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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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
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Publication number: 20170137229Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: 9586765Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided having a removable cleaner assembly that may be easily connected and disconnected from an elongate support member. The cleaner assembly includes one or more scraper blades mounted to an angle bar, an interface between the blades and the angle bar, and an interface between the blades and the support member. The blades have bodies that cover or surround the interfaces and reduce the likelihood of debris entering the interfaces and binding the blades to the angle bar and/or the support member. The cleaner further includes a securing mechanism with a pair of clamps for clamping the angle bar against seats of the elongate support. The clamps cause the angle bar to hold a base portion of the blades against the support member which permits the blade base portions to transmit loading from the conveyor belt directly to the support member.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Marcus L. Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
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Patent number: 9580251Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a cleaner for a conveyor belt is provided having a scraper blade for engaging a conveyor belt traveling in a downstream direction and a rigid fulcrum member extending laterally transverse to the downstream direction. The cleaner includes a blade mount member having an upper arm portion connected to the scraper blade, an intermediate portion spaced upstream from the rigid fulcrum member, and a lower arm portion extending from the intermediate portion, under the rigid fulcrum member, and downstream beyond the fulcrum member. The cleaner has a resilient support for the blade mount member configured to allow the blade mount member to resiliently rock about the rigid fulcrum member as the scraper blade is impacted during conveyor belt operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Marcus Lee Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20160264358Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
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Patent number: 9346622Abstract: 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: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
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Patent number: 9242805Abstract: In one aspect, a scraper blade for a conveyor belt is disclosed that provides improved strength and durability of a connection between a resilient blade body and an insert molded in situ with the blade body. The blade body has an upper portion with a scraping tip and a lower portion with a pair of laterally spaced depending leg portions. The insert has a pair of laterally spaced side wall portions with variable wall thicknesses and laterally outwardly facing sides that extend along laterally inwardly facing sides of the blade body leg portions. Each insert side wall portion and the blade body lower portion include a plurality of recesses having an undercut configuration and a plurality of projections extending laterally and filling the corresponding recesses in which the projections are received to keep the blade body and the insert connected together under loading during conveyor belt operations.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20160001982Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a cleaner for a conveyor belt is provided having a scraper blade for engaging a conveyor belt traveling in a downstream direction and a rigid fulcrum member extending laterally transverse to the downstream direction. The cleaner includes a blade mount member having an upper arm portion connected to the scraper blade, an intermediate portion spaced upstream from the rigid fulcrum member, and a lower arm portion extending from the intermediate portion, under the rigid fulcrum member, and downstream beyond the fulcrum member. The cleaner has a resilient support for the blade mount member configured to allow the blade mount member to resiliently rock about the rigid fulcrum member as the scraper blade is impacted during conveyor belt operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Marcus Lee Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries
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Publication number: 20150360880Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided having a removable cleaner assembly that may be easily connected and disconnected from an elongate support member. The cleaner assembly includes one or more scraper blades mounted to an angle bar, an interface between the blades and the angle bar, and an interface between the blades and the support member. The blades have bodies that cover or surround the interfaces and reduce the likelihood of debris entering the interfaces and binding the blades to the angle bar and/or the support member. The cleaner further includes a securing mechanism with a pair of clamps for clamping the angle bar against seats of the elongate support. The clamps cause the angle bar to hold a base portion of the blades against the support member which permits the blade base portions to transmit loading from the conveyor belt directly to the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Marcus L. Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
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Publication number: 20150274434Abstract: In one aspect, a scraper blade for a conveyor belt is disclosed that provides improved strength and durability of a connection between a resilient blade body and an insert molded in situ with the blade body. The blade body has an upper portion with a scraping tip and a lower portion with a pair of laterally spaced depending leg portions. The insert has a pair of laterally spaced side wall portions with variable wall thicknesses and laterally outwardly facing sides that extend along laterally inwardly facing sides of the blade body leg portions. Each insert side wall portion and the blade body lower portion include a plurality of recesses having an undercut configuration and a plurality of projections extending laterally and filling the corresponding recesses in which the projections are received to keep the blade body and the insert connected together under loading during conveyor belt operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: 9090405Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for faster and easier removal of the belt cleaner blades out from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a biasing surface of one of an elongate support assembly and a channel member configured to be engaged by a securing member and urge distal ends of legs of the channel member into tight engagement with the elongate support assembly and minimize debris accumulation therebetween. In another aspect, the elongate base member and rail member each include lateral portions configured to slidably engage corresponding wedge portions to urge the rail member toward the base member. A method of installing a belt cleaner assembly is also provided which includes camming a rail member downwardly toward the support member upper surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Daniel J. Kuiper, Carl J. Hessler
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Patent number: 9085419Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over-center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
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Publication number: 20140283358Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over-center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Inventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
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Patent number: 8757360Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that has an insertion device for ease in installing an elongate cartridge assembly carrying belt cleaner assemblies onto an elongate support extending across a conveyor belt in an operative position thereon. In one form, an elongate lever handle pivotally connected to the elongate cartridge assembly can be used to generate a leveraged insertion force, preferably by an operator that does not need to reach into the operating envelope of the conveyor system, e.g. beyond tensioning mechanisms or under the belt. The handle and the cartridge assembly can have an over center locking mechanism therebetween for providing the operator tactile feedback as to when pivoting of the lever handle has caused the cartridge assembly to be shifted to its operative position on the support.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel J. Kuiper, Brett E. DeVries, Gregory Lee Westphall, Richard W. Gilman
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Publication number: 20140131171Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for faster and easier removal of the belt cleaner blades out from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a biasing surface of one of an elongate support assembly and a channel member configured to be engaged by a securing member and urge distal ends of legs of the channel member into tight engagement with the elongate support assembly and minimize debris accumulation therebetween. In another aspect, the elongate base member and rail member each include lateral portions configured to slidably engage corresponding wedge portions to urge the rail member toward the base member. A method of installing a belt cleaner assembly is also provided which includes camming a rail member downwardly toward the support member upper surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Daniel J. Kuiper, Carl J. Hessler
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Patent number: 8662283Abstract: Compact spring tensioner devices are provided for biasing scraper blades toward a conveyor belt. The spring tensioner devices generally are constructed to have a reduced operational envelope and be reconfigurable for providing a selected one of opposite rotary bias forces.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: 8640856Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for faster and easier removal of the belt cleaner blades out from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a biasing surface of one of an elongate support assembly and a channel member configured to be engaged by a securing member and urge distal ends of legs of the channel member into tight engagement with the elongate support assembly and minimize debris accumulation therebetween. In another aspect, the elongate base member and rail member each include lateral portions configured to slidably engage corresponding wedge portions to urge the rail member toward the base member. A method of installing a belt cleaner assembly is also provided which includes camming a rail member downwardly toward the support member upper surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Daniel J. Kuiper, Carl J. Hessler
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Patent number: D756060Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: D783224Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
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Patent number: D796772Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries