Idler roll structure with improved bearing seal assembly

Claim 2

In an idler roll construction, the combination of: an outer roll shell having a smooth working surface and rounded end edges; a pair of end-head members attached along an inner end surface of such said shell and having a substantially flat configuration for a substantial portion thereof aligned in a substantially perpendicular and concentric relation to said roll shell, and in-turned wall portions shaped to define a pair of opposed interior chambers within said shell along a central axis thereof opening axially outwardly at the ends of said shell; a solid through-shaft extending through said interior chambers and having at its respective opposite ends a pair of opposed axially outwardly opening lubricant passages, each having radially opening cross-bores opening into a frontal area of each of said interior chambers; a hollow sleeve member mounted concentrically over said shaft and attached to said in-turned wall portions of each of said end-head members so as to define an interconnecting passageway between said interior chambers; a pair of anti-friction means mounted within said interior chambers, respectively, in areas adjacent and inwardly of said cross-bore openings; a pair of seal assembly means mounted on respective ends of said shaft adjacent and outwardly of said cross-bores such that lubricant entering one of said lubricant passages must pass through both of said anti-friction means as it is being forced to the other of said lubricant passages; and each seal assembly including at least one seal member responsive to lubricant pressure so as to increase effectiveness of the seal formed thereby for preventing passage of the lubricant from such frontal area of the associated chamber to the exterior of such seal assembly.

Claim 3

An idler roll construction as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the seal assemblies includes a self-lubricating adjustable retaining member, a face-seal member having a surface in coextensive sealing engagement with a surface of said retaining member, and a lip-seal member having surfaces in respective coextensive sealing engagement with surfaces of said retaining member and said face-seal member thereby to define a multi-pass labyrinth seal.

Claim 4

An idler roll construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the self-lubricating adjustable retaining means is composed of a powdered metal compressed into a shape so as to have a plurality of minute interconnecting pores throughout its body capable of being impregnated by a lubricant, and a lubricant impregnated within said interconnecting pores.

Claim 5

An idler roll construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the retaining member is provided with a plurality of discontinuous spacing means at an axial inner end thereof.

Claim 6

An idler roll construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the face-seal member is composed of a polyamide resin material.

Claim 7

An idler roll construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the retaining member includes radially extending flanges with in-turned end portion so as to define a receiving recess along an inner surface of said member, the face-seal member includes a body portion fitting within said receiving recess and having an axially extending outwardly flared side portion for full surface contact with the in-turned wall portion of the end-head members, and the lip-seal member includes a reinforced portion fitting onto the retaining member and radially extending flexible elastomeric portions joined with said reinforced portion for biased contact with said outwardly flared side portions of the face-seal member.

Claim 8

In a conveyor idler roll construction, the combination of: an outer idler roll shell formed of a relatively heavy-gauge metal and having a smooth peripheral surface and rounded end edges; a pair of end-head members formed of a relatively heavy-gauge metal, each being rigidly attached to inner end surfaces of said shell and having substantially flat main walls substantially perpendicularly aligned with said shell and inwardly turned subsidiary walls shaped to define an interior chamber opening outwardly at the respective axial ends of said shell; a solid through-shaft positioned within said shell and extending through said interior chambers, said shaft having a pair of opposed axially outwardly opening passages for admitting a lubricant, each of said passages having radially opening bores providing communication between a frontal area of each of said interior chambers and said passages; a hollow sleeve member concentrically mounted over said through-shaft and rigidly attached to opposed subsidiary walls of said end-head member so as to define an interconnecting passageway between said interior chambers; a pair of opposed anti-friction bearing units each mounted within said interior chambers and in working relation with said through-shaft, each of said bearing units being positioned in an area of each respective chamber behind said frontal area; and a pair of seal assemblies each mounted on opposite outward ends of said through-shaft in relatively closely spaced relation to said bearing units, each of said seal assemblies comprised of: an outer lubricant-imPregnated adjustable retaining member in support contact with an end of said through-shaft and having a radially extending flange with an axially in-turned end portion in closely spaced relation to a portion of the flat main wall of one of said end-head members, said radial flange and in-turned end portion defining a receiving recess having at least one lubricated peripheral wall, and an axial inner end of said retaining member having a plurality of discontinuous spacing means extending into said frontal areas of each of said interior chambers, a face-seal member having a shirt-like shape with a cross-sectional rectangular body protion adapted to fit within said receiving recess and outwardly flared axially extending side portions for biased full face contact with the inturned wall portion of said end-head member, said face-seal member being composed of a synthetic resin material, and a lip-seal member having a ring-shaped reinforcement portion with a retaining flange at one end thereof and a circularly-shaped flexible sealing portion integrally joined to said retaining flange for biased contact with said outwardly flared side portion of the face-seal member.

Claim 9

In a conveyor idler roll construction, the combination of: an outer idler roll shell formed of a relatively heavy-gauge metal and having a smooth peripheral surface and rounded end edges; a pair of end-head members formed of a relatively heavy-gauge metal, each being rigidly attached to inner end surfaces of said shell and having substantially flat main walls substantially perpendicularly aligned with said shell and inwardly turned subsidiary walls shaped to define an interior chamber opening outwardly at the respective axial ends of said shell; a solid through-shaft positioned within said shell and extending through said interior chambers, said shaft having a pair of opposed axially outwardly opening passages for admitting a lubricant, each of said passages having radially opening bores providing communication between a frontal area of each of said interior chambers and said passages; a hollow sleeve member concentrically mounted over said through-shaft and rigidly attached to opposed subsidiary walls of said end-head member so as to define an interconnecting passageway between said interior chambers; a pair of opposed anti-friction bearing units each mounted within said interior chambers and in working relation with said through-shaft, each of said bearing units being positioned in an area of each respective chamber behind said frontal area; and a pair of seal assemblies each mounted on opposite outward ends of said through-shaft in relatively closely spaced relation to said bearing units, each of said seal assemblies comprised of: an outer lubricant-imPregnated adjustable retaining member in support contact with an end of said through-shaft and having a radially extending flange with an axially in-turned end portion in closely spaced relation to a portion of the flat main wall of one of said end-head members, said radial flange and in-turned end portion defining a receiving recess having at least one lubricated peripheral wall, and an axial inner end of said retaining member having a plurality of discontinuous spacing means extending into said frontal areas of each of said interior chambers, a face-seal member having a shirt-like shape with a cross-sectional rectangular body protion adapted to fit within said receiving recess and outwardly flared axially extending side portions for biased full face contact with the inturned wall portion of said end-head member, said face-seal member being composed of a synthetic resin material, and a lip-seal member having a ring-shaped reinforcement portion with a retaining flange at one end thereof and a circularly-shaped flexible sealing portion integrally joined to said retaining flange for biased contact with said outwardly flared side portion of the face-seal member.