CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR THE TRANSPORT OF MATERIALS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an installation suitable for the transport of material and finds a particular application when a belt conveyor is located below the ground. The ground may possibly be that of a building intended for housing animals.

[0002] Also described is a (first) kit suitable for the production of such an installation: this kit advantageously allows the manufacture of the side walls of such an installation, essentially by assembling prefabricated modules of the kit. As an alternative to manufacturing from prefabricated modules, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an installation in accordance with the invention based on the pouring of concrete on site.

[0003] Advantageously, the invention also relates to a kit which will facilitate the implementation of the method according to the invention, notably comprising plastic envelopes which will advantageously serve as formwork elements during manufacturing (during the pouring and molding of the concrete walls), and which will advantageously be kept permanently to form a finishing wall of the conveyor enclosure.

[0004] The invention originates from installations suitable for the evacuation of excrement of animal origin, namely, but not limited to, the evacuation of excrement from cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens or other livestock, or for example, the evacuation of horse excrement.

[0005] The installation according to the invention will thus find a particular application in a building, such as a stable, a henhouse, a sheepfold, a stable, etc.

[0006] However, the invention will not be limited to this application, the conveying installation being able to find other applications, and for example for the transport of material in industry.

[0007] The state of the art thus allows buildings used for housing animals to be equipped with a conveyor located below the ground level where the animals are housed. The excrement falls by gravity onto the conveyor belt, which then allows the waste to be removed to a storage area.

[0008] Such a conveyor installation facilitates maintenance and contributes to better hygiene of the premises. The construction of such an installation often requires the creation of a trench, then the construction of a concrete or masonry wall to secure the trench. It is then necessary to assemble the various structural elements of the belt conveyor, with the presence of a supporting frame, typically metal, this frame supporting the guide elements such as rollers or other equivalent elements suitable for guiding and supporting the flexible conveyor belt, these guide rollers or equivalent being arranged transversely and distributed along the length of the frame structure.

[0009] Such a state of the art is for example disclosed by document WO 03 / 103383 which describes a conveyor intended for the evacuation of excrement from chicken farms and which requires a frame structure, illustrated infigures 7 and 8 of this priority.

[0010] According to the inventor's findings, the construction of such a conveyor installation is complex and expensive in that it requires not only excavation operations for the construction of a trench, masonry operations for the construction of the walls, particularly the side walls of the trench, but also the assembly of a chassis structure resting on the bottom of the conveyor enclosure, this operation being made tedious, in particular due to the small size of the cavity formed by this enclosure.

[0011] Document DE 10 2013 223 853 A1 also discloses a conveyor installation comprising a conveyor enclosure made from prefabricated concrete modules, as well as a conveyor having a conveyor belt received in said conveyor enclosure. A conveyor belt support roller is fixed to the side walls in inserts received in the concrete, and the installation comprises removable fixing means between the inserts and the roller.

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a conveying installation with concrete side walls forming a conveying enclosure, of simplified design and easy to implement compared to the aforementioned state of the art.

[0013] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a kit suitable for the creation of such an installation from prefabricated concrete modules.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such an installation, by pouring concrete on site.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a kit comprising plastic envelopes carrying fixing inserts, and which will greatly facilitate the implementation of a manufacturing process by pouring concrete on site.

[0016] Other purposes and advantages will become apparent during the following description, which is given for information purposes only and is not intended to limit it.

[0017] The invention relates to an installation suitable for the transport of materials comprising: concrete side walls, or even a bottom wall joining the side walls forming between them a conveyor enclosure, a belt conveyor arranged in said conveyor enclosure, said conveyor having a flexible conveyor belt and one or more guide elements suitable for guiding and / or supporting the conveyor belt, the guide elements having support shafts.

[0018] According to the invention, said installation comprises: fixing inserts embedded in the concrete of the side walls according to a first possibility, or fixing cavities dug in the mass of the side walls, according to a second possibility, the longitudinal ends of the shafts being received in the inserts according to the first possibility, or in the fixing cavities according to the second possibility, removable fixing means between, on the one hand, the fixing inserts according to the first possibility, or the fixing cavities according to the second possibility, and on the other hand, the support shafts, said removable fixing means being configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts of the guide elements to the fixing inserts, predisposed in the concrete side walls according to the first possibility, or to ensure the fixing of the support shafts of the guide elements to the fixing cavities according to the second possibility,or conversely the removal of the support shafts from the fixing inserts according to the first possibility, or the removal of the support shafts from the fixing cavities, according to the second possibility.

[0019] Also notably, the upper section of the conveyor enclosure has a spacing between the side walls, less than the spacing of the side walls carrying the inserts or the fixing cavities used for fixing the guide elements of the conveyor belt, the upper section of the conveyor enclosure being configured to form a duct, of width less than the conveyor belt, and centered relative to the longitudinal axis of the belt, flaps extending respectively from the two side walls of the upper section downwards, creating a seal with the longitudinal edges of the upper strand of the conveyor belt.

