This application is a 371 of PCT/IB2004/000042 filed on Jan. 13, 2004, published on Jul. 29, 2004 under publication number WO 2004/063062 A1 and claims priority benefits of South African Patent Application No. ZA 2003/0371 filed Jan. 14, 2003 and South African Patent Application No. ZA 2003/5822 filed Jul. 29, 2003.
This invention relates to a conveyor idler which can rotate in one direction only.
International patent application PCT/IB00/01571 published under WO 01/32537A1 describes a conveyor idler with a braking mechanism within the drum of the conveyor idler. The braking mechanism permits the drum to rotate in a forward direction but not in a reverse direction. The braking mechanism consists of a brake guide fixed to the shaft of the conveyor idler. The brake guide has recesses on its circumference. On each of the recesses a ball bearing is located. One of the ball bearings becomes wedged between the inner surface of the drum and its recess on the brake guide when an attempt is made to rotate the drum in the reverse direction thereby preventing the drum from being rotated in the reverse direction. The conveyor idler suffers from the disadvantage that generally only one of the ball bearings becomes wedged between the drum and the brake guide and therefore that all the locking torque is transferred through only one ball bearing. In addition, the brake guide is relatively large and the ball bearings contact the drum even when it rotates in the forward direction. This contact results in the generation of noise and in wear.
According to the invention a conveyor idler includes a drum having an outer surface and an inner surface, a shaft about which the drum can rotate in a forward direction, a locking mechanism for preventing the drum from rotating in a reverse direction but which locking mechanism permits rotation of the drum in the forward direction, the locking mechanism having at least one wedging surface fixed directly or indirectly to the drum, and a locking member interposed between the wedging surface and the shaft, the locking member being rotatable about the shaft when the drum rotates in the forward direction, but when an attempt is made to rotate the drum in the reverse direction the locking member becomes releasably wedged between the wedging surface and the shaft or a surface fixed to the shaft thereby preventing the drum from rotating in the reverse direction.
A plurality of wedging surfaces may be provided with a locking member being provided between each wedging surface and the shaft.
The plurality of locking members are preferably connected together by connecting means. The connecting means may be a locking housing having circumferentially spaced cages for the locking members.
Each locking member is preferably rotatably located within its cage. Each locking member is preferably also radially movable within its cage.
The locking housing may consist of two axially spaced end members, with the cages being formed between the end members and between pairs of spaced axially extending walls located between the end members.
The cages preferably extend radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the end members.
A reinforcing web may extend between the end members.
The wedging surface preferably includes a ramp. The wedging surface preferably forms part of, or is fixed to, an end cap or closure of the sleeve, the end cap or closure being fixed to the drum. The wedging surface may be located within a locking housing receptacle which is fixed to the end cap. The locking housing receptacle may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which engage a plurality of radially extending webs in the end cap thereby to fix the locking housing receptacle to the end cap.
In another embodiment of the invention the wedging surface may be located within a locking housing receptacle which is fixed to the inner surface of the sleeve.
The locking member may be a ball bearing or roller bearing.
According to another aspect of the invention a locking mechanism for a conveyor idler for releasably locking a drum of the conveyor idler from rotating about a shaft in a reverse direction but which permits rotation of the drum in a forward direction about the shaft, the locking mechanism includes a connecting means connecting a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking members together which locking members are in use located between wedging surfaces fixed to the drum so that in use when an attempt is made to rotate the drum in the reverse direction, the locking members will simultaneously become releasably wedged between the shaft and the wedging surfaces thereby preventing the drum from being rotated in the reverse direction.
The connecting means preferably include a cage for each locking member.
Each locking member is preferably rotatable within its cage. Each locking member is preferably also radially moveable within its cage.
The locking housing may consist of two axially spaced end members, with the cages being formed between the end members and between pairs of spaced axially extending walls located between the end members. The cages may extend radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the end members. A reinforcing web may extend between the end members.
The locking mechanism may include a receptacle for the locking members and their connecting means, the receptacle containing the wedging surfaces and having fixing means for fixing the receptacle directly or indirectly to the drum.
The fixing means may comprise a plurality of spaced slots for engaging a plurality of radially extending webs in an end cap of the conveyor idler.
According to another aspect of the invention an end cap for a conveyor idler includes a receptacle for a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking members, the receptacle having a wedging surface for each locking member so that in use a drum of the conveyor idler to which the end cap is fixed can rotate in a forward direction but not in a reverse direction because the locking members become releasably wedged between their wedging surfaces and a shaft of the conveyor idler.
The receptacle may be integrally formed with the end cap. Alternatively, the receptacle may be located within a separate housing which is fixed to the end cap. The separate housing may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which engage a plurality of radially extending webs in the end cap to fix the separate housing to the end cap.
Referring firstly to
The drum 12 has an outer surface 18 over which a conveyor belt (not shown) can run. Each end cap 14 has a bearing housing 20 for a bearing 22 which enables a shaft 24 to rotate relative to the end cap 14 and hence relative to the drum 12. A labyrinth seal 26 protects the bearing 22 from the ingress of foreign matter.
A locking housing 28 is located between the end cap 14 and the shaft 24. It will be appreciated that a locking housing 28 can be located in one or both of the end caps 14.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In
The locking housing 28 ensures that the circumferential spacing between rollers 38 does not vary, and therefore that all four rollers 38 will simultaneously engage the shaft 24 when an attempt is made to reverse the direction of rotation of the drum 12. This has the advantage that the locking torque is shared equally between the four rollers 38.
Referring now to
The locking housing receiving zone 40.1 is formed of mild steel and is an insert in the nylon locking housing receptacle 48. It will however be appreciated that the locking housing receiving zone 40.1 could be made of nylon and thus be integrally moulded with the locking housing support 48.
A seal 54 is provided in a groove 56 in the locking housing receptacle 48. The seal 54 prevents the ingress of foreign matter to the end cap 14.1 and the locking housing 28.
In use, when an attempt is made to rotate the conveyor idler drum 12.1 of the conveyor idler 10.1, into which the end cap 14.1 is a press fit, in the reverse direction the rollers 38 simultaneously wedge between their ramps 44.1, and lock the drum 12.1 from rotating in the reverse direction. The locking torque is transmitted from the shaft 24.1, which cannot rotate, through the rollers 38, through the locking housing receptacle 48, to the drum 12.1.
Although the locking housing receptacle 48 is shown fixed to the end cap 14.1 and located inside the drum 12, the locking housing receptacle 48 could be fixed directly to the drum 12 or, for example, via webs (not shown) extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the drum 12 of the conveyor idler and the locking housing receptacle 48 could also be located outside the drum 12.
Referring now to
It will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
03/0371 | Jan 2003 | ZA | national |
03/5822 | Jul 2003 | ZA | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2004/000042 | 1/13/2004 | WO | 00 | 12/1/2005 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2004/063062 | 7/29/2004 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2886153 | Cobb | May 1959 | A |
2912086 | Troendly et al. | Nov 1959 | A |
3104744 | Wade | Sep 1963 | A |
3166169 | Wade et al. | Jan 1965 | A |
5695031 | Kurita et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5941355 | Iga | Aug 1999 | A |
6095302 | Cheng et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO 0132537 | May 2001 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060137958 A1 | Jun 2006 | US |