US 6,447,289 B1 · Rotary drum roller support adjustable on a skew axis

Abstract

A support stand for supporting an elongated rotary drum for rotation about a longitudinally extending drum axis includes a lower portion extending upwardly from a base to a tilted top extending in a plane of tilt; a correspondingly tilted upper portion mounted atop the lower portion, and a carrying roller rotatably mounted on the upper portion for rotation about a roller axis while a riding ring extending coaxially around the drum bears against and rides in rolling contact on the roller. The upper portion is rotatably positionable relative to the lower portion about a skew axis perpendicularly intersecting the plane of tilt at a fixed point. The skew axis substantially radially intersect the drum axis. As well, the skew axis substantially radially intersects the roller axis. A mechanism for adjusting the amount of skew and an indicator for displaying the amount of skew are also disclosed. Further, rotary drum supported by a plurality of such stands and a method of aligning the stands with respect to the drum is also disclosed.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A support stand for supporting an elongated rotary drum for rotation about a longitudinally extending drum axis, said drum including a riding ring extending coaxially around the drum for receiving such support, said stand comprising:

(a) a lower portion extending upwardly from a base to a tilted top extending in a plane of tilt;
(b) a correspondingly tilted upper portion mounted atop said lower portion, said upper portion being rotatably positionable relative to said lower portion about a skew axis perpendicularly intersecting said plane of tilt at a fixed point;
and,
(c) a carrying roller rotatably mounted on said upper portion for rotation about a roller axis while said ring bears against and rides in rolling contact on said roller with said skew axis substantially radially intersecting said drum axis, said skew axis substantially radially intersecting said roller axis.

1 more element

In combination with an elongated rotary drum rotatable about a longitudinally extending drum axis, said drum including first and second longitudinally spaced riding rings extending coaxially around the drum:

(a) a first pair of stands associated with said first riding ring for providing support to said drum from opposed sides of said first riding ring;
and,
(b) a second pair of stands associated with said second riding ring for providing support to said drum from opposed sides of said second riding ring;
each of said stands comprising:
(i) a lower portion extending upwardly from a base to a tilted top lying in a plane of tilt;
(ii) a correspondingly tilted upper portion rotatably mounted atop said lower portion, said upper portion being rotatably positionable relative to said lower portion about a skew axis perpendicularly intersecting said plane of tilt at a fixed point;
and,
(iii) a carrying roller rotatably mounted on said upper portion for rotation about a roller axis, the said one of said riding rings associated with said stand bearing against and riding in rolling contact on said roller, said skew axis substantially radially intersecting both said roller axis and said drum axis.

5 more elements

A method of providing roller support for an elongated rotary drum rotatable about a longitudinally extending drum axis, said drum including first and second longitudinally spaced riding rings extending coaxially around the drum, said method comprising:

(a) for each riding ring, providing a pair of stands for supporting said drum from opposed sides of the ring, each of said stands comprising:
(i) a lower portion extending upwardly from a base to a tilted top lying in a plane of tilt;
(ii) a correspondingly tilted upper portion rotatably mounted atop said lower portion, said upper portion being rotatably positionable relative to said lower portion about a skew axis perpendicularly intersecting said plane of tilt at a fixed point;
(iii) a carrying roller rotatably mounted on said upper portion for rotation about a roller axis, the said one of said riding rings associated with said stand bearing against and riding in rolling contact on said roller, said skew axis substantially radially intersecting both said roller axis and said drum axis;
and,
(iv) an indicator for indicating the amount of rotation of said upper portion relative to said lower portion about said skew axis from an initial datum,
(b) rotating the said upper portion of each of said stands about its associated skew axis to a position such that the said indicated amount of rotation relative to its said lower portion is the same as for all said stands.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary drum roller support adjustable on a skew axis

Life of this patent

Rotary drum roller support adjustable on a skew axis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18