CELLULAR ENCASEMENT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR ROLLER ASSEMBLY

• US 20090169146A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technologies Enduride Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jean-Pierre Gagnon
• Inventors: Gagnon, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/462
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 39/09 Arrangements of bearing or sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 13/022 supporting a hollow roll mantle rotating with respect to a yoke or axle
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/58 Conveyor systems, e.g. rollers or bearings therefor in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/066 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/80 Labyrinth sealings F16C33/761 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/042 Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/077 between housing and outer race ring

Abstract

A roller assembly having a roller tube, a fixed shaft inside the roller tube, a bearing mounted on the shaft, an inner casing mounted on the bearing and rotatable with respect to the shaft, an outer casing fixedly mounted on the shaft, a shield cap mounted on the inner casing, and a seal member mounted between the roller tube, the shield cap and the inner casing for sealing the roller assembly. Facing walls of the inner casing and outer casing define inner cells and a first labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the inner cells. Facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap define outer cells and a second labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells. The facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap are provided with gel for further reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells.

Claims

1. A roller assembly comprising:

a roller tube;

a fixed shaft inside the roller tube;

a bearing mounted on the shaft;

an inner casing mounted on the bearing and rotatable with respect to the shaft;

an outer casing fixedly mounted on the shaft;

a shield cap mounted on the inner casing; and

a seal member mounted between the roller tube, the shield cap and the inner casing for sealing the roller assembly, wherein facing walls of the inner casing and outer casing define inner cells, the facing walls of the inner casing and the outer casing being provided with a first series of spaced apart fins extending perpendicularly with respect to the facing walls of the inner casing and the outer casing, the first series of fins being positioned so as to define a first labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the inner cells, facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap defining outer cells, the facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap being provided with a second series of spaced apart fins extending perpendicularly with respect to the facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap, the second series of fins being positioned so as to define a second labyrinth path for reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells, and the facing walls of the outer casing and shield cap being provided with gel for further reducing migration of contaminants through the outer cells.

2. The roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner cells are filled with grease so as to provide a reservoir of grease for lubricating the bearing.

3. The roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gel is a colloid system in which a porous network of interconnected nanoparticles spans the volume of a liquid medium.

4. The roller assembly according to claim 3, wherein the nanoparticles have diameters of 1 nanometer to 1000 nanometers.