Conveyor Belt Joint Structure for Strength and Bending Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts for agricultural machinery face a trade-off between high static and dynamic strength at the joint and bending flexibility, with existing solutions either compromising on flexibility or strength.
Innovation Solution
An endless belt design featuring a polymer-reinforced fabric with drive cams, utilizing a cage structure formed by half-shells for connection, allowing for a short connection point that enhances bending flexibility while maintaining high tensile strength, achieved by wrapping fabric layers around rigid or flexible rods that are clamped between the half-shells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the overlap area is made long to increase tensile strength, then the static and dynamic strength at the joint is improved, but the bending flexibility of the belt is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fabric layers wrapped around rods to create a flexible yet strong joint connection. The fabric layers act as flexible reinforcement that maintains tensile strength while allowing the belt to bend freely at the joint, eliminating the need for long overlap areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint is divided into discrete segments with individual rods wrapped by fabric layers, rather than using a continuous long overlap. This segmentation allows each rod-fabric assembly to independently handle tensile loads while maintaining overall belt flexibility.
2Strength
If a screw connection with bolts and nuts is used to connect belt ends, then the tensile strength is improved, but the device complexity and noise generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of mechanical fastening from complex screw connections and reduces it to simple rod insertions secured by fabric wrapping. This eliminates bolts, nuts, and threaded holes while maintaining strong tensile connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric layers act as an intermediary that secures the rods in place without requiring metal fasteners. The fabric wrapping provides the necessary friction and mechanical interlocking to prevent rod displacement under tensile loads.
3Strength
If metal bolts and nuts are used for connection, then the tensile strength is improved, but wear and noise from metal-on-metal contact occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable metal fasteners with fabric-wrapped rods that are simpler and sufficient for the application. The fabric and rods are designed to last the belt's service life without the wear issues of metal-on-metal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of metal fastener wear and noise into a benefit by using non-metallic fabric wrapping that eliminates wear and noise while providing adequate tensile strength through friction-based securing.
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 belt achieves high tensile forces transmission with improved bending flexibility, enhancing running behavior on deflection stations, as the clamping effect increases with traction, and the drive cam integration supports efficient power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
at least one layer of fabric at each belt end is folded back on itself, wraps around a thickening and runs between the thickening and a stop forming an abutment for the thickening in such a way that it wedges itself between the thickening and the stop when tension is applied to the belt in the direction of the return stroke
Implementation Method 2
The clamping effect on the fabric layer increases with the tensile force acting on the belt
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The present invention relates to a belt as an endless traction element for conveyor belts of agricultural machinery, wherein the belt consists of a polymer reinforced by layers of fabric. The object of the invention is to provide such a belt which exhibits high static and dynamic strength at the joint, combined with high flexural flexibility. This object is achieved by having at least one layer of fabric (7) at each belt end folded back upon itself, encircling a thickening (6) and running between the thickening (6) and a stop (9, 10; 18) forming an abutment for the thickening, such that it is wedged between the thickening (6) and the stop (9, 10; 18) when tension is applied to the belt in the direction of the return fold.