Title of Invention

A CONVEYOR BELT

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor belt ( 1’, 1”, 1’) as disclosed in figure 1, made of rubber or plastic material similar to rubber, with embedded traction carriers (2) in particular in the form of cables or cords which, in turn, are particularly made of steel, whereby the conveyor belt has in relation to its total width (B) a center part (A) and two side parts (A), wherein in the center part (A) is replaceable, specifically with the use of a mechanical joint (4, 4’, 4”, 4”) with the two side parts (A’), groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the carrying side (7) or running side (8) of the said conveyor belt (1, 1’, 1”).

Full Text

FORM 2 THE PATENTS ACT 1970 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Section 10 "A CONVEYOR BELT" PHOENIX AKTIEMGESELLSCHAFT, of Hannoversche Strasse 88, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany, a company organized and existing under the laws of Germany, The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:- Description: The invention relates to a conveyor belt made of rubber or a plastic material similar to rubber, with embedded traction carriers in particular in the form of cables 01 cords which, in turn, particularly are made of steel, whereby the conveyor belt comprises with respect to its total width a center part and two side parts (DE-A-44 33 755; DE-A-44 3 6 042). The center part of a conveyor belt is, in the normal case, stressed to a higher degree than the two side parts. Now, when the center part was worn or damaged, it was necessary heretofore, as a rule, to replace the entire conveyor belt, whereas it was possible to continue to use other parts of the conveyor installation. Laid-open patent DE-B-1 148 81 describes a hose conveyor belt installation in connection with which it is possible, in a reversed way, to replace the longitudinal profiled strips - which are susceptible to wear - by means of detachable pull-out elements, whereas the conveyor belt is used further. Now, with the conveyor belt as defined by the invention it is possible to remove a worn or damaged center part of a conveyor belt and to replace said center part, by a new one, using a joint. The two side parts, however, are used further without being replaced. With respect to the joint between the, center part and the two side parts of the conveyor belt, use is advantageously made of the following variations: Variation I; The center part is mechanically joined with the two side parts, specifically on the basis of a plug-groove principle. The design variations that are useful in this regard are described as follows: - The plug-groove principle is realized in such a way that the groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the carrying (top) side or running (bottom) side of the conveyor belt. The groove and the corresponding plug part each have a substantial trapezoidal cross sectional shape, or said parts coupled to each other substantially in the form of a wave. Reinforcing materials consisting of steel or synthetic materials are advantageously present within the zone of the joint. The reinforcement may be an angle-shaped part that extends in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, such shaped part being usefully made from steel fabric. Another possibility is to realize the reinforcement in such a way that it consists of at least one cable or cord extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. - The plug-groove principle is realized in such a way that the groove and the corresponding plug part" are, aligned; in the direction of the center part or side parts, preferably in the direction of the center part. The groove and the corresponding plug part extend in this connection substantially in the form of a wedge, whereby the deepest point of the groove or the peak of the plug part are approximately located at the level of the center plane of the conveyor belt, said plane extending parallel with the carrying or running side of the conveyor belt. Irrespective of the possibilities introduced above for realizing the joint, the effectiveness of the mechanical joint of the center part with the two side parts can be increased within the zone of the joint by means of cold gluing or hot vulcanization. Variation II: The joint of the center part with the two side parts is produced by means of a groove, which is located within the zone of the joint and extends from the carrying and/or running side of the conveyor belt in the direction of the center plane of the conveyor belt, said center plane extending parallel with the carrying or running side, whereby the groove is filled with a compound that can be vulcanized. The groove advantageously extends substantially in the form of a wedge. Entirely irrespective of the variations introduced above, the conveyor belt as defined by the invention is usefully characterized also by the following design possibilities: - The joint between the center part and the two side parts is designed in such a way that a smooth surface is produced in the site of the joint in relation to the carrying side and the running side of the conveyor belt. The center part has a width amounting to 0.3 to 0.8 times the overall width of the conveyor belt. The traction carriers are located either in the two side parts 5r in the center part;. The traction carriers are advantageously arranged exclusively in the two side parts, whereas the center part, which is substantially free of traction carriers, has an embedded conveyor belt carrier that particularly consists of a fabric. The number of fabric layers of the conveyor belt amounts to between 1 and 6. Polyamide, polyester, synthetic silk (rayon), rayon, cotton, aramide or steel are used as materials for said fabric; however, a fabric consisting of a mixture of said materials can be employed as well. Therefore, the present invention provides for a conveyor belt (1, 1* , I1', l,lM made of rubber or plastic material similar to rubber, with embedded traction carriers (2) in particular in the form of cables or cords which, in turn, are particularly made of steel, whereby the conveyor belt has in relation to its total width (B) a center part (A) and two side parts (A1), characterized in that the center part (A) is replaceable, specifically with the use of a mechanical joint (4, 4', 4', 4'11) with the two side parts (A')/ groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the carrying side (7) or running side (8) of the said conveyor belt (1, 1', 1"). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Now, the invention is explained in the following with the help of exemplified embodiments and by reference to schematic drawings (cross sectional representations), in which: FIG. 1 shows a conveyor belt with a joint based on a plug-groove principle, using an angle-shaped part as the reinforcement of the zone of the joint. FIG. 2 shows a conveyor belt with a joint based on a plug-groove principle using cables or cords as the reinforcement of the zone of the joint. FIG. 3 shows a conveyor belt with a joint based on a wedge-shaped plug-groove principle; and FIG. 4 shows a conveyor belt with a joint using wedge-shaped grooves, which are filled with a compound that can be vulcanized. The following list of reference numerals and symbols is applicable to said figures: 1,1',1•',1••• Conveyor belt 2 Traction carriers in the form-of cables or cords 3 Conveyor belt carriers 4,4 ', 4 ' ', 4' ' ' Joint between the center part and the two side parts 5,5' Reinforcement of the zone of the joint 6 Joint 7 Carrying side 8 Running side 9 Groove 10 Vulcanizable compound A Center part of the conveyor belt A1 Side part of the conveyor belt "B Overall width of the conveyor belt X Center plane of the conveyor belt According to FIG. 1, the two side parts A' of the conveyor belt 1 are provided with the embedded traction carriers 2 in the form of steel cables or steel cords. An embedded conveyor belt carrier 3 made of fabric is located within the center part A, which is free of traction carriers. Since the center part A substantially has no traction-carrying function, it can be connected in the traveling direction in a simple mechanical way. The mechanical joint 4 of the center part A with the two side parts A', which is shown here only once is made on the basis of a plug-groove principle, whichvis designed, in such a way that the groove and the corresponding plug part ^ *v ' * ■-are aligned in the direction of the carrying side 7 or running side 8 of the conveyor belt. The groove, and- the corresponding plug part each have a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape. An angle-shaped part 5 serving as the reinforcing element and extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt is arranged within the zone of the joint, said shaped part particularly consisting of a steel fabric. Furthermore, the joint 4 of the center part A with the two side parts A' is designed in such a way that a smooth surface is produced in the joint site 6 in relation to the carrying side 7 and the running side 8 of the conveyor belt 1. In this way, no material-wearing relative motions can occur. The transverse forces are primarily transmitted in the center plane X of the conveyor belt, where the traction carriers 2 are located. The material is under pressure in the visible sites of the joint. For this reason, traction or minor bending stresses will not cause the sites of the joint ~7- to open. The pressure is maintained by excess rubber or material similar to rubber. Now, FIG. 2 shows a conveyor belt 1', whereby the joint 4 of the center part A with the two side parts A', is produced based on a plug-groove principle as weil. In the present embodiment, the groove and the corresponding plug part coupled to each other, substantially in the form of a wave. Two cables 5' or cords extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt are arranged within the joint 4', said cables or cords leading to a reinforcement within the zone of the joint. According to FIG. 3, the conveyor belt 1' has a joint 4•', which is produced based on a plug-groove principle in the present case as well. As opposed to the exemplified embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the center part A, specifically in connection with a substantially wedge-shaped construction. The deepest point of the groove, or the peak of the corresponding plug part are in this connection located approximately at the level of the center plane X of the conveyor belt. FIG. 4, now, shows a conveyor belt 1'' based on an entirely different connection principle. The joint 4'' of the center part A with the two side parts A1 is established in each case by means of the two grooves 9, which are located within the zone of the joint and extend from the carrying side 7, on the one hand, and also from the running side 8, on the other hand, in the direction of the center plane X of the conveyor belt. The grooves are provided with a substantially wedge-like shape. Said grooves are filled with a compound that can be vulcanized, so- that an effective joint is formed following the vulcanization step. In the exemplified embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the center part A has a width amounting-to 0.3 to 0.8 times the overall width B of the conveyor belt 1, 1', 1' and l11'. The overall width B relates in this connection exclusively to the conveyor belt without any lateral parts of the installation that may be present, i.e. as shown, for example in DE-B-1 148 181 cited above. \r WE CLAIM: 1. A conveyor belt (1, 1', 1", 1'") made of rubber or plastic material similar to rubber, with embedded traction carriers (2) in particular in the form of cables or cords which, in turn, are particularly made of steel, whereby the conveyor belt has in relation to its total width (B) a center part (A) and two side parts (A'), characterized in that the center part (A) is replaceable, specifically with the use of a mechanical joint (4, 4', 4", 4'") with the two side parts (A'), groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the carrying side (7) or running side (8) of the said conveyor belt (1, 1', 1"). 2. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said groove and the corresponding plug part each have a substantially trapezoidal cross section. 3. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said groove and the corresponding plug part coupled to each other substantially in the form of a wave. 4. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said plug and groove are positioned in such a way that the groove and the corresponding plug part are aligned in the direction of the center part (A) or the side parts (A'). 5. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 4, wherein the groove and the corresponding plug part substantially extend in the form of a wedge. 6. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deepest point of the groove or the peak of the corresponding plug part are located at the level of the center plane (X) of the conveyor belt, said plane extending parallel with the said carrying side (7) or said running side (8) of the conveyor belt. 7V The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint (4'") of the said center part (A) with the two said side parts (A') is made by means of two grooves (9), said grooves being located within the zone of the joint and extending from the carrying side (7) and/or the running side (8) of the conveyor belt (1'") in the direction of the center plane (X) of the conveyor belt, said center plane extending parallel with the carrying or running side, whereby the groove is filled with av vulcanizable compound (10). 8. The conveyor belt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said zone of the joint (4, 4') is provided with reinforcement having reinforcing material (5, 5' ) preferably consisting of steel or synthetic material. 9. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said reinforcement is an angle-shaped part (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the said conveyor belt. 10. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said angle-shaped part (5) consists of steel fabric. 11. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said reinforcement consists of at least one cable (5') or cord extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. 12. The conveyor belt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said joint (4, 4', 4", 4'") of the center part (A) with the two side parts (A') are positioned in such a way that a smooth surface is produced in the site (6) of the joint in relation to the carrying side (7) and the running side (8) of the conveyor belt (1, 1', 1", 1'"). 13. The conveyor belt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said center part (A) has a width amounting to 0.3 to 0.8 times of the total width (B) of the conveyor belt (1, 1', 1", 1'"). 14. The conveyor belt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said traction carriers (2) are located either in the two side parts (A') or in the center part (A). 15. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 14, wherein the said traction carriers (2) are exclusively located in the two side parts (A'), whereas an embedded conveyor belt carrier (3) of the conveyed material is present in the substantially traction carrier-free center part (A), said carrier (3) particularly consisting of a fabric. 16. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 15, wherein the number of layers of said fabric of the conveyor belt carrier (3) is from 1 to 6. 17. The conveyor belt as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the said fabric of the conveyor belt carrier (3) consists of polyamide, polyester, synthetic silk, rayon, cotton, aramide or steel, or that said fabric is a mixed fabric consisting of said materials. Dated this 1st day of August, 2000. [DR. RAMESH KUMAR MEHTA] OF REMFRY & SAGAR ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS

Documents:

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in-pct-2000-00247-mum-abstract(16-1-2004).doc

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-abstract(16-1-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-cancelled pages(16-1-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-claims(granted)-(16-1-2004).doc

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-claims(granted)-(16-1-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-correspondence(27-5-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-correspondence(ipo)-(18-5-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-drawing(16-1-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 1(1-8-2000).pdf

IN-PCT-2000-00247-MUM-FORM 16(27-6-2012).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 1a(22-4-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 2(granted)-(16-1-2004).doc

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 2(granted)-(16-1-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 3(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 3(26-5-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form 5(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-form-pct-isa-210(1-8-2000).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-petition under rule 123(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-petition under rule 123(6-5-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-petition under rule 124(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-petition under rule 137(27-5-2004).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-petition under rule 138(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-power of authority(17-3-2003).pdf

in-pct-2000-00247-mum-power of authority(22-4-2004).pdf