Back to results
US 5,516,211 AGranted
Ball transfer unit
AssigneeThe Rexroth Corporation
InventorsDennis J. Barnes, Douglas K. Leirmoe, Kenneth J. Piecuch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball transfer unit for use in a conveyor track for material handling applications, such as the movement and handling of freight, comprising a housing which contains a conveyor ball supported by the surface of a plurality of ball bearings. The ball transfer unit also comprises a floating annular seal such that the seal is continuously biased against the conveyor ball to prevent the introduction of fluids, contaminants, and harmful chemicals into the race of the ball transfer unit.
Claims11
A ball transfer unit comprising
- a housing which includes a semi-spherical concave mounting surface,
- a plurality of ball bearings positioned upon said mounting surface, with the upper portions of the ball bearings collectively defining a concave support surface,
- a conveyor ball positioned to rotatably rest upon said concave support surface, said conveyor ball being sized to generally conform to the curvature of said concave support surface and to define an equator which lies in a horizontal plane,
- an annular seal formed of a resilient material and mounted in said housing so as to contact said conveyor ball along a circle which is parallel to and above the equator of said conveyor ball,
- an annular cover mounted to said housing so as to overlie and substantially cover said annular seal, and
- means interposed between said annular seal and said annular cover for biasing said annular seal downwardly into positive sealing engagement with said conveyor ball about said circle, and so as to maintain a sealing engagement therebetween.
3 more elements
A ball transfer unit comprising
- a housing comprising a base portion which includes a semi-spherical concave mounting surface, and an annular upstanding peripheral wall portion extending peripherally about said concave mounting surface,
- a plurality of ball bearings positioned upon said mounting surface, with the upper portions of the ball bearings collectively defining a concave support surface,
- a conveyor ball positioned to rotatably rest upon said concave support surface, said conveyor ball being sized to generally conform to the curvature of said concave support surface and to define an equator which lies in a horizontal plane and is disposed adjacent said annular peripheral wall portion of said housing,
- an annular seal formed of a resilient elastomeric material and comprising an annular body portion and an annular inner lip, said annular seal being mounted between said conveyor ball and said peripheral wall portion of said housing so that said annular inner lip extends upwardly and inwardly from said body portion and into contact with said conveyor ball along a circle which is parallel to and above the equator of said conveyor ball,
- an annular cover mounted to said peripheral wall portion of said housing so as to overlie and substantially cover said annular seal, said annular cover including a circular opening which is closely adjacent but spaced from said conveyor ball about a second circle which is above and parallel to said first mentioned circle, and such that an upper portion of said conveyor ball protrudes through said opening, and
- means interposed between said annular seal and said cover for biasing said annular seal downwardly so that said annular inner lip is biased into positive sealing engagement with said conveyor ball about said circle, and so as to maintain the sealing engagement therebetween.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.