GB678318A - Improvements relating to flight conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

678,318. Endless conveyers. HAPMAN, H. W. Jan. 31, 1950. [March 23, 1949] No. 2474/50. Class 78 (i). Also in Group XXVI] The invention relates to a pressure sealing device for insertion in a flight conveyer conduit for sealing the flights against the escape of pressure as the flights pass through the sealing device, thereby preventing air from getting into a chamber in communication with the conduit and through which the conveyer travels, the chamber being under a vacuum or partial vacuum, or preventing the escape of fluid from the chamber when this is under pressure. According to the invention the device comprises an outer tubular casing attachable in said conduit and an inner contractible tubular member adapted to be contracted into pressure-tight relationship with the conveyer flights, the space between the casing and the inner tubular member forming an n inflatable chamber, said tubular member comprising a .plurality of spaced longitudinal bars arranged in ring formation with strips of elastic deformable material mounted in the spaces between the bars. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 the sealing device 10 is inserted in a gap between portions 11, 12 of a conveyer conduit. It consists of a tubular member 19 and a deformable member 36 builtup of metal and rubber strips 37, 38 surrounded by a, rubber tube 39 and spaced from the member 19 to form a chamber 50 into which fluidpressure is introduced to force the member 36 into contact with the peripheral edges of the conveyer flights. The member 19 is welded at 20, 21, 22 to flanges 17, 18 which are bolted at 15, 16 to flanges 13, 14 on the conduit portions 11, 12, whilst the member 36 is provided at its ends with rings 34, 44 secured within recesses 30, 31 in the member 10 and provided with sealing rings 48, 49. The ends of the bars 37, 38 are provided with projections 40, 42 which engage in recesses 41, 43 in the rings 34, 44. The member 19 is provided with coupling members 25, 26 for connecting inlet and outlet pipes for pressure fluid introduced into the chamber 50. This fluid may comprise steam, compressed air or a cooling liquid. In a modification, Fig. 3, the deformable member 62 is provided with a rubber sleeve 64 formed with a securing flange 63, the sleeve preventing exposure of the metal strips 37 to the conveyed material.