CONVEYOR BELT VACUUM CATCHER Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: mechanical engineering; conveyor transport; inclined belt conveyors. SUBSTANCE: proposed vacuum catcher of conveyor belt has vacuum building device in form of vacuum bottle, operating member installed with clearance under load-carrying belt in space between roller bearings and made in form of chute whose length is less than distance between roller bearings, shape of cross-section of chute being the same as shape of cross- section of load-carrying belt. Surface of chute pointed to belt is lined with layer of elastomer featuring higher friction properties and is provided with closed system of channels in form of blind slots. Cylinders installed on conveyor frame square to catcher operating member are provided with hollow rods rigidly coupled with operating member. Hollow rods are installed in guide bushings in walls of which through holes are made. These holes are located higher than holes in rod walls and are placed in communication with above-piston spaces of cylinders communicating, in their turn, through pipeline with vacuum bottle, and through hollow rods, with slots in working surface of catcher operating member. Catcher has also belt sag pickup with articulated lever mechanism. Vacuum catcher is furnished with system of lever- and-shoe brakes made in form of several pairs of bell cranks mounted on rocking supports and located at both sides of conveyor belt square to its longitudinal axis. Brake shoes are hinge-mounted on shorter arms of bell cranks pointed to belt. Brake shoes are installed with clearance over belt at its edges on section of belt engagement with operating mechanism of catcher. Longer arms of bell cranks are in power engagement with extension springs installed below and compressed by force of tensioned cables some ends of which are secured on ends of longer arms of belt cranks. Other ends are provided with rings fitted on free ends of cylinder rods with possibility of removal, rods being secured in pistons from side of underpiston space. Operating member of vacuum catcher is hinge-coupled with telescopic support posts hinge-secured on conveyor frame and furnished with automatic length adjuster. EFFECT: improved reliability of vacuum catcher in operation. 3 cl, 5 dwg