US3707925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reversible inclined conveyor for meat carrying trolleys
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-04
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Granted: 1973-01-02
•
Expires: 1991-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An inclined screw conveyor assembly for moving meat trolleys is provided which includes an elongated screw shaft rotatably mounted within a support frame having an inclined trolley rail attached thereto for support of the trolley wheel of a meat carrying trolley, a shaft support bearing at each end of the screw shaft, an adjustable intermediate sleeve bearing which engages the outermost surfaces of the screw shaft to prevent flexing or buckling thereof, and a side guide rail extending along the length of the support frame for maintaining the trolley in proper alignment with the trolley rail. Each end of the screw shaft extends beyond the ends of the inclined trolley rail to deliver and receive the meat trolleys to and from relatively horizontal upper and lower sections of trolley rail.
Inventors
- 👤 R Byrnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G19/00; B65G19/02; B65G19/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A screw conveyor assembly for moving suspended loads from one level to another, said assembly comprising an elongated inclined section of trolley rail extending between a lower level of trolley rail and an upper level of trolley rail, an elongated support framework adjacent to said inclined section of trolley rail, a relatively rigid screw conveyor shaft supported by said framework and having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to and laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of said section of inclined trolley rail, openings in said framework adjacent said trolley rail for allowing passage of trolley assemblies carrying the suspended loads, said screw conveyor shaft being rotatably supported by a pair of end bearings, a sleeve bearing intermediate said end bearings for preventing the shaft from flexing relative to said inclined section of trolley rail, said end and sleeve bearings being carried by said support framework, said support framework at least partially surrounding said screw conveyor shaft such that said screw conveyor shaft extends longitudinally therethrough, said screw conveyor shaft including a continuous, relatively rigid helical screw portion extending radially outward and adapted to advance the leads along said inclined section of trolley rail, said sleeve bearing being comprised of at least one partial cylindrical sleeve coaxial with said shaft and slidably engaging the outermost edge surfaces of said screw, said support framework including an elongated side guide rail spaced from and substantially parallel to said screw conveyor shaft and being mounted on the diametrically opposite side of said screw conveyor shaft as said sleeve bearing, said section of inclined trolley rail lying in a vertical plane which passes between said screw conveyor shaft and said guide rail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
A screw conveyor assembly for moving suspended loads from one level to another, said assembly comprising an elongated inclined section of trolley rail extending between a lower level of trolley rail and an upper level of trolley rail, an elongated support framework adjacent to said inclined section of trolley rail, a relatively rigid screw conveyor shaft supported by said framework and having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to and laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of said section of inclined trolley rail, openings in said framework adjacent said trolley rail for allowing passage of trolley assemblies carrying the suspended loads, said screw conveyor shaft being rotatably supported by a pair of end bearings, a sleeve bearing intermediate said end bearings for preventing the shaft from flexing relative to said inclined section of trolley rail, said end and sleeve bearings being carried by said support framework, said support framework at least partially surrounding said screw conveyor shaft such that said screw conveyor shaft extends longitudinally therethrough, said screw conveyor shaft including a continuous, relatively rigid helical screw portion extending radially outward and adapted to advance the leads along said inclined section of trolley rail, said sleeve bearing being comprised of at least one partial cylindrical sleeve coaxial with said shaft and slidably engaging the outermost edge surfaces of said screw, said support framework including an elongated side guide rail spaced from and substantially parallel to said screw conveyor shaft and being mounted on the diametrically opposite side of said screw conveyor shaft as said sleeve bearing, said section of inclined trolley rail lying in a vertical plane which passes between said screw conveyor shaft and said guide rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a mounting supportIng said sleeve bearing and adjustably fastened to said support framework for selective horizontal adjustment of said sleeve bearing relative to said section of inclined trolley rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting includes a pair of plates, said sleeve bearing includes a pair of adjacent partial cylindrical sections attached to said plates, each section slidably engaging said edge surfaces of several convolutions of said screw portion to prevent flexing of said screw conveyor shaft relative to said section of inclined trolley rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said pair of sleeve bearing sections together extend circumferentially around said conveyor shaft screw portion on one horizontal side thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 together with at least one trolley assembly for suspending a load therefrom and having a trolley wheel engaging said inclined section of trolley rail for movement thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said trolley assembly includes an upper shackle portion engaged by surfaces of said screw portion for movement of the trolley assembly as said screw conveyor shaft is rotated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said upper shackle portion is disposed between said screw conveyor shaft and said guide rail, such as to assure against derailment of a trolley assembly from said trolley rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said support framework includes at least one rigid rectangular-shaped support member having a pair of side members oppositely disposed of each other and on opposite sides of said screw conveyor shaft, said side guide rail attached to the interior of one of said side members, and a support bracket connected to said sleeve bearing and being attached to the other of said side members, thus providing rigidity between said screw conveyor shaft, side guide rail and inclined section of trolley rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
A screw conveyor assembly for moving suspended loads from one level to another, said assembly comprising an elongated inclined section of trolley rail extending between a lower level of trolley rail and an upper level of trolley rail, a relatively rigid screw conveyor shaft substantially parallel to and laterally spaced to one side of said section of inclined trolley rail, bearing means rotatably supporting said screw conveyor shaft and maintaining it in said laterally spaced, parallel relation to said inclined section of trolley rail, at least one trolley assembly supported by said trolley rail for movement thereon, said screw conveyor shaft including a continuous, relatively rigid helical screw portion extending radially outward and adapted to advance the trolley assembly along said inclined section of trolley rail, said helical screw portion being of relatively uniform diameter along substantially the entire length of said screw conveyor shaft, the opposite end portions of said helical screw portion being laterally spaced to one side of said upper and lower levels of trolley rail respectively for operative engagement with the trolley assembly thereat to move such onto or off of said inclined section of trolley rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
A screw conveyor assembly for moving suspended loads from one level to another, said assembly comprising an elongated inclined section of trolley rail extending between a lower level of trolley rail and an upper level of trolley rail, a relatively rigid screw conveyor shaft substantially parallel to and laterally spaced to one side of said section of inclined trolley rail, bearing means rotatably supporting said screw conveyor shaft and maintaining it in said laterally spaced, parallel relation to said inclined section of trolley rail, at least one trolley assembly supported by said trolley rail for movement thereon, said screw conveyor shaft including a continuous, relatively rigid helical screw portion extending radially outward and adapted to advance the trolley assembly along said inclined section of trolley rail, said helical screw portion being of relatively uniform diameter along substantially the entire length of said screw conveyor shaft, the opposite end portions of said helical screw portion being laterally spaced to one side of said upper and lower levels of trolley rail respectively for operative engagement with the trolley assembly thereat to move such onto or off of said inclined section of trolley rail.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein said trolley assembly is engaged by said helical screw portion in a vertical plane disposed between said trolley rail and the rotational axis of said screw conveyor shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure set forth in claim 10 wherein said trolley assembly includes a shackle member and a wheel rotatably mounted to said shackle member and engaging said trolley rail for movement thereon, said shackle member being operatively engaged by said helical screw portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |