Belt End Connection With Cold-Formed Positive Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connections for band-shaped articles, such as conveyor and drive belts, suffer from high load peaks due to sliding friction, leading to potential damage when static friction is exceeded, as they rely solely on force-locking connections without a positive engagement.
Innovation Solution
A connection system using a connecting element with a locking element and clamping profiles made of softer materials than the reinforcement layer, allowing the reinforcement layer to be partially exposed and wrapped around the locking element, forming a positive connection through cold deformation and friction, with concave recesses to enhance contact surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a force-locking connection is used between the belt connector and the belt ends, then the connection is simple to implement, but high load peaks occur when static friction is exceeded, causing damage to the belt
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into multiple functional elements: clamping profiles for distributing clamping force, a locking element for positive engagement, and reinforcement layers for load bearing. This segmentation allows each element to specialize in one function, preventing any single point from bearing excessive load that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element features a curved surface around which the reinforcement layer wraps (at least 180 degrees). This curvature distributes the tensile load along the arc of contact rather than concentrating it at a single point, reducing peak stresses on the belt material while maintaining a relatively simple connection structure.
2Reliability
If the reinforcement layer is freed from polymeric material and wrapped around the locking element, then a positive connection is formed improving load transmission, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement layer is pre-exposed by removing polymeric material to a predetermined length before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that the reinforcement layer is ready for immediate engagement with the locking element, eliminating the need for complex on-site modifications during assembly while ensuring reliable load transmission through positive engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric material is selectively removed only from specific regions where the reinforcement layer needs to be exposed for engagement with the locking element. The rest of the belt maintains its original polymeric structure. This localized modification achieves the necessary positive connection while minimizing additional complexity to the overall assembly process.
3Reliability
If clamping profiles with concave recesses are used to enhance contact surface area, then force distribution is improved reducing load peaks, but the manufacturing complexity of the clamping profiles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping profiles incorporate concave recesses with curved geometries that conform to the shape of the reinforcement layer and locking element. These curved surfaces naturally distribute contact forces more uniformly across the interface, reducing peak stresses. The curvature is achieved through standard forming processes, balancing improved force distribution with reasonable manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connection system effectively transmits large tensile forces without damaging the band-shaped article, allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and reduces load peaks by distributing force more evenly.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the first clamping profile and/or the locking element is cold-formed in contact with the reinforcement layer and the surface structure of the reinforcement layer is reproduced as a negative in the first clamping profile and/or the locking element
Implementation Method 2
If static friction is exceeded and sliding friction occurs, relative movement between the belt and the belt connector is possible
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a connection with a connecting element (1) and at least one end of a strip-shaped article (100) according to the preamble of claim 1. According to the invention, the first clamping profile (4, 40) and/or the locking element (2, 20) are made of a material with a lower hardness compared to the steel cords of the reinforcement layer (103), such that when a clamping force is applied, the material of the first clamping profile (4, 40) and/or the locking element (2, 20) is cold-formed in contact with the reinforcement layer (103) and the surface structure of the reinforcement layer (103) is reflected as a negative in the first clamping profile (4, 40) and/or the locking element (2, 20), so that a positive connection is formed between the reinforcement layer (103) and the first clamping profile (4, 40) and/or the locking element (2, 20).