Conveyors – chutes – skids – guides – and ways – Rollerways – Rollers
Patent
1997-05-29
1999-08-31
Bidwell, James R.
Conveyors, chutes, skids, guides, and ways
Rollerways
Rollers
B65G 1300
Patent
active
059441615
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to an end cap assembly for a roller tube of a conveyor roller. More particularly, the end cap assembly is of the form incorporating bearings for rotatably mounting the end cap and a roller tube on a shaft.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
At present, end cap assemblies for idler rollers comprise a large number of component parts, possibly 24 separate parts in some instances. Typical end cap assemblies also have problems associated with vibration or conveyor rattle which can be transferred by the steel casing of the roller bearings in the end cap assembly and in turn to a shaft held therein. Such vibration is known to have a peening effect on the shaft which is undesirable.
A further consequence of the vibration or conveyor rattle is noisy operation. A still further problem associated with the prior art is the need for establishing and maintaining an effective seal in the end cap assembly against dust entering the bearing or the roller.
The end cap assembly for a roller tube of a conveyor roller has as one object thereof to substantially overcome the above problems associated with the prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an end cap assembly for a roller tube of a conveyor roller characterised by comprising an end cap body proportioned to press fit within an end of the roller tube, a bearing means retained between the end cap body and a shaft of the conveyor roller and a seal means provided about the shaft and abutting an outer surface of the end cap body so as to restrict the passage of dust and other materials into the bearing means, the end cap body having an inner collar portion arranged so as to abut in a flexible and resilient manner the shaft of the conveyor roller projecting therethrough, the bearing means further being retained between the end cap body and the shaft of the conveyor roller at least in part by way of an annular retaining means that is fitted to the end cap body to hold the bearing means between it and the inner collar portion of the end cap body.
Preferably, the seal means is press fitted about the shaft whereby upon rotation thereof the seal means rotates with respect to the end cap body.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the refurbishment of an existing roller tube of a conveyor roller characterised by comprising the steps of cutting the existing roller tube around its circumference adjacent an end cap thereof, removing the end cap assembly and replacing same with an end cap assembly comprising an end cap body proportioned to press fit within the cut end of the roller tube, a bearing means retained between the end cap body and a shaft of the conveyor roller tube such that an outer race thereof moves with the end cap body and its inner race moves with the shaft and a seal means press fitted about the shaft and abutting an outer surface of the end cap body.
Preferably, the seal means rotates with the shaft and abuts flexibly and resiliently the outer surface of the end cap body in a sliding manner.
Still preferably, the end cap body contains at least one aperture therein allowing passage of fluid from within the roller tube through the end cap body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unmodified conveyor roller having a prior art end cap assembly fitted thereto;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conveyor roller of FIG. 1 after having the roller tube thereof cut about its circumference and having the end cap assembly removed from about the shaft;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the conveyor roller of FIG. 2 to which an end cap assembly in accordance with the present invention is being fitted;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the conveyor roller of FIG. 2 to which an end cap assembly of the present invention has been fitted;
FIG.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2757988 (1956-08-01), Lecourbe
patent: 3610387 (1971-10-01), Sealey
patent: 4272135 (1981-06-01), Hamblin et al.
patent: 4852230 (1989-08-01), Yu
patent: 5642800 (1997-07-01), East
Bidwell James R.
JVL Industries Pty Ltd
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