Drive wheel and conveyor system comprising a drive unit with a drive wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive wheel for driving a driver device of a conveyor system for conveying bulk material, said driver device comprising at least one flexible tension element and a plurality of driver elements arranged on the tension element, wherein the drive wheel has a drive recess on its circumference delimited by two spaced-apart flanks running circumferentially, in which the driver device can be arranged, and wherein the drive wheel comprises at least one circumferential element forming the circumferential flanks and the drive recess, which is made of polyurethane, and a conveyor system having a drive unit comprising such a drive wheel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive wheel for driving a carrier device of a conveyor system for conveying bulk material, said carrier device comprising at least one flexible traction element and a plurality of carrier elements arranged on the traction element. Such a drive wheel is typically used in conveyor systems that are used as a pipe conveyor system for dry feed. The drive wheel acts as a friction wheel and drives a carrier device, in particular a conveyor chain or a conveyor cable. The carrier device, in turn, advances a feed material in the pipe conveyor system.

[0002] Drive wheels of conventional conveyor systems have a drive recess on the circumference, which is delimited by two spaced-apart flanks running in the circumferential direction of the drive wheel.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved drive wheel.

[0004] This object is achieved in that the drive wheel comprises at least one circumferential element which forms the circumferential flanks and the drive recess and which is made of polyurethane (PU). Such a circumferential element formed from polyurethane can be easily obtained. Furthermore, the properties of the polyurethane, such as the hardness, can be easily adapted to the respective application. Such a drive wheel can thus be flexibly manufactured for different purposes. In the circumferential element, the entire contour of the drive recess, in which a driver device can be arranged, is formed from polyurethane. Not only the flanks, but also a base section of the drive recess are made of polyurethane. The driver device is in contact with polyurethane even if it should contact the base area of ​​the drive recess and is not only gripped by the flanks of the drive recess.A drive wheel designed in this way enables an improved drive of the driver device.

[0005] Preferably, the circumferential element is circular in shape when viewed in a section in a plane arranged at right angles to a rotational axis of the drive wheel, and U-shaped when viewed in a section in a plane containing the rotational axis. The U-shaped design in a sectional view is due to the drive recess with the two flanks delimiting the drive recess. The circumferential element delimits the entire drive recess. The circular design of the circumferential element, viewed in a side view, in a section perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive element, enables material savings in PU material compared to a solid disc. The PU material of the circumferential element primarily serves to enable good contact with a driver device of a conveyor system. With this type of design of the circumferential element, the PU material is concentrated in the area where it is necessary.The drive wheel can be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0006] The drive wheel preferably comprises a stabilizing element to which the peripheral element is secured. The stabilizing element can, in particular, have greater strength or rigidity than the peripheral element formed from PU material. The use of such a stabilizing element makes it possible to adapt the properties of the peripheral element to the requirements of the contact between the peripheral element and the driver device, relatively independently of the mechanical requirements of the drive wheel. In particular, the peripheral element can be designed such that it would not be rigid enough to form the drive wheel on its own. The necessary stability is then provided by the stabilizing element.

[0007] Particularly preferably, the stabilizing element is designed as a flat disc. Such a stabilizing element can be manufactured particularly easily. The drive wheel can be obtained particularly cost-effectively. In particular, the stabilizing element is designed as a metal disc.

[0008] Preferably, the peripheral element is cast onto the stabilizing element. The drive wheel can be manufactured particularly easily by casting the PU material forming the peripheral element directly onto the stabilizing element.

[0009] Particularly preferably, the stabilizing element and the peripheral element are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner. This enables particularly good contact between the stabilizing element and the peripheral element. The connection between the stabilizing element and the peripheral element is particularly good. In particular, forces between the peripheral element and the stabilizing element in the circumferential direction can be transmitted particularly well and reliably through a form-fitting connection between the stabilizing element and the peripheral element.

[0010] Furthermore, the stabilizing element particularly preferably has connecting recesses in which PU material of the peripheral element is arranged. This represents a simple way to achieve a positive connection between the stabilizing element and the peripheral element when the PU material is cast onto the stabilizing element. When using a flat disc, in particular a metal disc, as the stabilizing element, the connecting recesses can be obtained by simply drilling holes in the disc. Such a drive wheel is particularly easy to manufacture.

[0011] The stabilizing element preferably comprises a drive hub. The drive hub can be formed by the stabilizing element itself or arranged on the stabilizing element. Particularly when using a disc-shaped stabilizing element, the drive hub is formed by a hub element arranged on this disc. The drive wheel can be connected to a drive via the drive hub. The drive then applies a force to the peripheral element via the drive hub and the stabilizing element, which in turn drives a driver device by being in contact with the driver device. To transmit a force from a drive via the drive hub and the stabilizing element to the peripheral element, a good connection between the stabilizing element and the peripheral element is required.

[0012] The drive wheel preferably comprises a further stabilizing element, wherein the stabilizing element and the further stabilizing element are arranged on different sides of the drive wheel and connected to one another. In particular, the stabilizing element and the further stabilizing element are arranged on different sides of the circumferential element. This stabilizes the circumferential element on both sides. In particular, the stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element are designed to stabilize the flanks of the circumferential element that extend in the circumferential direction and laterally delimit the drive recess. The use of a stabilizing element on one side of a circumferential element and a further stabilizing element on the other side of the circumferential element makes it possible to adjust the mechanical properties of the circumferential element formed from PU material within particularly wide limits.If necessary, the PU material can be made particularly soft to ensure good contact between the peripheral element and the drive device. Sufficient stability of the drive wheel is nevertheless ensured by the stabilizing element and the additional stabilizing element.

[0013] In particular, the additional stabilizing element is designed as a flat circular disc. This is particularly advantageous if the peripheral element is also circular. This allows for material savings for the additional stabilizing element.

[0014] Further preferably, the drive wheel comprises spacer elements arranged between the stabilizing element and the further stabilizing element, which define the distance between the stabilizing elements. The use of such spacer elements prevents the circumferential element from being crushed when the stabilizing elements are mounted with a circumferential element arranged therebetween. This is particularly relevant when the circumferential element is particularly soft. Otherwise, crushing of the circumferential element when connecting the stabilizing elements could lead to deformation of the drive recess. This would negatively impact the function of the drive wheel for driving a driver device. This is prevented by the use of appropriate spacer elements.

[0015] In particular, the stabilizing element and the further stabilizing element are connected to each other by screw connections. In this case, the spacer elements are particularly advantageously formed by spacer sleeves through which the screw connections are guided.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the spacer elements are guided through the peripheral element. Spacer elements guided through the peripheral element contribute to stabilizing the peripheral element. This makes it possible to use peripheral elements made of particularly soft PU material.

[0017] The use of spacer sleeves, through which screw connections are guided, located inside the peripheral element, also improves the connection between the peripheral element and the stabilizing element and the additional stabilizing element. This can further improve the force transmission from the stabilizing element to the peripheral element.

[0018] The circumferential element is preferably formed in two parts, wherein the two parts of the circumferential element contact each other in a parting plane oriented perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive wheel. The circumferential element can also comprise more than two parts, wherein parts of the circumferential element arranged adjacent to one another can be separated from one another along a parting plane oriented perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive wheel or contact each other in such a plane. In particular, the circumferential element is formed from exactly two parts. The circumferential element has a drive recess which is delimited by flanks running circumferentially. A circumferential element formed in at least two parts can be manufactured particularly easily. Demolding the individual parts of the circumferential element, in particular from a casting mold, is particularly easy because one part of the circumferential element forms a maximum of one flank of the circumferential element.

[0019] Particularly preferably, one part of the circumferential element is attached to the stabilizing element, and the other part of the circumferential element is attached to the further stabilizing element. This makes it particularly easy to obtain a drive wheel. The parts of the circumferential element are attached to the two stabilizing elements. To obtain a drive wheel, the two stabilizing elements are joined together with the parts of the circumferential element attached to them, so that the two parts of the circumferential element complement each other to form the complete circumferential element.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the part of the peripheral element attached to the additional stabilizing element is cast onto the additional stabilizing element. This allows the drive wheel to be manufactured particularly easily.

[0021] Furthermore, the part of the peripheral element attached to the further stabilizing element is particularly preferably connected to the further stabilizing element in a form-fitting manner. A good connection between the further stabilizing element and the part of the peripheral element attached to the further stabilizing element enables better force transmission between the peripheral element and the stabilizing elements that are attached to one another. In particular, the further stabilizing element has connecting recesses for this purpose, in which PU material is arranged. Connecting recesses can be arranged in the further stabilizing element in a simple and cost-effective manner by simply drilling holes.

