Ashworth Bros., Inc.

Ashworth Brothers, Inc.

William F Funkhouser

Michael Etherington

Marshall L Veach

A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The links are affixed on the rods by resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. In addition to the resistance weld, the rods include diametrically enlarged protrusions or swells that are placed proximate the link apertures to constrain the links from lateral movement on the rod. At the ends of the rod, this protrusion is in the form of an upset or button head. Alternative embodiments also include rotational constraints of the links relative to the rod. The additional fixation steps such as manual welding used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Conveyor belt with improved rod to link attachment

A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral deflection and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The rods have a large diameter through most of their length, and a smaller diameter at their ends where they are attached to the connective links. The transition between the large diameter and the smaller diameter is a chamfered section which is captured within an aperture of the links to constrain the links from lateral movement along the rod. The links are further constrained on the rods by forming an upset or buttonhead at the ends of the rod and resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. The additional fixation steps used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Conveyor belt

An end fixation for a ceramic conveyor belt, including a plurality of ceramic bars interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting rods disposed through holes formed in the ceramic bars such that each bar is interconnected by two rods is disclosed. The end fixation holding the bars on the rods comprises an indentation formed about both ends of the interconnecting rods, and a ceramic edge link disposed adjacent the outermost of the ceramic bars. The edge links have a longitudinal channel disposed therethrough, the channel being defined by a ledge and including an enlarged opening through which the ends of the interconnecting rod may be passed to allow the edge links to be disposed on the rod. The ledge fits within the indentation to retain the edge links on the rods. Also provided is a structure for preventing the enlarged opening from aligning with the rods after the edge links are disposed on the rods to preclude the edge links from falling off of the rods.

Rod and edge link fixation for conveyor belts

A ceramic conveyor belt including a plurality of ceramic bars is disclosed. The bars have holes disposed through opposite ends, and are aligned to form a plurality of columns of bars. The columns are separated by ceramic spacers having corresponding holes. The aligned holes form a cross-passage through which a ceramic cross rod is disposed. An annular groove is disposed about the ends of the cross rod extending beyond the outer columns. A ceramic end tab includes a hole formed therethrough defined by a peripheral wall. A portion of the peripheral wall fits within the groove, leaving a space between the end tab and the groove on the opposite side of the end tab. A ceramic putty is disposed in the space, and hardens over a portion of the end tab, preventing radial movement of the end tab with respect to the rod, thereby preventing axial movement as well. Since the end tab is prevented from falling off the rod, the outer columns are securely held on the rods as well.

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Mount Jackson, VA, United States of America

William F Funkhouser