Importance

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Abstract

A splice assembly is provided for connecting together a pair of belt ends by a plurality of short lengths of cable in a manner which allows for troughing of the belt across its width at the connected belt ends. The lengths of cable engage at one of their ends to a first belt end, and engage at their other end to a second belt end, whereby the cables bear a tensile load along their axis. Belt fasteners having slots for engageably receiving the ends of the cables are affixed to both of the first and second belt ends to be joined along the entire width of the belt ends. There is a small gap between adjacent belt fasteners which allows for flexion of the belt thereat to allow for the aforementioned troughing of the belt. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the cable ends engage with respective belt fasteners in a manner which prevents movement of the cable ends relative to the belt fasteners during operation of the belt. A cable splice is provided in which a support slab, which protects the cables against abrasion or being snagged and which also maintains a plurality of cables in spaced, generally parallel relation to allow a group of cables to be picked up together and inserted into slots in the belt fasteners together. The opposite ends of the support slab, from which the ends of the cables protrude, are shaped and positioned such as being curved inwardly to accommodate the leading end of the belt fasteners at which the cable engages therewith, to shield this region from particulate sifting. The slots in the belt fasteners are preferably positioned on the underside of the belt fasteners to further minimize particulate sifting.

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First Claim