Belt conveyor wing pulley

• US RE48,600 E1
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 06/22/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Superior Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Zeltwanger, Micah D, Solvie, James M
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D
• Application Number:
  US15/979,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 198494, 198835, 198842, 198493, 474184, 474185, 305115
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

A belt conveyor wing pulley is comprised of a plurality of V-shaped wings radially spaced about and connected to circumferential surfaces of a pair of spaced hubs. Gussets are connected to facing surfaces of adjacent wings and to the circumferential surfaces of the hubs.

Claims

1. A pulley for a conveyor belt comprising:

spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface;

a plurality of radially spaced wings connected to the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs, each wing comprising;

a metal plate having a length defined by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a width defined by first and second surfaces of the plate, and a height defined by a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the plate configured to define a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first and second plate portions extending at an angle relative to one another from a location generally midway between the first and second end of the plate, each metal plate having an end portion near the first and second end that is connected to the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs; and

a gusset connected between the first surface of each plate and the second surface of an adjacent plate.

2. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the front and rear surfaces of the first and second plate portions are generally parallel to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs.

3. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the front and rear surfaces of the first and second plate portions extend at an angle of between about zero degrees to about 30 degrees in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley relative to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs.

4. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the front faces of the first and second plate portions define an obtuse angle, and wherein the rear faces of the first and second plate portions define an acute angle.

5. The pulley of claim 4 wherein the first plate portion extends at the angle of about 30 degrees relative to the second plate portion.

6. The pulley of claim 5 wherein the front faces of the first and second plate portions are oriented in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley.

7. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the first edge of each wing of the plurality of wings defines an arc and wherein the collective first edges of the plurality of wings generally define a generally cylindrical contact surface of the pulley along the length of each wing.

8. The pulley of claim 7 wherein the first edges of adjacent wings intersect a line that extends generally parallel to the axis of the first and second hubs.

9. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the gusset includes a first segment that extends along the first plate portion and a second segment that extends along the second plate portion, the first and second segments extending at an angle relative to one another.

10. The pulley of claim 9 wherein each gusset first segment has a first end and a second end, and wherein each gusset second segment has a first end and a second end, the first end of each first segment connected to a portion the first hub circumferential surface, the first end of each second segment connected to a portion of the second hub circumferential surface, and the second ends of each first and second segment connected to one another.

11. The pulley of claim 10 wherein the collective second ends of each gusset first and second segment define a diameter that is greater than a diameter defined by the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs.

12. The pulley of claim 1 wherein the first edge of each metal plate comprises an edge member configured to define a contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first edge.

13. A pulley for a conveyor belt comprising:

spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface;

a plurality of V-shaped wings radially spaced about and connected to the circumferential surfaces of the first and second hubs; and

a gusset connected between a first surface of each wing and a second surface of an adjacent wing.

14. The pulley of claim 13 wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a metal plate having front and rear surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the metal plate of each V-shaped wing being generally parallel to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs.

15. The pulley of claim 13 wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a metal plate having front and rear surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the metal plate of each V-shaped wing extending at an angle of between about zero degrees to about 30 degrees in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley relative to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs.

16. The pulley of claim 13 wherein a first surface of each V-shaped wing defines an obtuse angle, and wherein a second surface of each V-shaped wing defines an acute angle.

17. The pulley of claim 13 wherein each V-shaped wing defines an angle of about 30 degrees.

18. The pulley of claim 16 wherein the first surface of each V-shaped wing faces in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley.

19. The pulley of claim 13 wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a first edge, the first edge of each wing defining an arc and wherein the collective first edges of the plurality of wings define a generally cylindrical contact surface of the pulley along a length of each wing.

20. The pulley of claim 19 wherein the first edges of adjacent wings intersect a line that extends generally parallel to the axis of the first and second hubs.

21. The pulley of claim 14 wherein the gusset includes a first segment that extends along a first plate portion and a second segment that extends along a second plate portion, the first and second segments extending at an angle relative to one another.

22. The pulley of claim 21 wherein each gusset first segment has a first end and a second end, and wherein each gusset second segment has a first end and a second end, the first end of each first segment connected to a portion the first hub circumferential surface, the first end of each second segment connected to a portion of the second hub circumferential surface, and the second ends of each first and second segment connected to one another.

23. The pulley of claim 22 wherein the collective second ends of each gusset first and second segment define a diameter that is greater than a diameter defined by the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs.

24. The pulley of claim 19 wherein the first edge of each metal plate comprises an edge member configured to define a contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first edge.

25. A pulley having a length for supporting a conveyor belt having a width, the width of the conveyor belt extending along the length of the pulley, the pulley comprising:

spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface;

a plurality of wings radially spaced about and connected to the circumferential surfaces of the first and second hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings configured to define a contact surface radially spaced from the first and second hubs for contacting the conveyor belt, wherein the contact surface of a first wing of the plurality of wings overlaps with the contact surface of a second wing of the plurality of wings along the length of the pulley, the width of the conveyor belt thereby being supported by the first and second wings; and

a gusset connected between a first surface of each wing and a second surface of an adjacent wing.

26. A wing pulley for a belt conveyor, the wing pulley having a first end and a second end, comprising:

a pair of spaced cylindrical hubs and a plurality of wings spaced about the hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings having an upper edge for contacting a conveyor belt and including a planar first wing portion having an outer end at the first end of the wing pulley, the first wing portion extending at least partway between the first end of the wing pulley and the second end of the wing pulley and a planar second wing portion having an outer end at the second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending at least partway between the second end of the wing pulley and the first end of the wing pulley,

wherein each wing of said plurality of wings is connected to a metal plate, said metal plate being spaced apart from the upper edges of said wings and extending between adjacent wings, said metal plate being at least partially supported by the hubs, said metal plate in combination with said adjacent wings defining a space to receive material below the conveyor belt, said space being unobstructed at the first and second ends of the wing pulley, and wherein rotation of the wing pulley results in material in said space between adjacent wings to be directed laterally toward the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley and discharged laterally away from the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley, and wherein the first and second wing portions define a non-zero angle therebetween, each of the first and second wing portions being oriented at an angle C defined by the respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to a respective radial of the hub, each outer end of the first and second wing portions having a lower edge positioned on the respective radial.

27. The wing pulley of claim 26, further comprising a contact bar attached to at least one of the wing portions.

28. The wing pulley of claim 26, wherein the angle C is between 0 degrees and 30 degrees forward of the radial of the hub.

29. The wing pulley of claim 26, wherein the non-zero angle is an obtuse angle.

30. The wing pulley of claim 26, wherein a height H of the first wing portion is greater than a thickness of the first wing portion.

31. The wing pulley of claim 26, wherein each wing portion has a height measured along the plane of the wing portion and a spacing relative to an adjacent wing portion to allow solid material to be discharged from the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley, the height at an outer end of each wing portion being greater than the spacing.

32. A wing pulley for a belt conveyor, the wing pulley having a first end and a second end, comprising:

a pair of spaced cylindrical hubs and a plurality of wings spaced about the hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings having an upper edge defining a contact surface for contacting a conveyor belt and including a planar first wing portion having an outer end at the first end of the wing pulley,

the first wing portion extending at least partway between the first end of the wing pulley and the second end of the wing pulley and a planar second wing portion having an outer end at the second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending at least partway between the second end of the wing pulley and the first end of the wing pulley,

wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second wing portions are configured to overlap with the contact surfaces of respective first and second wing portions of the adjacent wing along the length of the pulley,

wherein each wing of said plurality of wings is connected to a metal plate, said metal plate being spaced apart from the upper edges of said wings and extending between adjacent wings, said metal plate being at least partially supported by the hubs, said metal plate in combination with said adjacent wings defining a space to receive material below the conveyor belt, said space being unobstructed at the first and second ends of the wing pulley, each of the first and second wing portions being oriented at an angle defined by the respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to a respective radial of the hub, each outer end of the first and second wing portions having a lower edge positioned on the respective radial, and an upper edge forward of the respective radial in the intended direction of rotation of the wing pulley,

wherein rotation of the wing pulley results in material in said space between adjacent wings to be directed laterally toward the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley and discharged laterally away from the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley.

33. The wing pulley of claim 32, further comprising a contact bar attached to at least one of the wing portions.

34. The wing pulley of claim 32, wherein the angle is between 0 degrees and 30 degrees forward of the radial of the hub.

35. The wing pulley of claim 32, wherein the first and second wing portions define an obtuse angle therebetween.

36. The wing pulley of claim 32, wherein a height H of the first wing portion is greater than a thickness of the first wing portion.

37. The wing pulley of claim 32, wherein each wing portion has a height measured along the plane of the wing portion and a spacing relative to an adjacent wing portion to allow solid material to be discharged from the respective first and second ends of the wing pulley, the height at an outer end of each wing portion being greater than the spacing.