20), and
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the fixing means comprise a bolt (16) which projects 6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the mount
through the longitudinal hole (20) of the apron section ing plate (7) is flanged (8) in the longitudinal direction
(10) and can be fixed in a threaded hole (14) in the near the underside, and each apron section has a recess
mounting plate (7). near the underside, so that it can interact with the raised
4. Sealing apron device according to claim 3, wherein edge of the mounting plate.
the fixing means comprise a spacer (13) such as a tubular 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the distance
projection which is welded on the mounting plate (7), between the U-shaped legs (18) of the clamping plate is
and has a screw thread in which the bolt (16) can be at least half the width of an apron section.
fixed. 8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the mount
10 ing plate (7) is provided with several guide strips (12)
5. Sealing apron device according to claim 4, wherein which can interact with several recesses (21) in an apron
each apron section (10) is symmetrical both in the longi section (10).
tudinal direction and in the transverse direction. k is k

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