US3672486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roller conveyor
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-14
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A roller conveyor of the type in which the rolls are driven from a line shaft. The roll shafts and line shaft have cooperating bevel gears which are placed within light weight housings. All bearings in which the shafts are journaled are separate from the gear housings to avoid need for precision in constructing the housings. Each shaft is journaled in only a single ''''held'''' bearing, and the other bearings are ''''free'''' to enable the shafts to be shifted axially for adjustment or removal. The line shaft is formed in sections joined end-to-end.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Kennedy
- 👤 Thomas C Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G13/00; B65G13/02; B65G13/06; B65G13/07; B21; B21B; B21B39/00; B21B39/02; B21B39/12; B65G13/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
In a roller conveyor which includes a supporting structure, a plurality of rolls having shafts, a line shaft, respective radial and thrust bearings in which said roll shafts and said line shaft are journaled, cooperating sets of bevel gears on said roll shafts and said line shaft, whereby rotation of said line shaft drives said rolls, and individual housings fixed to said supporting structure and covering each of said sets of gears, the housing walls having openings through which said shafts extend, the improvement comprising aligned pairs of Pillow blocks mounted on said supporting structure separately from and all outside said housings, the bearings for both ends of the roll shafts being contained in said pillow blocks, additional pillow blocks mounted on said supporting structure separately from and all outside said housings, the bearings for said line shaft being contained in said additional pillow blocks, and lubricant-confining means mounted in the housing walls where each shaft extends therethrough and being readily positionable in lubricant-tight relation to the respective shafts, whereby need is avoided for precision in the construction of said housings and in the positioning thereof in relation both to said supporting structure and to said shafts, said housings being of lightweight construction and serving only to cover the gears and confine lubricant therefor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a roller conveyor which includes a supporting structure, a plurality of rolls having shafts, a line shaft, respective radial and thrust bearings in which said roll shafts and said line shaft are journaled, cooperating sets of bevel gears on said roll shafts and said line shaft, whereby rotation of said line shaft drives said rolls, and individual housings fixed to said supporting structure and covering each of said sets of gears, the housing walls having openings through which said shafts extend, the improvement comprising aligned pairs of Pillow blocks mounted on said supporting structure separately from and all outside said housings, the bearings for both ends of the roll shafts being contained in said pillow blocks, additional pillow blocks mounted on said supporting structure separately from and all outside said housings, the bearings for said line shaft being contained in said additional pillow blocks, and lubricant-confining means mounted in the housing walls where each shaft extends therethrough and being readily positionable in lubricant-tight relation to the respective shafts, whereby need is avoided for precision in the construction of said housings and in the positioning thereof in relation both to said supporting structure and to said shafts, said housings being of lightweight construction and serving only to cover the gears and confine lubricant therefor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which the bearings for any one of said roll shafts include a ''''free'''' bearing and a ''''held'''' bearing contained in opposite pillow blocks of an aligned pair, the roll shaft being axially shiftable with its ''''free'''' bearing, and means in the pillow block containing said ''''held'''' bearing preventing axial movement of the roll shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 2 in which said last-named means includes a U-shaped spacer and a stabilizer ring within the pillow block normally located on opposite sides of the bearing therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said line shaft is formed in sections and the bearings for any one section include a ''''free'''' bearing and a ''''held'''' bearing contained in different pillow blocks, the shaft section being axially shiftable with its ''''free'''' bearing, and including means in the pillow block containing said ''''held'''' bearing preventing axial movement of the shaft section, and coupling means joining said sections end-to-end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 4 in which the means in the pillow block preventing axial shifting of the line shaft section includes a U-shaped spacer and a stabilizer ring normally on opposite sides of the bearing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 4 in which the coupling means include removable spacers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said gear housings are formed of upper and lower halves removably bolted together, said lubricant confining means including half-glands fixed to the respective housing halves where the shafts pass through the housing walls, and packing mounted in said half gland.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which the gears are fixed to the respective shafts with gib keys mounted on the shaft and tapered keys holding the gears against the gib keys.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |