Belt conveyor wing pulley

Abstract

A belt conveyor wing pulley is comprised of a plurality of V-shaped wings radially spaced about and connected to circumferential surfaces of a pair of spaced hubs. Gussets are connected to facing surfaces of adjacent wings and to the circumferential surfaces of the hubs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pulley for a conveyor belt comprising:
 spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface; 
 a plurality of radially spaced wings connected to the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs, each wing comprising:
 a metal plate having a length defined by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a width defined by first and second surfaces of the plate, and a height defined by a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the plate configured to define a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first and second plate portions extending at an angle relative to one another from a location generally midway between the first and second end of the plate, each metal plate having an end portion near the first and second end that is connected to the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs; and 
 
 a gusset connected between the first surface of each plate and the second surface of an adjacent plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the front and rear surfaces of the first and second plate portions are generally parallel to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       3. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the front and rear surfaces of the first and second plate portions extend at an angle of between about zero degrees to about 30 degrees in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley relative to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       4. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the front faces of the first and second plate portions define an obtuse angle, and wherein the rear faces of the first and second plate portions define an acute angle. 
     
     
       5. The pulley of  claim 4  wherein the first plate portion extends at the angle of about 30 degrees relative to the second plate portion. 
     
     
       6. The pulley of  claim 5  wherein the front faces of the first and second plate portions are oriented in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley. 
     
     
       7. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the first edge of each wing of the plurality of wings defines an arc and wherein the collective first edges of the plurality of wings generally define a generally cylindrical contact surface of the pulley along the length of each wing. 
     
     
       8. The pulley of  claim 7  wherein the first edges of adjacent wings intersect a line that extends generally parallel to the axis of the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       9. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the gusset includes a first segment that extends along the first plate portion and a second segment that extends along the second plate portion, the first and second segments extending at an angle relative to one another. 
     
     
       10. The pulley of  claim 9  wherein each gusset first segment has a first end and a second end, and wherein each gusset second segment has a first end and a second end, the first end of each first segment connected to a portion the first hub circumferential surface, the first end of each second segment connected to a portion of the second hub circumferential surface, and the second ends of each first and second segment connected to one another. 
     
     
       11. The pulley of  claim 10  wherein the collective second ends of each gusset first and second segment define a diameter that is greater than a diameter defined by the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       12. The pulley of  claim 1  wherein the first edge of each metal plate comprises an edge member configured to define a contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first edge. 
     
     
       13. A pulley for a conveyor belt comprising:
 spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface; 
 a plurality of V-shaped wings radially spaced about and connected to the circumferential surfaces of the first and second hubs; and 
 a gusset connected between a first surface of each wing and a second surface of an adjacent wing. 
 
     
     
       14. The pulley of  claim 13  wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a metal plate having front and rear surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the metal plate of each V-shaped wing being generally parallel to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       15. The pulley of  claim 13  wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a metal plate having front and rear surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the metal plate of each V-shaped wing extending at an angle of between about zero degrees to about 30 degrees in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley relative to a radially extending line from each hub circumferential surface corresponding to each wing connection to the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       16. The pulley of  claim 13  wherein a first surface of each V-shaped wing defines an obtuse angle, and wherein a second surface of each V-shaped wing defines an acute angle. 
     
     
       17. The pulley of  claim 13  wherein each V-shaped wing defines an angle of about 30 degrees. 
     
     
       18. The pulley of  claim 16  wherein the first surface of each V-shaped wing faces in a direction of intended rotation of the pulley. 
     
     
       19. The pulley of  claim 13  wherein each V-shaped wing comprises a first edge, the first edge of each wing defining an arc and wherein the collective first edges of the plurality of wings define a generally cylindrical contact surface of the pulley along a length of each wing. 
     
     
       20. The pulley of  claim 19  wherein the first edges of adjacent wings intersect a line that extends generally parallel to the axis of the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       21. The pulley of  claim 14  wherein the gusset includes a first segment that extends along a first plate portion and a second segment that extends along a second plate portion, the first and second segments extending at an angle relative to one another. 
     
     
       22. The pulley of  claim 21  wherein each gusset first segment has a first end and a second end, and wherein each gusset second segment has a first end and a second end, the first end of each first segment connected to a portion the first hub circumferential surface, the first end of each second segment connected to a portion of the second hub circumferential surface, and the second ends of each first and second segment connected to one another. 
     
