Patent Application
20110018295
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a trolley wheel assembly and more particularly to a trolley wheel assembly for use on an overhead track. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a trolley wheel assembly having a bushing mounted therein which is comprised of a self-lubricating material. Even more particularly, this invention relates to specific self-lubricating bushing materials.
2. Description of the Invention
Trolley wheel assemblies are commonly used on overhead tracks to convey objects or products from one location to another location within a processing or manufacturing plant. The trolley wheels of the prior art are normally lubricated with grease or oil but the same poses a problem since the grease or oil may fall downwardly from the trolley wheel onto food products or the like, thereby contaminating the same.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A trolley wheel assembly is disclosed for use on an overhead track with the assembly including a trolley bracket having upper and lower ends. A trolley wheel is rotatably secured to the trolley bracket and has first and second sides and a groove formed in the periphery thereof adapted to receive the overhead track and to move thereon. The trolley wheel has a central opening formed therein. A cylindrical bushing is positioned in the central opening of the trolley wheel with a pin means being positioned in the bushing which is fixed to the trolley bracket. The bushing is comprised of a self-lubricating material. Preferably, the self-lubricating material is comprised of Torlon® which is comprised of a polyamide-imide material. The bushing may also be comprised of a laminate composite bearing material which is comprised of a laminated plastic material made by impregnating fabric with thermosetting resins. Preferably, the bushing is comprised of a non-metallic, high load, high impact, self-lubricating laminate material or the polyamide-imide material. In one embodiment, the bushing is comprised of textiles and thermosetting resins blended with graphite, moly, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and other lubricants. The trolley wheel assembly may be a single trolley wheel assembly of a double trolley wheel assembly.
The utilization of the bushing described herein provides a self-lubricating bushing without the need to oil or grease the same which eliminates the grease or oil or particles of the trolley wheel from dropping downwardly therefrom onto food products or the like thereby contaminating the same.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved trolley wheel assembly for use on an overhead track.
A further object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly including a bushing mounted within the trolley wheel which is comprised of a self-lubricating material.
A further object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly wherein the bushing is comprised of Torlon®.
A further object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described wherein the bushing is comprised of a polyamide-imide material.
A further object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described wherein the bushing is comprised of a laminate composite bearing material.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described wherein the bushing thereof is comprised of a laminated plastic material made by impregnating fabric with thermosetting resins.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described including a bushing which is comprised of a non-metallic, high load, high impact, self-lubricating, laminate material.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described including a bushing which is comprised of a CIP® material.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described including a bushing which is comprised of textiles and thermosetting resins blended with graphite, moly, PTFE and other lubricants.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a trolley wheel assembly of the type described which prevents grease and/or oil from falling downwardly therefrom onto products therebelow.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
Bushing 32 is comprised of a self-lubricating material. In one preferred embodiment, the self-lubricating material of the bushing 32 is comprised of Torlon®. Torlon® is comprised of a polyamide-imide material. The bushing 32 could also be comprised of a laminated plastic material made by impregnating fabric with thermosetting resins. Preferably, the bushing 32 is comprised of a non-metallic, high load, high impact, self-lubricating, laminate material. The bushing 32 may be comprised of a CIP® material. The bushing may be comprised of textiles and thermosetting resins blended with graphite, moly, PTFE and other lubricants.
When the trolley wheel assembly 10 is utilized on an overhead track to convey objects or products from one location to another within a plant or facility, the self-lubricating material of the bushing 32 as described above does not require oil or grease and is self-lubricating as described. The fact that the bushing 32 does not require oil or grease eliminates the possibility that oil or grease may drop from the trolley wheel assembly onto products or equipment therebelow.
Thus it can be seen that a novel trolley wheel assembly has been provided which includes a self-lubricating or greaseless bushing in the trolley wheel thereof which does not require grease or oil which thereby prevents oil or grease from falling or dripping downwardly from the trolley wheel assembly onto products there below. It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives.
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
