The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 1978
Filed:
Oct. 01, 1976
Ralph J MacKay, Novi, MI (US);
Gladd Industries, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An overload indicator particularly adapted for use with driving and driven components of a meat processing system conveyor to indicate when an overload condition takes place. A frangible member of the indicator is preferably embodied as a shear pin that normally connects the driving and driven components and includes an internal gas chamber which is communicated with the environment as the pin fractures in shear due to overloading. Pressurized gas supplied to the gas chamber of the shear pin decreases in pressure as the pin fractures and this pressure decrease is sensed to indicate the occurrence of an overload condition. A conduit for supplying the pressurized gas to the gas chamber of the shear pin preferably includes a restricted orifice through which the gas is fed by a compressor, and a pressure sensitive valve downstream from the restricted orifice senses the pressure decrease due to an overloading pin fracture. The driving and driven components of a meat processing system conveyor incorporating the indicator are preferably a driven reciprocating beam and a drive cylinder that reciprocates the beam. A flexible hose is connected to the shear pin within a housing of the system and feeds the pressurized gas to the shear pin which moves along with the reciprocating beam. The overload indicator is preferably interconnected with the drive cylinder operation so as to terminate its operation when an overload condition occurs.