| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090272631 | Steerable conveyor with height adjustable wheels - A steerable conveyor vehicle for use with an endless conveyor belt includes an elongate conveyor mechanism having two opposite side frame members. A pair of transversely aligned wheel units for supporting the conveyor are provided with each unit having a wheel support structure detachably connected to a respective side frame member and a wheel mounted to this structure for pivotable movement about a vertical axis. The wheel support structure includes a vertical support plate having a set of fastener holes formed therein. At least some of these holes are aligned with at least some fastener holes formed in the adjacent side frame member for connecting the wheel unit at a selected one of at least two possible relative heights. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090276122 | Steering system and method for train of wheeled vehicles - A steering system and method are capable of steering a plurality of vehicles arranged in a train with adjacent vehicles pivotally connected to each other for movement about a vertical axis. Each vehicle has a pair of steerable wheels with one pair at one end of the train being a selected leading pair having its steering angle determined by an operator. An electrical control system automatically steers all of the wheels trailing behind the leading pair. Vehicle angle sensors measure intercar angles between adjacent vehicles and provide this information to the control system. An indicator provides the controller with the current distance traveled by the train. Wheel angle sensors provide signals indicative of the current steering angle for each wheel pair. The controller adjusts the actual steering angle for each trailing pair to a desired angle by calculating adjustments based on the measurement inputs. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090288933 | Belt type conveyor apparatus with adjustable tail pulley - A conveyor apparatus for use with a conveyor belt includes an elongate conveyor support frame and a plurality of conveyor support devices mounted on this frame. These devices include a tail pulley mechanism having two tail pulley sections mounted on a pulley support for rotation about a common central axis of rotation. The pulley support includes a central support portion located at inner ends of the pulley sections and extending radially outwardly from these inner ends to a vertically extending pivot axis. An interconnecting support arrangement mounts the pulley support on the conveyor support frame and includes a pivot connector connecting the central support portion for pivotable movement about the pivot axis. An actuator can pivot the pulley support about the pivot axis to maintain the conveyor belt within a central region of the tail pulley. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20100038213 | Conveyor machine having pivot connector comprising curved track and rollers engaging track - A hitch apparatus is provided for use on a first mobile machine such as a conveyor vehicle to be used with a second mobile machine connected to the first machine. The apparatus includes a track member adapted for mounting at an end of the first machine, this member providing a track having two opposite sides and bent to form a circular arc having a center of curvature. A hitch unit is mounted for rolling movement on the track and can pivotably connect the end of the first machine to the second machine. The hitch unit includes rollers for engaging both of the opposite sides so that the track is captured between the rollers. The first machine is able to pivot about a substantially vertical axis extending through the center of curvature relative to the second machine and is connected to the second machine for movement therewith. | 02-18-2010 |
