Lubricating method and apparatus

Claim 2

In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by antifriction bearings, the spindle being apertured to provide access to the bearings and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to said bearings through said openings, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the spindle to establish a pressure drop between the spindle and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the spindle to insure the passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each of said bearings.

Claim 3

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of each of said tubes is small as compared to the length thereof.

Claim 4

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal diameter of each of said tubes is sufficient to permit the passage of foreign matter in the lubricant flowing therethrougH.

Claim 5

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, further including a lubricating fitting at each end of said spindle.

Claim 6

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said bearings are constructed to permit the passage of lubricant therethrough providing a purge of lubricant in each bearing.

Claim 7

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said spindle is constructed of multiple sections joined together.

Claim 8

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said spindle is constructed of a single tubular member.

Claim 9

In an assembly comprising a hollow shaft having at least a pair of bearings mounted thereon, said shaft being provided with at least one lubrication fitting for supplying lubricant thereto and being provided with openings therethrough communicating with said bearings for the passage of lubricant to each bearing, the improvement comprising; a tubular member extending into each opening and into said shaft for the passage of lubricant therethrough, said tubular member being of such length to insure a pressure drop between the shaft and the bearings of a magnitude above that existing in said shaft between the ends thereof to insure the passage of lubricant to each of said bearings.

Claim 10

In an assembly comprising a hollow shaft having at least a pair of bearings mounted thereon, said shaft being provided with at least one lubrication fitting for supplying lubricant thereto and being provided with openings therethrough communicating with said bearings for the passage of lubricant to each bearing, the improvement comprising; a tubular member extending into each opening and into said shaft for the passage of lubricant therethrough, said tubular member being of such length to insure a pressure drop between the shaft and the bearings of a magnitude above that existing in said shaft between the ends thereof to insure the passage of lubricant to each of said bearings.

Claim 11

In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured to provide access to the bearings and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to said bearings through said openings, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the spindle to insure the passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each of said bearings.

Claim 12

In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured to provide access to the bearings and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to said bearings through said openings, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the spindle to insure the passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each of said bearings.

Claim 13

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the passage of lubricant is substantially simultaneous to each bearing.

Claim 14

In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured to provide an access to each bearing and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to said bearings through said openings, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the spindle to establish a substantially uniform pressure drop between the spindle and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the spindle to insure the passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each of said bearings.

Claim 15

In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured to provide an access to each bearing and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to said bearings through said openings, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the spindle to establish a substantially uniform pressure drop between the spindle and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the spindle to insure the passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each of said bearings.

Claim 16

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the cross-section of each of said tubes is small as compared to the length thereof.

Claim 17

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the internal diameter of each of said tubes is sufficient to permit the passage of foreign matter in the lubricant flowing therethrough.

Claim 18

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 12 in which said tubular members are of different lengths.

Claim 19

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 12, further including a lubricating fitting at each end of said spindle.

Claim 20

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said bearings are constructed to permit the passage of lubricant therethrough providing a purge of lubricant in each bearing.

Claim 21

In an assembly comprising a hollow shaft having at least a pair of bearings mounted thereon, said shaft being provided with at least one lubrication fitting for supplying lubricant thereto and being provided with openings therethrough communicating with said bearings for the passage of lubricant to each bearing, the improvement comprising; a tubular member extending into each opening and into said shaft for the passage of lubricant therethrough, said tubular member being of such length to insure a substantially uniform pressure drop between the shaft and eaCh bearing of a magnitude above that existing in said shaft between the ends thereof to insure the passage of lubricant to each of said bearings. 18, In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured adjacent to that bearing to provide access to each bearing and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to each bearing through the adjacent opening, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each opening and into the spindle to insure substantially uniform passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each bearing.

Claim 22

In an assembly comprising a hollow shaft having at least a pair of bearings mounted thereon, said shaft being provided with at least one lubrication fitting for supplying lubricant thereto and being provided with openings therethrough communicating with said bearings for the passage of lubricant to each bearing, the improvement comprising; a tubular member extending into each opening and into said shaft for the passage of lubricant therethrough, said tubular member being of such length to insure a substantially uniform pressure drop between the shaft and eaCh bearing of a magnitude above that existing in said shaft between the ends thereof to insure the passage of lubricant to each of said bearings. 18, In an idler assembly especially adaptable for belt conveyors having at least one roll mounted on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings, the spindle being apertured adjacent to that bearing to provide access to each bearing and having at least one lubricating fitting at one end thereof communicating with said spindle for supplying lubricant to said spindle and then to each bearing through the adjacent opening, the improvement which comprises; a tubular member extending into each opening and into the spindle to insure substantially uniform passage of lubricant from said tubular spindle to each bearing.

Claim 23

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the passage of lubricant is substantially simultaneous to each bearing.

Claim 24

In an idler assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein the length of each tubular member is of different length.

Claim 25

A lubrication system comprising; a hollow shaft; a plurality of bearings mounted on the shaft; an opening in said shaft communicating with each bearing; means in the shaft associated with each opening to establish a pressure drop between each bearing and the shaft of like magnitude and greater than that existing between the ends of the shaft; and means to supply lubricant to said shaft and through said associated means to said bearings, said established pressure drop insuring the passage of substantially equal amounts of lubricant to each bearing.

Claim 26

A lubrication system comprising; a hollow shaft; a plurality of bearings mounted on the shaft; an opening in said shaft communicating with each bearing; means in the shaft associated with each opening to establish a pressure drop between each bearing and the shaft of like magnitude and greater than that existing between the ends of the shaft; and means to supply lubricant to said shaft and through said associated means to said bearings, said established pressure drop insuring the passage of substantially equal amounts of lubricant to each bearing.

Claim 27

A lubrication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said lubricant is supplied substantially simultaneously to each bearing.

Claim 28

In a method of lubricating bearings associated with a hollow shaft to which lubricant is supplied, said shaft having an opening to each bearing through which lubricant can flow to each bearing, the improvement which comprises; modifying the normally existing pressure relationship between the interior of the shaft and each bearing by inserting a means in each opening to establish a pressure drop between the interior of the shaft and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the shaft, and supplying lubricant to the interior of the shaft and through said means to each bearing.

Claim 29

In a method of lubricating bearings associated with a hollow shaft to which lubricant is supplied, said shaft having an opening to each bearing through which lubricant can flow to each bearing, the improvement which comprises; modifying the normally existing pressure relationship between the interior of the shaft and each bearing by inserting a means in each opening to establish a pressure drop between the interior of the shaft and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the shaft, and supplying lubricant to the interior of the shaft and through said means to each bearing.

Claim 30

In a method of lubricating bearings associated with a hollow shaft to which lubricant is supplied, said shaft having an opening to each bearing through which lubricant can flow to each bearing, the improvement which comprises: modifying the normally existing pressure relationship between the interior of the shaft and each bearing by inserting a means in each opening to establish a substantially uniform pressure drop between the interior of the shaft and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the shaft; and supplying lubricant to the interior of the shaft and through said means substantially uniformly to each bearing.

Claim 31

In a method of lubricating bearings associated with a hollow shaft to which lubricant is supplied, said shaft having an opening to each bearing through which lubricant can flow to each bearing, the improvement which comprises: modifying the normally existing pressure relationship between the interior of the shaft and each bearing by inserting a means in each opening to establish a substantially uniform pressure drop between the interior of the shaft and each bearing of a magnitude above that existing between the ends of the shaft; and supplying lubricant to the interior of the shaft and through said means substantially uniformly to each bearing.

Claim 32

A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising supplying said lubricant to each bearing substantially simultaneously.

Claim 33

A belt conveyor apparatus comprising a belt an idler assembly for supporting said belt, said idler assembly comprising a plurality of rolls mounted at angles with regard to each other and on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings at least at their opposite ends, said spindle being apertured to provide access to each of the bearings and having a lubrication fitting at one end communicating with the interior thereof for supplying lubricant to said spindle and to each bearing through said openings, the improvement comprising, a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the interior of the spindle for the passage of said lubricant to the respective bearing.

Claim 34

A belt conveyor apparatus comprising a belt an idler assembly for supporting said belt, said idler assembly comprising a plurality of rolls mounted at angles with regard to each other and on a tubular spindle by anti-friction bearings at least at their opposite ends, said spindle being apertured to provide access to each of the bearings and having a lubrication fitting at one end communicating with the interior thereof for supplying lubricant to said spindle and to each bearing through said openings, the improvement comprising, a tubular member extending into each of said openings and into the interior of the spindle for the passage of said lubricant to the respective bearing.

Claim 35

A belt conveyor apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein each of said tubular members is of a different length.