Overlapped Fabric-Reinforced Belt Seam With Embedded Thread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional belt connections for agricultural machines and baling presses are complex to manufacture and generate noise due to metal components impacting other parts, while existing seam applications fail to maintain tensile strength under high loads.
Innovation Solution
A belt is made continuous by overlapping end regions and connecting them with a thread that penetrates the belt in multiple stitches, with the thread embedded within the polymer layer, ensuring it lies mostly below the surface and is protected from wear, using a seam design that minimizes protrusion and maximizes durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If metal fittings are used to connect belt ends, then the belt can be made continuous, but the fittings wear over time due to friction with the rod, requiring belt replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the thread from the surface level and embeds it within the polymer layer of the belt. This removes the thread from direct contact with external components, eliminating the wear mechanism that plagued metal fittings. The thread remains functional for connecting belt ends while being protected inside the polymer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where the thread is integrated within the polymer layer. This composite design combines the tensile strength of the thread with the protective and wear-resistant properties of the polymer material, resulting in a durable connection that doesn't suffer from the friction-induced wear of metal fittings.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional belt connections are used, then the belt can be made continuous, but they generate noise due to metal components impacting other parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes metal components from the belt connection system and replaces them with a polymer-embedded thread. This extraction of metal eliminates the source of noise generation through impact and friction, while the polymer material provides a quiet, dampened connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, noisy metal fittings with a simpler, polymer-embedded thread solution. While the thread itself may have limited life, the overall connection system is quieter and the polymer embedding protects it, reducing the frequency of replacement compared to worn metal fittings.
3Strength
If the thread is embedded deeply in the polymer layer, then the belt has high tensile strength, but the thread may not be accessible for seam repair
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by embedding the thread to a specific depth within the polymer layer - deep enough to provide tensile strength and protection, but not so deep as to make repair impossible. The embedding depth is optimized to balance strength requirements with maintainability, allowing access for seam repair while maintaining high tensile strength.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a belt (1) as a continuous traction means, in particular for conveyor belts of agricultural machines, in particular baling presses, comprising at least one fabric layer (2) embedded, at least in certain regions, in a polymer layer (3), in particular rubber layer, whereby end regions (1a, 1b) of the belt (1) lie flat on top of one another in an overlap region (4) and are connected to each other for creating a continuous belt (1) reinforced by the fabric layer (2).According to the invention, it is provided that the end regions (1a, 1b) of the belt (1) are connected to each other by at least one thread (7) forming a seam (9), whereby, to that end, said at least one thread (7) penetrates the end regions (1a, 1b) of the belt (1) in a seam region (6) in several stitches (8), whereby the fabric layer (2) of the belt (1) is embedded in the polymer layer (3) at least across said seam region (6), and the thread (7) is embedded in transition regions (20) between the stitches (8) into the polymer layer (3) in such a manner shallowly at a depth of penetration (T) that the thread (7) runs below surfaces (10a, 10b) of the belt (1).