[0022] Preferably, drive projections are arranged on the flanks of the peripheral element that define the drive recess. Such drive projections improve the contact of the peripheral element, and thus of the drive wheel, with a driver device driven by the drive wheel. Such a drive wheel can drive a driver device particularly reliably.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the drive projections are formed integrally with the peripheral element. The drive projections can be provided during the manufacture of the peripheral element, in particular by casting the peripheral element or the parts that form the peripheral element. The drive projections can thus be obtained particularly easily. Due to the integral design, the drive projections are formed in one piece with the peripheral element and are particularly durable.

[0024] Preferably, the PU material of the peripheral element contains metallic particles. By embedding metallic particles in the peripheral element, any abrasion from the peripheral element that enters bulk material conveyed by a conveyor system equipped with the drive wheel can be easily detected and removed from the bulk material by testing for metallic foreign matter. The drive wheel can be used particularly safely, especially for conveyor systems used in the food industry.

[0025] The invention is further directed to a conveyor system for conveying bulk material, comprising a driver device designed to rotate in a direction of rotation, which comprises at least one flexible tension element and a plurality of driver elements arranged on the tension element, which extend transversely to the direction of rotation away from the tension element, as well as a drive unit for driving the driver device with a drive wheel according to the invention.

[0026] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures with exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures schematically show: Fig. 1 a drive wheel according to the invention in a first view; Fig. 2 the drive wheel according to Fig. 1 in a view from the opposite side; Fig. 3 a view of the circumference of the drive wheel according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a first section through the drive wheel in the representation according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 an alternative section through the drive wheel according to Fig. 3.

[0027] Identical or similarly functioning parts are provided with identical reference numerals where appropriate. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can be combined with features of claim 1 as well as with the features of individual previously described exemplary embodiments to form inventive objects.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a first view of a drive wheel 2 according to the invention. The drive wheel 2 has a circumferential element 4, as well as a stabilizing element 6 and a further stabilizing element 8. The circumferential element 4 is arranged between the stabilizing element 6 and the further stabilizing element 8. The stabilizing element 6 is designed as a metal disc on which a drive hub 10 is arranged. The further stabilizing element 8 is arranged on the side of the circumferential element 4 opposite the stabilizing element 6. The further stabilizing element 8 is designed as an annular disc. The drive hub 10 is thus accessible from the side on which the further stabilizing element 8 is arranged. In addition, less material is required for the further stabilizing element 8.

[0029] The peripheral element 4 has a drive recess 12 on its circumference. This drive recess 12 is laterally delimited by the flanks 14. Drive projections 16 are arranged on the flanks 14. These are formed integrally with the peripheral element 4. Connecting recesses 18 are arranged in the stabilizing element 6 and the further stabilizing element 8.

[0030] The peripheral element 4 is made of polyurethane (PU). The PU material of the peripheral element is arranged in the connecting recesses 18. This ensures a good connection between the peripheral element 4 and the stabilizing elements 6, 8.

[0031] The peripheral element 4 is stabilized by the stabilizing element 6 and the additional stabilizing element 8. The stabilizing elements 6 and 8 are secured to one another by screw connections. The screw connections extend through the peripheral element 4.

[0032] Because the peripheral element 4 is stabilized by the stabilizing elements 6, 8, the properties of the polyurethane-made peripheral element 4, particularly its hardness, can be easily adapted to the respective requirements. In particular, a comparatively soft peripheral element 4 can be created, which could not reliably form a drive wheel 2 without corresponding stabilizing elements 6, 8. It can be seen in particular that the stabilizing elements 6, 8 stabilize the flanks 14 of the drive recess 12 of the peripheral element 4.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows the drive wheel 2 of the Fig. 1 from the other side, from the side of the stabilizing element 6. The rear side of the drive hub 10, which is attached to the stabilizing element 6, can be seen. This view shows that the stabilizing element 6 also has connecting recesses 18. Furthermore, it can be seen that both flanks 14 of the peripheral element 4 are provided with drive projections 16.

[0034] This is also again in Fig. 3, which shows a view of the circumference of the drive wheel 2. The drive recess 12 in the circumferential element 4 can be seen, which is defined by the flanks 14 with the drive projections 16 arranged therein. Furthermore, it can be seen that the circumferential element 4 is divided into two parts in the exemplary embodiment. The two parts of the circumferential element 4 meet in a parting plane that is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive wheel 2.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the drive wheel 2 according to the illustration according to Fig. 3. It can be seen that the circumferential element 4 has a U-shaped cross-section. The U is formed by the drive recess 12 with the flanks 14. The circumferential element 4 is also circular. In particular, it is not a solid disk.

[0036] Also visible are the connecting recesses 18 in the stabilizing element 6 and in the further stabilizing element 8, which are filled with the PU material of the peripheral element 4. This is achieved by molding the respective parts of the peripheral element 4 directly onto the respective stabilizing elements 6, 8. The divisibility of the peripheral element 4 makes it particularly easy to produce the drive wheel. In particular, demolding the parts forming the peripheral element 4 from a casting mold is then particularly easy.

[0037] Fig. 5 shows the drive wheel 2 in a different view from the illustration in Fig. 4 alternative sectional view. It can be seen that the stabilizing element 6 and the further stabilizing element 8 are connected to one another via screw connections. Spacer elements 20 are located between the two stabilizing elements 6, 8. The spacer elements 20 are designed as sleeves that extend through the peripheral element 4 and through which the screw connections are guided. The spacer elements 20 prevent the peripheral element 4 from being excessively squeezed and the shape of the drive recess 12 from being changed when the stabilizing element 6 is connected to the further stabilizing element 8. This ensures that the resulting drive wheel 2 can interact well with a driver device of a conveyor system to drive it.

Claims

[1] Drive wheel (2) for driving a driver device of a conveyor system for conveying bulk material, said driver device comprising at least one flexible tension element and a plurality of driver elements arranged on the tension element, wherein the drive wheel (2) has a drive recess (12) on the circumference delimited by two spaced-apart flanks (14) running circumferentially, in which the driver device can be arranged, characterized in that the drive wheel (2) comprises at least one circumferential element (4) forming the circumferential flanks (14) and the drive recess (12), which is made of polyurethane. [2] Drive wheel according to claim 1, characterized by that the circumferential element (4) is circular in shape when viewed in a section in a plane arranged at right angles to a rotational axis of the drive wheel (2) and U-shaped when viewed in a section in a plane containing the rotational axis. [3] Drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the drive wheel comprises a stabilizing element (6) to which the peripheral element (4) is fixed, in particular wherein the stabilizing element (6) is designed as a flat disc. [4] Drive wheel according to claim 3, characterized by that the peripheral element (4) is cast onto the stabilizing element (6). [5] Drive wheel according to claim 4, characterized by that the stabilizing element (6) and the peripheral element (4) are positively connected to one another. [6] Drive wheel according to claim 5, characterized by that the stabilizing element (6) has connecting recesses (18) in which PU material of the peripheral element (4) is arranged. [7] Drive wheel according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the stabilizing element (6) has a drive hub (10). [8] Drive wheel according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized byin that the drive wheel (2) has a further stabilizing element (8), wherein the stabilizing element (6) and the further stabilizing element (8) are arranged on different sides of the circumferential element (4) and are connected to one another, in particular wherein the further stabilizing element (8) is designed as a flat circular ring disc. [9] Drive wheel according to claim 8, characterized by that the drive wheel has spacer elements (20) arranged between the stabilizing element (6) and the further stabilizing element (8) and defining the distance between the stabilizing elements (6, 8) from one another. [10] Drive wheel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the circumferential element (4) is formed in two parts, wherein the two parts of the circumferential element (4) are separable along a parting plane arranged perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive wheel (2). [11] Drive wheel according to claim 8 or 9 and claim 10, characterized by that one part of the peripheral element (4) is fixed to the stabilizing element (6) and the other part of the peripheral element is fixed to the further stabilizing element (8). [12] Drive wheel according to claim 11, characterized by that the part of the peripheral element (4) fixed to the further stabilizing element (8) is cast onto the further stabilizing element (8). [13] Drive wheel according to claim 12, characterized by that the part of the peripheral element (4) fixed to the further stabilizing element (8) is positively connected to the further stabilizing element (8), in particular wherein the further stabilizing element (8) has connecting recesses (18) in which PU material is arranged. [14] Drive wheel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat drive projections (16) are arranged on the flanks (14) of the peripheral element (4) delimiting the drive recess (12). [15] Drive wheel according to claim 14, characterized by that the drive projections (16) are formed integrally with the peripheral element (6). [16] Drive wheel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the PU material of the peripheral element (4) contains metallic particles. [17] Conveyor system for conveying bulk material, comprising a driver device designed to rotate in a direction of rotation, which has at least one flexible tension element and a plurality of driver elements arranged on the tension element, which extend transversely to the direction of rotation away from the tension element, and a drive unit for driving the driver device, wherein the drive unit has a drive wheel (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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