Reciprocating slat conveyors with pressure seals
DCFirst Claim
1. In a reciprocating slat conveyor composed of side-by-side conveyor slats, each having laterally outwardly extending opposite upper side portions, each said side portion including a depending, longitudinal support and seal bead having a lower edge that contacts and slides along a longitudinal bearing/seal surface on a longitudinal support beam that is below it, a conveyor structure comprising:
- a longitudinal support beam positioned between each adjoining pair of conveyor slats, below adjacent upper side portions of the adjoining conveyor slats;
a longitudinal bearing/seal member on each said support beam, extending along and secured to said support beam;
said longitudinal support beam having a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to a top opening;
each said support beam including a pair of laterally outwardly directed flanges, one extending laterally outwardly from each side wall adjacent the top opening;
each longitudinal bearing/seal member including laterally directed slots which receive the flanges on its support beam; and
wherein said flanges provide tongue portions and the slots provide groove portions of tongue-and-groove connections between said support beam and said bearing/seal member.
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Abstract
Bolt fasteners extend through a bottom wall (38) in longitudinal guide beams (14), to secure the guide beams (14) to transverse frame members (70, 72). The guide beams (14) include sidewalls (40, 42) which extend upwardly from the bottom wall (30) to laterally outwardly extending top flanges (44, 46). The bolts may be installed from above by use of a tool that is inserted into the space between the sidewalls (40, 42). After the guide beams (14) are secured to the frame members (70, 72), bearing/seal members (48) are snap-fitted onto the tops of the support beams (14). Conveyor slats are installed in the spaces between the support beams (14). The conveyor slats (10) include side portions (20, 22) which extend laterally outwardly into positions above the bearing/seal members (48). The side members (20, 22) include downwardly extending beads B which contact the upper surfaces (62) of the bearing/seal members (48).
23 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a reciprocating slat conveyor composed of side-by-side conveyor slats, each having laterally outwardly extending opposite upper side portions, each said side portion including a depending, longitudinal support and seal bead having a lower edge that contacts and slides along a longitudinal bearing/seal surface on a longitudinal support beam that is below it, a conveyor structure comprising:
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a longitudinal support beam positioned between each adjoining pair of conveyor slats, below adjacent upper side portions of the adjoining conveyor slats; a longitudinal bearing/seal member on each said support beam, extending along and secured to said support beam; said longitudinal support beam having a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to a top opening; each said support beam including a pair of laterally outwardly directed flanges, one extending laterally outwardly from each side wall adjacent the top opening; each longitudinal bearing/seal member including laterally directed slots which receive the flanges on its support beam; and wherein said flanges provide tongue portions and the slots provide groove portions of tongue-and-groove connections between said support beam and said bearing/seal member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification