U.S. patent application number 12/191348 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for trolley assembly with non-rotatable axle.
This patent application is currently assigned to FROST, INC.. Invention is credited to Charles C. Frost, Jonathan M. Rathbun, Wayne E. Schmidt.
Application Number | 20090044719 12/191348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40351474 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090044719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt; Wayne E. ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
TROLLEY ASSEMBLY WITH NON-ROTATABLE AXLE
Abstract
A trolley assembly for a conveyor includes a wheel assembly and
a trolley arm. The wheel assembly includes a wheel that is
rotatably mounted to an axle, with the axle extending along an axis
of rotation of the wheel and comprising a mounting portion that is
non-rotatably mounted to or at least partially received in the
trolley arm. The mounting portion of the axle may be inserted into
a passageway and at least partially expanded to limit retraction of
the axle from the passageway, or a fastener or other retaining
means may secure the axle at least partially within a passageway of
the trolley arm. The mounting portion of the axle may comprise a
non-cylindrical mounting portion that is received in a
non-cylindrical-shaped passageway of the trolley arm.
Inventors: |
Schmidt; Wayne E.; (Spring
Lake, MI) ; Rathbun; Jonathan M.; (Belmont, MI)
; Frost; Charles C.; (Ada, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN DYKE, GARDNER, LINN & BURKHART, LLP
SUITE 207, 2851 CHARLEVOIX DRIVE, S.E.
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49546
US
|
Assignee: |
FROST, INC.
Grand Rapids
MI
|
Family ID: |
40351474 |
Appl. No.: |
12/191348 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60955745 |
Aug 14, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 9/002 20130101;
B65G 39/09 20130101; B61B 3/00 20130101; F16C 13/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/148 |
International
Class: |
B61B 3/00 20060101
B61B003/00 |
Claims
1. A trolley assembly for a conveyor, said trolley assembly
comprising: a wheel assembly, said wheel assembly including a wheel
that is rotatably mounted to an axle, said axle extending along an
axis of rotation of said wheel and comprising a mounting portion
having a non-cylindrical outer surface; and a trolley arm, said
trolley arm having a non-cylindrical-shaped passageway at least
partially therethrough, said passageway non-rotatably receiving
said mounting portion of said axle at least partially therein,
wherein said axle is non-rotatably mounted to said trolley arm,
while said wheel is rotatable about said axle.
2. The trolley assembly of claim 1, wherein said non-cylindrical
outer surface of said mounting portion of said axle is
substantially similar in shape to said non-cylindrical-shaped
passageway.
3. The trolley assembly of claim 1, wherein said
non-cylindrical-shaped outer surface of said mounting portion of
said axle comprises a hexagonal-shaped axle and said passageway
comprises a hexagonal-shaped passageway.
4. The trolley assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fastener
for securing said mounting portion of said axle at least partially
in said passageway to mount said wheel assembly to said trolley
arm.
5. The trolley assembly of claim 4, wherein said trolley arm has a
first surface at a first end of said passageway that opposes said
wheel and a second surface at a second end of said passageway that
is opposite said first surface, said fastener having a head portion
and a fastening portion, said fastening portion engaging said axle
and said head portion being at said second surface of said trolley
arm when said fastener secures said axle at least partially in said
passageway.
6. The trolley assembly of claim 5, wherein said axle includes a
threaded fastener receptacle, said fastener comprising a threaded
fastener and being threadedly received within said threaded
fastener receptacle to secure said axle at least partially in said
passageway.
7. The trolley assembly of claim 6, wherein said head portion of
said fastener engages a washer at said second surface when said
fastener is tightened in said threaded fastener receptacle of said
axle.
8. The trolley assembly of claim 4, wherein said fastener includes
a lubrication port and said axle includes a lubrication passageway,
said lubrication port and said lubrication passageway being
configured to allow lubricant to flow through said fastener and to
bearings of said wheel assembly.
9. The trolley assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting portion
of said axle includes a lubrication port and said axle includes a
lubrication passageway, said lubrication port and said lubrication
passageway being configured to allow lubricant to flow through said
axle and to bearings of said wheel assembly.
10. The trolley assembly of claim 1, wherein said axle is secured
within said passageway via a portion of said axle being radially
expanded to limit longitudinal movement of said axle relative to
said trolley arm.
11. The trolley assembly of claim 10, wherein said portion of said
axle is radially expanded to substantially correspond to a radially
expanded portion of said passageway of said trolley arm.
12. The trolley assembly of claim 11, wherein said portion of said
axle that is radially expanded comprises an outer end region of
said mounting portion of said axle that is opposite from said
wheel.
13. The trolley assembly of claim 1, wherein said axle further
comprises a hub portion, said wheel being rotatably mounted to said
hub portion of said axle and rotatable thereabout via at least one
bearing element.
14. The trolley assembly of claim 13, wherein said hub portion
comprises a generally cylindrical hub portion.
15. A trolley assembly for a conveyor, said trolley assembly
comprising: a wheel assembly, said wheel assembly including at
least one wheel that is rotatably mounted to a hub portion, said
hub portion extending along an axis of rotation of said wheel and
comprising a non-cylindrical passageway at least partially
therethrough; a trolley arm; and an axle at said trolley arm, said
axle comprising a mounting portion having a non-cylindrical outer
surface, wherein said passageway of said hub portion non-rotatably
receives said mounting portion of said axle at least partially
therein, and wherein said hub portion is non-rotatably mounted to
said axle, while said wheel is rotatable about said axle and said
hub portion.
16. The trolley assembly of claim 15, wherein said
non-cylindrical-shaped outer surface of said axle comprises a
hexagonal flange and said passageway comprises a hexagonal-shaped
passageway.
17. The trolley assembly of claim 15, further comprising: a bearing
assembly at said wheel assembly, said bearing assembly having at
least one inner race comprising a passageway therethrough; at least
one recess in an inner surface of said inner race at said
passageway; and wherein said hub portion defines an outer surface,
said outer surface having at least one ridge corresponding to said
at least one recess, said passageway of said inner race receiving
said hub portion and said at least one recess receiving said at
least one ridge, whereby said inner race non-rotatably receives
said hub portion.
18. The trolley assembly of claim 17, wherein said hub portion is
swaged to retain said at least one inner race at said hub
portion.
19. The trolley assembly of claim 17, wherein said at least one
inner race comprises an inner surface defining said passageway, and
wherein at lease one of said outer surface of said hub portion and
said inner surface of said inner race comprises a knurled
surface.
20. The trolley assembly of claim 15 further comprising: an axle
mount, said axle mount defining an outer surface and comprising a
longitudinal passageway therethrough, said axle mount defining an
inner surface at said longitudinal passageway, said axle mount
having a radial passageway extending from said outer surface to
said inner surface; a radial passageway in said axle; a pin; and
wherein said longitudinal passageway of said axle mount receives
said axle, and wherein said radial passageway of said axle mount is
aligned with said radial passageway in said axle when said axle is
received in said axle mount, and wherein said pin is inserted
through said radial passageway of said axle mount and into said
radial passageway of said axle such that a portion of said pin
remains in said radial passageway of said axle mount, whereby said
pin substantially prevents relative rotation of said axle in said
axle mount.
21. The trolley assembly of claim 15, wherein said wheel assembly
comprises two wheels, each of said wheels being rotatably mounted
to a hub portion, each of said hub portions extending along an axis
of rotation of said wheels and comprising a non-cylindrical
passageway at least partially therethrough; and wherein said axle
comprises two mounting portions, each of said mounting portions
having a non-cylindrical outer surface, wherein said passageways of
said hub portions non-rotatably receive said mounting portions of
said axle at least partially therein, while each of said wheels is
rotatable about said axle and a respective one of said hub
portions.
22. The trolley assembly of claim 15, wherein said axle is swaged
to retain said at least one wheel assembly at said axle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/955,745, filed Aug. 14, 2007,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to trolley
assemblies for conveyors of material handling systems and, more
particularly, to a trolley assembly with a wheel rotatably mounted
to a trolley arm or bracket for travel along an I-beam or the like
of the material handling system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conveyor trolleys typically have bearings between the wheel
and the hub of each trolley wheel assembly to allow for smooth,
generally low friction rolling of the wheel relative to the hub and
trolley arm. Typically, the trolley wheels are mounted to the
trolley arm via trolley brackets. Such brackets are typically
manufactured with wheels that are permanently swaged in place at
the bracket. Thus, the wheels are not removable from the brackets
after manufacture. Such a permanent mounting arrangement makes it
difficult if not impossible to service or replace a wheel on a
trolley bracket.
[0004] Although it is known to bolt on a wheel to a trolley arm
(such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,469, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), the bolt extends
through the bearing assembly and through the trolley arm, where it
is retained via a female fastener or nut at the outer side of the
trolley arm from the wheel. Such a mounting arrangement leads to
disassembly of the bearing assembly when the bolt is removed to
remove the wheel from the trolley arm.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a trolley assembly
which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a trolley assembly that has a
wheel removably mounted or attached to a trolley arm or bracket.
The arm includes a non-circular-shaped passageway, and the wheel
includes a correspondingly shaped or formed axle so that the wheel
axle is readily inserted into and non-rotatably received in the
non-circular passageway of the arm. The axle of the wheel may
include internal threads so that a male fastener or bolt may be
threadedly received in the axle to retain the axle within the
non-circular passageway and thus to retain the axle and the wheel
at the trolley arm. Optionally, the axle may be adapted or formed,
such as via expansion of a portion of the axle, so as to limit
retraction of the axle from the passageway of the trolley arm.
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a trolley
assembly for a conveyor comprises a wheel assembly and a trolley
arm. The wheel assembly includes a wheel that is rotatably mounted
to an axle, such as via a bearing assembly or element or device,
with the axle extending along an axis of rotation of the wheel and
comprising a non-cylindrical outer surface. The trolley arm has a
non-cylindrical-shaped passageway therethrough, and preferably is
shaped so that the outer surface of the axle substantially
corresponds to and substantially mates with the inner surface of
the passageway of the trolley arm when the axle is inserted into
the passageway of the trolley arm. The passageway non-rotatably
receives the axle at least partially therein.
[0008] Optionally, for example, the non-cylindrical-shaped outer
surface of the axle may comprise a hexagonal surface of the axle
and the passageway may also comprise a hexagonal-shaped passageway.
Other non-cylindrical or non-circular shapes, such as regular
polygonal shapes, such as a rectangular shape or the like, or such
as an irregular shape, such as a shape having a radial projection
or key or ridge that fits in and generally corresponds to a slot or
key hole in the passageway, may be utilized for the axle and
passageway to non-rotatably receive the axle within the passageway,
while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0009] In one form, a fastener may secure the axle at least
partially in the passageway to mount the wheel assembly to the
trolley arm. The trolley arm has a first or inner surface at a
first or inner end of the passageway that opposes the wheel and a
second or outer surface at a second or outer end of the passageway
that is opposite the first surface. The fastener has a head portion
and a fastening portion (such as a threaded portion), whereby the
fastening portion engages the axle (such as via threaded engagement
in a threaded passageway or receptacle of the axle), while the head
portion is at the second surface of the trolley arm when the
fastener secures the axle at least partially in the passageway. A
washer may be provided at the outer or second surface of the
trolley arm so that the head portion of the fastener engages the
washer at the second surface when the fastener is tightened in the
threaded fastener receptacle of the axle.
[0010] In another form, the axle may be inserted at least partially
into the passageway of the trolley arm and a portion (such as an
outer end portion) of the axle may be radially expanded or flared
or swaged to limit or substantially preclude retraction of the axle
from the passageway of the trolley arm. For example, an outer end
portion of the axle may be radially expanded to generally
correspond to a radially expanded outer portion of the passageway,
such that the radially expanded portion of the axle is
substantially precluded from being moved longitudinally along the
passageway toward the wheel.
[0011] Optionally, the axle may include a lubrication port and a
lubrication passageway. The lubrication port and the lubrication
passageway are configured to allow lubricant to flow through the
axle and to bearings or bearing elements (which facilitate rotation
of the wheel about the axle) of the wheel assembly. Thus, the
bearing elements may be readily lubricated to ease or enhance
rotation of the wheel about the axle.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
trolley assembly for a conveyor includes a wheel assembly and a
trolley arm. The wheel assembly includes a wheel that is rotatably
mounted to a hub or hub portion that extends along an axis of
rotation of the wheel and includes a non-cylindrical passageway.
The hub portion is coupled to an axle at the trolley arm. The axle
comprises a mounting portion with a non-cylindrical outer surface
for engaging the non-cylindrical passageway so that the hub portion
is non-rotatably mounted to the axle while the wheel remains
rotatable about the axle and the hub portion.
[0013] Therefore, the present invention provides a trolley assembly
that has a removable wheel assembly, where the wheel assembly may
be readily attached to and/or removed from the trolley arm via a
single fastener. The wheel assembly includes an axle that is
non-rotatably secured at the trolley arm, whereby the wheel rotates
about the axle via one or more bearing elements (such as ball
bearings or journal bearings or the like). The wheel assembly may
be secured to the trolley arm, and with the axle non-rotatably
secured to the trolley arm, such as via a threaded fastener that is
at least partially received in a threaded fastener receptacle of
the axle, or such as via a swaged axle to trolley construction or
via other mounting means that limit or substantially preclude
longitudinal movement of the axle along the passageway of the
trolley. Thus, the wheel assembly is rotatably mounted to the
trolley arm via a non-rotatable mounting or attachment of the axle
portion to the trolley arm. The non-circular axle and passageway
limits or substantially precludes relative rotation of the axle
portion within the trolley arm, even if the bearing were to lock
up. Optionally, removal and/or replacement of the wheel assembly
(such as may be necessitated by worn wheels or worn bearings or
bearing elements) may be facilitated via the threaded fastener
attachment means without requiring removal and replacement of the
entire trolley arm or bracket.
[0014] These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features
of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the
following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trolley assembly in
accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the trolley assembly of FIG.
1, as assembled and movable along a beam of a conveyor
assembly;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of another trolley assembly in
accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the trolley assembly of FIG.
3;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partially-exploded perspective view of a portion
of a trolley assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a wheel assembly useful
with the trolley assembly of FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 6B is a side elevation of the wheel assembly of FIG.
6A;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another trolley assembly of
the present invention, having a pair of double-wheel
assemblies;
[0023] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of portions of a
double wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the double wheel assembly of
FIG. 8;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the section
designated X of FIG. 9;
[0026] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of another double wheel assembly
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another trolley assembly in
accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative
embodiments depicted therein, a trolley assembly 10 includes a
wheel assembly 12, a trolley arm or bracket 14, and a fastener or
attachment or securing element 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Wheel assembly
12 includes a wheel 18, which is rotatably mounted to an axle 20,
which extends along an axis of rotation of wheel 18. Trolley arm 14
includes a passageway 15 therethrough for at least partially
non-rotatably receiving axle 20 therein. The axle and passageway
are generally correspondingly shaped in a non-circular or
non-cylindrical manner to limit relative rotation therebetween.
Fastener 16 secures or retains axle 20 in passageway 15 to mount
wheel assembly 12 to trolley arm 14, as discussed below. The axle
20 is thus secured to the trolley arm 14, whereby wheel 18 rotates
about axle 20 as the trolley assembly 10 and trolley arm 14 travel
along an I-beam track or rail 22 (FIG. 2) or the like of a trolley
conveyor system of a material handling system. The non-circular
axle and passageway construction limits or substantially precludes
relative rotation of the axle portion within the trolley arm, even
if the bearing were to lock up.
[0029] Wheel 18 is rotatably mounted to axle 20 via a bearing
assembly or device 24, such as a bearing device comprising bearings
or bearing elements (not shown). Such bearings or bearing elements
may comprise any suitable element, such as ball bearings or journal
bearings or other known bearings, or such as journal bearings of
the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,469, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, without affecting
the scope of the present invention. Bearing device 24 may have an
inner portion and an outer portion, which is rotatable about the
inner portion via the bearing elements (such as ball bearings
between an inner race and an outer race or the like). The inner
portion may be fixedly secured to or integral with the axle 20,
while the outer portion is fixedly secured to or integral with the
wheel 18, such that the wheel 18 and outer portion are rotatable
about the inner portion and axle 20 as the trolley assembly travels
along the beam or track or rail 22. Optionally, the axle may be
unitarily formed or integral with the inner portion of the bearing
device and/or the wheel may be unitarily formed or integral with
the outer portion of the bearing device, whereby the wheel rotates
about the axle via sliding engagement between the wheel and axle or
via sliding or rolling engagement with one or more bearing elements
or the like at the mating or engaging surfaces of the wheel and/or
axle. The axle 20 thus may be integral with or fixedly secured to
the inner portion or race or hub of the bearing device and may
extend from the bearing device and along the axis of rotation of
the wheel for attachment to the trolley arm.
[0030] The wheel assembly 12 includes an inner stop surface 26,
such as generally at the junction of the axle 20 and the bearing
device 24 to limit insertion of axle 20 into passageway 15 of
trolley arm 14, as discussed below. In the illustrated embodiment,
stop surface 26 is at an inner surface of bearing device 24, such
as at an inner surface of the inner portion or hub of the bearing
device, and axle 20 extends therefrom to provide a non-rotatable
mounting arrangement of the axle 20 and a portion of the bearing
device 24, whereby wheel 18 and the outer portion of the bearing
device rotate about the axle 20 via the bearing element or elements
of the bearing device 24.
[0031] Axle 20 thus extends along the axis of rotation of wheel 18,
with wheel 18 being rotatable relative to the axle via the bearing
device or element or elements 24. Axle 20 has a non-circular cross
section or is a non-cylindrical shape so that axle 20 may be
non-rotatably received in the non-circular or non-cylindrical
passageway 15. In the illustrated embodiment, axle 20 is
hexagonal-shaped, but other shapes, such as a rectangular shape or
any other non-circular shape may be utilized for the shape or
configuration of the outer surface or structure of the axle,
without affecting the scope of the present invention. For example,
the axle and passageway may have a non-cylindrical or non-circular
shape as will be described below, such as a regular polygonal
shape, such as a rectangular shape or hexagonal shape or the like,
or may have an irregular shape, such as a shape having a radial
projection or key or ridge that fits in and generally corresponds
to a slot or key hole in the passageway, in order to non-rotatably
position the axle within the passageway, while remaining within the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0032] Axle 20 includes an internally threaded passageway 20a at
least partially therealong. Threaded passageway 20a is open at an
outer end of the axle 20 (at the distal end from the bearing device
24) so as to be adapted to receive a threaded fastener 16 therein.
A lubrication passageway 20b may extend along axle 20, such as from
an inner end of the threaded passageway 20a to the bearing device
24. Lubrication passageway 20b allows for lubricant (such as oil or
grease or the like) to flow through axle 20 and to the bearing
elements of the bearing device 24, such as lubricant that is
applied or injected or pumped into and through a lubrication
passageway 16a of fastener 16 when fastener 16 is received in
threaded passageway 20a of axle 20 to secure the wheel assembly 12
to the trolley arm 14, as discussed below.
[0033] Trolley arm 14 includes a wheel mounting portion 14a,
through which axle receiving passageway 15 is formed, and a drive
chain connecting portion 14b, which is connectable to a drive chain
or conveyor chain for moving the trolley along the track 22, as is
known in the art. Drive chain connecting portion 14b is a curved
arm element that extends downward from wheel mounting portion 14a
and includes a notch 14c for connecting to a link of a chain or the
like. Drive chain connecting portion 14b may be configured to
attach to a load bar or the like, such as is known in the art and
such as by utilizing known aspects or by utilizing aspects of the
trolley attachment described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,527, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Passageway
15 is formed through wheel mounting portion 14a and is a
non-circular or non-cylindrical passageway (and thus is configured
to have a non-cylindrical inner surface) so as to non-rotatably
receive non-circular axle 20 therein. In the illustrated
embodiment, passageway 15 is hexagonal-shaped, but other shapes,
such as a rectangular shape or any other non-circular shape may be
utilized, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, fastener 16 comprises a
threaded male fastener, such as a bolt or the like. Fastener 16
thus has a threaded portion 16b, with a head portion 16c at one end
of the threaded portion 16b. Desirably, fastener 16 includes
lubrication passageway 16a formed through head portion 16c and
through threaded portion 16b to provide a continuous passageway
through the length of fastener 16, from the outer surface of head
portion 16c to the opposite end of threaded portion 16b, such as
can be seen in FIG. 2. Preferably, fastener 16 includes a fitting
or nipple 28 at the outer end of passageway 16a at head portion
16c, so that lubricant or grease or the like may be readily fed or
pumped or injected into passageway 16a and thus into and through
passageway 20b of axle 20 and into bearing device 24, so as to ease
lubrication of the bearing elements of the wheel assembly 12. In
the illustrated embodiment, fitting 28 is threaded into a threaded
portion of the lubrication passageway, but other types of fittings
may be otherwise secured or attached at the end of the lubrication
passageway at the head portion 16c of the fastener 16, without
affecting the scope of the present invention.
