Lubricating idler for roller chains or the like

Claim 2

In a chain having rollers and side plates pivotally mounted at the ends of the rollers a lubricating idler for the chain, said idler comprising a supporting sprocket having teeth with recesses therebetween at an outer peripheral edge thereof to engage the chain, said sprocket having a thickness slightly less than the lengths of the rollers, means for rotatably supporting said sprocket, a lubricating member with a generally circular outer edge mounted adjacent each side of said sprocket and positioned to be aligned with the side plates of the chain, said lubricating members having outer edges extending outwardly beyond the recesses of said sprocket in order to be contacted and deformed by the side plates of the chain, and means for supplying lubricant to inner portions of said lubricating members.

Claim 3

A lubricating idler according to claim 1 characterized further by a retaining disc located adjacent each of said lubricating members on the side opposite said sprocket, with the outer edges of said retaining discs terminating short of the outer edges of said lubricating members.

Claim 4

A lubricating idler according to claim 1 characterized further by said means for supplying lubricant to said lubricating members comprises an annular groove formed on each side of said sprocket and in communication with annular inner portions of said lubricating members, said sprocket having a transverse passage extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said sprocket and in communication with both of said annular grooves, and said sprocket having a radially extending groove positioned transversely to the axis of rotation of said sprocket and in communication with said transverse passage.

Claim 5

In an articulated elongate member haVing a plurality of rollers with connecting means at the ends thereof, a lubricating device for the member, said device comprising a support, an axle extending from said support, a rigid supporting member rotatably mounted on said axle and having an outer edge adapted to engage and partially support the elongate member, said outer edge comprising a plurality of teeth with recesses therebetween, an annular lubricating member mounted adjacent each side of said supporting member and extending outwardly a distance sufficient to contact portions of the elongate member, a retaining disc located adjacent each of said lubricating members on the side thereof opposite said supporting member, said retaining discs having outer edges spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said lubricating members, whereby said lubricating members can be engaged and compressed by the articulated elongate member.

Claim 6

In an articulated elongate member haVing a plurality of rollers with connecting means at the ends thereof, a lubricating device for the member, said device comprising a support, an axle extending from said support, a rigid supporting member rotatably mounted on said axle and having an outer edge adapted to engage and partially support the elongate member, said outer edge comprising a plurality of teeth with recesses therebetween, an annular lubricating member mounted adjacent each side of said supporting member and extending outwardly a distance sufficient to contact portions of the elongate member, a retaining disc located adjacent each of said lubricating members on the side thereof opposite said supporting member, said retaining discs having outer edges spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said lubricating members, whereby said lubricating members can be engaged and compressed by the articulated elongate member.

Claim 7

A lubricating device according to claim 4 characterized by said supporting member being rotatably mounted on said axle by two spaced bearings, and said means for supplying lubricant to said lubricating members comprises an elongate passage extending centrally through said axle, and a transversely extending passage through said axle communicating with said lubricating members between said bearings.

Claim 8

A lubricating device according to claim 4 characterized further by said rigid supporting member having a circular groove on each side thereof communicating with said lubricating members, said rigid supporting member having a groove extending transversely thereto and communicating with both of said annular grooves, said lubricating member further having at least one generally radially extending groove communicating with said transverse groove and with space between said axle and supporting member.