Link belt assembly and method for producing same

• US 7,449,079 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Original Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Inventors: Fatato, Francis B, Bigler, Jeremy M
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell; James R
• Application Number:
  US11/277,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 198/850, 198/853, 474/264, 474/266, 156/137, 156/266, 156/324, 156/292, 83/13, 83/14
• US Class Current: 156/137
• 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attaching a top layer comprises thermally welding the top layer to the top surface of the link belt.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of severing comprises cutting through the top layer at a plurality of locations along the length of the top layer.

4. The method of claim 1 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.

5. The method of claim 4 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.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of disconnecting adjacent belt links without detaching the top layer from the belt links.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a link belt comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of belt links each having a fastening tab and an aperture; and

securing the belt links together in overlapping relation by extending the tab of each belt link through the aperture in an adjacent belt link.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attaching a top layer comprises attaching a top layer such that the top layer overlies substantially the entire length of link belt.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of providing a top layer comprising a layer of fabric.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the link belt comprises 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, wherein the method comprises the step of selecting a top element configured to provide a plurality of smoothing elements, and wherein the step of attaching the top layer to the link belt comprises attaching the top element such that the top element overlies the plurality of protrusions to provide a smooth upper surface.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of severing the top element comprises severing the top element to form a plurality or smoothing elements wherein each smoothing element overlies one of the protrusions without overlapping a preceding or successive protrusion.

11. 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.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of severing comprises cutting through the top layer at a plurality of locations along the length of the top layer.

13. The method of claim 11 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.

14. The method of claim 13 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.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a belt comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of belt links each having a fastening tab and an aperture; and

securing the belt links together in overlapping relation by extending the tab of each belt link through the aperture in an adjacent belt link.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching a top element comprises attaching a top element such that the top element overlies substantially the entire length of belt.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing a top element comprises the step of providing a top element comprising a layer of fabric.