BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a top portion of a housing that may be used with a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a bottom portion of a housing that may be used with a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a stator that may be used with a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a rotor that may be used with a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a steel sheet galvanizing line using the bearing assemblies according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bearing assembly 10 for use in molten metal baths according to one embodiment of the invention. The bearing assembly 10 includes a housing 12 having a top portion 14 and a bottom portion 16. The top portion 14 and the bottom portion 16 are preferably separated by a housing seal 18. The housing seal 18 may be used to prevent corrosive, abrasive, and other materials from entering the housing 12. The top portion 14 and the bottom portion 16 may include receiving portions (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) that receive components of the bearing assembly 10. The top portion 14 and the bottom portion 16 may be attached using, for example, fasteners 20 or other suitable fastening mechanisms. The fasteners 20 may include, for example, a bolt and nut assembly.
The bearing assembly 10 may also include bearing seals 22 that may be provided on each end of the housing 12. The bearing seals 22 may include thrust bearings 24. The bearing seals 22 serve to substantially prevent corrosive and abrasive materials from entering the housing and causing wear to bearings 26. According to one embodiment of the invention, bearings 26 are roller bearings, although other types of bearings may also be used. The bearing seals 22 and the bearings 26 may be provided about a shaft 28 of a roller conveyor or other device.
The bearings 26 may be at least partially provided in a chamber 30 created by the top portion 14 and the bottom portion 16 of the housing 12. The chamber 30 may be used to store pressurized air and/or a lubricant 32. The lubricant 32 may be provided to the chamber 30 using passageways 34. The passageways may be in fluid communication with fittings 36 that are in fluid communication with a lubricant source (not shown) and provided on, for example, a swing arm 38 of a roller conveyor or other device.
The housing 12 is preferably formed of a temperature and corrosion resistant material and may be provided with an anti-wetting compound. The chamber 30 of the housing 12 is preferably pressurized to substantially isolate the bearings 26 and substantially prevent abrasive and corrosive materials from entering the chamber 30 and causing wear to the bearings 26.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a bearing assembly 40 that may be used in a molten metal bath according to one embodiment of the invention. The bearing assembly 40 may include a housing 42 that may be formed from a top portion 44 (shown in further detail in FIG. 5) and a bottom portion 46 (shown in further detail in FIG. 6).
The top portion 44 and the bottom portion 46 may include a housing seal 48 positioned therebetween. The housing seal 48 may be used to reduce or prevent corrosive, abrasive or other materials from entering the housing 42. According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing seal 48 includes a gasket that may be, for example, a carbon fiber cloth having a shape corresponding to an outer edge of the top portion 44 and the bottom portion 46.
The top portion 44 and the bottom portion 46 preferably include receiving portions 50 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) The receiving portions 50 may be used to receive components such as, for example, bearings 52 (which may be roller bearings), of the bearing assembly 40. The receiving portions 50 may also be used to create a chamber 54 within the housing 42. The chamber 54 may be used to store pressurized air and/or a lubricant 56. The air and/or lubricant 56 may enter and exit the chamber 54 through passageways 58.
The top portion 44 and the bottom portion 46 may be attached using fasteners 60 or other suitable fastening mechanism. The top portion 44 may also include an attachment mechanism 62 that enables the bearing assembly 40 to be attached to, for example, a swing arm of a roller conveyor or other device.
The bearing assembly 40 may also include a bearing seal 64 provided on, for example, one side of the housing 42. The bearing seal 64 may include a stator 66 and a rotor 68. The stator 66 and rotor 68 may receive a shaft 70 of a roller conveyor or other device. The stator 66 and rotor 68 may be internally pressurized and/or lubricated through ports 72a (shown in FIGS. 7 and 9). This arrangement allows for the flow of air or lubricant through the labyrinth of the seal, exiting below an interior portion of fins (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) of the rotor 68 and forming a bubble of air or lubricant that isolates physical contact between intermeshing surfaces of the bearing seal 64 and, for example, molten zinc. This reduces or eliminates abrasion of and wear to the bearing seal 64.
FIG. 7 illustrates the stator 66 according to one embodiment of the invention. The stator 66 may include an extended portion 72. The extended portion 72 of the stator 66 may be received by the top portion 44 and the bottom portion 46 of the housing 42 using receiving portions 50. The extended portion 72 helps to substantially prevent corrosive, abrasive or other materials from entering the housing 42.
FIG. 8 illustrates the rotor 68 according to one embodiment of the invention. The rotor 68 may include one or more fins 74. According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing 42 is pressurized with air and/or lubricant 56 to substantially prevent corrosive, abrasive or other material from entering the housing 42. The fins 74 may be used in conjunction with the pressurized housing 42 to substantially isolate components provided within the housing 42 by forcing material away from the bearing seal 64.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bearing seal 64 according to one embodiment of the invention. The bearing seal 64 may include the stator 66 and the rotor 68. The stator 66 and the rotor 68 may be provided about the shaft 70. The extended portion 72 of the stator 66 may be received by one or more of the receiving portions 50 of the housing 42 of the bearing assembly 40. The extended portion 76 of the rotor 68 may be at least partially received by the stator 66. The rotor 68 may also include a drive ring 78 that may assist in rotating the rotor 68. The stator 66 may include an o-ring 80 that may be used to maintain the stator 66 in a desired location. The bearing seal 64 may also include an air pressure bleed that operates to reduce or prevent physical contact between mating surfaces of the bearing seal 64 and a corrosive and/or abrasive environment such as, for example, a molten metal bath.
FIG. 10 illustrates a steel sheet galvanizing system 100 that may use bearing assemblies 102 according to the invention. The bearing assemblies 102 may be operatively coupled to a zinc pot roller 104 and swing arms 106 of, for example, a roller conveyor or other device. The galvanizing system 100 may also include a reservoir 108 that is in fluid communication with a pump 110 and a heat exchanger 112. The galvanizing system 100 may also include tubing 114 that provides a closed-loop lubricating system for providing a lubricant to the bearing assemblies 102. According to one embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 108 stores a lubricant such as, for example, oil. The oil is forced from the reservoir 108 by the pump 110 and enters the bearing assemblies 102 through tubing 114. The oil exits the bearing assemblies 102 through tubing 114 and enters the heat exchanger 112. The oil exits the heat exchanger 112 and returns to the reservoir 108. A pressure regulator 116 may also be provided to regulate the pressure within the reservoir 108 and/or the bearing assemblies 102.
Additionally, a filter 118 may be provided to filter the lubricant and remove contaminants or other material from the lubricant. According to one embodiment, the filter 118 may be provided between the bearing assemblies 102 and the heat exchanger 112.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080085071
