Reduced size drive/frame assembly for a reciprocating floor conveyor

Abstract

piston rod portions (83, 85, 87) of three linear hydraulic motors (10, 12, 14) are connected at their opposite ends of two spaced apart transverse frame members (88, 90). A cylinder (120) is driven back and forth along each piston rod (83, 85, 87). Three transverse drive beams (16, 18, 20) are provided. Each drive beam (16, 18, 20) is directly connected to an associated one of the cylinders (120). Three set of floor slat members (1, 2, 3) are provided. Each set (1, 2, 3) is connected to an associated one of the transverse drive beams (16, 18, 20). The linear hydraulic motors (10, 12, 14) are operated for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction.

Description

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 477,767, filed Mar. 22, 1983, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements in reciprocating floor conveyors, and in particular to the provision of a compact hydraulic drive and support frame assembly for a reciprocating floor conveyor.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Reciprocating floor conveyors are a relatively recent development. Basically, they comprise at least one group of at least three elongated floor members and a hydraulic drive system which operates to drive at least a majority of the floor members in unison in the desired conveying direction, and to retract them individually. Systems are in use in which all of the floor members are driven in unison, in the desired conveying direction, and are then individually retracted sequentially. It has also been proposed to drive a majority of the floor slat members in the desired conveying direction while at the same time retracting the remaining floor slat members. The present invention has application with both types of systems.

For background purposes, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,760, granted Mar. 13, 1979, to U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,963, granted Mar. 20, 1979, and to U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,587, granted Jan. 22, 1980, all to Olaf A. Hallstrom. Reference is also made to my copending application Ser. No. 346,863, filed Feb. 8, 1982, entitled Drive Unit Mount for a Reciprocating Floor Conveyor, and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,285, granted Oct. 2, 1984, and to my copending application Ser. No. 346,865, filed Feb. 8, 1982, and entitled Drive/Guide System for a Reciprocating Floor Conveyor, and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,303, granted Jan. 8, 1985.

Earlier forms of reciprocating floor conveyors are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,629,504, granted February of 1953 to Peterson; by U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,856, granted in March of 1961 to Brooks; by U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,875, granted in October of 1970 to Hallstrom; and by West German Patent Publication 1,296,087, published in May of 1969. These patents are not particularly pertinent to the subject invention and require no further comment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a smaller and lighter weight modular type drive assembly.

The drive assembly of the present invention is basically characterized by a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each set of floor slat members. Each drive unit comprises an elongated piston rod having two opposite end mounting portions, a piston portion fixed on a mid part of the piston rod, and a cylinder mounted to reciprocate back and forth on the piston rod. When installed, the piston rods are fixed and the cylinders are movable. Each cylinder is connected to its set of the floor slat members.

In preferred form, a transverse drive beam is associated with each cylinder. Each transverse drive beam is connected to its set of floor slat members and is also connected to the moving cylinder of its hydraulic drive unit.

According to an aspect of the invention, the transverse drive beams are detachably connected to the cylinders by means of clamp assemblies.

According to another aspect of the invention, the clamp assemblies and the cylinders include interlocking structure which prevents the cylinders from moving endwise relative to the transverse drive beams.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drive assembly includes a pair of transverse frame members associated with the opposite end mounting portions of the elongated piston rods, and means for detachably securing the mounting portions of the piston rods to the transverse frame members.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, at least two longitudinal frame members are interconnected between the transverse frame members, outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the longitudinal frame members include bearing means which make contact with the transverse drive beams.

Other more detailed features of the invention are described in the description of the preferred embodiment and are particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like element designations refer to like parts throughout, and

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a truck that is equipped with a reciprocating floor conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in the process of using the conveyor to discharge its load;

FIG. 2 is a top plan diagram of a conveyor which includes three floor members per group with each common floor member being identified by a common number, such conveyor being shown in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2, but showing all of the floor members being advanced in unison to convey a load in the direction indicated by arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIGS. 2 and 3, showing floor members 2 and 3 stationary while floor members 1 are being retracted;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIGS. 2-4, but showing floor members 1 and 3 stationary while floor members 2 are being retracted;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIGS. 2-5, but showing floor members 1 and 2 stationary and floor members 3 being retracted;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the region where a floor member guide beam crosses and is attached to a transverse floor support frame member, with a foreground portion of the floor member cut away for the purpose of showing a slide bearing provided at such location in side elevation, and showing a fragmentary portion of the transverse floor support frame member in section;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 9--9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 10--10 of FIG. 8, showing components which are below the section line in top plan;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the drive assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown by FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an end elevational view of the drive assembly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, with a mid portion of a foreground side beam removed for clarity of illustration of the components behind such beam;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 14--14 of FIG. 11, showing a portion of one of the transverse drive beams resting on a bearing strip which is secured to the top of the side beam;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the hydraulic drive units, substantially along line 15--15 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the valve region which is shown within a circle in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 17--17 of FIG. 15, showing one of the clamp mechanisms used for securing the transverse drive beam to the cylinder.

4,974,285 4,474,285. Such manner of installation requires the use of tubular mounting members, one of which is shown in FIG. 11 and is designated 178. As disclosed in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,285 4,474,285, a tubular member like 178 is provided at each end of each member 88, 90. As shown in FIG. 18, the length of members 88, 90 is slightly less than the lateral spacing between two main frame beams MFB. The members 178 are installed on the end portions of members 88, 90 and are moved endwise inwardly. Then, the mechanisms is positioned between the two main frame beams MFB. Then, the members 178 are moved outwardly and at their outer ends are welded to the main frame beams MFB. Then, they are welded at their inner ends to the members 88, 90. In some installations it is also desirable to add diagonal bracing.

The drive mechanism of the present invention is characterized by a relatively small number of members and a low weight. This is contributable to the fact that the guide rods and pistons are fixed, the cylinder portions of the drive units 10, 12, 14 are movable, and the transverse drive beams 16, 18, 20 are directly secured to the barrel portion of the movable cylinders.

It is contemplated that in other installations shorter cylinders may be used. For example, each cylinder may project only a small distance outwardly from each side of its transverse drive beam. In an arrangement of this type the cylinders would not be side-by-side but rather would be staggered in position. That is, one of the short cylinders would be centered relative to drive beam 16, a second would be centered to drive beam 18 and the third would be centered relative to drive beam 20. This could be accomplished by using piston rods which span the full distance between the frame members 88, 90, but on which the piston heads are staggered. Or, short piston rods could be used and the frame could be altered.

From the foregoing, various further modifications, component arrangements, and mode of utilization of the reciprocating floor conveyor of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention is addressed, within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into sets, a hydraulic assembly for moving all of the floor slat members together in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, one set at a time, characterized by:

a pair of spaced apart end frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, each drive unit comprising fixed piston rod means having two opposite end mounting portions, piston head means fixed in position on the piston rod means, and a cylinder body mounted to reciprocate back and forth along said piston rod means, said cylinder and said piston head means together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said drive units being positioned to place the cylinder bodies directly below the transverse drive beams;

means securing the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rod means to the end frame members;

a pair of longitudinal beams positioned laterally outwardly adjacent the drive units, and structurally interconnecting the two end frame members; and

means connecting each cylinder body to a related transverse drive beam comprising an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam and having a lower portion shaped to engage the cylinder body, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the cylinder body, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp members together; and

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space between the two end frame members.

2. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein each cylinder body and at least one of its clamp members include interlocking portions which serve to prevent the cylinder body from moving longitudinally relative to the clamp member.

3. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of floor slat members, transverse drive beams and hydraulic drive units comprise three sets of floor slat members, three transverse drive beams, and three reversible linear hydraulic drive units respectively.

4. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein a first transverse drive beam at a first end of the assembly is connected to an end portion of a first reversible linear hydraulic drive unit that is located at one side of the assembly, a second transverse drive beam is connected to a second reversible linear hydraulic drive unit that is next to the first reversible linear hydraulic drive unit, at an end portion thereof opposite the end portion to which the first reversible linear hydraulic drive unit is connected, and a third transverse drive beam is connected to a center portion of a third reversible linear hydraulic drive unit that is next to the second reversible linear hydraulic drive unit.

5. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, and a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced apart mounting frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor;

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

three reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame members and a movable central portion which reciprocates back and forth between the mounting frame members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head members, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said linear hydraulic drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame members;

said transverse drive beams being positioned within a space immediately between the mounting frame members, each over a movable portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units;

means connecting the movable central portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space immediately between the mounting frame members; and

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a center section of the movable portion of its drive unit, a second of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards a first of said mounting frame members, and a third of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portions of its drive unit which is offset from center towards the second mounting frame member.

6. The hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 5, wherein each reversible linear hydraulic drive unit comprises a two part clamp secured to the movable portion of the reversible linear hydraulic drive unit, and means connecting one of said parts to the transverse drive beam associated with said reversible linear hydraulic drive unit.

7. The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse mounting frame members, laterally outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units, and slide bearing means positioned vertically between the transverse drive beams and the longitudinal beams, and connected to one and making sliding contact with the other.

8. The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 5, wherein the means connecting the transverse drive beam to the movable portion of the drive unit comprises an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, and removable connecting means for detachably securing the two clamp members together.

9. A conveyor installation for a vehicle comprising:

a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a vehicle mainframe comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart, mainframe beams;

a conveyor frame comprising a pair of spaced apart mounting frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor and at their ends are connected to the two mainframe beams,

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

three reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame members and movable portions which reciprocate back and forth between the mounting frame end members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head members, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said linear hydraulic drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame members;

said linear hydraulic drive units being positioned between the two longitudinal mainframe beams,

said transverse drive beams being positioned above the longitudinal mainframe beams, in a space longitudinally between the two mounting frame members, each over a moving portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units, and each having opposite end portions which project laterally outwardly from the longitudinal mainframe beams for connection to floor slat members which are laterally outwardly of said mainframe beams;

means connecting the movable portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space between the mounting frame members; and

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a center section of the movable portion of its drive unit, a second of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards a first of said mounting frame members, and a third of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards the second mounting frame member.

10. The conveyor installation of claim 9, wherein said hydraulic drive assembly further comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members positioned inwardly of the mainframe beams and structurally interconnecting the mounting frame members.

11. The A conveyor installation of claim 9, for a vehicle comprising:

a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a vehicle mainframe comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart, mainframe beams;

a conveyor frame comprising a pair of spaced apart mounting frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor and at their ends are connected to the two mainframe beams;

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

three reversibly linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame members and movable portions which reciprocate back and forth between the mounting frame members, said fixed and movable portions together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said linear hydraulic drive units being positioned between the two longitudinal mainframe beams;

said transverse drive beams being positioned above the longitudinal mainframe beams, in a space longitudinally between the two mounting frame members, each over a moving portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units, and each having opposite end portions which project laterally outwardly from the longitudinal mainframe beams;

means connecting the movable portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space between the mounting frame members;

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a center section of the movable portion of its drive unit, a second of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the moveable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards a first of said mounting frame members, and a third of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards the second mounting frame member; and

said conveyor installation further comprising connector means at the ends of the mounting frame members which are connected to the mainframe beams and serve to connect the conveyor frame to the mainframe beams.

12. The conveyor installation of claim 9, wherein the means connecting the transverse drive beam to the movable portion of the drive unit comprises an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, and removable connection means for detachably securing the two clamp members together.

13. The conveyor installation of claim 9, further comprising at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse mounting frame members, laterally outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units, and slide bearing means positioned vertically between the transverse drive beams and the longitudinal beams, and connected to one and making sliding contact with the other.

14. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into sets, and a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a pair of longitudinally spaced part mounting frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame members and a movable portion which reciprocates back and forth between the mounting frame end members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head member, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said linear hydraulic drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame end members;

said transverse drive means being positioned in a space immediately between the mounting frame end members, each over a movable portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units;

means for detachably connecting each transverse drive beam to the movable portion of its drive unit comprising an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the movable portion of the drive unit, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp members together; and

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space immediately between the mounting frame members.

15. A reciprocating floor type conveyor, comprising:

at least three sets of floor slat members which are mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam and the set of floor slat members connected thereto, each said drive unit comprising an elongated piston rod having two opposite end mounting portions, a piston portion fixed on a mid part of the piston rod, and a cylinder mounted to reciprocate back and forth on said piston rod, said cylinder and said piston portion together defining two variable volume chambers, one outwardly from each end of the piston portion;

said drive units being positioned to place said cylinders directly below the transverse drive beams;

means for connecting each cylinder to its transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space which is between the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rods; and

means for detachably connecting each transverse drive beam to its cylinder comprising an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the cylinder, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the cylinder, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp members together.

16. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 15, wherein the cylinder and at least one of the clamp members include interlocking portions which serve to prevent the cylinder from moving longitudinally relative to the clamp member.

17. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 15, further comprising a pair of transverse frame members associated with the opposite end mounting portions of the elongated piston rods, and means for detachably securing the mounting portions of the piston rods to said transverse frame members, so that said piston rods and said transverse frame members together form a support frame for the drive units.

18. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 17, further comprising at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse frame members, outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units.

19. A reciprocating floor type conveyor, comprising:

at least three sets of floor slat members which are mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam and the set of floor slat members connected thereto, each said drive unit comprising an elongated piston rod having two opposite end mounting portions, a piston portion fixed on a mid part of the piston rod, and a cylinder mounted to reciprocate back and forth on said piston rod, said cylinder and said piston portion together defining two variable volume chambers, one outwardly from each end of the piston portion;

said drive units being positioned to place said cylinders directly below the transverse drive beams;

means for connecting each cylinder to its transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space which is between the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rods;

a pair of transverse frame members associated with the opposite end mounting portions of the elongated piston rod;

means for detachably securing the mounting portions of the piston rods to said transverse frame members, so that said piston rods and said transverse frame members together form a support frame for the drive units;

at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse frame members, outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units;

slide bearing means carried by the longitudinal frame members, and wherein the transverse drive beams make sliding contact with said slide bearing means;

means for detachably connecting each transverse drive beam to its cylinder comprising an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the cylinder, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the cylinder, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp memebers together.

20. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 19 wherein the cylinder and at least one of the clamp members include interlocking portions which serve to prevent the cylinder from moving longitudinally relative to the clamp member.

21. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 19, wherein each transverse frame member includes a projecting end portion at each of its ends, and said conveyor further includes a mounting member of tubular form telescopically received on each said end portion, said mounting member being adapted to be welded at its outer end to a frame structure in an installation, and at its inner end to the transverse frame member.

22. A reciprocating floor type conveyor, comprising:

at least three sets of floor slat members which are mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam and the set of floor slat members connected thereto, each said drive unit comprising an elongated piston rod having two opposite end mounting portions, a piston portion fixed on a mid part of the piston rod, and a cylinder mounted to reciprocate back and forth on said piston rod, said cylinder and said piston portion together defining two variable volume chambers, one outwardly from each end of the piston portion;

said drive units being positioned to place said cylinders directly below the transverse drive beams;

means for connecting each cylinder to its transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space which is between the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rods; and

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a first end portion of its cylinder, another transverse drive beam is connected to the opposite end portion of its cylinder, and a third transverse drive beam is connected to a midportion of its cylinder.

23. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 22, further comprising a pair of transverse frame members associated with the opposite end mounting portions of the elongated piston rods, and means for securing the mounting portions of the piston rods to said transverse frame members, so that said piston rods and said transverse frame members together form a support frame for the drive units.

24. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 23, further comprising at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse frame members, outwardly on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units.

25. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 24, further including slide bearing means carried by the longitudinal frame members, and wherein the transverse drive beams make sliding contact with said slide bearing means.

26. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of sets of floor slat members which are mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, a hydraulic assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, characterized by:

a frame comprising a pair of spaced apart transverse frame members;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible linear hydraulic drive units, each drive unit comprising an elongated piston rod having two opposite end mounting portions, a piston portion fixed on the mid part of a piston rod, and a cylinder mounted to reciprocate back and forth on said piston rod, said cylinder and said piston portion together defining two variable volume chambers, one outwardly from each end of the piston portion;

said drive units being positioned to place said cylinders directly below the transverse drive beams;

means securing the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rods to midportions of the transverse frame members, such that the piston rods structurally interconnect the two transverse frame members;

means for connecting each cylinder to its transverse drive beam comprising an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam and having a lower portion shaped to engage the cylinder, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the cylinder, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp members together; and

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space which is between the two transverse frame members.

27. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 26, wherein the cylinder and at least one of the clamp members include interlocking portions which serve to prevent the cylinder from moving longitudinally relative to the clamp member.

28. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 26, further comprising at least two longitudinal frame members interconnected between the transverse frame members, on opposite sides of the plurality of drive units.

29. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, a hydraulic assembly for moving all of the floor slat members together in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, one set at a time, characterized by:

a pair of spaced apart end frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor;

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

three reversible linear hydraulic drive units, each drive unit comprising fixed piston rod means having two opposite end mounting portion, piston head means fixed in position on the piston rod means, and a cylinder body mounted to reciprocate back and forth along said piston rod means, said cylinder and said piston head means together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said drive units being positioned to place the cylinder bodies directly below the transverse drive beams;

means securing the opposite end mounting portions of the piston rod means to the end frame members;

means connecting each cylinder body to a related transverse drive beam;

a pair of longitudinal beams positioned laterally outwardly adjacent the drive units, and structurally interconnecting the two end frame members;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said drive units back and forth within a space between the two end frame members; and

wherein a first said transverse drive beam is connected to an end portion of a first reversible linear hydraulic drive unit, a second said transverse drive beam is connected to a second said reversible linear hydraulic drive unit, at an end portion thereof opposite the end portion to which the first reversible linear hydraulic drive unit is connected, and a third said transverse drive beam is connected to a center portion of a third said reversible linear hydraulic drive unit.

30. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 29, wherein said piston head means comprises a pair of axially spaced apart piston heads, and said piston rod means includes a piston rod portion connected to each piston head and extending outwardly therefrom to the mounting frame member at its end of the assembly, and wherein a variable volume fluid chamber is formed by the cylinder body and each piston head, outwardly of the piston head.

31. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 29, wherein the means for detachably connecting each transverse drive beam to its cylinder comprises an upper clamp member attached to the transverse drive beam having a lower portion shaped to engage the cylinder, a lower clamp member having an upper portion shaped to engage the cylinder, and removable connectors for detachably securing the two clamp members together.

32. A reciprocating floor type conveyor according to claim 31, wherein the cylinder and at least one of the clamp members include interlocking portions which serve to prevent the cylinder from moving longitudinally relative to the clamp member.

33. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into sets, and a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a pair of longitudinally spaced apart mounting frame members which extend transversely of the conveyor;

a plurality of transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

a plurality of reversible, side-by-side positioned linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are detachably secured to the mounting frame members and a movable central portion which reciprocates back and forth between the mounting frame members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head members, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said linear hydraulic drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame members;

at least two longitudinal mounting frame members interconnected between the mounting frame members immediately outwardly adjacent said drive units;

said transverse drive beams being positioned side-by-side longitudinally between the mounting frame members, each over a movable central portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units;

connector means accessible from below the hydraulic drive assembly for detachably connecting the movable central portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam, each connector means being longitudinally offset from each other connector means, so as to place each connector means below its transverse drive beam; and

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within said space between the two end mounting frame members. ; and

wherein the opposite end portions of the drive units can be detached from the mounting frame members, and the movable central portions of the drive units can be detached from the transverse drive beams, and then the drive units can be dropped downwardly free of the mounting frame members and free of the transverse drive beams.

34. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor installation of a type comprising a frame including a pair of laterally spaced apart mainframe beams; a framework on said mainframe beams which is substantially wider than the lateral spacing of said mainframe beams, and a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other on said framework, for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, and a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a mounting frame comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced apart mounting frame end members which extend transversely of the conveyor and a pair of parallel laterally spaced apart longitudinal frame members interconnecting said mounting frame end members;

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members;

three reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame end members and a movable central portion which reciprocates back and forth between the mounting frame members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head members, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame end members;

said transverse drive beams being positioned within a space immediately between the mounting frame end members, each over a movable portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units;

means connecting the movable portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space immediately between the mounting frame end members;

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a center section of the movable portion of its drive unit, a second of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards a first of said mounting frame end members, and a third of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portions of its drive unit which is offset from center towards the second mounting frame end member; and

said drive assembly being adapted to be mounted in the conveyor installation with the mounting frame and the drive units laterally between the mainframe beams, with the transverse drive beams above the mainframe beams, with opposite end portions of said transverse drive beams projecting laterally outwardly from the mainframe beams for connecting to floor slat members which are laterally outwardly of said mainframe beams, and with the mounting frame connected to the mainframe beams.

35. For use in a reciprocating floor conveyor of a type comprising a plurality of floor slat members mounted adjacent to each other for longitudinal reciprocation, and divided into three sets, and a hydraulic drive assembly for moving the floor slat members in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction, said hydraulic drive assembly being characterized by:

a mounting frame comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced apart mounting frame end members which extend transversely of the conveyor and a pair of longitudinal frame members structurally interconnecting the mounting frame end members, said mounting frame having opposite side boundaries;

three transverse drive beams, one for each set of floor slat members, each transverse drive beam including means for connecting it to its set of floor slat members and each transverse drive beam having opposite end portions which project laterally outwardly from the side boundaries of said mounting frame, for connection to floor slat members located outwardly of said side boundaries of the mounting frame;

three reversible linear hydraulic drive units, one for each transverse drive beam, each drive unit comprising fixed opposite end portions which are secured to the mounting frame members and a movable central portion which reciprocates back and forth between the mounting frame end members, said fixed and movable portions being piston and cylinder components and including two longitudinally spaced piston head members, two longitudinally spaced cylinder head members, piston rod end portions and cylinder sidewall portions, together defining variable volume fluid chambers;

said movable central portion being a continuous structural member including a said head member at each of its ends, each of which head members includes a fluid contacting end surface of a said variable volume fluid chamber;

said linear hydraulic drive units transmitting downward forces from the transverse drive beams to the mounting frame end members;

said transverse drive beams being positioned within a space between the mounting frame members, each over a movable portion of a related one of the linear hydraulic drive units;

means connecting the movable portion of each linear hydraulic drive unit to its related transverse drive beam;

wherein in use said transverse drive beams are moved by said linear hydraulic drive units back and forth within the space between the mounting frame end members; and

wherein one of the transverse drive beams is connected to a center section of the movable portion of its drive unit, a second of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portion of its drive unit which is offset from center towards a first of said mounting frame end members, and a third of said transverse drive beams is connected to a section of the movable portions of its drive unit which is offset from center towards the second mounting frame end member.

36. A hydraulic drive assembly according to claim 35, wherein said fixed opposite end portions of the drive units are secured to the mounting frame end members by fixed connections which restrain the drive unit end portions against pivotal movement relative to the mounting frame end members.