     
       23. The pulley of  claim 22  wherein the collective second ends of each gusset first and second segment define a diameter that is greater than a diameter defined by the circumferential surface of the first and second hubs. 
     
     
       24. The pulley of  claim 19  wherein the first edge of each metal plate comprises an edge member configured to define a contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first edge. 
     
     
       25. A pulley having a length for supporting a conveyor belt having a width, the width of the conveyor belt extending along the length of the pulley, the pulley comprising:
 spaced first and second hubs aligned along a common axis, each of the first and second hubs having a circumferential surface; 
 a plurality of wings radially spaced about and connected to the circumferential surfaces of the first and second hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings configured to define a contact surface radially spaced from the first and second hubs for contacting the conveyor belt, wherein the contact surface of a first wing of the plurality of wings overlaps with the contact surface of a second wing of the plurality of wings along the length of the pulley, the width of the conveyor belt thereby being supported by the first and second wings; and 
 a gusset connected between a first surface of each wing and a second surface of an adjacent wing. 
 
     
     
       26. A wing pulley comprising a pair of spaced hubs and a plurality of wings radially spaced about the hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings including a first wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a first end of the wing pulley, the first wing portion extending from the first end of the wing pulley towards a midpoint of the wing pulley and a second wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending from the second end of the wing pulley towards the midpoint of the wing pulley, wherein the midpoint is oriented forward of an imaginary line that extends between respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to the direction of rotation of the wing pulley, the first and second wing portions defining planar surfaces, the planar surfaces oriented at an angle defined by the respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to a respective radial of the hub. 
     
     
       27. The wing pulley of claim 26 wherein the planar surfaces are oriented at an angle of about 30 degrees relative to the respective radial of the hub. 
     
     
       28. The wing pulley of claim 26 wherein the planar surfaces are oriented at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 30 degrees relative to the respective radial of the hub. 
     
     
       29. A wing pulley for supporting an endless belt of a conveyor at a feed end of the conveyor, the wing pulley comprising a pair of spaced hubs and a plurality of metal wings that are generally equally radially spaced about the hubs, and a metal floor extending between each pair of adjacent metal wings, each wing of the plurality of wings including a first wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a first end of the wing pulley, the first wing portion extending from the first end of the wing pulley towards a midpoint of the wing pulley and a second wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending from the second end of the wing pulley towards the midpoint of the wing pulley, wherein the midpoint is oriented forward of an imaginary line that extends between respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to the direction of rotation of the wing pulley, wherein each wing has a height relative to the floor and spacing relative to adjacent wings to allow solid material to be discharged from the end of the wing pulley, the height at the outer end of each wing portion being greater than the spacing. 
     
     
       30. A belt conveyor for carrying material on an endless conveyor belt from a feed end to a discharge end, the belt conveyor comprising a wing pulley for supporting the endless belt of a conveyor at the feed end of the conveyor, the wing pulley comprising a pair of spaced hubs and a plurality of wings that are generally equally radially spaced about the hubs, each wing of the plurality of metal wings including a first wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a first end of the wing pulley, the first wing portion extending from the first end of the wing pulley towards a midpoint of the wing pulley and a second wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending from the second end of the wing pulley towards the midpoint of the wing pulley, wherein the midpoint is oriented forward of an imaginary line that extends between respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to the direction of rotation of the wing pulley, wherein the outer end of each wing portion has a height greater than a spacing relative to adjacent wings to allow solid material to be discharged from the end of the wing pulley. 
     
     
       31. A wing pulley comprising a pair of spaced hubs and a plurality of wings radially spaced about the hubs, each wing of the plurality of wings including a first wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a first end of the wing pulley, the first wing portion extending from the first end of the wing pulley towards a midpoint of the wing pulley and a second wing portion having an outer end generally aligned with a second end of the wing pulley, the second wing portion extending from the second end of the wing pulley towards the midpoint of the wing pulley, wherein the midpoint is oriented forward of an imaginary line that extends between respective outer ends of the first and second wing portions relative to the direction of rotation of the wing pulley, the first and second wing portions defining planar surfaces, the planar surfaces being canted forward relative to a respective radial of the hub, such that a lower portion of each outer end of the first and second wing portions is generally positioned on the radial of the hub, and an upper portion of each outer end is located forward of the radial relative to the direction of rotation of the wing pulley.