AU621095B2 - Roller assembly - Google Patents

Description

.1 waa- FORM 10 2 4714 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Priority: PI1621 28 April 1987 Accepted: Published: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: -Bew-y-MeCa-l+um-P-t-y-L-t-d- Montore Road Mint, New South Wales 256(

AUSTRALIA

\y6 T .1 *9 Actual Inventor: Address for Service: NOT KNOWN Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Roller Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us REPRINT OF RECEIPT 9 _9/03 /89 5815/2

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-1- The present invention relates to roll assemblies, and more particularly but not exclusively to Idler roller assemblies.

Conventional Idler rollers, have consisted of a casing within which are mounted bearing assemblies. The bearing assemblies and the methods by which the assemblies are secured to the Idler casing, are generally complex and therefore expensive. In particular these previous assemblies have required the use of circlip.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a roller assembly compr'ising an outer sleeve having a radially inner surface extending longitudinally of the roller assembly, said sleeve having at least one open end providing an o annular recess formed in said surface, a bearing assembly comprising a o generally hollow annular body from which there radially extends a flange 15 to be securely located by interference fit within said annular recess, o o said hollow body providing a generally cylindrical cavity co-axial with 0 respect to the axis of the roller assembly, and a bearing means retained within said0&T4:@W and being adapted to engage a roller shaft.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by 20 way of Example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: o000ooo0 CIO00Fig. 1 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a roller sleeve and shaft to support the sleeve; and Figs. 2A and 2B are schematic sectioned side elevations of bearing Sassemblies to support the sleeve on the shaft of Fig. 1.

S 25 In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a :o roller assembly 10 depicted in a parts exploded view. The roller assembly 10 consists of a generally cylindrical outer sleeve 11 having a radially outer longitudinal surface 12 which is engaged by the conveyor belt. The sleeve 11 also has a longitudinally extending radially inner surface 13. The sleeve 11 has open ends 14 with the surface 13, at each end 14, being provided with an annular recess 15. Preferably the sleeve 11 has its outer peripheral surface case hardened.

The roller assembly 10 also includes a pair of bearing assemblies 16 which rotatably support the sleeve 11 on the central shaft 27. Each bearing assembly 16 includes a generally annular body 17 from which there V R t 1A radially extends a flange 18 which is securely located within the associated recess 15. Preferably, the flange 18 would be an interference fit, with respect to the annular surface 19 defining the recess 15, by being provided at its circumference with a plurality of projections or nibs o oa o 0 4 0000 0 0 00 o 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 It 1? :i7 L iL r __IUI~ -2which project radially outward from the edge of the flange 18. There is also extending from the body 17, a radially inwardly projected flange The body 17 defines a generally cylindrical hollow 21 which receives a bearing 22. The bearing 22 has an outer peripheral surface which is seated against the radially inner peripheral surface of the body 17. The bearing 22 also abuts the flange 20 to be located. Sealingly enclosing the bearing elements 23 is a seal 24 held in position by means of a cap The cap 25 securely engages the radially inner surface of the body 17 to be retained in position. The cap 25 and the flange 22 define passages through 1C which the ends of the shaft 17 project. The shaft 17 is provided with bearing engaging surfaces 26 upon which the bearings 22 are supported.

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Claims (5)

1. A roller assembly comprising an outer sleeve having a radially inner surface extending longitudinally of the roller assembly, said sleeve having at least one open end providing an annular recess formed in said surface, a bearing assembly comprising a generally hollow annular body from which there radially extends a flange to be securely located by interference fit within said annular recess, said hollow body providing a generally cylindrical cavity co-axial with respect to the axis of the roller assembly, and a bearing means retained within said 4~ee and being adapted to engage a roller shaft.

2. The roller assembly of claim 1, wherein said flange has a plurality of projections or nibs which engage said surface to retain said bearing assembly within said sleeve.

3. The roller assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said roller 0Oa, assembly has two open ends, with each end provided with a bearing assembly. °os

4. The roller assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the 0 0 bearing means each include a roller bearing located within said hollow and retained therein by a cap, with a seal located between the cap and bearing.

5. A roller assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0 oDATED this SIXTH day of NOVEMBER 1991 r Meco McCallum Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON i:i- 1