Kinematic idler roller

Abstract

An idler roller having a fixed shaft with at least one spherical bearing and a second bearing which may, but need not be, a spherical bearing. In some embodiments, the second bearing is slidably-mounted on a central shaft. A shell is mounted between these bearings. Any changes in dimensions resulting from changes in temperature may them be accommodated by sliding movement of the second bearing, sparing the shell from distortion by bending or buckling. In other exemplary embodiments, the spherical bearing includes a first housing element fixedly-mounted on a central shaft and a complementary first free element disposed against the first housing element. A second bearing element is mounted on the central shaft, and a shell is attached to the first free element and rotatably-mounted to a second bearing element with a biasing element mounted on the central shaft urging a second free element away from the first free element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.