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BR-112023011747-B1 - ROLLER ASSEMBLY AND CONVEYOR SYSTEM

BR112023011747B1BR 112023011747 B1BR112023011747 B1BR 112023011747B1BR-112023011747-B1

Abstract

ROLLER ASSEMBLY AND CONVEYOR SYSTEM. A roller assembly (32) for a ground contact conveyor system (24) includes a roller (34) forming a rod hole (42) and a roller rod (52) within the rod hole (42) and having a circumferential ramp surface (60). A roller retention system (83) for the roller assembly (32) includes a roller retention collar (84) with an outer peripheral surface (96) and an inner peripheral surface (98) which may include a wedge surface (98) structured to fit by friction to the retention collar (84), within a collar hole (44) in the roller (34), over the circumferential ramp surface (60) to limit the axial displacement of the roller (34) over the roller rod (52). The roller assembly (32) may include two roller retaining collars (84,86) that support the roller (34) against axial displacement without the use of thrust washers or the like, and securing the roller (34) and roller rod (52) to rotate together relative to a track roller frame (26).

Inventors

  • ROGER L. RECKER
  • Mircea Dumitru
  • ZACHARY T. DONLAN

Assignees

  • CATERPILLAR INC

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20211208
Priority Date
20201221

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Roller assembly, for a ground contact conveyor system, characterized in that it comprises: a roller (34,134) defining a central roller axis and including an outer band surface (38), and an inner roller surface (40) forming a rod hole (42) and a collar hole (44,144) extending axially outward from the rod hole (42); a roller rod (52,152) including a first rod end (54), a second rod end (56), an intermediate roller support section (58) and a circumferential ramp surface (60) that runs between the first rod end (54) and the intermediate roller support section (58) and enlarged in diameter in a direction from the intermediate roller support section (58); a roller retaining collar (84,184) including an inner surface facing the roller (88), an outer surface (90) and screw holes (92) extending between the inner surface facing the roller (88) and the outer surface (90), for securing the roller retaining collar (84,184) to the roller (34,134); the roller retaining collar (84,184) further including an outer peripheral surface (96) dimensioned to fit the retaining collar (84,184) within the collar hole (44,144) and an inner peripheral wedge surface (198) forming a rod hole (100) for positioning the roller retaining collar (84,184) over the roller rod (52,152); the rod hole (100) being increased in diameter in a direction from the inner surface facing the roller (88) and dimensioned for friction fitting into the roller retaining collar (84,184) on the circumferential ramp surface (60), so that the axial displacement of the roller (34,134) on the roller rod (52,152) is limited.
  2. 2. Roller assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: the roller rod (52,152) further includes a second circumferential ramp surface (62) in transition between the second rod end (56) and the intermediate roller support section (58); the roller assembly (32,132) further comprises a second roller retaining collar (86,186) with an internal peripheral wedge surface (199) dimensioned for frictional engagement with the second roller retaining collar (86,186) on the second circumferential ramp surface (62).
  3. 3. Roller assembly, according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: a first set of screws (94) fixing the first roller retaining collar (84,184) to a first axial side (61) of the roller (34,134) and fitting by friction the first roller retaining collar (84,184) onto the first circumferential ramp surface (60); and a second set of screws (95) fixing the second roller retaining collar (86,186) to a second axial side (65) of the roller (34,134) and fitting by friction the second roller retaining collar (86,186) onto the second circumferential ramp surface (62).
  4. 4. Roller assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the roller (34, 134) includes a guide wheel (34, 134)
  5. 5. Roller assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises: a first bearing block (64) supporting the first end of rod (54) for rotation and a first end retainer (68) fixed to the first end of rod (54) at a location axially outward from the first bearing block (64); and a second bearing block (66) supporting the second end of rod (56) for rotation and a second end retainer (70) fixed to the second end of rod (56) at a location axially outward from the second bearing block (66).
  6. 6. Roller assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the roller retaining collar (84, 184) defines a central axis of the collar and includes at least one relief channel (104) extending axially from the outer surface (90) to the inner surface facing the roller (88) and extending radially between the outer peripheral surface (96) and the inner peripheral wedge surface (198).
  7. 7. Roller assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the roller retaining collar (84,184) includes a multi-piece collar (84,184) with a plurality of arched collar segments (102) and a plurality of relief channels (104) formed between the adjacent plurality of arched collar segments (102).
  8. 8. Roller assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential ramp surface (60,62) has a conical shape.
  9. 9. Roller assembly, according to claim 8, characterized in that the inner peripheral wedge surface (198) has a contour that varies circumferentially around the collar axis and longitudinally along the collar axis.
  10. 10. Roller assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface (96) forms a second circumferential wedge surface (199) enlarged in diameter in a direction from the outer surface (90).
  11. 11. Ground contact conveyor system characterized in that it comprises: a set of rollers (32, 132) including a roller (34, 134) defining a central roller axis and having a rod hole (42) extending between a first axial side (61) and a second axial side (65) of the roller, and a roller rod (52, 152); the roller rod (52, 152) including a first circumferential ramp surface (60), a second circumferential ramp surface (62) and an intermediate roller support section (58) extending between the first circumferential ramp surface (60) and the second circumferential ramp surface (62) and positioned within the rod hole (42); a roller retention system (83) including a first retention collar (84, 184) positioned around the roller rod (52, 152) on the first axial side. (61) and having a first inner peripheral wedge surface (198), and a second retaining collar (86,186) positioned around the roller rod (52,152) on the second axial side (65) and having a second inner peripheral wedge surface (199); the first retaining collar (84,184) is fixed to the first axial side (61) of the roller (34,134) and adjusted by friction on the first circumferential ramp surface (60) based on the contact fixed between the first inner peripheral wedge surface (198) and the first circumferential ramp surface (60); the second retaining collar (86,186) is fixed to the second axial side (65) of the roller (34,134) and fitted by friction onto the second circumferential ramp surface (62) based on the contact held between the second inner peripheral wedge surface (199) and the second circumferential ramp surface (62).
  12. 12. Conveyor system according to claim 11, characterized in that: the roller (34,134) includes a guide wheel (34,134) and is secured against axial displacement on the roller rod (52,152) between the first retaining collar (86,186) and the second retaining collar (84,184), and fixed to rotate with the roller rod (52,152) based on the frictional engagement of the first retaining collar (84,184) and the second retaining collar (86,186).
  13. 13. Conveyor system according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises: a roller frame having a first window (48) formed therein at a location spaced axially outward from the first axial side (61) of the roller and a second window (50) formed therein at a location spaced axially outward from the second axial side (65) of the roller; a first bearing block (64) within the first window (48) and a second bearing block (66) within the second window (50) and the first bearing block (64) and the second bearing block (66) together supporting the roller rod (52, 152) and the roller (234) for rotation; a first end retainer (68) fixed to the roller rod (52) at a location axially out of the first bearing block (64) and a second end retainer fixed to the roller rod (52) at a location axially out of the second bearing block (66).
  14. 14. Conveyor belt system according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the first retaining collar (84, 184) or the second retaining collar (86, 186) has a relief channel (104) formed therein.
  15. 15. Conveyor belt system according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the first retaining collar (84,184) or the second retaining collar (86,186) includes a multi-piece collar (84,86,184,186) with a plurality of arched collar segments (102).
  16. 16. Conveyor system according to claim 11, characterized in that: the roller (34,134) includes an inner roller surface (40) that forms a rod hole (42), a first collar hole (44,144) that extends axially out of the rod hole (42) to the first axial side (61), and a second collar hole (46,146) that extends axially out of the rod hole (42) to the second axial side (65); and the first retaining collar (84,184) is inside the first collar hole (44,144) and the second retaining collar (86,186) is inside the second collar hole (46,146).
  17. 17. Conveyor system according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the first retaining collar (84,184) and the second retaining collar (86,186) includes an outer peripheral surface (96) that is cylindrical and in contact with the inner roller surface (40) within the respective first collar hole (44,144) and second collar hole (46,146).
  18. 18. Conveyor system according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the first retaining collar and the second retaining collar includes an outer peripheral wedge surface in contact with the inner surface of the roller within the respective first collar hole (44, 144) and second collar hole (46, 146).
  19. 19. Roller assembly, for a ground contact conveyor system, characterized in that it comprises: a roller (234) defining a central roller axis and including an outer band surface and an inner roller surface (240) forming a rod hole extending between a first axial side (261) of the roller (234) having a first lateral surface (263) and a second axial side (265) of the roller (234) having a second lateral surface (257); a roller rod (252) with a first rod end (254), a second rod end (256) and an intermediate roller support section (258) that is enlarged relative to the first rod end (254) and the second rod end (256) and positioned within the rod hole, and to the intermediate roller support section (258), together with the roller (234), forming a keyed roller-to-rod joint. (259) fixing the roller (234) against the roller rod (252) against relative rotation between them; a first retaining collar (284) arranged coaxially around the roller rod (252) and fixed to the first axial side (261) of the roller (234) in axial contact with the first side surface (263) and the intermediate roller support section (258), so that the roller (234) is fixed against axial displacement on the roller rod (252) in a first direction; a second retaining collar (286) arranged coaxially around the roller rod (252) and fixed to the second axial side (265) of the roller (234) in contact with the second lateral surface (257) and the intermediate roller support section (258), so that the roller (234) is fixed against axial displacement on the roller rod (252) in a second direction.
  20. 20. Roller assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that: the inner surface of the roller (240) includes a flat inner surface (285) and an arched inner surface (287) and the intermediate roller support section (258) includes a flat outer surface and an arched outer surface (283) facing, respectively, the flat inner surface and the arched inner surface; the first retaining collar (84,184) and the second retaining collar (286) are in contact with the first side surface and with the second side surface, respectively, at angularly aligned locations, circumferentially around the central axis of the roller (263) with the flat inner surface (285) and the flat outer surface (281) and in contact with the intermediate roller support section (258) at angularly aligned locations, circumferentially around the central axis of the roller, with the arched inner surface (287) and the arched outer surface (283).

Description

Field of Technique [0001] The present disclosure refers generally to a ground contact conveyor system and, more particularly, to a set of rollers in a ground contact conveyor system with roller retaining collars attached to a roller and limiting the axial displacement of the roller on a rod fixed to rotate with the roller. Fundamentals of the Invention [0002] A wide variety of machines utilize tracks as ground-contact propulsion elements. Such tracks typically include a plurality of rotating ground-contact elements, such as a sprocket, one or more guide wheels, carrier rollers, and bottom rollers. The track forms an endless cycle driven over the rotating elements during operation. Ground-contact track systems are typically operated in harsh off-road environments. In an effort to optimize the service life of track system components and avoid unplanned machine downtime, the components in such track systems are typically built to be quite robust. Contact between two or more components, often influenced by the presence and/or type of substrate materials, tends to cause component wear over time. Most machine applications require uphill, downhill, or traversing inclines, movement over hard and uneven substrate materials, pushing or pulling loads, and other activities that cause track system components to undergo a variety of load types during service. The management and attenuation of loads in ground contact conveyor systems has been the subject of much engineering effort over the years. [0003] In the case of a guide wheel in a track system, for example, certain known designs employ thrust washers, bearings, or plates that contact the guide wheel during rotation on a rod in order to react to lateral loads generally directed along or parallel to an axis of rotation of the guide wheel. The use of thrust washers or similar devices is generally successful in reacting to lateral loads that might otherwise excessively wear, damage, or cause performance degradation of the equipment. Thrust washers, plates, and similar devices, especially in direct contact with a guide wheel, can, however, require additional complexity and number of components in track systems, as well as generate maintenance and replacement challenges. A known ground-contact track system employing a group of guide wheels is set forth in U.S. Patent No. 9,550,536 to Johannsen et al. Although the strategy established in Johannsen undoubtedly has various applications, there is always room for improvement, development of alternative strategies, and application to different types of machines or off-road environments. Summary [0004] In one aspect, a roller assembly for a ground contact conveyor system includes a roller that defines a central roller axis and has an outer track surface, and an inner roller surface that forms a rod hole and a collar hole that extends axially outward from the rod hole. The roller assembly further includes a roller rod with a first rod end, a second rod end, an intermediate roller support section, and a circumferential ramp surface that runs between the first rod end and the intermediate roller support section and is enlarged in diameter in a direction from the intermediate roller support section. The roller assembly further includes a roller retaining collar with an inner surface facing the roller, an outer surface, and screw holes that extend between the inner surface facing the roller and the outer surface, for securing the roller retaining collar to the roller. The roller retaining collar further includes an outer peripheral surface dimensioned to fit the retaining collar within the collar hole and an inner peripheral wedge surface forming a rod hole for positioning the roller retaining collar over the roller rod. The rod hole is enlarged in diameter in a direction from the inner surface facing the roller and dimensioned to fit by friction to the roller retaining collar over the circumferential ramp surface, so that the axial displacement of the roller on the roller rod is limited. [0005] In another aspect, a ground contact track system includes a set of rollers with a roller defining a central roller axis and with a rod bore extending between a first axial side and a second axial side of the roller and a roller rod. The roller rod includes a first circumferential ramp surface, a second circumferential ramp surface, and an intermediate roller support section extending between the first circumferential ramp surface and the second circumferential ramp surface and positioned within the rod bore. The track system further includes a roller retention system comprising a first retaining collar positioned around the roller rod on the first axial side and with a first inner peripheral wedge surface, and a second retaining collar positioned on the roller rod on the second axial side and with a second inner peripheral wedge surface. The first retaining collar is fixed to the first axial side of the roller and adjusted by friction on the