LINK BELT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

• US 20060201789A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Original Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Inventors: Bigler, Jeremy M., Fatato, Francis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,449,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/850
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/06 having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/38 Chains or like traction elements drive chains F16G13/00; Connections between traction elements and load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 13/07 the links being of identical shape, e.g. cranked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1079 Joining of cut laminae end-to-end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

A belt for power transmission and for conveying elements is provided wherein the belt comprises a top layer attached to the top surface of the belt. The top layer provides a generally smooth top surface for the belt. The belt preferably is a link belt and the top surface of the belt comprises a bonding layer for adhering the top layer to the belt. The bonding layer may be a thermoplastic urethane that is heat fusible with the compressible layer to adhere the compressible layer to the belt. A method is also provide in which a top layer is adhered to a link belt and the top layer is then severed into a plurality of separate elements.

Claims

1. A belt for transmitting power or transporting materials on the top side of the assembly comprising:

an interlocking link belt comprising a series of belt links arranged in superimposed successive overlapping relation, said belt having a thickness between its top and bottom sides corresponding to the thickness of at least two belt links, each of said belt links having;

a body portion with a lateral width, a longitudinal length, at least one aperture, and an integral fastener at the leading end of said body portion and longitudinally-aligned with said aperture, said fastener comprising;

a laterally constricted fastener neck portion; and

a fastening tab connected to said body portion through said neck portion;

said belt links of said series being secured together in overlapping relation to form a belt by the neck of said fastener extending from one of said sides of the belt through said aperture in the preceding belt link, said fastening tab engaging the other of said sides of said belt at the preceding belt link to secure the belt links together; and

an elongated top layer overlying the link belt to provide a generally flat top surface, wherein the top layer is fixedly attached to the link belt and has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the belt links.

2. The belt of claim 1 wherein the top layer is thermally welded to the top surface of the link belt.

3. The belt of claim 1 wherein the top layer overlies substantially the entire length of the link belt.

4. The belt of claim 1 wherein the top layer is formed of a length of material that is thermally bonded to the top surface of the link belt and severed into a plurality of separate segments attached to the top surface of the link belt.

5. The belt of claim 1 wherein the top layer is formed of a layer of fabric.

6. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:

providing a link belt formed of a plurality of individual belt links;

attaching a top layer to the top surface of the link belt; and

severing the top layer after attaching the top layer to the link belt, to provide a plurality of separate top layer elements attached to the top surface of the link belt.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of attaching a top layer comprises thermally welding the top layer to the top surface of the link belt.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of severing comprises cutting through the top layer at a plurality of locations along the length of the top layer.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of severing comprises severing the top layer so that each top layer element is attached to the top surface of no more than three belt links.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of severing comprises severing the top layer so that each top layer element is attached to the top surface of no more than one belt link.

11. The method of claim 6 comprising the step of disconnecting adjacent belt links without detaching the top layer from the belt links.

13. The belt of claim 11 wherein the smoothing elements are thermally welded to the belt links.

14. The belt of claim 11 wherein the smoothing element are formed from a layer of fabric.

15. The belt of claim 11 wherein one of the smoothing elements comprises a generally planar element overlying the protrusion formed at the intersection of a first belt link and a second belt link that precedes the first belt link along the length of the belt, and wherein the smoothing element has a leading edge that projects forwardly from the intersection of the first and second belt links and a trailing edge that terminates prior to the protrusion formed by the intersection of the first link and a third belt link that trails the first belt link along the length of the belt.

16. The belt of claim 11 wherein the smoothing elements have a thickness and the belt links have a thickness and the thickness of the smoothing elements is less than the thickness of belt links.

12. A belt, comprising:

a continuous belt formed of a plurality of intersecting belt links wherein a protrusion is formed at the intersection between adjacent belt links, thereby forming a plurality of protrusions along the length of the belt;

a plurality of generally flat smoothing elements attached to the top surface of the belt, wherein each smoothing element overlies one of the protrusions without overlapping a preceding or successive protrusion.

17. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:

forming a belt having a top layer of heat fusible material;

providing a top element configured to overlie a length of the belt;

adhering the bottom surface of the top element to the top layer of the belt, wherein the step of adhering comprises heat fusing the top element and the belt; and

severing the top element at a plurality of positions along the length of the belt after the top element is attached to the belt.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of severing comprises cutting through the top layer at a plurality of locations along the length of the top layer.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of severing comprises severing the top layer so that each top layer element is attached to the top surface of no more than three belt links.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of severing comprises severing the top layer so that each top layer element is attached to the top surface of no more than one belt link.