[0020] According to optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the guide elements comprise substantially horizontal guide elements, the two ends of the support shaft of each of the horizontal guide elements being received in a removable manner, in two of the inserts belonging to the two side walls according to the first possibility, or even in two fixing cavities, according to the second possibility;said support shaft of the horizontal guide element is telescopic, being able to pass from a deployed position configured to ensure the fixing of the two longitudinal ends of the support shaft, respectively in two of the fixing inserts belonging to the two side walls according to the first possibility, or respectively in two fixing cavities of the two side walls according to the second possibility, towards a retracted position suitable for releasing the longitudinal ends of the support shaft from the fixing inserts according to the first possibility, or releasing the longitudinal ends of the support shaft from the side cavities according to the second possibility, thus allowing the removal of the guide element, said support shaft having a locking means in its deployed position;said telescopic support shaft comprises two telescopic tubular sections, having orifices belonging to the two tubular sections which are configured to be opposite each other in said deployed position of the support shaft, the locking means being configured to pass through the opposite orifices to ensure the locking of the support shaft in said deployed position;the two tubular sections respectively comprise an inner tube and an outer tube, the locking means comprise two studs passing through the orifices of said inner tube, as well as a spring blade forcing the studs to move away from each other, the locking means being inside the inner tube configured so as to ensure automatic locking of the deployed position when the orifices of the inner tube are placed opposite the orifices of the outer tube, the studs passing through the orifices of the inner tube being automatically forced by the spring blade to simultaneously penetrate the orifices of the outer tube.;

[0021] According to one embodiment, said support shaft of the horizontal guide element is configured to ensure the fixing of the two longitudinal ends of the support shaft respectively in two fixing inserts belonging to the two side walls according to the first possibility, or else configured to ensure the fixing of the two longitudinal ends of the support shaft respectively in two fixing cavities belonging to the two side walls and in which at least one of the two fixing inserts according to the first possibility, or at least one of the two side cavities comprises an engagement groove and a locking groove configured so as to allow: inserting the longitudinal end of the support shaft into the engagement groove of one of the two inserts according to the first possibility or one of the two fixing cavities according to the second possibility, said support shaft then at an angle, not perpendicular to the side wall, and while the other longitudinal end of the support shaft is predisposed in the other insert of the opposite side wall according to the first possibility, or predisposed in the fixing cavity of the opposite side wall according to the second possibility, then sliding the longitudinal end along the engagement groove and until the end is locked in the locking groove.

[0022] According to optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: guide elements inclined relative to the horizontal and cooperating with the belt in order to raise its longitudinal edges, the support shaft of the guide element being inclined and held in cantilever, integral with an insert of a side wall; the installation having inserts according to the first possibility and in which the removable fixing means between the support shaft of the inclined guide element are screwing means between the support shaft and the insert, or a bayonet fixing; the inserts are made of metal, plastic or resin; the inserts are entirely embedded in the concrete of the side walls, without any projecting part of the side wall; the interior surfaces of the concrete side walls forming the conveyor enclosure are covered with a plastic envelope;the fixing inserts are formed by the plastic envelopes, by local conformations of the latter, or the fixing inserts are formed by elements, distinct from the plastic envelopes, secured to the plastic envelopes.;

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for producing an installation according to the invention, from a kit comprising: a conveyor belt, a set of guide elements each comprising a support shaft, a set of prefabricated concrete modules configured for the construction of the side walls intended to form the conveying enclosure, or even the bottom wall of said enclosure, the prefabricated concrete modules intended for the production of the side walls having the inserts taken in mass in the concrete according to the first possibility, or the fixing cavities made in the mass of the prefabricated modules according to the second possibility, removable fixing means between the fixing inserts and the support shafts according to the first possibility, or between the fixing cavities and the support shafts according to the second possibility configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts of the guide elements to the fixing inserts predisposed in the prefabricated modules of the concrete side walls according to the first possibility,or configured to ensure the attachment of the support shafts of the guide elements to the attachment cavities of the prefabricated modules of the concrete side walls, and in which method: the side walls, or even the bottom walls forming the conveyor enclosure, are obtained by assembling the prefabricated concrete modules, including the upper section of the conveyor enclosure having the spacing between the side walls less than the spacing of the side walls carrying the inserts or the attachment cavities used for attaching the guide elements of the conveyor belt, the upper section of the conveyor enclosure being configured to form the duct, of width less than the conveyor belt, and centered relative to the longitudinal axis of the belt, flaps extending respectively from the two side walls of the upper section downwards, creating a seal with the longitudinal edges of the upper strand of the conveyor belt,the guide elements are fixed directly to the inserts of the prefabricated concrete modules, using removable fixing means, or directly to the fixing cavities.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an installation in accordance with the invention in which: a formwork is produced, in particular arranged in a trench, said formwork being intended for the production of the concrete side walls of the enclosure, or even a concrete bottom wall joining the side walls, comprising the fixing inserts held in the formwork intended for the production of the side walls, the concrete is poured into the formwork, and after drying of the concrete the side walls with inserts are obtained, and where appropriate the bottom wall, including the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure having the spacing (E2) between the side walls (3, 4), less than the spacing (E1) of the side walls (3, 4) carrying the inserts (7) or the fixing cavities used for fixing the guide elements (6a, 6b, 6c) of the conveyor belt, the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure being configured to form a conduit, of width less than the conveyor belt (5), and centered relative to the axis longitudinal of the strip,the support shafts of the conveyor belt guide elements are secured to the inserts embedded in the side walls of the trench by using removable fixing means.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the manufacturing method is obtained from a kit suitable for producing an installation according to the invention, comprising: a conveyor belt, a set of guide elements each comprising a support shaft, a set of plastic casings carrying fixing inserts suitable for serving as formwork elements for pouring concrete into the side walls, removable fixing means between the fixing inserts and the support shafts configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts of the guide elements to the fixing inserts, and in which method the plastic envelopes (30, 40) carrying the fixing inserts are used as formwork elements for molding the concrete side walls (3, 4) of the conveyor enclosure (Ec).

