US2625338A - Expansible roll shaft - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 T. A. MOARN 2,6255338 EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l 72 l fibm/v am Jan; 13;195'3 T. A. Mc R 2,625,338

EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8, 1951 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 13, 1953 T. A. MCARN EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I'll lllnllllllllllllllll. II

llllll lllll lll Patented Jan. 13, 1953 EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Theodore A. McArn, Downingtown, Pa., assignor to Downingtown Manufacturing Company, 'Downingtown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March a, 1951, Serial No. 214,494

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in removable shafts for winding rolls, for example, paper, in a paper making machine. More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in shaft constructions having means for maintaining the shaft in an expanded condition during the winding operation and for contracting the shaft when it is desired to remove it from the roll wound thereon.=

In the manufacture of paper, it is customary to provide means at the end of a paper making machine for winding the paper into a roll as it leaves the machine, and it has been the practice to construct such shafts so that they may be expanded and contracted as desired. Prior to the present invention such shaft constructions, for the most part, utilized cam or wedge devices of various form which could be operated to expand the shaft for the winding operation and then contracted to reduce the shaft diameter and permit its easy removal from the roll. This type of expansible shaft construction is not too satisfactory since the working parts frequently become jammed necessitating the use of a hammer to force the shaft out of the roll with resulting damage to the shaft.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object .comparatively simplified construction having substantially no moving parts and which is less costly than prior expansible shaft constructions. These and other objects of the present inven- V tion and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section of a drum winder supporting an expansible roll shaft made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the drum winder illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view partialembodying the present invention;

4 with the expansible roll shaft in a contracted position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, Fig. 4 showing the means for securing the rubbe inner-tube to the central shaft; v

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 7 with the roll in an expanded condition; and,

Fig. 1'0 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the surface of the expansible roll shaft showing the means for limiting the expanded and contracted positions.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral I0 designates generally a drum winderof conventional type comprising a frame II and a pair of drum rolls l2 and I 3 supported by the frame I I in a spaced parallel relationship. Positioned above and centrally between the drum rolls [2 and I3 is an expansible roll shaft H made in accordance with the present invention. The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in brackets 15 carried by the frame I I and adapted for relative vertical movement therewith as the paper roll, wound on the shaft l4 increases in diameter.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the expansible roll shaft l4 comprises a tubular central shaft I! which extends coaxially the full length of the shaft H. A pair of collars l8 are adjustably secured to one end of the central shaft I! by means of set screws l9 and prevent longitudinal shifting of the roll shaft with respect to the brackets IS.

The shaft illustrated in the drawings comprises a split outer expansible tubular shell 2| which is secured to one side of the central shaft H in the manner shown in Fig. 6, and an expansible rubber inner-tube 22 which is positioned between the inner shaft l1 and the outer shell 2|. (See Fig. 7.) The outer shell 2| is held in a spaced relationship with the central shaft I! by means of collars 23 positioned eccentrically on the central shaft H as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. A

3 pin 24 extends transversely through the central shaft beneath each of the collars 23, and is secured thereto by means of welds as indicated at 25. A screw 26 threaded into the pin 24 is provided to secure the outer shell 2| tightly against the eccentric collar 23.

Diametrically opposite the point where the outer shell 2| is secured to the central shaft I1 is a slot 21 extending the full length of the outer shell. the outer shell 2| from one end to the central portion and then back towards the other 'end. This angular positioning of the slot 21 prevents a ridge being formed in theroll :of paper wound on the shaft I l. A cover plate 28 is provided which is secured to the underside of the outer shell at one edge of the slot 21 and extends transversely across the slot. The cover plate 28' may be fastened to the outer shell 2|, forexample, by welds as indicated at 29. A resilient material, such as steel, properly heat treated, is used-for the outer shell 2|, and the shell normally returns to and remains in its contracted position as indicated in Fig. '7 due to its inherentresiliency. A plurality of pins 3| secured to the cover plate 28 and extending outwardly therefrom into circumferential slots 32 in the outer shell 2| limit the expanded and contracted position of the outer shell.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the expansible rubber inner-tube 22 has reduced portions at each end and at its midpoint secured to the central shaft ll by means of wire 34 wrapped tightly around the inner-tube 22. central shaft H to prevent longitudinal movement of the wire 3% and inner tube 22 with respect .to the shaft H. In order to expand the shaft 4,

