Bearing lubrication system

In an idler roll assembly for conveyors and the like having at least one roll mounted for rotation on a tubular shaft having an inner bore and an outer cylindrical surface by bearings, with an inner cylindrical surface of an inner race of said bearings being mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said shaft, said tubular shaft having radially extending passages to provide a lubricant path from the inner bore of said shaft to said bearings, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said lubricant path is defined in part by said radially extending passage and is defined in part by an axially extending passage which in turn is defined by the inner cylindrical surface of said bearing race and a channeled portion of the cylindrical surface of said shaft, said bearings being enclosed by a portion of said roll and by an inner grease seal between said portion of said roll and said shaft, and by an outer labyrinth seal comprising a first labyrinth portion fixed with respect to said roll and a second labyrinth portion fixed with respect to said shaft, and grease release lubricant passage means defined between said second labyrinth portion and said shaft.

In an idler roll assembly for conveyors and the like having at least one roll mounted for rotation on a tubular shaft having an inner bore and an outer cylindrical surface by bearings, with an inner cylindrical surface of an inner race of said bearings being mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said shaft, said tubular shaft having radially extending passages to provide a lubricant path from the inner bore of said shaft to said bearings, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said bearings are enclosed by a portion of said roll and by an inner grease seal between said portion of said roll and said shaft, and by an outer labyrinth seal comprising a first labyrinth portion fixed with respect to said roll and a second labyrinth portion fixed to a portion of said shaft, and grease release lubricant passage means defined between said second labyrinth portion and said portion of said shaft.

In an idler roll assembly for belt conveyors and the like having at least one roll mounted for rotation on a tubular shaft having an inner bore and an outer cylindrical surface by bearings, with an inner cylindrical surface of an inner race of said bearings being mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said shaft, said tubular shaft having radially extending passages to provide a lubricant path from the inner bore of said shaft to said bearings, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said lubricant path is defined in part by said radially extending passage and is defined in part by an axially extending passage which is in turn defined by a portion of the inner surface of said bearing race and a portion of the surface of said shaft, wherein each bearing is mounted within a bearing cavity defined by a cup-shaped inner seal and an outer labyrinth seal, said labyrinth seal comprising a first labyrinth member fixed to said idler roll and a second labyrinth member fixed to another portion of said shaft, said second labyrinth member together with said another portion of said shaft defining lubricant passageway means from said bearing, said second labyrinth member including means defininng a central bore mounted on said another portion of said shaft, and wherein at least one axial groove in said bore comprises said lubricant passageway means.