Belt guide pulley
AssigneeR. G. Technical Associates, Inc.
InventorsRoland W. Gerstenberger, William R. Joyce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a clam shell shaped belt guide pulley having first and second curved halves which are hinged together. Each pulley half has curved inner and outer surfaces. The pulley is adapted to be placed on a large diameter shaft without the need to remove the shaft from the remainder of the machine. There is no supporting structure between the inner surfaces of the pulley halves and the shaft. Each half has a free end. An apparatus is provided to removably connect the free ends together to secure the pulley on the shaft.
Claims18
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary clam shell shaped member;
- said member including first and second curved halves;
- each half having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface;
- each half having a free end;
- a weakened section on said member and located between said free ends;
- said weakened section connecting said first curved half to said second curved half;
- said weakened section enabling said free ends to be moved relative to one another whereby said member may be readily placed on the shaft;
- connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- said member is substantially void of any supporting structure between said inner curved surfaces of each half.
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary clam shell shaped member;
- said member including first and second curved halves;
- each half having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface;
- each half having a free end;
- a weakened section on said member and located between said free ends;
- said weakened section connecting said first curved half to said second curved half;
- said weakened section enabling said free ends to be moved relative to one another whereby said member may be readily placed on the shaft;
- connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- said connection apparatus includes a male portion extending from said free end of said first half and a receptacle formed in said free end of said second half;
- said male portion removably received in said receptacle;
- said male portion is in the form of a land and said receptacle is in the form of a groove;
- said land and said groove are each trapezoidal in shape.
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary clam shell shaped member;
- said member including first and second curved halves;
- each half having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface;
- each half having a free end;
- a weakened section on said member and located between said free ends;
- said weakened section connecting said first curve half to said second curved half;
- said weakened section enabling said free ends to be moved relative to one another whereby said member may be readily placed on the shaft;
- connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- said connection apparatus includes a male portion extending from said free end of said first half and a receptacle formed in said free end of said second half;
- said male portion removably received in said receptacle;
- said male portion is in the form of a land and said receptacle is in the form of a land and said receptacle is in the form of a groove;
- said land and said groove are each shaped in the form of a dovetail.
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary clam shell shaped member;
- said member including first and second curved halves;
- each half having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface;
- each half having a free end;
- a weakened section on said member and located between said free ends;
- said weakened section connecting said first curved half to said second curved half;
- said weakened section enabling said free ends to be moved relative to one another whereby said member may be readily placed on the shaft;
- connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- said connection apparatus includes a male portion extending from said free end of said first half and a receptacle formed in said free end of said second half;
- said male portion removably received in said receptacle;
- whereby there is an interference fit between said male portion and said receptacle.
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary clam shell shaped member;
- said member including first and second curved halves;
- each half having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface;
- each half having a free end;
- a weakened section on said member and located between said free ends;
- said weakened section connecting said first curved half to said second curved half;
- said weakened section enabling said free ends to be moved relative to one another whereby said member may be readily placed on the shaft;
- connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- an adhesive applied to said inner surface of each half whereby said member may be adhered to said shaft.
A belt guide pulley adapted to be attached to a shaft comprising:
- a unitary curved sleeve;
- said sleeve having first and second free ends juxtaposed from one another;
- a connection apparatus for connecting said first free end to said second free end;
- said connection apparatus including a male portion extending from said first free end and a receptacle formed in said second free end;
- said male portion removably received in said receptacle;
- wherein there is an interference fit between said male portion and said receptacle.
A method of applying a unitary clam shell shaped belt guide pulley having (a) two halves each with inside and outside curved surfaces, and (b) a weakened section connecting said halves together, each half having a free end with a male member extending from the free end of said first one half and a receptacle formed in the other half, to a conveyor machine shaft, having an outside curved surface without having to remove any portion of the shaft from the conveyor machine, comprising the steps of:
- opening said pulley by moving the free ends of each half away from each other;
- placing said pulley on said shaft so that the inside surface of each pulley half contacts the outside surface of said shaft;
- inserting said male member into said receptacle;
- adhering said inside surface of each pulley half to the outside surface of said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.