AU2005202335B2

AU2005202335B2 - A conveyor gantry

Info

Publication number: AU2005202335B2
Application number: AU2005202335A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Henry Lee
Original assignee: REDISPAN CONVEYORS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: REDISPAN CONVEYORS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-13
Filing date: 2005-05-30
Publication date: 2011-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-30
Also published as: AU2005202335A1

Abstract

A CONVEYOR GANTRY Abstract A conveyor gantry (10) including transverse beams (11) that are located at longitudinally spaced locations along the gantry (10), Fixed to the beams (11) are co s extensive generally parallel plates (12, 13) having protrusions (15) that support idler rollers (16) and (26).

Description

S&F Ref: 722498 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Redispan Conveyors Pty Ltd, of Applicant: an Australian Company ( A.C.N. 092 454 898), of 15 Old Punt Road, Tomago, New South Wales, 2322, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Peter Henry Lee Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A conveyor gantry Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2004903843 13 Jul 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- A CONVEYOR GANTRY Technical Field The present invention relates to conveyor gantries and more particularly but not exclusively to conveyor gantries employed in the mining industry. 5 Background of the Invention Conveyor gantries are formed of open web trusses with services attached thereto by means of brackets, welding or bolting. The walkways and hand rails as well as guard rails are also attached to the open web trusses in a similar manner. Conveyor idlers (rollers) are also attached to the trusses, however considerable io stiffening is generally required adjacent the rollers. The above mentioned structure suffer from the disadvantage that they are time consuming and therefore expensive to manufacture. Still further their structure makes them difficult to paint and therefore are prone to corrosion. Object of the Invention is It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a conveyor gantry including: a pair of longitudinally generally parallel plates, the plates being transversely 20 spaced; and plurality of idlers located between the plates and supported thereby, the plates having protrusions that are punched or pressed therefrom and upon which the idlers are mounted, wherein the idlers support an upper conveyor belt length and a lower conveyor belt length, with the idlers supporting the upper conveyor belt length including inclined 25 idlers so that the upper conveyor belt length is concave in transverse cross-section. Preferably, the gantry includes a plurality of transverse beams located longitudinally spaced locations along the gantry and fixed to the plates. In a further preferred form the plates are adapted to be attached to a foundation. Preferably, the plates have further protrusions to provide for the attachment of 30 cables and/or pipes to extend longitudinally of the plates. Preferably, the idlers support an upper conveyor belt length and a lower conveyor belt length, with the idlers supporting the upper conveyor belt length including inclined idlers so that the upper conveyor belt length is concave in transverse cross section.

2 Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic end elevation of a conveyor gantry; 5 Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of a further conveyor gantry; and Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of a plate employed in the conveyor gantries of Figures 1 and 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a 1o conveyor gantry 10. In this embodiment the conveyor gantry 10 includes a plurality of transverse beams 11 that are located at longitudinally spaced locations along the gantry 10. Fixed to the transverse beams 11 are a pair of co-extensive generally parallel plates 12 and 13, which plates 12 and 13 are formed of sheet metal and punched or deformed to have protruding from the main plane of the plates 12 and 13 a plurality of protrusions 14 15 and 15. The protrusions 15 have attached to them idlers (rollers) 16 and 26. If so required at least some of the idlers 26 are supported on a transverse base 17 having end brackets 18 so that some of the idlers 26 are inclined as best seen in Figure 1. Attached to the plates 12 and 13 and/or beams 11 are pairs of eyelets 19 that would enable the gantry 10 to be attached to supporting trestles. 20 Preferably the beams 11 would extend transversely beyond the plates 12 and 13 so that a walkway 20 may be supported thereby. Typically the walkway would be provided with a safety rail 21. Preferably the protrusions 14 would enable the mounting of pipes 22 and/or cables 23 on the plates 12 and 13. 25 Preferably the plates 12 and 13 would be deformed so as to have a longitudinally extending ridge 24 to aid in stiffening the plates 12 and 13. If further stiffening is required, the upper edges of the plates 12 and 13 can be deformed so as to have L shaped flanges 25. Preferably the walkways 12 are formed of mesh material. 30 Preferably the plates 12 and 13 are hot dipped galvanized In the embodiment of Figure 12, the gantry 30 includes the plates 12 and 13. However, in this embodiment the plates 12 and 13 are directly bolted by means of rods 31 to concrete foundations 32.

3 In the above described preferred embodiment, the idlers 16 are located beneath the idlers 26, with the idlers 16 providing support for a return conveyor belt length 27. The idlers 26 support a delivery conveyor belt length 28 that is concave in transverse cross-section so that product on the conveyor belt length 28 is retained thereon. To 5 maintain the conveyor belt length 28 in a concave configuration, the idlers 26 are arranged so that the end two idlers 26 have their rotational axes 29 inclined to the horizontal as well as the longitudinal axis 33 of the remaining idler 26 by an acute angle. The conveyor belt length 28 is located above the length 27, and is concave in transverse cross-section.

Claims

1. A conveyor gantry including: a pair of longitudinally generally parallel plates, the plates being transversely spaced; and 5 a plurality of idlers located between the plates and supported thereby, the plates having protrusions that are punched or pressed therefrom and upon which the idlers are mounted, wherein the idlers support an upper conveyor belt length and a lower conveyor belt length, with the idlers supporting the upper conveyor belt length including inclined idlers so that the upper conveyor belt length is concave in transverse cross-section. 10

2. The gantry of claim 1, wherein the gantry includes a plurality of transverse beams located at longitudinally spaced locations along the gantry and fixed to the plates.

3. The gantry of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plates are adapted to be attached is to a foundation.

4. The gantry of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plates have further protrusions to provide for the attachment of cables and/or pipes to extend longitudinally of the plates.

5 A conveyor gantry substantially as hereinbefore described with 20 reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 1 September, 2011 Redispan Conveyors Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person 25 SPRUSON & FERGUSON