HK1154230A - Clamping arrangement for a conveyor seal - Google Patents

Description

Clamping device for conveyor seals

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 61/031,181 filed on 25/2/2008 and U.S. application 12/206,256 filed on 8/9/2008, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clamping device, and in particular, to a clamping device usable with a conveyor.

Background

In the loading zone of an endless conveyor belt used to convey bulk materials such as coal, stone, grain and the like, material can fall off the edges of the moving belt, thereby presenting problems in terms of required cleaning and material loss. This spillage can be substantially reduced by incorporating an enclosure on the belt having sidewalls that extend downwardly proximate the belt surface. The gap between the bottom of the vertical sidewall and the moving conveyor belt should generally increase in the direction of belt movement. The increased clearance will prevent material from getting caught between the belt and the rigid wall. If the rigid side wall is in contact with the belt surface it will damage the belt, so it is common practice to attach a resilient secondary seal to the outer surface of the rigid side wall and allow sliding contact between the secondary seal and the conveyor belt. The sidewalls are sometimes also referred to as skirt panels (skirt).

Replacing the secondary seal is a common maintenance task and therefore requires a convenient and easy to use clamping device for the secondary seal.

Disclosure of Invention

The clamping device may include: a support having a base and an extension; a clamping member having a body, a clamping edge, and one or more engagement features for engaging the support body extension. The body may have a hole in which the threaded member may be disposed when the clamping member is engaged with the extended portion of the support body; and a nut or bolt may provide the threaded member to move the clamping member to apply the clamping force. The body may have an opening for engaging the extension when the clamping member is in a certain position.

Drawings

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) will be more readily and more fully understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary clamping device holding a secondary seal segment against a sidewall structure;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary conveyor system;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary conveyor system;

fig. 4 is an isometric view of an exemplary clamp support suitable for an exemplary clamping device.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an exemplary clamping member of an exemplary clamping device.

Fig. 6A and 6B are isometric views respectively illustrating opposing end faces of an exemplary clamping nut of an exemplary clamping device.

Fig. 7A, 7B, and 7C are side views of an exemplary clamping device that clamps secondary seals of different thicknesses.

Fig. 8A and 8B are isometric views of an assembled exemplary gripping device in a working position and in an inverted stow (stowage) or "change out" position, respectively.

In the drawings, when elements and features are shown in more than one figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used in each figure to indicate such elements and features, and when closely related or modified elements are shown in the figures, alphanumeric designations with a symbol or designation "a" or "b" or the like may be used to indicate modified elements or features. Similarly, similar elements and features are indicated in different figures of the drawings using the same alphanumeric designations and using similar nomenclature as in the description. It should be noted that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to scale, and the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity, and any values depicted in any of the drawings are given by way of example only.

Detailed Description

The present clamping device 10 provides a new and improved clamping device 10 for clamping a seal 60, such as an elastomeric secondary seal, to a structure 130, such as the structure and/or outer surface of a rigid primary apron seal 130. The clamping force is applied to the clamping member 20 by tightening a special nut 40, which special nut 40 is designed to lock in place when rotated, for example by striking one or more specially designed extensions on the nut with a hammer or by turning a wrench that engages the one or more specially designed extensions to rotate the nut 40. Preferably, the locking of the nut 40 is provided by a stop (detente) 25, 45, the stop 25, 45 serving to prevent rotation of the nut 40, e.g. due to vibration. Reversing the nut 40 will reduce the clamping force to partially or fully release the force applied by the clamping member 20, thereby allowing vertical or other adjustment of the position of the secondary seal 60 or allowing replacement of the secondary seal 60. The clamp member 20 is supported by the clamp support 30, and the clamp support 30 may provide anti-rotation features 38 and 39, a cover portion 36 for reducing material and debris from contacting the external adjustment threads 34, and providing a stable position for the clamp member 20 when it is separated from the seal 60. The adjustment nut 40 has an extension 46 that facilitates its rotation with a hammer or adjustable wrench. When the nut 40 is loosened, the clamping member 20 may be rotated 180 degrees about the screw 34, thereby providing a temporary stow position that facilitates secondary seal replacement.

Fig. 1 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary clamping device 10 holding a section of a secondary seal 60 against a sidewall structure 130. The clamping device 10 includes a clamping member or clamp plate 20, a clamp support or holder 30, and a clamping nut 40. The clamp support 30 is mounted to a structure 130 (e.g., a sidewall of a skirt 132 or other structure associated with the conveyor) and has a screw 34 extending therefrom. The clamping member 20 is placed onto the threaded rod 34 and the nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded rod 34, thereby pressing the elongated edge 24 of the clamping member 20 towards the clamp support 30 and the structure 130, whereby the seal 60 is captured between the structure 130 and the edge 24 of the clamping member 20 and clamped near the structure 130. The clamp member 20 has an upper end 21, the upper end 21 including an engagement feature, such as a protrusion and/or a recess, that engages with a corresponding engagement feature, such as a protrusion and/or a recess, of the extension portion 36 of the clamp support 30.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the exemplary conveyor system 100 and fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary conveyor system 100. The conveyor 100 has a powered (driven) primary pulley 110, a tail pulley 112, and a conveyor 114 (e.g., belt 114) therearound, the conveyor 114 for conveying the material M in a direction from the tail pulley 112 toward the primary pulley 110. The conveyor 100 receives material M onto a belt 114 at the loading chute 102, moves the material M toward the primary pulley 110, and discharges the material M into the discharge chute 104. The conveyor 100 includes a support structure or frame 120 having any suitable arrangement for maintaining the pulleys 110, 112 and belt 114, as well as other elements of the conveyor 100, in a desired position.

A plurality of support rollers 116 spaced along the support frame 120 support the belt 114 in an upward or material transfer direction of the belt 114, the plurality of support rollers 116 including those support rollers 116 that are more closely spaced in a loading region near the loading chute 102. The support rollers 116 may include a plurality of rollers 116c, 116s, such as a relatively horizontal center roller 116c and two inclined side rollers 116s inclined toward the center roller 116, thereby shaping the belt 114 into a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape, thereby tending to load the material M to a greater extent in a central region (e.g., a region supported by the center roller 116). The belt 114 is supported in a downward or return direction of the belt 114 by a plurality of support rollers 118 spaced along the underside of a support frame 120.

Because the material M that falls onto the belt 114 at the loading chute 102 exerts an impact load and tends to spread apart as it falls onto the belt 114, the support rollers 116 are more closely spaced near the loading chute 102 and provide a main skirt 130 to reduce lateral movement of the material M that falls onto the belt 114. The main skirt 130 generally includes a generally rigid sidewall 132 and a cover 134, the sidewall 132 generally being made of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, acting as a primary seal, and the cover 134 also generally being made of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, which may be attached to the sidewall 132, such as by a set of bolts and nuts 135. The main skirt panel 130 is typically conveniently supported by support members 136 extending from the conveyor support frame 120, for example.

The lower edge of the rigid side wall 132 of the main skirt panel 130 is generally spaced from the conveyor belt 114 so that the skirt panel wall 132 does not scratch, gouge or otherwise damage the belt 114, however, material M may escape through gaps or gaps between the skirt panel side wall 132 and the belt 114. Such a gap or clearance may be closed by a secondary seal 60 or secondary skirt 60 made of an elastomeric material so that it may contact the belt 114 without causing damage to the belt 114. The seal 60 may have a beveled edge 62 proximate the band 114, or may have other desired shapes. As shown, the secondary seal 60 may be one-piece, or may be divided into several sections, and may be held in position against the skirt wall 132 and adjacent the band 114 by one or more clamping devices 10.

Since the secondary seal 60 contacts the band 114 and often the material M, which may be rough, gritty, and/or abrasive, it will cause the seal 60 to wear due to frictional contact and over time and use, an undesirably sized gap will develop between the seal 60 and the band 114. Typically, the seal 60 will be adjusted periodically, such as on a periodic schedule or as needed, to reposition the seal 60 into contact or near contact with the band 114, while the seal 60 may be relatively large and relatively heavy.

Typical exemplary seals 60 are about 6-8 inches in height, in the range of about 1/4 inches to one inch in thickness, and are typically provided in rolls of about 25-50 feet in length. These rolls are relatively large and heavy, but can often be moved by one to two people. Because a 50 foot long seal can be awkward and/or difficult to install, position, remove, adjust, and/or reposition, it is common to cut a roll of seal material into sections about 10-12 feet long prior to installation. The seal 60 is typically made of natural or synthetic rubber, but may be made of ultra high molecular weight urethane or other suitable material. The seal 60 is typically provided in standard thicknesses, such as thicknesses of about 1/4 inches, 1/2 inches, 3/4 inches, and one inch, although the seal may be supplied in other desired thicknesses.

It can be seen that the clamping device 10 can be supported by the side walls 132 by attaching the clamp supports 30 to the side walls 132 of the main skirt 130 (or to any other suitable structure or frame). The jig support 30 has a screw 34 extending from the jig support 30 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall 132, and the clamping member 20 is clamped to the jig support 30 by a nut 40 screwed onto the screw 34. As the adjustment nut 40 is tightened, the clamping edge 24 of the clamping member 20 is moved toward the seal 60 using the fulcrum provided by the interface between the upper end of the clamping member 20 and the outer end of the clamp support 30. As the nut 40 is tightened, the clamping edge 24 moves inwardly to a position where it contacts the seal 60 and applies a clamping force thereto to clamp the seal 60 firmly against the sidewall 132. The pin or wire 12 may be provided after the nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded rod 34 in order to provide safety against accidental or undesired loss or removal of the nut 40.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of an exemplary clamp support 30 suitable for the clamping device 10. The clamp support 30 includes a base 32 or attachment plate 32, and the base 32 or attachment plate 32 may be used to attach the support 30 to a support structure (e.g., to the side wall 132, the main seal 130, or another suitable structure) by, for example, bolts through mounting holes 33 to threaded holes or nuts. The externally threaded screw 34 extends generally perpendicularly from the base 32 in the same direction as the extension 36 and has a length greater than the distance the extension 36 extends generally perpendicularly from the base 32. Generally, the screw 34 is longer than the length of the extension 36 plus the thickness of the clamping member 20 plus the thickness of the nut 40. The threaded rod 34 is threaded into and secured in the threaded bore 32h of the base 32 by being wedged on the tapered thread, by an adhesive, by spot welding, by being peened (peened), or by any other suitable means.

The screw 34 may have one or more transverse holes 34h near its end remote from the base 32 for receiving the pin or wire 12 therethrough after the nut 40 is threaded onto the screw 34 to prevent undesired loss or removal of the nut 40. The pin 12 may be a cotter pin, a spring clip, a spring pin, a fuse, or any other suitable pin or wire.

Preferably, the extension portion 36 of the clamp support 30 includes one or more features at its outward end for engaging the generally upward end of the clamp member 20. Typically, these engagement features include one or more protrusions 38 and one or more grooves or notches 39 that correspond to the engagement features of the clip member 20. The engagement features 38, 39 engage with corresponding features of the clamp member 20 to hold the clamp member 20 and the clamp support 30 in a desired relative position, e.g., a position that hinders or prevents rotation of the clamp member 20 about the threaded rod 34, thereby maintaining a desired positional relationship between the clamp member 20 and the resilient secondary seal 60. The engagement features 38, 39 preferably also provide support for the clamp member 20 so that the clamp member 20 does not rest on the threads of the threaded rod 34 and facilitate installation of the clamp member 20 and tightening thereof by a clamp nut 40 threaded onto the threaded rod 34.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an exemplary clamping member 20 of the clamping device 10. The clamping member 20 is a clamping plate 20 that is formed and shaped to provide the desired features for making contact with the clamp support 30, with the clamping and adjustment nut 40, and with the seal 60. The clamping member 20 has a web or body 22 at one end of which is an elongate clamping edge 24 intended to contact the seal 60 along a relatively long area. Preferably, the gripping edge 24 is curved so as to provide a relatively sharp edge 24e, the edge 24e providing a direct contact (primary contact) with the seal 60, which is desirable for securely engaging the seal 60, particularly where the seal 60 comprises an elastic and/or deformable material, although wider contact edges 24 may also be suitable. In the case where a relatively thick seal 60 is clamped, the upper edge 24f of the clamping edge 24 may also be in contact with the seal 60, for example as is the case in fig. 2 and 7A.

At the end 21 of the body 22 opposite the clamping edge 24 is a feature means for contacting and preferably engaging with a corresponding feature of a clamp support 30 on which the clamping member 20 is preferably supported. The support recesses 27 define the protrusions 26 and recesses 27 that engage the clamp support 30 (e.g., the protrusions 38 and the alignment recesses 39 of the extension portion 36 of the clamp support 30) such that the portion of the main body 22 between the recesses 27 is disposed in the recesses 39 of the clamp support 30, and thus, when the clamp member 20 is secured to the clamp support 30, such as by tightening the clamp nut 40 on the threaded rod 34 of the clamp support 30, the clamp member 20 and the clamp support 30 are aligned and maintained in a non-rotational relationship. It should be noted that as the clamp member is suspended from the protrusion 38 of the support body 30 by engaging the support recess 27 with the support protrusion 38, the clamp member 20 may be suspended by the support body 30 while the nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded rod 34, thereby facilitating the installation and securement of the clamp member 20 and seal 60 between, for example, the clamp plate 20 and sidewall 132.

A bore 23 is provided in the body 22 to receive a threaded rod 34 therethrough when the clamp member 20 is positioned on (e.g., engaged with) the clamp support 30. The body 22 preferably has a plurality of stops 25 surrounding the bore 23, the plurality of stops 25 for engaging corresponding stops of the clamp nut 40 when the clamp nut 40 is tightened on the threaded rod 34. The stop 25 may be, for example, a protrusion or a recess, whichever is complementary to the corresponding stop feature 45 of the clamp nut 40.

The clamping member 20 also preferably has an opening 28 in a central region of its body 22, the position and dimensions of the opening 28 being such that: when the clamp member 20 is in an inverted position on the clamp support 30 (i.e., a position inverted from the position where the clamp member 20 clamps the seal 60), the extension portion 36 of the clamp support 30 will be disposed in the opening 28 and the screw 34 passes through the hole 23. The opening 28 is sometimes referred to as an inverted lock opening because it can be used to hold the clamping member 20 in a position inverted from its position in which it clamps the seal 60. While the shape of the body 22, e.g., a generally rectangular shape near the end 21 and an elongated shape near the clamping edge 24 and a generally trapezoidal portion between the coupling end 21 and the clamping edge 24, is considered desirable from the standpoint of distributing the clamping force and load, it is also advantageous to provide an opening 28 in the trapezoidal portion of the body 24 to provide beneficial and convenient operating features for the clamp 10.

Thus, upon installation of the seal 60, upon replacement of the seal 60 or upon adjustment of the position of the seal 60, the clamping nut 40 may be loosened on the screw 34 or removed from the screw 34 so that the clamping member 20 may be moved away from the clamp support 30 (e.g., separating the recess 27 and the protrusion 38) and rotated 180 degrees about the screw 34 so that the opening 28 is proximate to the extension portion 36, and then the clamping member 20 is moved toward the clamp support 30 so that the extension portion 36 enters the opening 28, whereby the clamping member 20 hangs in an inverted position; additionally, the clamp nut 40 may be tightened (e.g., by hand) to maintain the clamp member 20 in an inverted position on the clamp support 30, allowing for easier placement and/or removal of the seal 60.