air is admitted under pressure centrally of the shaft 51 and from there to the expansible rubber trolling the air pressure interiorly of the shaft l1 and of the expansible rubber inner-tube 22. Positioned co-axially along the shaft H and extending outwardly therefrom is a sleeve 40 adapted to prevent the valve 39 ,frombeingdamaged. The air admitted under pressure centrally of the shaft ll is allowed to escape from the shaft .11 through openings 4| therein and react on the expansible rubber inner-tube 22. When air is passed throughthe airvalve 39, the inner-tube 22 is caused to expand, which in turn expands the outer shell 2|. The outward expansion of the shell 2| is limited by the stops 3| as previously' mentioned. Opening the valve 39 allows the air to escape from the inner tube 22, in turn permitting the outer shell 2| to contract to its normal position.

In operaticn, the expansible roll shaft is placed on the bearings of the drum winderin an expanded condition and the paper (not shown) is wound thereon. After the roll of paper has reached its desired size and is removed from the drum winder, the valve 39 is opened thus permitting the expansible roll shaft M to contract and allowing the shaft i l to be freely withrawn from the roll.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the present invention provides a novel expansible roll shaft which will always return to the con- The slot 2'! is disposed angularly along Under-cut portions are provided on the tracted position when desired and which may be easily removed from the roll of paper. Furthermore, the present invention provides a novel expan-sible roll shaft which is substantially more durable than the present type of roll shafts and which will not be damaged by heavy knocks or blows.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosures, and changes and modificaatone edge of said slot and extending transversely across said slot; an inflatable tubular liner su'rrounding'said inner shaft and operable when inflated to expand said outer shell, a valve secured in one of said plugs for controlling passage of a'gaseous medium interiorly of said inner shaft and through said outlet openings therein into said liner to inflate the same, and pins secured to'said cover plate projecting into circumferential slots in said outer shell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

2. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular inner shaft having a plurality of outlet openings therein, plugs secured in air tight relation at'each end of said inner shaft, an expansible'tubular outer shell positioned about said inner shaft and having a slot extending lengthwise therein to allow the 'outer shell to be expanded from'a normally contracted 'condition,

means mounting said outer shell in spaced circumscribing relation tosaid inner shaft, a cover plate secured to the underside of said outer shell at one" edge of said slot and extending transversely across said slot, an inflatable tubular liner surrounding-said inner shaft and operable when inflated to=expand said outer shell, a valve secured in one of said plugs for controlling passage of a gaseous medium 'interiorly of said inner shaft and through said outlet openings therein into said liner to inflate the same, and pins secured to said cover plate rojecting into circumferential slots in said outer shell to limit expansion of the'outer shell.

;3. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular'inner shaft having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a, plurality of spacers eccentrically mounted on said inner shaft, an expansible tubular outer shell positioned about said inner shaft and having a slot extending "lengthwise therein to allow the outer shell'to be'expanded from a normally contracted condition, means on said outer shell diametrically opposite said slot securing said outer shell to said eccentric spacers so that the outer shell is eccentri'c with respect to inner shaft in the contracted condition and concentric with the inner shaft in its expanded condition, a cover plate secured to the underside of said outer shell atone edge of "the slot andextending transverselyacross said slot, an inflatable tubular lining interiorly of said outer shell and surrounding said inner shaft operable when inflated to expand said shell, means to inflate said liner, and pins secured to said cover plate projecting into circumferential slots in said outer shell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

4. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular inner shaft having a plurality of outletopenings therein, plugs secured in airtight relation at each end of said inner shaft,'

a plurality of spacers eccentrically mounted on said inner shaft, an expansible tubular outer shell positioned about said inner shaft and having a slot extending lengthwise therein to allow the outer shell to be expanded from a normally contracted condition, means on said outer shell diametrically opposite said slot securing said outer shell to said eccentric spacers so that the outer shell is eccentric with respect to inner shaft in the contracted condition and concentric with the inner shaft in its expanded condition, a cover plate secured to the underside of said outer shell at one edge of the slot and extending transversely across said slot, an inflatable tubular lin- 6 ing interiorly of said outer shell and surrounding said inner shaft operable when inflated to expand said shell, a valve secured in one of said plugs for controllin passage of a gaseous medium interiorly of said inner shaft and through said outlet openings therein into said liner to inflate the same, and pins secured to said cover plate projecting into circumferential slots in said outer v shell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

THEODORE A. MCARN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

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