Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll

Details Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll

1997-12-15

1999-03-16

Mackey, James P.

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

With apparatus assembly or dismantling means or with idle part

For press shaping surface

26102, 26103, 226194, 425363, B29C 4346, B65H 2700, D21G 102

Patent

active

058826971

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll, comprising a spreading roll and a bent shaft which is surrounded by several successive roll segments that are mounted in bearings on the shaft and that are coupled and supported endwise on each other with flexible coupling elements. The successive roll segments that are interconnected with the flexible coupling elements constitute a unit that rotates around the bent shaft. The curved spreading roll is used for spreading different kinds of materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
Successive roll segments are conventionally mounted with dual bearings, i.e. two separate bearings, around a fixed shaft. Such a construction is disclosed for example in German Patents DE-2 108 702 and DE-2 131 590. British Patents GB-2 034 002 and GB-1 340 292 disclose rolls that have been mounted with double rolling bearings and that comprise, between the roll segments, a two-part supporting bearing which simultaneously acts as a turning joint. Finnish Patent Application FI-932 060 discloses a spreading roll where bearings are positioned at the ends of the roll segments in such a way that the bearings rest on the ends of the flexible coupling elements. EP-298 534 discloses a curved roll that is mounted with dual bearings and that comprises rolling bearings positioned at a distance from the coupling elements.
The roll segments are conventionally mounted with two rolling bearings around a fixed shaft. Such a support arrangement is naturally rather rigid with respect to rotation, which has resulted in such known coupling elements in old structures where the metal halves of the coupling situated around the rubber part are entirely unconnected. In other words, the rubber part is situated between metal sleeves or the like, whereupon the metal halves of the coupling start sometimes rotating eccentrically at high speeds. This slight eccentricity produces shaking that leads to a small difference in the direction, i.e. in a slight tilt, which causes the bearings to wear mechanically and the grease of the bearings to separate, so that the oil content of the grease flows out and the remaining mere binder or the like cannot lubricate the mechanism.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to simplify and reduce the mounting of the roll segments in bearings on the fixed shaft. Diminishing the support provided by the bearings is enabled by the coupling element according to the invention, which has been braced with an inner ring made of metal. More accurately, the bearing arrangement and the coupling element of the spreading roll are characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing parts of the appended claims.
The arrangement according to the invention provides considerable advantages. The structure of the spreading roll becomes simpler and the arrangement according to the invention provides almost infinite possibilities for variation. The saving in costs is also considerable. According to the conditions of use and the speed of rotation, it is possible to select a spreading roll arrangement suitable for each situation. The arrangement of bearings and coupling elements in the spreading roll according to the invention provides rotation that is more even and free of vibration compared to the prior solutions. By bracing the coupling element with the metal inner sleeve, it has been possible to simplify the structure of the coupling element.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with respect to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a curved spreading roll.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a spreading roll where some of the roll segments are not mounted in bearings.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a spreading roll where the segments are mounted with one rolling bearing.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a coupling element.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes

REFERENCES:
patent: 920122 (1909-05-01), Farnworth
patent: 2712682 (1955-07-01), Warner
patent: 4236285 (1980-12-01), Gallant

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bearing arrangement and a coupling element of a spreading roll will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-815061