Bearing system, roll assembly, and metal coating line assembly including same

A bearing system that accepts a journal of a roll, comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the opening configured to accept the journal through the opening and into the cavity;
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing, the sleeve configured to surround the end of the journal;
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface;
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• and
• a rolling bearing positioned around the sleeve and in contact with the housing.

A bearing system that accepts a journal of a roll, comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the opening configured to accept the journal through the opening and into the cavity;
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing, the sleeve configured to surround the end of the journal;
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface;
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• and
• an exterior housing having a curved inner surface, wherein the housing has a curved exterior surface configured to engage the curved inner surface of the exterior housing such that the housing can rotate relative to the exterior housing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll.

A roll assembly, comprising:

• a first arm;
• a first gas line;
• a second arm;
• a second gas line;
• a first bearing assembly positioned at the end of the first arm, the first bearing assembly including
• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the housing having a curved exterior surface,
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing,
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface, and
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• a second bearing assembly positioned at the end of the second arm, the second bearing assembly including
• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the housing having a curved exterior surface,
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing,
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface, and
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• and
• a roll including a main body, a first journal positioned at an end of the main body, and a second journal positioned at another end of the main body opposite the first journal,
• the first journal configured to pass through the opening into the cavity of the housing of the first bearing assembly and engage the sleeve of the first bearing assembly,
• the second journal configured to pass through the opening into the cavity of the housing of the second bearing assembly and engage the sleeve of the second bearing assembly;
• wherein the first gas line pressurizes the cavity of the housing of the first bearing assembly such that the engagement surface of the second seal is kept in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• wherein the second gas line pressurize the cavity of the housing of the second bearing assembly such that the engagement surface of the second seal is kept in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal;
• wherein the first arm includes an exterior housing having a curved inner surface which partially encloses the housing of the first bearing assembly, and the curved exterior surface of the housing of the first bearing assembly is configured to engage the curved inner surface such that the housing can rotate relative to the exterior housing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll;
• and
• wherein the second arm includes an exterior housing having a curved inner surface which partially encloses the housing of the second bearing assembly such that the housing can rotate relative to the exterior housing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll.

A metal coating line assembly, comprising:

• a hot dipping bath filled with a molten metal;
• a roll having a journal at each end of the roll;
• a first bearing assembly including
• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the opening configured to accept one of the journals through the opening and into the cavity,
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing, the sleeve configured to surround the end of the one journal,
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface,
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal, and
• a rolling bearing positioned around the sleeve and in contact with the housing;
• and
• a second bearing assembly including
• a housing defining a cavity and having a forward wall that defines an opening into the cavity, the opening configured to accept the other of the journals through the opening and into the cavity,
• a sleeve positioned within the cavity of the housing, the sleeve configured to surround the end of the other journal,
• a first seal positioned within the cavity of the housing adjacent to the forward wall of the housing, the first seal having an engagement surface,
• a second seal positioned within the cavity of the housing and operably connected to the sleeve, the second seal having an engagement surface in contact with the engagement surface of the first seal, and
• a rolling bearing positioned around the sleeve and in contact with the housing;
• wherein roll, the first bearing assembly, and the second bearing assembly are submerged within the molten metal.