Patents by Inventor Brett E. DeVries
Brett E. DeVries has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240067456Abstract: A system and apparatus are provided for monitoring one or more characteristics of a scraper blade of a belt cleaner system. The system and apparatus may be configured to monitor the amount of wear of the scraper blade. The system and apparatus may include a self-contained wear monitoring unit which includes one or more sensors for detecting scraper blade wear. The sensor may be a wear sensor including one or more conductive wear indicators on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is positioned and adapted to be worn down along with the scraper blade due to abrasion with the conveyor belt, such that portions of the conductive wear indicator disposed on the circuit board will also be worn away as the scraper blade is worn down. The wear monitoring unit may be configured to be retrofit to an existing scraper blade without any modification to the scraper blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20240035545Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
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Patent number: 11878874Abstract: A belt cleaner assembly is provided for cleaning a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly includes an elongate support member for extending longitudinally across a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly further includes a cartridge for supporting at least one scraper blade thereon. The cartridge is slidable over the support member. The belt cleaner assembly further includes slide blocks between the support member and the cartridge to space facing surfaces of the cartridge and the support member from each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20230312257Abstract: A system and apparatus are provided for monitoring a conveyor system. The system and apparatus may include one or more sensors or sensor modules associated with a conveyor belt. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a sensor connected to at least one of first and second plate members that are configured to be connected to one another on opposite surfaces of the conveyor belt. The sensor may be at least partially received in a recess formed in the conveyor belt such that the sensor resides in a protected pocket formed by at least one of the plate members and the recess in the conveyor belt. The system is configured to monitor ancillary devices of a conveyor system, such as a belt splice. The system may maintain a digital twin of an ancillary device so that a condition of the ancillary device may be monitored remotely.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, David Adrian Moelker
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Publication number: 20230312265Abstract: In one aspect, a scraper blade mount for a conveyor belt cleaner is provided that includes a resilient, unitary blade mount member. The unitary blade mount member has an upwardly extending blade support portion configured to have a scraper blade mounted thereto and an upwardly extending base portion configured to be fixed to an elongate support of a conveyor belt cleaner. The blade mount member has a lower arcuate portion connecting the base portion and blade support portion that permits movement of the cleaner blade support portion toward the base portion during operation of the conveyor belt cleaner. The blade mount member further includes a pocket having an upwardly facing opening and a blocker connected to the blade mount member configured to limit debris from entering the upwardly facing opening and accumulating in the pocket. The debris may be scraped material, dust, and/or dirt as some examples.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, Mark Tomandl
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Publication number: 20230243401Abstract: A conveyor belt fastener having a body with upper and lower plate portions and loop portions connecting the upper and lower plate portions. The upper and lower plate portions have apertures to receive an attachment member for securing the plate portions to an end of a conveyor belt. The body has a lateral spacing between the flared loop portions configured to receive a loop portion of a fastener secured to another end of the conveyor belt. Each loop portions includes proximal portions adjacent the upper and lower plate portions with proximal lateral widths. Each loop portion further includes a laterally enlarged distal portion extending arcuately intermediate the proximal portions along the loop portion for contacting the hinge pin. The laterally enlarged distal portion has a distal lateral width larger than the proximal lateral width to provide a wide contact area between the loop portion and the hinge pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: 11713796Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
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Publication number: 20230056544Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
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Publication number: 20220371829Abstract: A belt cleaner assembly is provided for cleaning a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly includes an elongate support member for extending longitudinally across a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly further includes a cartridge for supporting at least one scraper blade thereon. The cartridge is slidable over the support member. The belt cleaner assembly further includes slide blocks between the support member and the cartridge to space facing surfaces of the cartridge and the support member from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20220332516Abstract: A carryback material collection system is provided for assessing carryback material received from a conveyor belt. The carryback material collection system includes a tray positionable below the conveyor belt for receiving carryback material from the conveyor belt. The carryback material collection system further includes at least one sensor for detecting carryback material received in the tray. The carryback material collection system further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor for conveying information indicative of the carryback material detected by the at least one sensor. The carryback material collection system further includes a tray actuator that is operatively coupled to the tray to move the tray between a collection orientation to receive carryback material from the conveyor belt and a discharge orientation to discharge the carryback material from the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, David A. Moelker, Christopher Bias, David Foreman
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Patent number: 11440745Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
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Publication number: 20210332870Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
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Publication number: 20210179362Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
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Patent number: 11022197Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
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Patent number: 10836585Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
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Publication number: 20200116231Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
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Publication number: 20190193946Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
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Patent number: 9884730Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt towards a correct travel path are disclosed. The apparatus and method utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. The idler roller is mounted to the conveyor structure via a frame assembly including a tilt device mounted internally within the idler roller. The roller is rotatably mounted to an inner tube, and the inner tube member is pivotally mounted to the tilt device, which in combination allow the idler roller to pivot, shift, and tilt to steer a mistracking conveyor belt in relative proportion to degree of mistracking of the belt.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: 9884722Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
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Patent number: 9845198Abstract: A tracking apparatus and method for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back towards a correct travel path are provided. The apparatus and method both utilize downstream shifting of an end portion of an idler roller due to mistracking of the conveyor belt for directing or steering the belt back toward its correct travel path and a reaction force from the belt due to the steering thereof for energizing a tilting action of the idler roller to raise the downstream end portion thereof. In this manner, the tilting of the idler roller is not mechanically coupled to the downstream shifting of the roller end portion allowing the belt tracking apparatus herein to be bi-directional for use with conveyor belts that may be run in opposite travel directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman