US1726993A - Overhead conveyer - Google Patents

Description

P 1929. M. MACDONALD OVERHEAD CONVEYER Filed Aug. 22, 1928 M 2 INVENTOR 024,440 wad/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES MURDO MACDONALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

OVERHEAD CONVEYER.

Application filed August 22, 1928.

The present invention relates to overhead conveyors such as are used for convey ng buckets of coal, ashes and various containers with products of various kinds. Conveyers of the type shown herein are commonly used in basements of buildings for transporting buckets of coal from the coal bins to the furnace room. But the uses of these overhead conveyers are too numerous to enumerate here. These conveyers usually comprise brackets or hangers which are attached to overhead beams of the buildlng construction and at their lower ends the hangers carry a supporting rail, generally made of I beams, on the lower flange of which the wheels or rollers of the traveling member of the conveyer are adapted to travel for the transporting of the articles to be conveyed.

One of the serious objections to conveyers of this kind has been that noise is made by the wheels of the traveling member of the conveyer as they travel over the flange of the supporting rail and as this latter is connected by the metal hangers with the structure of the building, these noises, often amplified, are conducted to all parts of the building in which the conveyer is employed. This is especially objectionable when the conveyers are used in school buildings, hospitals and in fact it is objectionable in almost all buildings.

It is diflicult to overcome the noise if the sounds are once conducted to the building structure because the floors, ceilings and even the framework of the building conduct the sounds to all parts and the sounds are amplified by these portions of the building, acting in the nature of sound boards. It is not practical to employ rubber or fibre wheels on the movable member of the conveyer because these rollers or wheels are necessarily limited in size, partly by the limited space in which they travel between the upper and lower flanges of the I beams or rails, which space can only be increased by making the beams or rails prohibitive in cost; and partly by the limited width of the flanges of the beams or rails. While such rollers made of sound insulating material will reduce the noise to a limited extent they wear out in a very short time.

The object of the present invention is to Serial No. 301,409.

provide simple means for preventing the sounds created by the rolling of the wheels or rollers on the beams or rails of the conveyer from being transmitted to any portion of the building structure, so that instead of the sounds being amplified and transmitted throughout the building they are confined to the basement or wherever the conveyer is installed. By preventing the sounds or noises from being conducted to resonant portions of the building they are reduced, if not practically eliminated, and are rendered inoffensive.

I accomplish this result, while still permitting the use of metal rollers or wheels on the traveling member of the conveyer, so that these are just as durable and dependable as in previous practice. I accomplish the results herein described by introducing sound insulating material in the assembly of the hangers by which the rails are supported from the building structure. In the full embodiment of my invention this sound insulating material is interposed between the sections of the hangers as well as between the bolts which unite the members of the hangers together, and the sections of the hangers. All of the other desirable features of the best types of hangers may be preserved and used in conjunction with the features of my invention so that the complete device embodies all of these in addition to the sound eliminating features of my invention.

In the drawing plication,

Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the hangers used for supporting the rail and embodying the features of my invention,

igure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the complete supporting structure.

Conveyers of the type referred to herein are generally supported from part of the structure of the building wherein the conveyer is installed and therefore the particular member of the structure may vary according to the building structure. So far as the present in e tion is concerned, how

forming part of this apever, present practice in all respects may be followed in applying the device to the building structure. In the drawing I have shown the conveyer structure applied to an I beam 1, which is an overhead or elevated member in the basement, cellar or other part of the building where the conveyer is to he installed; and this beam is generally a part of the building structure or frame.

The I beam or rail 2 is supported from the beam 1 as well as from others like it and it is the member on which the traveling member of the conveyor v(not shown). is adapted to travel in a horizontal path which may be a straight line or curved. The rail 2 is not always parallel with the beam .1 but it may be at any angle in relation thereto, the hangers being adapted to connect the beams 1 and the rails 2 whether they are parallel or run at various angles in relation to each. other.

Generally, the rails 2 are disposed in the same horizontal plane throughout the system and the upper sections of the hangers are so chosen in regard to their length that the rails may be suspended from the beams 1 to permit them to be disposed in the same horizontal plane throughout without interfering with overhead objects such as steam pipes.

water pipes and other objects. The hangers for the rails 2 in which the features of my invention are incorporated are constructed as follows: 7

The upper section of each hanger, it being understood that many of these hangers will be employed at any desired intervals in the conveyor system, is composed of a metal, U shaped member 3 comprising a horizontal portion at and the two upright legs 5 connected to or integral therewith. The spaced legs 5 each have an inturned flange 6, the flanges facing each other. The legs 5 are connected together by one or more bolts 7 provided with a head 8 on one end and a detachable nut 9 threaded on the other end,

the bolts passing through apertures in the respective legs of the section. The legs 5 of thesection 3' are normally spaced apart to correspond approximately with the width of the lower flange 10 of the beam 1. hen the hanger is to be applied to the beam 1 the legs 5 are temporarily sprung apart to allow the flanges 6 to be passed over the outer edges of the flange 10 of the: beam 1 and when the spreading pressure is released, the legs spring back so that they press against the edges of the flange 10 with the flanges 6 resting on the top surface of the flange 10. The bolt 7 is then placed through the apertures in the legs 5 at a point below the beam 1 and the nut 9" is applied and tightened. This secures the hangerpor at least the upper section thereof, to the beam 1. In practice these upper sections of the hangers are made of different lengths whereas the lower sections are generally standardized as to length, in order to support the rail 2 at whatever distance from the beam 1 may be required by the particular conditions of each particular installation.

In some cases it may be necessary to support the rail 2 only a foot or so below the beam 1 whereas in other cases it may be necessary to place the rail ten or more feet below the beam, either because the beam is high from the floor level or because the rail must be brought to a level where it may pass under pipes and other obstructions. These differences in the spacing of the rail and'beam may be taken care of, as in present practice, by making the upper sections of the hangers of a length to suit the par ticular conditions.

The lower section of each hanger comprises a U shaped metal member 11 composed of a horizontal portion 12 from which extend downwardly the legs 13 so that the lower section of the hanger is similar to the upper section except that it is inverted. At the lower ends of the legs 13 there are intuirned flanges l lfacing toward each other and the bolt 15 is adapted to be placed through aligning apertures in the two legs. Normally, the legs are spaced apart approximately the width of the upper flange 16 of the rail 2. When the lower section of the hanger is to be applied tothe rail 2 the legs 13 are temporarily sprung apart to pass over the flange 16 of the rail 2 and after they are released. of the spreading pressure the legs press against the side edges of the flange,

with the flanges 14 resting against the under surface of the flange 16 of the rail 2 as shown in Figure 4. The bolt 15 is then ap plied through the apertures of the legs and the nut 17 isapplied and tightened and this secures the lower section. of the hanger to the rail 2 v a Y The upper section of each hanger and the lower section are connected together by means of a bolt- 18 which passes through central apertures in the horizontal portions 42,12, of the upper and lower sections as shown in Figure .2. The bolt 18 is here shown as having an integral head 19 at one end and. having a nut 20 threaded on the other end. I have shown metal washers 21 of considerable thickness engaged by the head 19' and the nut 20 to distribute the pressures throughout the horizontal. portions 4.. 12' of the hanger sections. It will be apparent that the bolt 18 permits the upper and lower sections of the hanger to be turned on the bolt to correspond with the relative positions of the rail 2 and the b'eaml. Y If the rail 2 and the beam 1 are parallel then the upper and lower sections of the hanger may lie in the same vertical plane but if the rail and the beam run at an angle to each other then the upper and lower sections of the hanger may be ad justed to correspond with the angle of the rail and beam respectively.

Heretofore, the upper and lower sections of the hanger as well as the connecting bolt 18 were in metal to metal contact and therefore the noises caused by the wheels or rollers of the traveling portion of the con veyer traveling on the upper surface of the flange 22 of the rail 2 were conducted by direct metal contact from the lower section of the hanger to the upper section thereof and from there the noises were conducted to the beam 1 and then they were distributed through the whole framework of the building, reaching even to the upper floors of tall buildings. These noises were amplified by the various walls and ceilings and they were especially objectionable where the conveyer passed near or through an air shaft. In the present case the upper and lower sections of the hangers and the connecting bolt are sound insulated from each other, preferably as follows:

There is a sleeve 23 fitted around the shank of the bolt 18 and this prevents the bolt from coming into direct contact with the upper and lower sections of the hanger. This sleeve is made of sound insulating material; that is, of material which will not conduct sound to an objectionable extent; and for the purpose I prefer to make the sleeve of fibre tubing. The sleeve 23 surrounds the shank of the bolt, as shown, and it also passes through the same apertures in the members 4, 12 as the bolt. There is a washer 24 lying between the lower metal washer 21 and the horizontal member 12 of the lower hanger section and it is also made of sound insulating material. I have shown this washer made of rubber. It serves to insulate the metal washer 21 from the member 12 to prevent the conducting of sound vibrations between these members. There is another washer 25 disposed between the horizontal members 4, 12, of the two hanger sections and this is made of sound insulating material to prevent the conducting of sound vibrations between the two adjacent portions of the hanger sections. I have shown this washer made of pressed or reconstructed cork. There is another washer 26 disposed between the horizontal member 4 of the upper hanger section and the metal washer 21 and this is shown as made of felt. While the materials here named may be varied I prefer to make the washers of relatively different sound absorbing ma terials as I believe the combined action of different materials will absorb more effectively the sound vibrations. But I do not intend to limit my invention to the use of any articular materials nor to the use of diffierent materials in the same device.

Preferably, the several washers 24-26 all fit over the sleeve 23 as shown in the drawing.

From the above it will be apparent that the sounds or noises created by the action of the rollers or wheels of the traveling member of the conveyer on the flange 22 will not be transmitted to the upper section 3 of the hanger and therefore they will not be transmitted to the framework of the building nor to any part of the building. The several washers and the sleeve 23 prevent metal to metal contact between the upper and lower sections of the hanger and between the bolt 18 and the sections of the hanger and any sound vibrations originating in the lower section of the hanger are dissipated instead of being transmitted to the building. the same time the hanger operates Just as effectively as in previous practice and it is not necessary to depart from present practice in any manner except to provide the sound insulating members as herein described.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is' adapted to be supported and to travel, and means for suspendlng said rail from a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of sections, and means for connecting the sections together, and sound insulating material interposed between said hanger sections to prevent the conduction of sound waves from said hangers to the said beam or support.

2. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is adapted to be supported and to travel and means for suspend ing said rail from a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of sections, means for connecting said sections together, and sound insulating material interposed between said hanger sections and between said connecting means and the hanger sections, to prevent the conduction of sound vibrations from said hangers to the said beam or support.

3. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is adapted to be supported and to travel, and means for suspending said rail from a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of sections, a bolt for connecting said sections together, a sleeve of sound insulating material surrounding said bolt to insulate it from said hanger sections and sound insulatingmaterial interposed between said hanger sections to prevent the conduction of sound vibrations to the said beam or support.

4. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is adapted to be supported and to: travel, and means for suspending said rail trom a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of relatively inverted U shaped members, a bolt passing through the cross members of said sections to secure thehanger sections together, a sleeve of sound insulating material surrounding said bolt to insulate it from said hanger sections, and sound insulating material interposed between said hanger sections, to prevent the conduction of sound vibrations to said beam. or support.

5. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is adapted to be supported and to travel and means for suspending said rail from a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of sections, a bolt passing through said sections to secure them together, a sleeve of sound insulating, material surrounding said bolt to-insulate it from said hanger sections,

a sound insulating washer interposed between the hanger sectlons, and sound insulating washers interposed between the head and nut of said bolt and the hanger sections to prevent sound vibrations being transmitted from said rail to said beam or support.

6. In a conveyer of the class described the combination of a rail on which a movable conveying member is adapted to be supported and to travel, means for suspending said rail from a beam or support, comprising hangers each composed of a plurality of sections of substantially U shaped members relatively inverted as to each other, a bolt passing through the cross members of said sections to secure the sections of the hanger together, a sleeve of sound insulating material surrounding said bolt, a washer of sound insulating material interposed between adjacent portions of the hanger sections, and Washers 01" sound insulating material interposed between the head and nut of said bolt and the cross members of said hanger sections, said sleeve passing through said several washers.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York this 17th day of August, 1928.

. MURDO MACDONALD.

Images