Liquid-lubricated roll

Claim 2

A liquid-lubricated roll comprising: elongated axle-forming means; a plurality of anti-friction bearings spaced along said axle means and having openings in axial ends thereof; annular roller means circumferentially spaced about said axle means and rotatably mounted on said bearings; said axle means and roller means defining an annular passageway extending along said axle to contain said bearings, said roller means having inner circumferential surfaces lying radially outwardly from said openings of said bearings; means for supplying a quantity of liquid to said passageway and for setting the radial height of a rotating annular body of the liquid, formed by centrifugal force during rotation of said roller means to lie against inner circumferential surfaces of said roller means, at a pre-selected level spaced radially outwardly from said openings of said bearings; and means for generating a mist from the annular body of liquid in a radially-inner portion of said passageway which is free of the annular body of liquid, to lubricate said bearings without flooding them with liquid.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, said axle being supported horizontally, said supplying and setting means inclUding stationary scoop means carried by said axle and projecting outwardly through said passageway to said level of the rotating annular body of liquid for collecting any liquid in excess of said level, said supplying means further including drain conduit means connected with said scoop means and extending exteriorly of said roll for removing collected liquid from said scoop means, thereby to drain any excess liquid.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said drain conduit means extend interiorly of said axle from an end thereof and thence into a plurality of branch passages extending outwardly to the surface of said axle and terminating at different locations circumferentially spaced apart about said passageway, such that at least one of said branch passages descends downwardly from said passageway toward said end of said axle regardless of the angular orientation of said axle; there being a plurality of said scoop means circumferentially spaced apart about said passageway and each arranged to drain liquid removed thereby into a corresponding one of said branch passages.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 3, said drain conduit means including a plurality of separate conduits each extending from said end of said axle and into draining relation with a different one of said scoop means, whereby liquid draining into any of said branch passages oriented to descend downwardly from said passageway toward said end of said axle is prevented from re-entering said passageway through any of said branch passages oriented to rise upwardly from said passageway toward said end of said axle.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said scoop means have extent axially of said roll to shear any liquid from the rotating annular body of liquid which exceeds said level.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, said drain conduit means including valve means operable for removing collected liquid therefrom.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, said axle being supported horizontally, said supplying and setting means including supply conduit means extending interiorly of said axle from an end thereof and thence into a plurality of branch passages extending outwardly to the surface of said axle and terminating at different locations circumferentially spaced apart about said passageway, such that at least one of said branch passages descends downwardly from said end of said axle toward said passageway regardless of the angular orientation of said axle, to facilitate flow of liquid into said passageway.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, said supply conduit means including a stand-pipe extending upwardly from said roll to vent excess pressure from said passageway.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, said mist-generating means comprising projection-forming means fixed on said axle and extending outwardly in said passageway to a predetermined radial level in the rotating annular body of liquid, to agitate the liquid and thereby produce a lubricating mist in said passageway to lubricate said bearings.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, said supplying and setting means including means for indicating the radial height of the annular body of liquid during rotation of said roller means.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 10, in which said indicating means comprise: a reflecting element extending inwardly from inner circumferential surfaces of said roller means to form an inclined reflecting face positioned so as to be partially submerged by said annular body of liquid; together with means for projecting rays of light against said reflecting face, and means for observing light reflected from said reflecting face to indicate the liquid level in said passageway.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, said projecting and observing means comprising fiber-optic elements constructed and arranged for transmitting light rays longitudinally thereof although bent from a straight configuration.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, said projecting means being arranged to prOject light rays normal to said reflecting face; said observing means being directed at a different angle to said reflecting face.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 13, said observing means being directed parallel to said reflecting face.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, together with by-pass passage means comprising passages formed in interior portions of said roller means and lying radially outwardly from said openings of said bearings, each by-pass passage interconnecting portions of said passageway adjacent to opposite axial faces of a corresponding one of said bearings.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, said supplying and setting means including lip-forming means attached to said roller means adjacent to an end of said passageway and extending into said passageway to said pre-selected level, together with means constructed and arranged for draining liquid overflowing said lip-forming means from said passageway during rotation of said roll.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said lip-forming means comprises an annulus having a radially-inner terminus in the form of a circular lip concentric with the axis of rotation of said roller means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 17, together with a resilient, flexible sealing ring attached to said roller means and constructed and arranged to sealingly engage said axle means to seal said passageway against leakage of liquid when said roller means is stationary, said sealing ring being constructed and arranged to deflect under centrifugal force to disengage said axle means upon rotation of said roller means to permit flow of liquid overflowing said lip-forming means through said draining means.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said lip-forming means comprises conduit means communicating with said passageway at said pre-selected level.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 19, together with valving means for said conduit means, and biasing means urging said valving means to close said conduit means to seal said passageway against leakage of liquid when said roller means is stationary, said valving means being constructed and arranged to be opened by centrifugal force upon rotation of said roller means to permit flow of liquid overflowing into said conduit means upon rotation of said roller means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, together with centrifugally-operable valving means constructed and arranged to seal said passageway against leakage of liquid overflowing said lip-forming means through said draining means when said roller means is stationary, and to open under centrifugal force upon rotation of said roller means to permit flow of liquid overflowing said lip-forming means through said draining means.

Claim 23

A liquid-lubricated roll comprising: an elongated axle; a series of anti-Friction bearings spaced along said axle and each having inner and outer races defining circumferential openings therebetween; annular roller means circumferentially spaced about said axle and rotatably mounted on said outer races of said bearings said axle and roller means defining an annular passageway extending along said axle to contain said bearings, and enclosing the passageway at axial ends thereof; said roller means being formed with by-pass fluid communication paths interconnecting parts of said passageway separated by said bearings to by-pass liquid flow radially outwardly around said bearings; means forming external fluid communication with said passageway for supplying and removing lubricating liquid; whereby lubricating liquid contained in said passageway is caused by centrifugal force during rotation of said roller means to form an annular rotating body of liquid against inner circumferential surfaces of said roller means; means for regulating the quantity of liquid contained in said passageway to maintain the body of liquid at a radial level terminating radially outwardly from said circumferential openings between said races; and projecTion-forming means fixed on said axle and extending outwardly in said passageway beyond said radial liquid level, to agitate the liquid and thereby produce a mist in said passageway to lubricate said bearings.

Claim 24

A liquid-lubricated roll comprising: an elongated axle; a series of anti-Friction bearings spaced along said axle and each having inner and outer races defining circumferential openings therebetween; annular roller means circumferentially spaced about said axle and rotatably mounted on said outer races of said bearings said axle and roller means defining an annular passageway extending along said axle to contain said bearings, and enclosing the passageway at axial ends thereof; said roller means being formed with by-pass fluid communication paths interconnecting parts of said passageway separated by said bearings to by-pass liquid flow radially outwardly around said bearings; means forming external fluid communication with said passageway for supplying and removing lubricating liquid; whereby lubricating liquid contained in said passageway is caused by centrifugal force during rotation of said roller means to form an annular rotating body of liquid against inner circumferential surfaces of said roller means; means for regulating the quantity of liquid contained in said passageway to maintain the body of liquid at a radial level terminating radially outwardly from said circumferential openings between said races; and projecTion-forming means fixed on said axle and extending outwardly in said passageway beyond said radial liquid level, to agitate the liquid and thereby produce a mist in said passageway to lubricate said bearings.