[0026] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description accompanied by the appended figures, including: There figure 1 is a sectional view, along a vertical plane, illustrating more particularly the conveyor enclosure with its concrete walls, above ground level, for example of a building where animals are kept, as well as the belt conveyor whose belt guide elements, such as rollers, are directly secured to inserts in the concrete side walls, The figure 2 is a view of a prefabricated concrete module of a kit in accordance with the invention according to one embodiment, The figure 3 is a view of a method of attachment between the insert and a telescopic support shaft, by deploying the telescopic shaft until the longitudinal ends of the telescopic support shaft penetrate into complementary cavities of the insert, The figure 3a is a detail view of the figure 3 illustrating the locking of the deployed position of the telescopic shaft in an insert of the side wall, The figure 4 is a detailed view of another method of fixing between the insert and the fixing shaft, carried out by placing the support shaft at an angle and penetrating its end into an engagement groove of the insert, then sliding it along the engagement groove to a locking groove of the insert, The figures 5 et 6 are photos of prefabricated concrete modules conforming to the kit according to the invention, The figure 7 is a sectional view along a vertical plane, the concrete side walls of the enclosure covered internally with a plastic envelope carrying fixing inserts, The figure 7a is a detailed view of a plastic envelope which will advantageously serve as a formwork element during manufacturing (during the pouring and molding of the concrete walls), and which will advantageously be kept permanently to form a finishing wall for the conveyor enclosure.

[0027] The invention also relates to an installation 1 suitable for the transport of material (such as solid material, liquid, powders, etc.).

[0028] The installation includes: concrete side walls 3, 4, or even a bottom wall joining the side walls, forming a conveyor enclosure Ec, a belt conveyor 2 arranged in the conveyor enclosure Ec, said conveyor having a flexible conveyor belt 5, and one or more guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c suitable for guiding and / or supporting the conveyor belt 5, the guide elements having support shafts 60.

[0029] Generally speaking, the conveying enclosure Ec can be arranged below ground level, in a trench T. As a non-limiting example, the trench can be provided below the ground of a building intended for animals.

[0030] Such a trench T is thus made below the ground where the animals move. The excrement can be easily pushed to an opening in the ground, at the level of the trench T, through which the excrement falls onto the conveyor belt 5.

[0031] This conveyor belt 5 is motorized in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, and in order to allow, for example, the evacuation of waste: this conveyor belt 5 forms a loop with an upper strand 5b intended to support the materials, and a lower strand 5a.

[0032] All or part of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c may be rollers, said roller being rotatably mounted relative to the support shaft 60, and intended to come into rolling contact with the internal wall of the conveyor belt 5. The guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c may also be, at least in part, simply constituted by the support shafts 60, in sliding contact with the conveyor belt 5 as it advances.

[0033] Notably and according to a first possibility of the invention, fixing inserts 7 are embedded in the concrete of the side walls 3, 4 of the enclosure, and the longitudinal ends E1 of the shafts 60 are received in the inserts 7. These inserts 7 can typically be made of metal, obtained in particular by molding.

[0034] Alternatively, and according to a second possibility, fixing cavities are made in the mass of the concrete side walls and the longitudinal ends E1 of the shafts 60 are received in these cavities. These fixing cavities can be obtained during the molding of the concrete, or by removing material.

[0035] The installation also has, according to the first possibility, removable fixing means between the fixing inserts 7 and the support shafts 60 configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c (directly) to the fixing inserts 7 predisposed in the concrete side walls 3, 4. Conversely, these removable fixing means are also configured for the removal of the support shafts 60 from the fixing inserts 7.

