Abstract: A flexible coupling assembly adapted for mounting on the ends of a shaft in coaxial alignment. The coupling includes a pair of annular hubs. A plurality of radially outwardly opening receptacles are spaced around the circumferential edge of each hub. A molded flexible belt is wrapped around the circumferential edge of both hubs, and has a plurality of spaced resilient teeth extending from one side of the belt. Each tooth is received in a pair of aligned receptacles formed in the hubs. The belt is molded with a length greater than the circumference of the circumferential edge, and the belt is cut to a length such that there is no more than one tooth per pair of receptacles. An annular retainer is slipped over the belt to retain the teeth in the receptacles. The retainer is held over the belt by at least one deformable pin extending from another side of the belt, and the pin is received in a circumferential groove formed on an inner surface of the annular retainer to retain the retainer over the belt.

Abstract: A flexible coupling assembly adapted for mounting on the ends of a shaft in coaxial alignment. The coupling includes a pair of annular hubs. A plurality of radially outwardly opening receptacles are spaced around the circumferential edge of each hub. A molded flexible belt is wrapped around the circumferential edge of both hubs, and has a plurality of spaced resilient teeth extending from one side of the belt. Each tooth is received in a pair of aligned receptacles formed in the hubs. The belt is molded with a length greater than the circumference of the circumferential edge, and the belt is cut to a length such that there is no more than one tooth per pair of receptacles. An annular retainer is slipped over the belt to retain the teeth in the receptacles. The retainer is held over the belt by at least one deformable pin extending from another side of the belt, and the pin is received in a circumferential groove formed on an inner surface of the annular retainer to retain the retainer over the belt.

Abstract: A flexible coupling assembly adapted for mounting on the ends of a shaft in coaxial alignment. The coupling includes a pair of annular hubs. A plurality of radially outwardly opening receptacles are spaced around the circumferential edge of each hub. A molded flexible belt is wrapped around the circumferential edge of both hubs, and has a plurality of spaced resilient teeth extending from one side of the belt. Each tooth is received in a pair of aligned receptacles formed in the hubs. The belt is molded with a length greater than the circumference of the circumferential edge, and the belt is cut to a length such that there is no more than one tooth per pair of receptacles. An annular retainer is slipped over the belt to retain the teeth in the receptacles. The retainer is held over the belt by at least one deformable pin extending from another side of the belt, and the pin is received in a circumferential groove formed on an inner surface of the annular retainer to retain the retainer over the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor including: a guide track including a wear strip, the wear strip including a guide surface; a conveyor chain supported for movement relative to the guide track and including a plurality of interconnected links, a plurality of the links each including a thrust surface which rides against the guide surface when the conveyor chain is moved; and a lubrication insert mounted in one of the wear strip and the plurality of links, the lubrication insert including a porous material having an outer portion proximate one of the guide surface and the thrust surface, the lubrication insert including a fluid lubricant impregnating the porous material, such that when the conveyor chain is moved the fluid lubricant is released from the porous material and forms a lubricating film between the guide surface and the thrust surface.

Abstract: A conveyor chain is formed from a plurality of molded plastic chain links assembled in brick-laid fashion. The molded plastic chain links each include an intermediate structure connecting a first plurality of link ends to a second plurality of link ends, the intermediate structure including notches provided for facilitating breaking of the molded plastic chain link at selected locations along the length of the chain link and such that the molded plastic chain link is broken along a line extending in the direction of the chain pitch at each such selected location.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a track having at least one arcuate section, and a conveyor chain. The track comprises a pair of spaced apart track portions, each including a generally vertical guide surface. A first one of the guide surfaces defines the inside of an arcuate path and the other one of the guide surfaces defines the outside of the path. The conveyor chain is constructed and arranged for traversing the path and comprises a plurality of links, each of which has a first pivot eye at one end thereof and a pair of pivot eyes at the other end thereof and complementary to the first pivot eye. Pins couple the pivot eyes of pairs of adjacent links for pivotally connecting the same. Each link engages the first one of the surfaces as the chain traverses the path to generate reaction forces acting on each link and having an average line of action intersecting the first one of the surfaces.

Abstract: An impact damping devise for a conveyor traction wheel assembly adapted to support an elongated flexible drive member. The traction wheel assembly includes a periphery having a circumferential support surface. The impact damping device comprises an elongated generally elastomeric impact damping having a base adapted to extend along at least a portion of the circumferential support surface. The impact damping member further includes spaced apart sides, a radially outwardly facing surface adapted to define at least a portion of a circumferential surface for supporting the elongated flexible drive member and a hollow portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting cracks in a flexible rotating coupling is disclosed in which the flexible coupling includes a flexible element having a plurality of flexible discs. An electrically conductive, normally continuous, line is affixed to at least one of the flexible discs and connected to a circuit. The conductive line becomes discontinuous if the disc cracks. The circuit is mounted on the coupling and transmits a signal indicative of the continuous or discontinuous condition of the conductive line and thereby the intact or cracked condition of the flexible disc. The transmitted signal is received by a stationary circuit which provides an output indication of the disc's intact or cracked condition.

Abstract: A bucket for attachment to the chain in a mill duty bucket elevator, includes a one piece wrapper member bent into a U-shaped trough defined by a sloping front wall, a horizontal bottom wall, an upright rear wall, a forwardly sloping rear wall, and a horizontal top lip. A rectangular hole in the wrapper plate defines the outside edges of a chain channel in which the chain lies when the bucket is fastened to the chain. Four side pieces having identical shapes and outside dimensions lie transversely across the trough to provide two end walls and two inside partitions. The partitions brace the front wall and act as side walls of the chain channel. A back plate fastened to the partitions and to the top lip and bottom wall adjacent the rectangular hole acts as the front face of the chain channel. The top lip, fastened to the two end walls and the two partitions, provides torsional stiffness to the bucket.

Abstract: A pusher mechanism supported on a framework for deflecting objects from a conveyor has a retractable pusher which is mounted for linear movement transversely across the conveyor. A paddle is pivotably attached at its midportion to an outer end of the pusher. A movable link is secured between the framework and an end of the paddle. Due to these paddle connections, controlled linear movement of the pusher will cause the paddle to articulate on the pusher from a rest position to an operating position at which an object is deflected from the conveyor and back to the rest position.