Abstract: A flexible conveyor belt (10) has a plurality of transverse rods (11) on which a plurality of links are mounted for rotational and longitudinal movement on the rods. The links include edge links (12a, 12b) at opposite edges of the belt and link modules (13a, 13b and 15) positioned between the edge links. The rods have radially enlarged heads or buttons (16) on their ends, and the edge links have a cavity (29) for receiving the head, and an undercut shoulder (36) against which the head abuts to retain the edge link at the end of the rod. The link modules have a leading end (41) and a trailing end (42), and the trailing end of at least module (15) has slotted openings (47, 44) to enable the trailing end to be detachably connected to an associated rod.

Abstract: A flexible conveyor belt (10) has a plurality of transverse rods (11) on which a plurality of links are mounted for rotational and longitudinal movement on the rods. The links include edge links (12a, 12b) at opposite edges of the belt and link modules (13a, 13b and 15) positioned between the edge links. The rods have radially enlarged heads or buttons (16) on their ends, and the edge links have a cavity (29) for receiving the head, and an undercut shoulder (36) against which the head abuts to retain the edge link at the end of the rod. The link modules have a leading end (41) and a trailing end (42), and the trailing end of at least one module (15) has slotted openings (47, 44) to enable the trailing end to be detachably connected to an associated rod.

Abstract: A method for assembling a conveyor belt and a conveyor belt is provided, the conveyor belt including a plurality of elongated rods, a plurality of slide-in overlay elements, and a plurality of retaining overlay elements having a vertical opening to allow vertical insertion of the retaining overlay element on to an elongated rod. In one embodiment, the vertical opening includes a retainer such as a clip that resists removal of the retaining overlay element from the elongated rod. In another embodiment, the slide-in overlay element includes a lock mechanism which locks the retaining overlay element with the slide-in overlay element to resist removal of the retaining overlay element. The lock mechanism preferably includes a lock protrusion on the slide-in overlay element, and an interlock protrusion provided on the retaining overlay element offset relative to one another to allow interlocking of the lock protrusion with the interlock protrusion.

Abstract: A method for assembling a conveyor belt and a conveyor belt is provided, the conveyor belt including a plurality of elongated rods, a plurality of slide-in overlay elements, and a plurality of retaining overlay elements having a vertical opening to allow vertical insertion of the retaining overlay element on to an elongated rod. In one embodiment, the vertical opening includes a retainer such as a clip that resists removal of the retaining overlay element from the elongated rod. In another embodiment, the slide-in overlay element includes a lock mechanism which locks the retaining overlay element with the slide-in overlay element to resist removal of the retaining overlay element. The lock mechanism preferably includes a lock protrusion on the slide-in overlay element, and an interlock protrusion provided on the retaining overlay element offset relative to one another to allow interlocking of the lock protrusion with the interlock protrusion.

Abstract: An improved self-cleaning drive mechanism for driving a conveyor belt including a rotatable drive gear having a plurality of receiving grooves adapted to engage and drive the conveyor belt, the plurality of receiving grooves being disposed along a periphery of the rotatable drive gear, and a rotatable cleaning wheel having a plurality of cleaning members positioned to engage the plurality of receiving grooves as the rotatable drive gear is rotated. The plurality of cleaning members are sized to engage the plurality of receiving grooves and displace debris in the plurality of receiving grooves when the plurality of receiving grooves are engaged by the plurality of cleaning members. In one embodiment, the plurality of cleaning members may include a plurality of cleaning teeth disposed along a periphery of the rotatable cleaning wheel, the plurality of cleaning teeth extending radially outwardly from the rotatable cleaning wheel to engage the rotatable drive gear.

Abstract: A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The links are affixed on the rods by resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. In addition to the resistance weld, the rods include diametrically enlarged protrusions or swells that are placed proximate the link apertures to constrain the links from lateral movement on the rod. At the ends of the rod, this protrusion is in the form of an upset or button head. Alternative embodiments also include rotational constraints of the links relative to the rod. The additional fixation steps such as manual welding used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Abstract: An improved conveyor belt is provided including an overlay element with a variable loop count over at least a portion of a transverse width of the belt, and preferably with a variable loop count from one side edge of the conveyor belt to the other side of the conveyor belt, thereby minimizing the frictional contact between the overlay elements and minimizing the excess loop density on the side of the belt defining the inner radius of the turn. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of overlay elements, each of the overlay elements including a plurality of linking bends, and a plurality of transverse rods extending laterally across the conveyor belt. Each of the overlay elements are positioned relative to one another such that their linking bends are intermeshed with linking bends of immediately adjacent overlay elements and the intermeshed linking bends receive one of the transverse rods thereby operatively connecting the adjacent overlay elements.

Abstract: A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The links are affixed on the rods by resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. In addition to the resistance weld, the rods include diametrically enlarged protrusions or swells that are placed proximate the link apertures to constrain the links from lateral movement on the rod. At the ends of the rod, this protrusion is in the form of an upset or button head. Alternative embodiments also include rotational constraints of the links relative to the rod. The additional fixation steps such as manual welding used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral deflection and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The rods have a large diameter through most of their length, and a smaller diameter at their ends where they are attached to the connective links. The transition between the large diameter and the smaller diameter is a chamfered section which is captured within an aperture of the links to constrain the links from lateral movement along the rod. The links are further constrained on the rods by forming an upset or buttonhead at the ends of the rod and resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. The additional fixation steps used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Abstract: A control system for a bi-directional shuttlecar having a loading end and a discharge end. A conveyor extends along the shuttlecar from the loading end to the discharge end, and a pressure sensing transducer is located at the loading end and an independent pressure sensing transducer is located at the discharge end. The pressure sensing transducers are connected in an electric circuit with programmable logic controller which also includes a drive motor for the conveyor and a controller for the drive motor. The weight of mined material supported on the conveyor at the loading end of the vehicle is sensed by the pressure sensing transducer at the loading end and creates a signal for transmission to the programmable logic controller to start the movement of the conveyor and the weight of the mined material at the discharge end of the vehicle is sensed by the pressure transducer at the discharge end and creates a signal for transmission to the programmable logic controller to stop the movement of the conveyor.

Abstract: An elongated hopper for unloading a haulage vehicle for mined material has a length at least equal to the length of the haulage vehicle. The elongated hopper has a plurality of connected sections and each section has a horizontal conveyor pan with an L-shaped side member pivotally connected to each edge. A conveyor extends throughout the length of the hopper. The haulage vehicle is driven into the hopper through the inlet end prior to unloading and mined material is continuously discharged from the haulage vehicle onto the conveyor in the hopper as the haulage vehicle is driven out of the inlet end of the hopper.

Abstract: An articulated joint for pivotally connecting adjacent sections of a vehicle. The joint includes a first slewing ring and a second slewing ring and each slewing ring has an outer member connected to an inner member. A bearing race is located between the outer member and the inner member to permit relative rotation of the members. The outer member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to one section of a vehicle and the inner member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to another section of the vehicle. Location sleeves are located radially inwardly of the inner members of the slewing rings and a shim is located between the ends of the location sleeves.

Abstract: A transmission system having a power input shaft for connection to a power source and two coaxial differentially driven outputs located substantially parallel to and spaced from the input shaft. The power input shaft is operatively connecting the driven outputs to simultaneously drive the driven outputs in response to rotation of the power input shaft.

Abstract: An articulated shuttlecar having two end sections and at least one center section with spaced longitudinal edges. A vertical pivot connecting the center section to one end of each end section. Each section has a pair of driven wheels mounted on an axis located approximately at its longitudinal center. A continuous flexible conveyor extends throughout the length of the sections of the shuttlecar to transport loose mined material from one end of the shuttlecar to the other end of the shuttlecar, and a continuous flexible retaining wall extends upwardly along each edge of all of the sections of the elongated shuttlecar to maintain loose mined material on the continuous flexible conveyor.

Abstract: A cable reeler having two pairs of sprockets rotatable about spaced parallel axes. Endless roller chains entrained around the sprockets and a motor driving one of the sprockets to rotate the other sprockets to move the endless roller chains. Cable support members carried by the roller chains having elongated arms to retain the cable on the reeler.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for an articulated vehicle having a first section and a second section connected by an articulation joint. The steering mechanism includes an annular member connected to the first section and a moveable steering plate slideably mounted on the second section. The annular plate and the steering plate are connected by chains and a pair of opposed piston and cylinder devices are mounted on the second section and connected to the steering plate to move the steering plate and the chains to adjust the position of the annular plate to rotate the first section of the vehicle relative to the second section of the vehicle about the articulation joint between the sections.

Abstract: An articulation joint for pivotally connecting adjacent sections of a vehicle. The joint includes a first slewing ring and a second slewing ring. Each slewing ring has an outer member and an inner member with a bearing race located between the outer and inner members to provide relative rotation of the members. The outer member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to one section of a vehicle and the inner member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to the other section of the vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a continuous mining system comprising at least one chassis, boom arrangement for supporting a continuous miner cutting head, roadheader turntable assembly and, optionally, drilling machine. The latter three items are adapted so that each of them can be removably mounted on any one of the at least one chassis. This enables a continuous mining operation to be carried out without the need to remove the whole of the mining machine if hard rock is encountered.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the profile of an aperture cut by a cutting head capable of traversing movement in two directions at right angles to each other, e.g. the cutting head of a mining machine, wherein means is provided to control the movement of the cutting head in said two directions and including a template for an internal profile representing that part of the aperture to be cut, a sensing device engageable with the template profile, follower means associated with the cutting head to cause relative movement between the sensing device and template in a direction related to movement of the cutting tool, movement of the sensing device into engagement with the profile operating hydraulic sensing equipment which automatically overrides the means to control the movement of the cutting head, thereby preventing the cutting head from moving beyond the desired tunnel profile.