[0036] Alternatively, according to the second possibility, the installation has removable fixing means between the fixing cavities and the support shafts 60 configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c (directly) to the fixing cavities of the concrete side walls 3, 4. Conversely, these removable fixing means are further configured for the removal of the support shafts 60 from the fixing cavities.

[0037] The invention advantageously makes it possible to fix the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c directly to the inserts 7 embedded in the concrete side walls of the trench according to the first possibility, or even directly to the fixing cavities of the side walls according to the second possibility. In other words, the typically metal frame structure known from the state of the art for supporting the guide elements is unnecessary and therefore eliminated, freeing the cavity of the enclosure of this structure. Only the guide elements at the ends of the frame may require a metal frame, with the presence of a head frame, and a tail frame, respectively at the two ends of the conveyor. The head frame and / or the tail frame may be motorized.

[0038] It is also noted that the removable fixing means between the inserts 7 and the support shafts 60 according to the first possibility, or between the fixing cavities and the support shafts, according to the second possibility, allow easy disassembly of the belt conveyor 2 in the event of maintenance.

[0039] The guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c may comprise substantially horizontal guide elements 6a, 6b, the two ends of the support shaft 60 of each of the horizontal guide elements being received in a removable manner, in two of the inserts 7 belonging to the two side walls 3, 4 according to the first possibility, or even in two fixing cavities in excess depth of the concrete side walls, according to the second possibility.

[0040] We thus notice the figure 1 that the installation comprises a horizontal, lower guide element 6a, in particular a roller, for guiding the lower strand 5a of the conveyor belt 5, and a horizontal, upper guide element 6b, in particular a lower roller, for guiding the upper strand 5b of the conveyor belt. The two ends of the guide element 6a or 6b are received in two inserts 7 according to the first possibility (or in the two fixing cavities according to the second possibility) belonging to the concrete side walls, the axis of the guide element substantially typically perpendicular to the walls, at least locally.

[0041] The inserts 7 may be partially embedded in the concrete, and so that the complementary part intended for fixing the support shaft 60 projects from the side wall 3, 4. Alternatively, and according to an advantageous embodiment, the inserts 7 may be entirely embedded in the concrete of the side walls, without a projecting part from the side wall, namely the inserts substantially flush with the side wall, and as illustrated in the examples of the figures.

[0042] Several methods of fixing of the removable type can be envisaged. The different methods of fixing described below are given only as an indication, and in no way limit the invention.

[0043] According to a first possibility, illustrated for information purposes in the figure 3 , said support shaft 60 of the horizontal guide element 6a, 6b is telescopic, being able to pass from a deployed position P1 (illustrated in dotted lines) configured to ensure the fixing of the two longitudinal ends El of the support shaft 60 respectively in two fixing inserts 7 according to the first possibility (or two fixing cavities according to the second possibility) belonging to the two side walls 3, 4 of the conveying enclosure to a retracted position P2. This retracted position P2 (illustrated in solid lines) is suitable for disengaging the longitudinal ends El of the support shaft 60 from the fixing inserts (or fixing cavities), thus allowing the removal of the guide element 6a; 6ab. Said support shaft 60 is further equipped with a locking means in its deployed position P1.

[0044] It is noted that this fixing solution, based on the deployment of a telescopic shaft, can be compatible with inserts 7 provided entirely embedded in the side walls, and as visible in the figure 3 . In the deployed position P1, the length of the support shaft 60 is then greater than the spacing between the side walls of the trench T, at least locally at the inserts. In the retracted position, the length of the support shaft 60 is less than the spacing between the side walls 3, 4.

[0045] Said telescopic support shaft 60 may comprise at least two telescopic tubular sections 61, 62, having orifices 63, 64 belonging respectively to the two tubular sections 61, 62 which are configured to be opposite in said deployed position P1 of the support shaft 60: the locking means is then configured to pass through the orifices opposite the orifices 63, 64 to ensure the locking of the support shaft 60 in said deployed position P1, and as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2a.

[0046] More particularly, the two tubular sections respectively comprising an inner tube 61 and an outer tube 62. The locking means may comprise two studs 66 passing through the orifices 64 of said inner tube 61, as well as a spring blade 67 forcing the studs 66 to move away from each other.

[0047] This locking means is inside the inner tube 61: it is configured so as to ensure automatic locking of the deployed position P1 when the orifices 64 of the inner tube 61 are placed opposite the orifices 63 of the outer tube 62. The studs 66 passing through the orifices 64 of the inner tube are automatically forced by the spring blade 67 to simultaneously penetrate the orifices 63 of the outer tube 62.

[0048] According to another embodiment illustrated for information purposes in the figure 4 said support shaft 60 of the horizontal guide element 6a, 6b is configured to ensure the fixing of the two longitudinal ends E1 of the support shaft 60 respectively in two fixing inserts 7 according to the first possibility (or two fixing cavities according to the second possibility) belonging to the two side walls 3, 4 of the enclosure Ec, and without changing the length of the shaft 60. For this purpose at least one of the two fixing inserts 7 (or one of the fixing cavities) comprises an engagement groove 71 and at least one locking groove 72, 72', for example an engagement groove 71, substantially horizontal, and a locking groove 72 extending vertically.

