TUBULAR CONVEYOR

• US 3,722,666 A
• Filed: 12/22/1969
• Issued: 03/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erwin H. Ulm, Robert June II
• Original Assignee: Erwin H. Ulm, Robert June II
• Inventors: Ulm, Erwin H., June, Robert II
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lane, H. S.
• Application Number:
  US04/887,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 198/213,15 222/240,372,241,412,413 416/176
• US Class Current: 198/659
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 33/14 comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 33/24 Details

Abstract

An improved conveyor for particulate solids which comprises a tubular housing, a flexible, longitudinal central core member, and a flexible helical member. The helical member is positioned around the core member, and is in spaced relationship with the core member and the housing. Drive means are provided for rotating both the core member and the helical member in the same direction and at the same rotational speed. In one embodiment the invention also provides a conveyor housing a vertical intake guide assembly on one end, the guide assembly being particularly adapted to conveying granular materials from a drum or other container.

Claims

1. An improved tubular conveyor for solid particulate materials comprising:

a tubular housing formed of flexible material and having an intake end and an outlet end;

a flexible, longitudinal central core member disposed within said housing;

a flexible helical member positioned around the said core member, said helical member being in spaced relationship with said core member and said housing, the free ends of said core member and said helical member extending beyond the intake end of said housing;

drive means at the outlet end of said housing for rotating said core member and said helical member in the same direction and at the same speed;

a vertical intake guide assembly comprising a plurality of support members, said support members being spaced from said housing and extending longitudinally beyond the end of said core member and said helical member;

materials guide means of cylindrical configuration, said materials guide means being mounted on said support members and adapted to permit the downward feeding of said solid materials toward said helical member and to maintain said solid materials in contact with said helical member, and said materials guide means having a multiplicity of openings of a size sufficient to permit the passage of said solid materials.

2. An improved tubular conveyor for solid particulate materials comprising:

a tubular housing formed of flexible material and having an intake end and an outlet end;

a flexible, longitudinal central core member disposed within said housing;

a flexible helical member positioned around the said core member, said helical member being in spaced relationship with said core member and said housing, the free ends of said core member and said helical member extending beyond the intake end of said housing;

drive means at the outlet end of said housing for rotating said core member and said helical member in the same direction and at the same speed;

a vertical intake guide assembly comprising a plurality of support members, said support members being spaced from said housing and extending longitudinally beyond the end of said core member and said helical member;

materials guide means of cylindrical configuration, said materials guide means being mounted on said support members and adapted to permit the downward feeding of said solid materials toward said helical member and to maintain said solid materials in contact with said helical member; and

baffle means within said materials guide means, said baffle means being angled inwardly toward said helical member in the direction of rotation thereof.

3. The conveyor as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide assembly comprises four support members, and wherein said baffle means are mounted on said support members.

4. The conveyor as defined in claim 2 wherein the free ends of said core member and said helical member are connected to a disc.

5. An improved flexible conveyor for solid particulate materials comprising:

a flexible tubular housing having an intake end and an output end;

a flexible longitudinal central core member positioned within said housing;

a flexible helical member positioned around said core member, said helical member being in spaced relationship with said core member and said housing, and the free ends of said helical and central core members extending beyond the intake end of said housing;

a disc connected to the free ends of said helical member and said core member;

output direction control means at the output end of said housing;

a drive motor mounted on said output direction control means, the shaft of said motor being connected to said core member and said helical member at the output end thereof;

a vertical intake guide assembly mounted at the intake end of said housing and comprising a plurality of support members, said support members being spaced from said housing and extending longitudinally beyond the end of said core member and said helical member;

cylindrical materials guide means mounted on said support members and adapted to permit the downward feeding of said solid materials toward said helical member and to maintain said solid materials in contact with said helical member; and

baffle means within said materials guide means, said baffle means being angled inwardly toward said helical member in the direction of rotation thereof.

6. The conveyor as defined in claim 5 wherein said materials guide means have a multiplicity of openings of a size sufficient to permit the passage of said solid material.

7. The conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said helical member has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration.