Adapter bushing for lubrication system

Claim 2

A lubrication system for an idler roll, comprising, in combination: a. an idler roll, having an outer housing and a hollow shaft extending axially therethrough, b. bearings mounting the housing of said idler roll for rotational movement about its hollow shaft, c. said hollow shaft having radial ports adjacent to the bearings, d. end caps secured to the exterior surface of the hollow shaft at opposite ends, each end cap having a centrally located annular opening extending therethrough, e. plastic adapter bushings, each bushing inserted into the interior of the hollow shaft, and in alignment with the opening in the end cap, f. said plastic adapter bushings being formed to receive either a grease fitting when inserted through said end cap and into the adapter bushings or a resilient lubrication tube when inserted through the end caps into the adapter bushings, so that lubricant may be introduced under pressure through the grease fittings or so that lubricant once inserted will be forced through the radial ports to lubricate the bearings and will travel from the roll via the lubrication tube secured to the adapter bushing.

Claim 3

The lubrication system as defined in claim 1 including a grease fitting, the grease fitting has a body with external threads formed thereon, and each of said adapter bushings is fabricated from a malleable, self-lubricated plastic that will enable complementary teeth to be cut in the adapter bushing as the grease fitting is advanced thereinto.

Claim 4

The lubrication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the grease fitting has a body with external threads formed thereon, and each of said adapter bushings is fabricated from a malleable, self-lubricated plastic that will enable complementary teeth to be cut in the adapter bushing as the metallic fittings are advanced thereinto.

Claim 5

The lubrication system as defined in claim 1 wherein said adapter bushing comprises an enlarged lip and a cylindrical body, the lip firmly seating the adapter bushing against the outer end of the hollow shaft.

Claim 6

The lubrication system as defined in claim 4 wherein the cylindrical body of said adapter bushing terminates in an inwardly extending segment, said segment radially deforming and frictionally securing a lubrication tube inserted thereinto.

Claim 7

A lubrication system for a plurality of idler rolls including a resilient adapter bushing, said system comprising: a. at least a pair of idler rolls, each roll having an outer housing and a hollow shaft extending axially therethrough, b. bearings mounting the housing of each idler roll for rotational movement about its hollow shaft, c. each hollow shaft having radial ports adjacent to the bearings, d. end caps secured to the opposite ends of each hollow shaft, each end cap having a centrally located annular opening, e. metallic grease fittings, each fitting having a body portion with external threads for securement within certain ends of the hollow shafts in proximity to the opening in an end cap, f. resilient plastic lubrication tubes secured within the remaining ends of the hollow shafts, g. said adapter bushing being designed to be installed directly into the opposite ends of the hollow shaft in alignment with the openings in end caps, said adapter comprising: 1. an enlarged lip and a cylindrical body, the lip enabling the adapter bushing to be pressed into engagement with the hollow shaft with the body extending axially into the interior of said hollow shaft, 2. the cylindrical body terminating in an inwardly extending segment that can radially deform and frictionally lock in fixed position a resilient tube inserted into the hollow shaft of an idler roll, and 3. the adapter bushing being executed in a malleable, self-lubricating plastic so that metallic grease fittings can be fastened therein by cutting their own threads as they are advanced thereinto.

Claim 8

A lubrication system for a plurality of idler rolls including a resilient adapter bushing, said system comprising: a. at least a pair of idler rolls, each roll having an outer housing and a hollow shaft extending axially therethrough, b. bearings mounting the housing of each idler roll for rotational movement about its hollow shaft, c. each hollow shaft having radial ports adjacent to the bearings, d. end caps secured to the opposite ends of each hollow shaft, each end cap having a centrally located annular opening, e. metallic grease fittings, each fitting having a body portion with external threads for securement within certain ends of the hollow shafts in proximity to the opening in an end cap, f. resilient plastic lubrication tubes secured within the remaining ends of the hollow shafts, g. said adapter bushing being designed to be installed directly into the opposite ends of the hollow shaft in alignment with the openings in end caps, said adapter comprising: 1. an enlarged lip and a cylindrical body, the lip enabling the adapter bushing to be pressed into engagement with the hollow shaft with the body extending axially into the interior of said hollow shaft, 2. the cylindrical body terminating in an inwardly extending segment that can radially deform and frictionally lock in fixed position a resilient tube inserted into the hollow shaft of an idler roll, and 3. the adapter bushing being executed in a malleable, self-lubricating plastic so that metallic grease fittings can be fastened therein by cutting their own threads as they are advanced thereinto.

Claim 9

A lubrication system for a plurality of idler rolls, comprising, in combination: a. at least a pair of idler rolls, each roll having an outer housing and a hollow shaft extending axially therethrough, b. bearings mounting the housing of said idler roll for rotational movement about its hollow shaft, c. said hollow shaft having radial parts adjacent to the bearings, d. end caps secured to the exterior surface of the hollow shaft at opposite ends, each end cap having a centrally located annular opening extending therethrough, e. plastic adapter bushings, each bushing inserted into the interior of the hollow shaft, and in alignment with the opening in the end cap, f. metallic grease fittings inserted through certain ones of said end caps into the adapter bushings, and g. resilient lubrication tubes inserted through the remaining end caps into the adapter bushings, so that when lubricant is introduced under pressure through one of the grease fittings it will be forced through the radial ports to lubricate the bearings and will travel from roll to roll via the lubrication tubes secured to the adapter bushings.

Claim 10

A lubrication system for a plurality of idler rolls, comprising, in combination: a. at least a pair of idler rolls, each roll having an outer housing and a hollow shaft extending axially therethrough, b. bearings mounting the housing of said idler roll for rotational movement about its hollow shaft, c. said hollow shaft having radial parts adjacent to the bearings, d. end caps secured to the exterior surface of the hollow shaft at opposite ends, each end cap having a centrally located annular opening extending therethrough, e. plastic adapter bushings, each bushing inserted into the interior of the hollow shaft, and in alignment with the opening in the end cap, f. metallic grease fittings inserted through certain ones of said end caps into the adapter bushings, and g. resilient lubrication tubes inserted through the remaining end caps into the adapter bushings, so that when lubricant is introduced under pressure through one of the grease fittings it will be forced through the radial ports to lubricate the bearings and will travel from roll to roll via the lubrication tubes secured to the adapter bushings.

Claim 11

The lubrication system as defined in claim 6 wherein the cylindrical body of said adapter bushing terminates in an inwardly extending segment, said segment radially deforming and frictionally securing a lubrication tube inserted thereinto.