[0049] The locking groove 72 and the engagement groove 71 form a lying L-shaped groove. In the case where the insert (or cavity) has a second locking groove 72', the two locking grooves 72 and 72' and the engagement groove 71 form an inverted U-shaped groove.

[0050] Such a design allows the fixing of a support shaft 60 of a length possibly greater than the spacing between the side walls.

[0051] These two grooves 71 and 72 are configured so as to allow: inserting the longitudinal end of the support shaft 60 into the engagement groove 71 of one of the two inserts 7 (or one of the two fixing cavities), said support shaft 60 then at an angle (as illustrated in dotted lines in figure 4 ), that is to say not perpendicular to the side wall, and while the other longitudinal end of the support shaft 60 is predisposed in the other insert (or the other fixing cavity) of the opposite side wall 4, then, the sliding of the longitudinal end El of the support shaft along the engagement groove 71 and until the end is locked in the locking groove 72.

[0052] The advantage of a U-shaped groove with double locking grooves 72 and 72' is to allow the support shaft 60 to be positioned in one chosen from the two locking grooves, and advantageously depending on its direction of rotation: for example at the figure 4 the support shaft 60 intended to rotate counterclockwise is positioned in the locking groove on the left. This prevents the rotation of the shaft from causing accidental withdrawal due to friction. These support shafts 60 would thus be positioned in the locking groove 72' on the right, if the direction of rotation were reversed.

[0053] These two methods of fixing illustrated in figures 3 et 4 advantageously allow a support shaft 60 (of fixed length) to be fixed to two inserts 7 entirely embedded in the side walls, or even to fix the support shaft 60 (of fixed length) to the fixing cavities of the two side walls.

[0054] In the case where the inserts 7 have projecting parts of the side walls (embodiment not illustrated), other fixing means may be envisaged such as screw / nut systems, pins. The support shafts 60 of the horizontal guide elements 6a, 6b may be of a length slightly less than the spacing between the side walls 3, 4, and in such a way that the longitudinal ends of each support shaft 60 are fixed on the projecting parts of the inserts 7.

[0055] The installation may also comprise guide elements 6c inclined relative to the horizontal and cooperating with the belt in order to raise its longitudinal edges, the support shaft of the guide element 6c being inclined and for example held in a cantilevered position, secured to an insert 7 of a side wall 3; 4. These guide elements 6c, inclined relative to the horizontal, make it possible to raise the two longitudinal edges of the upper strand 5b of the flexible belt 5. The section of the upper strand 5b then advantageously has a cradle-shaped profile, namely a concave profile favorable to maintaining the material to be transported on the conveyor belt 5 resulting from the cooperation of the horizontal guide element 6b, and two inclined guide elements 6c secured respectively to the two side walls 3, 4 of the trench.

[0056] The removable fixing means between the support shaft of the inclined guide element 6c may for example be screwing means between the inclined support shaft 60 and the insert 7. Alternatively, the removable fixing means may be a bayonet fixing between the support shaft 60 and the insert 7.

[0057] It is also noted that the upper section 11 of the conveyor enclosure has a spacing E2 between the side walls 3, 4, less than the spacing E1 of the side walls 3, 4 carrying the inserts 7 (or the fixing cavities) used for fixing the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c of the conveyor belt.

[0058] The upper section 11 of said conveying enclosure is then configured to form a conduit, of width less than the conveyor belt 5, said conduit being centered relative to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt 5. Flaps 12 can extend respectively from the two side walls of the upper section 11 downwards, respectively creating a seal with the two longitudinal edges of the upper strand 5b of the conveyor belt 5.

[0059] It is also noted that the upper ends of the side walls 3, 4 may have shoulders 13 intended to constitute a seat for the installation of a closing plate 14 supported by two of its edges on the shoulders 13. This closing plate 14 may be permanently placed in line with the conveyor enclosure whose upper opening is to be closed. The plate 14 may also be that of a trapdoor, movable, in particular by sliding or pivoting, which can be opened when it becomes necessary to drop the material into the trench, with a view to its evacuation.

[0060] It is also noted that the interior surfaces of the concrete side walls 3, 4 forming the conveyor enclosure can be covered with a plastic envelope 30, 40.

[0061] These plastic envelopes, covering the concrete, will facilitate the cleaning of the internal side walls of the conveyor enclosure, and in comparison with bare concrete walls. This plastic envelope will have as another major advantage to be able to serve as a formwork element for the molding of the internal concrete walls, forming a conveyor enclosure, including the molding of the different functions (shoulder 13 for the cover plate, and the different spacings E1, E2 between the upper section 11 and the lower section of the conveyor enclosure).

[0062] Advantageously, the fixing inserts 7 are carried by the plastic envelopes, for example formed by the plastic envelopes 30, 40, by local conformations of the latter. Alternatively, the fixing inserts 7 are formed by elements, distinct from the plastic envelopes 30, 40, secured to the plastic envelopes 30, 40.

[0063] The invention also relates to a method for producing an installation in accordance with the invention from a kit comprising: a conveyor belt 5, a set of guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c each comprising a support shaft 60, a set of prefabricated concrete modules configured for the construction of the side walls 3, 4 of the trench, or even the bottom wall of the trench, the prefabricated concrete modules 10 intended for the production of the side walls 3, 4 having the inserts 7 solidified in the concrete according to the first possibility, or else fixing cavities according to the second possibility, removable fixing means between the fixing inserts 7 and the support shafts 60 according to the first possibility, or else between the fixing cavities and the support shafts 60 according to the second possibility, configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c to the fixing inserts 7 predisposed in the prefabricated modules 10 of the side walls 3, 4 in concrete, according to the first possibility,or configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c to the fixing cavities of the prefabricated modules 10 of the concrete side walls 3,4.

[0064] This kit allows the manufacture of an installation in accordance with the invention, for example after carrying out an excavation for trench T.

[0065] The side walls, or even the bottom walls forming the Ec conveyor enclosure, are easily obtained, essentially by assembling prefabricated concrete modules.

[0066] It is then possible to fix the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c, directly to the inserts of the modules, using the removable fixing means, or even directly to the fixing cavities.

[0067] It is still possible to achieve such an installation by creating formwork on site and pouring concrete.

[0068] The invention thus relates to a method of manufacturing an installation according to the invention in which: possibly a trench T is created under the ground, for example of a building intended for housing animals intended to receive the concrete side walls of the conveyor enclosure, a formwork is produced, if necessary placed in the trench, said formwork being intended for the production of the concrete side walls forming the conveyor enclosure, or even a concrete bottom wall joining the side walls, and the fixing inserts 7 being predisposed in the formwork intended for the production of the side walls, the concrete is poured into the formwork, and, obtaining after drying of the concrete the side walls 3, 4 with embedded inserts 7, and if necessary the bottom wall, possibly the formwork is removed, the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c of the conveyor belt 5 are secured to the inserts 7 embedded in the side walls 3, 4 of the trench T by the implementation of the removable fixing means.

[0069] The formwork can be a formwork intended to be removed after the concrete walls have dried, or a formwork intended to remain permanently in the trench.

[0070] The invention thus relates to a method based on a kit suitable for producing an installation according to the invention by implementing the method as described above, said kit comprising: a conveyor belt 5, a set of guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c each comprising a support shaft 60, a plastic casing assembly 30, 40, carrying fixing inserts 7 suitable for serving as formwork elements for pouring concrete for the side walls of the enclosure. removable fixing means between the fixing inserts 7 and the support shafts 60 configured to ensure the fixing of the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c to the fixing inserts 7 predisposed in the prefabricated modules 10 of the concrete side walls 3, 4.

[0071] Each 30 or 40 plastic envelope can in practice be obtained by combining several elements.

[0072] As illustrated, the plastic envelopes 30, 40 carrying the fixing inserts will, during the implementation of the method, be used as formwork elements for molding the concrete side walls 3, 4 of the conveyor enclosure Ec.

[0073] As already mentioned, the invention advantageously makes it possible to directly fix the support shafts 60 of the guide elements 6a, 6b, 6c to the inserts 7 embedded in the concrete side walls of the trench. In other words, the typically metal frame structure known from the state of the art for supporting the guide elements along the entire length of the conveyor is unnecessary and therefore eliminated, freeing the cavity of the trench from this structure, with the exception of the longitudinal ends of the conveyor which may respectively comprise a head frame and a tail frame, in particular motorized. NOMENCLATURE

[0074] 1. Installation, 2. Belt conveyor, 3, 4. Concrete side walls of the trench, 30, 40. Plastic covers 5. Conveyor belt, 5a. Lower strand of the flexible belt, 5b. Upper strand of the flexible belt, 6a. Horizontal guide element: guide and support rollers, substantially horizontal (for guiding and supporting the lower strand of the conveyor belt), 6b. Horizontal guide element: guide rollers, substantially horizontal (for guiding the upper strand of the conveyor belt), 6c. Inclined horizontal guide element: inclined guide rollers for lifting the longitudinal edges of the flexible belt, 7. Fixing inserts, 71, 72. Respectively engagement groove and locking groove of the insert, 60. Support shafts (rollers 6a, 6b, 6c), 61, 62. Inner tube and outer tube of two telescopic sections of the support shaft, 63,64.Holes in the inner tube and outer tube for locking the telescopic shaft in its extended position P1 (Figure 2a), 66, 67. Locking studs and spring blade (Figure 2a), 10. Prefabricated concrete module, 11. Upper section of said conveyor enclosure, 12. Flaps providing a seal between the side walls of the upper section 11 of the trench and the conveyor belt 5, 13. Shoulders intended to constitute a seat for a plate 14 closing the opening of the trench, 14. Closing plate, Ec. Conveyor enclosure, El. Longitudinal end (Support shaft), E1. Spacing between the side walls carrying the inserts 7, E2. Spacing between the side walls on section 11, P1. Extended position of the telescopic shaft, P2. Retracted position of the telescopic shaft, T. Trench.