Fig. 6A and 6B are isometric views of opposing end faces of an exemplary clamping nut 40 of the subject device, respectively. The clamp nut 40 has a generally cylindrical body 42, the body 42 having a threaded central bore 44 therethrough, the threaded central bore 44 being threadably connected to the threaded shaft 34 of the clamp support body 30. Surrounding the aperture 44, and which may be a protrusion or recess complementary to the stop 25 of the clamping member 20, is a plurality of stops 45, the plurality of stops 45 engaging the stop 25 of the clamping member 20 to provide a stopping action that will tend to prevent rotation of the clamping nut 40 when the nut 40 is tightened on the threaded rod 34, such as rotation due to vibration and/or other interference. Obviously, the radius of the stop 45 from the axis of the hole 44 is preferably substantially the same as the radius of the stop 25 with respect to the axis of the hole 23 of the clamping member 20.

In the preferred clamp nut 40, extending radially from the cylindrical body 42 are a pair of radially extending portions or lugs 46 spaced about 180 degrees apart which provide a feature to which a wrench or hammer may be applied to impart a tightening and/or loosening rotational force on the clamp nut 40. Typically, the extension 46 is rectangular in shape, but other shapes may be used. With the exemplary rectangular extensions 46 shown, both wrench extensions 46 can generally be engaged by a wrench, or alternatively, a hammer can be used to strike a surface 46h thereof to rotate the clamp nut 40 on the threaded rod 34. Accordingly, the extension 46 is preferably strong so as to be able to withstand wrench and/or hammer forces.

The clamp nut 40 is shown having a face with a stop 45, the stop 45 being intended to contact the clamp member 20 and engage its stop 25, so that the nut 40 will be threaded onto the threaded rod 34 in the preferred orientation. Alternatively, the cylindrical body 42 may extend axially such that the extension lugs 46 are axially intermediate the opposing circular faces of the body 42, and the stops 45 may be provided on both faces of the cylindrical body 42, whereby the clamping nut 40 may be threaded onto the threaded rod 34 in either of two orientations.

The stop 45 of the clamp nut 40 may be a recess or a protrusion, and the corresponding stop 25 of the clamp member 20 may be a protrusion or a recess, respectively. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the clamp nut 40 has "bumps" or protrusions 45 and the clamp member 20 has dimples 25. Typically, generally spherical dimples and protrusions are provided, however, many other shapes are equally suitable. The stops 25 and 45 are preferably arranged in respective circular patterns centered on or coaxial with the axis of the bore 24 and the axis of the threaded bore 44, respectively, wherein the circles of both have substantially the same radius. Typically, this radius is selected to properly locate the stop 45 on the desired circle on the end face of the cylindrical body 42 of the nut 40.

Similarly, adjacent ones of the stops 25, 45 are displaced by substantially the same angular amount about a circle so that all of the stops 25 are able to engage all of the stops 45, but in the example shown, not all of the stops 45 have a corresponding stop 25 to be engaged therewith. For example, for a full circle as shown for the clamping nut 40 including 14 stops, the stops 45 are spaced apart at intervals of about 25.7 degrees, just as are the corresponding stops 25 in the clamping member 20. Any suitable number and spacing of stops 25, 45 may be employed. The number of stops 25, 45 provided may be sufficient for a full circle thereof, as in the illustrated exemplary nut 40, or may be sufficient for only a portion of a circle thereof, as in the illustrated exemplary clamping member 20.

Fig. 7A, 7B and 7C are side views of an exemplary clamping device 10 that clamps secondary seals 60, 60', 60 "of different thicknesses to a structure 132, such as a primary skirt 132. It can also be seen therein that the extension 36 of the support body 30 engages the clamping member 20 adjacent the protrusion 26 to provide a fulcrum thereat about which the clamping member 20 can be moved by tightening the clamping nut 40 on the threaded rod 34 to apply a clamping force to the seal 60 to press the seal 60 against the structure 132. As can be seen in the three illustrations, by means of the clamping device 10, it is possible to fix seals 60 whose thicknesses differ by as much as a factor of two or more.

Typically, the secondary seal 60 has a beveled edge 62 for contacting the conveyor belt 114, and as this edge 62 wears, the seal 60 can be repositioned by: loosening the clamp nut 40 to release the clamping force applied by the clamp member 20, repositioning the seal 60, and then tightening the clamp nut 40 to again cause the clamp member 20 to apply the clamping force to the seal 60.

Typically, the clamp member 20, clamp support 30 and clamp nut 40 are steel, but they may be aluminum or stainless steel or other suitable material. In an exemplary embodiment, the support body 30 is steel, the clamping member 20 is aluminum, and the nut 40 is stainless steel.

Fig. 8A and 8B are isometric views of the assembled clamping device 10 in the working position for clamping the seal 60 and in the inverted stacking or "replacement" position, respectively. In the working position shown in fig. 8A, the clamping member 20 is supported by the clamp support 30 with the protrusion 38 of the extension 36 engaging the recess 27 of the clamping member 20, the threaded rod 34 is disposed in the bore 23 of the clamping member 20, and the clamping nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded rod 34 to urge the clamping member 20 toward the clamp support 30 to apply a clamping force to the seal to be clamped. Typically, the clamp support 30 may be mounted to a structure, such as structure 132, by bolts (not shown) passing through holes 33 in the structure.

In the stowed or seal "replacement" position shown in fig. 8B, the clamping member 20 is inverted from the position of fig. 8A and is also supported by the clamp support 30, with the threaded rod 34 disposed in the bore 23 of the clamping member 20, and the clamping nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded rod 34 to urge the clamping member 20 toward the clamp support 30 to move the extension portion 36 of the clamp support 30 into the opening 28 of the clamping member 20 to limit rotation of the clamping member 20 relative to the clamp support 30, thereby maintaining the clamping member 20 substantially in the position shown, whereby the clamping edge 24 is above the threaded rod 34 and not in the area of the seal 60, thereby providing increased clearance for easy removal and/or installation of the seal.

It should be noted that in the preferred arrangement shown, the clamping member 20 is supported by the extension 36 of the clamp support 30 both in the operating position and the displaced position, thereby reducing contact between the clamping member 20 and the screw 34 which over time and use may cause wear or damage to the threads of the screw 34.

The clamping device 10 may include: a support 30 having a base 32, an extension 36 extending from the base 32, and a screw 34 extending from the base 32; a clamping member 20, the clamping member 20 having a body 22 with a bore 23 therein, having a clamping edge 24 at one end of the body 22 and having one or more engagement features 26, 27 at an opposite end of the body 22, the engagement features 26, 27 for engaging an extension 36 of the support body 30, wherein the threaded rod 34 is disposed in the bore 23 when the engagement features 26, 27 of the clamping member 20 engage the extension 36 of the support body 30; and a nut 40, the nut 40 for engaging the threaded rod 34 to move the clamping member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30 to apply a clamping force to the seal 60 adjacent the clamping member 20. The extension 36 of the support body 30 and the engagement features 26, 27 of the clip member 20 may include complementary protrusions 26, 38 and recesses 27, 39 for engaging one another. When the extension 36 of the support body 30 and the complementary engagement features 26, 27, 38, 39 of the clamping member 20 are engaged with one another, the clamping member 20 may not rest on the threaded rod 34. The clamping member 20 may be supported by the support body 30 when the extension portion 36 of the support body 30 and the complementary engagement features 26, 27, 38, 39 of the clamping member 20 are engaged with one another. The clamping member 20 may have an opening 28 in its body 22, and the clamping member 20 may be placed in a position in which the threaded rod 34 is disposed in the bore 23 in the body 22 of the clamping member 20 and the extension 36 of the support 30 is disposed in the opening 28 in the body 22 of the clamping member 20. The clamping member 20 can be rotated about the screw 34 between two positions without removing the nut 40 from the screw 34: the position in which the engagement feature of the clamp member 20 engages the extension portion 36 of the support body 30; and a position in which the extension portion 36 of the support body 30 is disposed in the opening 28 in the main body 22 of the clamp member 20. The nut 40 may include one or more radially extending portions 46 for rotating the nut 40 by a hammer or by a wrench; or a plurality of stops 45 for engaging corresponding stops 25 of the clamping member 20; or both one or more radially extending portions 46 for rotating the nut 40 by a hammer or by a wrench and a plurality of stops 45 for engaging corresponding stops 25 of the clamping member 20. The clamping device 10 may further include a pin 12, the pin 12 passing through an end 34h of the screw 34 remote from the base 32 of the support body 30 for preventing the nut 40 from disengaging from the screw 34. The threaded rod 34 may comprise a threaded bolt 34, 40, which threaded bolt 34, 40 is threadably connected into a threaded hole 32h in the base 32 of the support body 30 and has a bolt head provided with a nut 40.

The clamping device 10 may include: a support 30 having a base 32, an extension 36 extending from the base 32; a clamp member 20, the clamp member 20 having a body 22 with a hole 23 therein, having a clamping edge 24 at one end of the body 22 and having one or more engagement features 26, 27 at an opposite end of the body 22 for engaging an extension 36 of the support body 30, wherein the hole 23 is disposed proximate the base 32 of the support body 30 when the engagement features 26, 27 of the clamp member 20 engage the extension 36 of the support body 30; and a mechanism 34, 40 extending through the aperture 23 in the body 22 of the clamp member 20 to move the clamp member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30 to apply a clamping force to an object 60 adjacent the clamp member 20. The means 34, 40 extending through the hole 23 in the body 22 of the clamp member 20 may comprise: a screw 34 and a nut 40, the screw 34 extending from the base 32 of the support body 30, the nut 40 engaging the screw 34 to move the clamping member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30; or threaded bolts 34, 40 that extend through the holes 23 in the body 22 of the clamp member 20 to engage the threaded holes 32h in the base 32 of the support body 30. The clamping device 10 may further include a pin 12, the pin 12 passing through an end 34h of the screw 34 remote from the base 32 of the support body 30 for preventing the nut 40 from disengaging from the screw 34. The extension 36 of the support body 30 and the engagement features 26, 27 of the clip member 20 may include complementary protrusions 26, 38 and recesses 27, 39 for engaging one another. When the extension 36 of the support body 30 and the complementary engagement features 26, 27, 38, 39 of the clamp member 20 are engaged with one another, the clamp member 20 need not rest on the mechanisms 34, 40 for moving the clamp member 20. The clamping member 20 may be supported by the support body 30 when the extension portion 36 of the support body 30 and the complementary engagement features 26, 27, 38, 39 of the clamping member 20 are engaged with one another. The clamping member 20 may have an opening 28 in its body 22, wherein the clamping member 20 may be placed in a position in which the means 34, 40 for moving the clamping member 20 are provided in the hole 23 in the body 22 of the clamping member 20 and the extension 36 of the support body 30 is provided in the opening 28 in the body 22 of the clamping member 20. The gripping member 20 can be rotated about the mechanism for moving the gripping member 20 34, 40 between two positions, without removing the mechanism for moving the gripping member 20 34, 40: a position in which the engagement features 26, 27 of the clamp member 20 engage the extension portion 36 of the support body 30, and a position in which the extension portion 36 of the support body 30 is disposed in the opening 28 in the body 22 of the clamp member 20.

