Steep angle pipe conveyor

Abstract

An angle pipe conveyor comprises a conveyor belt or roller belt. The conveyor belt includes a first conveyor belt section and a second conveyor belt section to define a cylinder structure having an overlap thickness based on plural sections of the roller belt with an overlap structure having an oval- shaped cross section. Support elements support the conveyor belt as rollers located on the support elements guide the cylinder structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conveyor system comprising:
 a belt including a lengthwise portion that inclines at an angle between approximately thirty and ninety degrees with respect to horizontal, the belt including along the lengthwise portion a first section overlapping a second section to define an oval-shaped cross-sectional area that contains an amount of fill that occupies at least approximately 95% of the oval-shaped cross-sectional area;   a plurality of support elements positioned proximate the belt along the lengthwise portion of the belt, each support element of the plurality of support elements spaced along the lengthwise portion very closely to adjacent support elements of the plurality of support elements; and   each support element of the plurality of support elements includes a plurality of rollers attached thereto and configured to maintain the oval-shaped cross-sectional area of the belt.   
     
     
         2 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one roller of the plurality of rollers includes a biasing member that biases the at least one roller towards the belt. 
     
     
         3 . The conveyor system of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         4 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein each support element of the plurality of support elements is spaced at a distance of no greater than approximately 500 mm from adjacent support elements of the plurality of support elements. 
     
     
         5 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the belt extends from a loading area to a depositing area, and the lengthwise portion of the belt is located between the loading area and the depositing area. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyor system of  claim 5 , wherein the loading area is located at a first elevation, and the depositing area is located an elevation greater than the first elevation. 
     
     
         7 . The conveyor system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first roller positioned within the loading area;   a second roller positioned within the depositing area; and   a motor that drives at least one of the first and second rollers.   
     
     
         8 . The conveyor system of  claim 5 , wherein the first belt section and the second belt section define an opening at the loading area and the depositing area. 
     
     
         9 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises a multi-layer design, the multi-layer design providing rigidity and stiffness to the belt along the lengthwise portion of the belt. 
     
     
         10 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 each support element of the plurality of support elements further supporting a plurality of lower rollers; and   the belt including a loading section and a depositing section, the plurality of rollers guiding the belt in a direction from the loading section towards the depositing section, the plurality of lower rollers guiding the belt in a direction from the depositing section towards the loading section, and the first belt section and the second belt section define an opening at the loading area and the depositing area.   
     
     
         11 . The conveyor system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a chute operatively associated with the belt to deposit material on the loading section of the belt;   a first support structure that supports the loading section of the belt;   a second support structure that supports the depositing section of the belt; and   a third support structure that supports the plurality of support elements.   
     
     
         12 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein each support element of the plurality of support elements defines a first opening with the plurality of rollers attached to the support element proximate the first opening. 
     
     
         13 . A conveyor system of  12 , wherein each support element of the plurality of support elements includes a plurality of lower rollers attached thereto, said plurality of lower rollers positioned proximate a second opening defined by their respective support element. 
     
     
         14 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first belt section substantially overlaps the second belt section. 
     
     
         15 . The conveyor system of  claim 14 , wherein the first belt section overlaps the second belt section at least ninety degrees in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         16 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the belt includes a loading section and a depositing section, and the first belt section and the second belt section define an opening in a circumferential direction at the loading section and the depositing section. 
     
     
         17 . The conveyor system of  claim 16 , wherein said oval-shaped cross-sectional area extends between the loading section and the depositing section to define a transporting section of the belt. 
     
     
         18 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein each support element of the plurality of support elements is spaced along the lengthwise portion by a first distance to adjacent support elements of the plurality of support elements, the first distance approximately a diameter of the oval-shaped cross-sectional area of the belt.