Claims

1. Installation (1) suitable for the transport of materials, comprising: - concrete side walls (3, 4), or even a bottom wall joining the side walls forming a conveying enclosure (Ec) between them, - a belt conveyor (2) housed in said conveying enclosure, said conveyor having a flexible conveyor belt (5), and one or more guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) suitable for guiding and / or supporting the conveyor belt (5), the guiding elements having support shafts (60) and wherein said installation comprises fastening inserts (7) embedded in the concrete of the side walls (3, 4) according to a first possibility, the longitudinal ends (El) of the shafts (60) being received in the inserts (7) according to the first possibility, - fastening cavities (7) hollowed into the mass of the side walls (3, 4) according to a second possibility, the longitudinal ends (El) of the shafts (60) being received in the fastening cavities according to the second possibility, - removable fastening means between on the one hand the fastening inserts (7) according to the first possibility or the fastening cavities according to the second possibility, and on the other hand the support shafts (60), said removable fastening means being configured to secure the support shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) to the fastening inserts (7), prearranged in the concrete side walls (3, 4) according to the first possibility, or secure the support shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) to the fastening cavities according to the second possibility, or conversely remove the support shafts (60) from the fastening inserts (7) according to the first possibility or remove the support shafts from the fastening cavities according to the second possibility. - an upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure having a separation (E2) between the side walls (3.4), less than the separation (E1) of the side walls (3,4) carrying the inserts (7) or the fastening cavities serving to fasten the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) of the conveyor belt, the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure being configured to form a duct, with a width less than the conveyor belt (5), and centred with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt, skirts (12) extending respectively from the two side walls of the upper section (11) downwards, making a seal with the longitudinal edges of the upper length (5b) of the conveyor belt (5).

2. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) comprise substantially horizontal guiding elements (6a, 6b), the two ends of the support shaft (60) of each of the horizontal guiding elements being removably received, in two of the inserts (7) belonging to the two side walls (3.4) according to the first possibility, or in two fastening cavities according to the second possibility.

3. Installation according to claim 2, wherein said support shaft (60) of the horizontal guiding element (6a, 6b) is telescopic, capable of passing from a deployed position (P1) on the one hand, configured to ensure the attachment of the two longitudinal ends (El) of the support shaft (60) respectively in two attachment inserts (7) belonging to the two side walls (3.4) according to the first possibility, or respectively in two attachment cavities of the two side walls (3,4) according to the second possibility to a retracted position (P2) on the other hand, suitable for leaving clear the longitudinal ends (El) of the support shaft (60) from the fastening inserts (7) according to the first possibility, or leaving clear the longitudinal ends of the support shaft (60) of the lateral cavities according to the second possibility, thus allowing the retraction of the guiding element (6a; 6b), said support shaft (60) having a locking means in its deployed position (P1).

4. Installation according to claim 3, wherein said telescopic support shaft (60) comprises two telescopic tubular sections (61, 62), having orifices (63, 64) belonging to the two tubular sections (61, 62) that are configured to be facing in said deployed position (P1) of the support shaft (60), the locking means being configured to pass through the facing orifices (63, 64) to ensure locking of the support shaft (60) in said deployed position (P1).

5. Installation according to claim 4, wherein the two tubular sections respectively comprise an inner tube (61) and an outer tube (62), the locking means comprise two studs (66) passing through the orifices (64) of said inner tube (61), as well as a spring leaf (67) forcing the studs (66) to move apart from one another, the locking means being internal to the inner tube (61) configured so as to ensure automatic locking of the deployed position (P1) when the orifices (64) of the inner tube (61) are facing the orifices (63) of the outer tube (62), the studs (66) passing through the orifices (64) of the inner tube (61) automatically forced by the spring leaf (67) to simultaneously enter the orifices (63) of the outer tube (62).

6. Installation according to claim 2, wherein said support shaft (60) of the horizontal guide element (6a, 6b) is configured to secure the two longitudinal ends (61) of the support shaft (60) respectively in two fastening inserts (7) belonging to the two side walls (3.4) according to the first possibility, or configured to secure the two longitudinal ends (El) of the support shaft (60) respectively in two fastening cavities belonging to the two side walls and wherein at least one of the two fastening inserts (7) according to the first possibility, or at least one of the two fastening cavities comprises an engagement groove (71) and a locking groove (72) configured so as to enable: - inserting the longitudinal end of the support shaft (60) into the engagement groove (71) of one of the two inserts (7) according to the first possibility or one of the two fastening cavities according to the second possibility, said support shaft (60) then at an angle, not perpendicular to the side wall, and while the other longitudinal end of the support shaft (60) is pre-disposed in the other insert of the opposite side wall (4) according to the first possibility, or pre-disposed in the fastening cavity of the opposite side wall according to the second possibility, then - sliding the longitudinal end (El) along the engagement groove (71) and until the end is locked in the locking groove (72).

7. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising guiding elements (6c) inclined with respect to the horizontal and cooperating with the belt in order to raise its longitudinal edges, the support shaft of the guide element (6c) being inclined and held in a cantilever, secured to an insert of a side wall (3.4).

8. Installation according to claim 7, having inserts (7) according to the first possibility and wherein the removable fastening means between the support shaft of the inclined guide element (6c) are screwing means between the support shaft (60) and the insert (7), or a bayonet fastening between the support shaft (60) and the insert (7).

9. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inserts (7) are made of plastics material or metal.

10. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the inserts (7) are fully embedded in the concrete of the side walls, without protruding part of the side wall.

11. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the inner surfaces of the concrete side walls (3, 4) forming the conveying enclosure are covered with a plastic shell (30, 40).

12. Installation according to claim 11, wherein the fastening inserts (7) are formed by the plastic shells (30, 40), by local conformations thereof, or the fastening inserts (7) are formed by elements, separate from the plastic shells (30, 40), secured to the plastic shells (30, 40)13. Method for producing an installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, from a kit comprising: - a conveyor belt (5), - a set of guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) each comprising a support shaft (60), - a set of prefabricated concrete modules configured for the construction of the side walls (3, 4) intended to form the conveying enclosure (Ec), or even the bottom wall of said enclosure, the prefabricated concrete modules (10) intended for the manufacture of the side walls (3, 4) having the inserts (7) solidly incorporated into the concrete according to the first possibility, or the fastening cavities made in the mass of the prefabricated modules (10) according to the second possibility, - removable fastening means between the fastening inserts (7) and the support shafts (60) according to the first possibility, or between the fastening cavities and the support shafts (60) according to the second possibility, configured to ensure the fastening of the support shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) to the fastening inserts (7) prearranged in the prefabricated modules (10) of the concrete side walls (3.4) according to the first possibility, or to configure and ensure the attachment of the support shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) to the attachment cavities of the prefabricated modules (10) of the concrete side walls (3.4), and wherein: - the side walls, or even the bottom walls forming the conveying enclosure (Ec), are obtained by assembling the prefabricated concrete modules, including the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure having the separation (E2) between the side walls (3, 4), lower than the separation (El) of the side walls (3, 4) carrying the inserts (7) or the fastening cavities used to fasten the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) of the conveyor belt, the upper section (11) the conveying enclosure being configured to form the duct, of a width less than the conveyor belt (5), and centred with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt, skirts (12) extending respectively from the two side walls of the upper section (11) downwards, making a seal with the longitudinal edges of the upper length (5b) of the conveyor belt (5), - the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are secured directly to the inserts of the prefabricated concrete modules, thanks to the removable fastening means, or even directly to the fastening cavities.

14. Method for manufacturing an installation according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: - formwork is produced, said formwork being intended for making the concrete side walls of the conveying enclosure, or even a concrete bottom wall joining the side walls, comprising the fastening inserts (7) held in the formwork intended for making the side walls, - the concrete is poured into the formwork, and obtaining, after the concrete is dried, the side walls (3, 4) with inserts (7), and where applicable the bottom wall, including the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure having the separation (E2) between the side walls (3, 4), less than the separation (E1) of the side walls (3, 4) carrying the inserts (7) or the fastening cavities used to fasten the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) of the conveyor belt, the upper section (11) of the conveying enclosure being configured to form a duct, with a width less than the conveying belt (5), and centred with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt, - the support shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) of the conveyor belt are secured to the inserts (7) embedded in the side walls (3, 4) of the trench (T) by implementing the removable fastening means, and skirts (12) are provided extending respectively from the two side walls of the upper section (11) downwards, making a seal with the longitudinal edges of the upper length (5b) of the conveyor belt (5).

15. Method according to claim 14, from a kit suitable for producing an installation according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: - a conveyor belt (5), - a set of guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) each comprising a support shaft (60), - a plastic shell assembly (30, 40) carrying fastening inserts (7) suitable for serving as formwork elements for pouring concrete of the side walls, - removable fastening means between the fastening inserts (7) and the support shafts (60) configured to secure the supporting shafts (60) of the guiding elements (6a, 6b, 6c) to the fastening inserts (7), and in which method the plastic shells (30, 40) carrying the fastening inserts are used as formwork element for moulding the concrete side walls (3.4) of the conveying enclosure (Ec).