The clamping device 10 may include: a support 30 having a base 32 with a first end and a second end, the support 30 having an extension 36 extending substantially perpendicularly from the first end of the base 32, wherein the extension 36 has at least one protrusion 38 and at least one recess 39 near its end remote from the base 32; a clamping member 20 having a body 22 with a first end and a second end, the clamping member 20 having an elongated clamping edge 24 extending from the first end of the body 22 and having at least one recess 27 and at least one protrusion 26 at the second end of the body 22 for engaging at least one protrusion 38 and at least one recess 39 of the extension portion 36 of the support 30, whereby the clamping member 20 is supported by the extension portion 36 of the base 32 when the at least one recess 27 and the at least one protrusion 26 at the second end of the body 22 engage the at least one protrusion 38 and the at least one recess 39 of the extension portion 36 of the support 30; and fasteners 34, 40 for moving the body 22 of the clamping member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30 when the clamping member 20 is positioned with its at least one recess 27 and at least one protrusion 26 engaging the at least one protrusion 38 and at least one recess 39 of the extension portion 36 of the support body 30, whereby an object 60 may be clamped by the elongated clamping edge 24 of the clamping member 20 when the fasteners 34, 40 are tightened to move the clamping member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30. The fasteners 34, 40 may include threaded fasteners 34 that engage the body 22 of the clamp member 20 and the base 32 of the support body 30. The threaded fasteners 34, 40 may include: a screw 34 and a nut 40, the screw 34 extending from the base 32 of the support body 30 through the hole 23 in the body 22 of the clamping member 20, the nut 40 being threaded onto the screw 34; or threaded bolts 34, 40 that extend through the holes 23 in the body 22 of the clamp member 20 and threadingly engage the base 32 of the support body 30. The clamping device 10 may further include an elongated seal 60 that is clamped by the elongated clamping edge 24 of the clamping member 20 when the fasteners 34, 40 are tightened to move the clamping member 20 toward the base 32 of the support body 30. The support body 30 may be attached to the apron 130, 132, wherein the elongated seal 60 may be clamped between the elongated clamping edge 24 of the clamping member 20 and the apron 130, 132 when the fasteners 34, 40 are tightened to move the clamping member 20 towards the base 32 of the support body 30. The extension portion 36 of the support body 30 may have two spaced apart protrusions 38, the two spaced apart protrusions 38 defining a recess 39 therebetween for receiving the first end of the body 22 of the clamp member 20, and the first end of the body 22 of the clamp member 20 may have two spaced apart recesses 27 arranged for receiving the two protrusions 38 of the extension portion 36 of the support body 38. The body 22 of the clamping member 20 may have an opening 28 therein, the opening 28 being proximate a second end of the body, and wherein the opening 28 is sized for receiving an extension 36 of the support body 30 therein to support the support body 30 when the support body 30 is in an inverted position relative to its clamping position. The body 22 of the clamp member 20 may have a plurality of stop features 25 therein, and the fasteners 34, 40 may have a plurality of stop features 45 therein that are complementary to the stop features 25 of the clamp member 20, and the stop features 45 of the fasteners 34, 40 may engage the stop features 25 of the clamp member 20.

As used herein, the term "about" means that dimensions, sizes, compositions, parameters, shapes, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and reflecting other factors known to those of skill in the art. Whether or not explicitly so stated, dimensions, compositions, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are generally "about" or "approximately". It should be noted that embodiments having widely differing sizes, shapes and dimensions may also employ the device.

In a typical conveyor belt system 100 for conveying particulate material, a rigid primary seal 130 is installed between the inner loading zone and the outer region of the belt 114 where particulate matter is not desired. A flexible or resilient secondary seal 60 may be attached to the outer surface of the primary seal 132 with the clamping device 10 including a screw 34 and nut 40 arrangement, the screw 34 and nut 40 adjustably exerting a force on the clamping member 20 to hold the secondary seal 60 in place. The body 42 of the nut 40 may be circular and may have one or more extensions 46, which extensions 46 may be used to rotate the nut, for example, using a hammer or wrench. The clamping member 20 may be rotated and held in an inverted (upside down) position to allow easy replacement of the secondary seal 60.

A secondary skirt seal clamping arrangement 10 is described in which a clamping force is generated on the seal 60 by rotating the nut 40 on the threaded member 34. The nut 40 may have one or more radially extending portions 46 for rotation by hammer blows or by a wrench. The retainer 30 vertically supports the clamp member 20 such that the clamp member 20 does not rest on the threaded member 34 and does not rotate with the nut 40. The nut 40 preferably has a protruding projection 45 on the back, the projection 45 engaging into a mating recess 25 on the surface of the clamping member 20, which locks the nut 40 and the clamping member 20 together, thereby restricting movement between the two surfaces. The opening 28 in the clamping member 20 is designed to fit over the support extension 36 of the support body 30 when the clamping member 20 is rotated 180 degrees to retain the clamping member 20 in a rotated position to facilitate replacement of the secondary seal 60. The nut 30 may be prevented from disengaging from the screw 34 by providing a shear pin 12 through a hole located near the end of the threaded member 34. The clamping device 10 is designed to accept different thicknesses of the secondary seal 60.

The clamping device 10 may further include: a movable conveyor 100; and a support structure 120, 130 for supporting the movable conveyor 100; wherein the base 36 of the support body 30 is mounted to the support structure 120, 130. A seal 60 may be clamped between the clamping member 20 and the support body 30, the seal 60 being positioned adjacent the conveyor 100.

While the invention has been described in terms of the foregoing exemplary embodiments, variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the clamping device 10 may be used to clamp any desired object, not just the resilient secondary seal as described in the exemplary embodiments. The seal that is retained by the device 10 need not be resilient or flexible and need not be secondary, but rather can be rigid and/or of any thickness, size and/or shape. The apparatus 10 need not be attached to the main skirt 130 as in the exemplary embodiment, but may be attached to any suitable support.

The screw 34 and the nut 40 may be replaced with a bolt that passes through the clamp member 20 and is screwed into the threaded hole 32h in the clamp support 30 substantially at the position where the screw 34 protrudes. Such bolts may include, for example, radial lugs similar to lugs 46 of nut 40 so that a hammer or wrench may be used to tighten or loosen such bolts. Further, the bolt may include a stop portion (e.g., similar to the stop portion 45 of the nut 40) on a surface of the bolt head thereof that contacts the clamping member 20 to reduce the possibility of the bolt loosening due to vibration or the like. Alternatively, a lock washer may be employed.

Although the seal 60 is shown as being somewhat longer than the gripping edge 24 of the gripping member 20 in fig. 1, as the desired arrangement is possible, the seal 60 may be significantly longer than the gripping edge 24, and two or more gripping arrangements 10 may be employed to secure these longer seals, an example of which is shown in fig. 2, for example. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, the clamping devices 10 may be closely longitudinally approximated or may be spaced apart as desired or convenient in a particular installation.

Although the clamping nut 40 is shown as having two extending portions 46 spaced about 180 degrees apart, the clamping nut 40 may have one, two, three, four, or more extending portions 46 generally evenly spaced about its cylindrical body 42, and the extending portions 46 may be the same size and shape, or may be different sizes and shapes. Making one extension slightly smaller or larger or having a different shape may, for example, help indicate to an operator how much the nut 40 has been rotated.

Either or both of the pin 12 and the nut 40 may have a retaining chain or cable attached at one end thereof to the pin 12 or the nut 40 and at the other end to the support 30 or another fixed structure so that the pin 12 and/or the nut 40 are not lost when removed from the clamping device 10.

Finally, the numerical values stated are typical or exemplary values, not limiting values, and do not exclude substantially larger and/or substantially smaller values. The values in any given embodiment may be substantially greater than and/or may be substantially less than the exemplary or typical values described.

Claims (34)

1. A clamping device, comprising:

a support body having a base, an extension extending from the base, and a screw extending from the base;

a clamping member having a body with a hole therein, having a clamping edge at one end of the body and having one or more engagement features at an opposite end of the body for engaging an extension of the support body, wherein the threaded rod is disposed in the hole when the engagement features of the clamping member engage the extension of the support body; and

a nut for engaging the threaded rod to move the clamping member toward the base of the support body to apply a clamping force to a seal adjacent the clamping member.

2. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 wherein the engagement features of the support extension and the clamping member comprise complementary protrusions and recesses for mutual engagement.

3. The clamping arrangement of claim 2 wherein the clamping member does not rest on the threaded rod when the complementary engagement features of the extension portion of the support body and the clamping member are engaged with one another.

4. The clamping arrangement of claim 2 wherein the clamping member is supported by the support when the complementary engagement features of the extension portion of the support and the clamping member engage one another.

5. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 wherein the clamping member has an opening in its body, and wherein the clamping member can be placed in a position in which the threaded rod is disposed in the bore in the body of the clamping member and the extension of the support body is disposed in the opening in the body of the clamping member.

6. The clamping arrangement of claim 5 wherein the clamping member is rotatable about the threaded rod between: a position in which the engagement feature of the clamping member engages the extension portion of the support, and a position in which the extension portion of the support is disposed in the opening in the body of the clamping member.

7. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 wherein the nut comprises:

one or more radially extending portions for rotating the nut by a hammer or by a wrench; or

A plurality of stops for engaging corresponding stops of the clamping member; or

One or more radially extending portions for rotating the nut by a hammer or by a wrench and a plurality of stops for engaging corresponding stops of the clamping member.

8. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a pin passing through an end of the threaded rod remote from the support base for preventing the nut from disengaging from the threaded rod.

9. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 wherein the threaded rod comprises a threaded bolt threadably connectable into a threaded bore in the support base and having a bolt head providing the nut.

10. A clamping device, comprising:

a support body having a base and an extension portion extending from the base;

a clamping member having a body with a hole therein, having a clamping edge at one end of the body and having one or more engagement features at an opposite end of the body for engaging an extension of the support, wherein the hole is disposed adjacent a base of the support when the engagement features of the clamping member engage the extension of the support; and

means extending through an aperture in the body of the clamp member for moving the clamp member towards the base of the support body to apply a clamping force to an object adjacent the clamp member.

11. The clamping arrangement of claim 10 wherein the means extending through the aperture in the body of the clamping member comprises:

a threaded rod extending from the base of the support body and a nut engaging the threaded rod to move the clamping member toward the base of the support body; or

A threaded bolt extending through a hole in the body of the clamp member to engage a threaded hole in the base of the support body.

12. The clamping arrangement of claim 11 further including a pin passing through the end of the threaded rod remote from the support base for preventing the nut from disengaging from the threaded rod.

13. The clamping arrangement of claim 10 wherein the engagement features of the support extension and the clamping member comprise complementary protrusions and recesses for mutual engagement.

14. The clamping arrangement of claim 13 wherein the clamping member does not rest on the means for moving the clamping member when the complementary engagement features of the extension portion of the support and the clamping member are engaged with one another.

15. The clamping arrangement of claim 13 wherein the clamping member is supported by the support when the complementary engagement features of the extension portion of the support and the clamping member engage one another.

16. The clamping arrangement of claim 10 wherein the clamping member has an opening in its body and wherein the clamping member can be placed in a position in which the means for moving the clamping member is disposed in a hole in the body of the clamping member and the extension of the support body is disposed in the opening in the body of the clamping member.

17. The clamp device of claim 16, wherein the clamp member is rotatable about the mechanism for moving the clamp member between two positions without removing the mechanism for moving the clamp member, the two positions being: a position in which the engagement feature of the clamping member engages the extension portion of the support, and a position in which the extension portion of the support is disposed in the opening in the body of the clamping member.

18. A clamping device, comprising:

a support having a base with a first end and a second end, the support having an extension extending substantially perpendicularly from the first end of the base, wherein the extension has at least one protrusion and at least one recess near its end remote from the base;

a clamping member having a body with a first end and a second end, the clamping member having an elongated clamping edge extending from the first end of the body and having at least one recess and at least one protrusion at the second end of the body, the at least one protrusion and at least one recess for engaging the extension of the support body,

whereby the clamping member is supported by the extension portion of the base when the at least one recess and the at least one protrusion at the second end of the body engage the at least one protrusion and the at least one recess of the extension portion of the support; and

a fastener for moving the main body of the clamping member towards the base of the support when the clamping member is positioned with its at least one recess and at least one protrusion engaging the at least one protrusion and at least one recess of the extension portion of the support,

whereby an object can be gripped by the elongated gripping edge of the gripping member when the fastener is tightened to move the gripping member toward the base of the support body.

19. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener that engages the body of the clamping member and the base of the support.

20. The clamping arrangement of claim 19 wherein the threaded fastener comprises:

a screw extending from the base of the support through a hole in the body of the clamping member and a nut threaded onto the screw; or

A threaded bolt extending through a hole in the body of the clamp member and threadingly engaging the base of the support body.

21. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 further comprising an elongated seal clamped by an elongated clamping edge of the clamping member as the fastener is tightened to move the clamping member toward the base of the support.

22. The clamping arrangement of claim 21 wherein the support is attached to a skirt, and wherein the elongated seal is clamped between an elongated clamping edge of the clamping member and the skirt when the fastener is tightened to move the clamping member toward the base of the support.

23. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 wherein the extension portion of the support has two spaced apart projections defining a recess therebetween for receiving the first end of the body of the clamping member, and wherein the first end of the body of the clamping member has two spaced apart recesses positioned for receiving the two projections of the extension portion of the support.

24. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 wherein the body of the clamping member has an opening therein proximate the second end thereof, and wherein the opening is sized to receive the extension portion of the support within the opening to support the support when the support is in an inverted position relative to its clamping position.

25. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 wherein the body of the clamping member has a plurality of stop features therein, wherein the fastener has a plurality of stop features therein that are complementary to the stop features of the clamping member, and wherein the stop features of the fastener engage the stop features of the clamping member.

26. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support body.

27. The clamping arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

a movable conveyor; and

a support structure for supporting the movable conveyor;

wherein the base of the support body is mounted to the support structure.

28. The clamping arrangement of claim 27 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support, the seal being positioned adjacent the conveyor.

29. The clamping arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support.

30. The clamping arrangement of claim 10 further comprising:

a movable conveyor; and

a support structure for supporting the movable conveyor;

wherein the base of the support body is mounted to the support structure.

31. The clamping arrangement of claim 30 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support, the seal being positioned adjacent the conveyor.

32. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support.

33. The clamping arrangement of claim 18 further comprising:

a movable conveyor; and

a support structure for supporting the movable conveyor;

wherein the base of the support body is mounted to the support structure.

34. The clamping arrangement of claim 33 further comprising a seal clamped between the clamping member and the support, the seal being positioned adjacent the conveyor.