[0035] The trolley assembly 10 thus may be readily assembled via
insertion of the axle into the passageway of the trolley arm and
tightening of a single fastener. The wheel assembly 12, which
includes the wheel 18, bearing device 24 and axle 20, may be
readily connected to or attached to the trolley arm 14 via
insertion of axle 20 into passageway 15 of arm 14. Axle 20 (which
preferably substantially corresponds to or mates with the inner
surface of the passageway) may be inserted substantially into and
along passageway 15 until stop surface 26 contacts an inner or
opposed surface 15a of the wheel mounting portion 14a of trolley
arm 14, thereby limiting further insertion of axle 20 into
passageway 15. Fastener 16 is then threaded into threaded
passageway 20a to secure the wheel assembly to the trolley arm.
Optionally, and preferably, a washer 30 is provided at fastener 20
and at the outer surface 15b of wheel mounting portion 14a of
trolley arm 14. Thus, as fastener 16 is tightened, fastener 16
pulls axle 20 into passageway 15 and head portion 16c engages
washer 30, which in turn engages the outer surface of wheel
mounting portion 14a of trolley arm 14, such that further
tightening of fastener 16 functions to substantially clamp the
wheel assembly to the trolley arm. Because the axle extends from
the end of the bearing device, the clamping of the wheel assembly
to the trolley via tightening of the fastener is accomplished
without clamping the bearing elements of the bearing device, such
that the wheel is substantially freely rotatable about the
axle.
[0036] When assembled in this manner, the axle 20 of wheel assembly
12 is non-rotatably received in axle passageway 15 of trolley arm
14 via the non-circular passageway or bore and the corresponding
mating axle, while the threaded fastener functions to clamp the
axle and wheel assembly to the trolley arm. If lubrication is
desired or needed for maintenance of the bearing device or
elements, lubricant may be dispensed through the fitting 28 at head
portion 16c of fastener 16 to provide lubrication to the bearing
elements via the lubrication passageways 16a and 20b of fastener 16
and axle 20, respectively. If the bearing elements and/or the wheel
wears and needs replacement, the fastener 16 may be removed from
axle 20 so that axle 20 may be withdrawn from passageway 15 to
remove the wheel assembly 12 from the trolley arm 14. A new wheel
assembly may then be mounted to or fastened to the trolley arm to
repair or maintain the trolley assembly.
[0037] Therefore, the present invention provides a trolley assembly
for a conveyor or material handling system that has a trolley wheel
and bearing assembly that is removably mounted to the trolley arm.
The axle of the wheel assembly may be non-rotatably received within
a passageway through the trolley arm or bracket and may be secured
therein, such as via a threaded fastener or via other fastener
elements or fastening means. The wheel and/or bearing device or
elements thus may be readily mounted to a trolley arm and may be
readily removed from a trolley arm to substantially ease
maintenance or repair/replacement of the wheel and/or bearing
elements during use of the trolley assembly. The non-circular axle
and passageway construction and engagement limits or substantially
precludes relative rotation of the axle portion within the trolley
arm, even if the bearing were to lock up.
[0038] Optionally, other means of connecting the wheel assembly to
a trolley arm may be implemented, without affecting the scope of
the present invention. Optionally, the wheel assembly may have a
swaged wheel-to-trolley construction, where the hub portion of the
wheel assembly is non-removably secured to the trolley arm via a
flared portion of the hub axle engaging a correspondingly formed
region of the trolley arm. For example, a non-circular axle of a
wheel assembly may be pressed or inserted into a correspondingly
non-circular passageway of the trolley arm and the end of the axle
may be flared outwardly to limit or substantially preclude
retraction of the axle from the trolley arm, in order to
non-rotatably secure the wheel assembly to the trolley arm.
[0039] For example, and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a trolley
assembly 110 includes a wheel assembly 112 and a trolley arm or
bracket 114, where the wheel assembly 112 includes an axle 120 for
mounting the wheel to the trolley arm (FIGS. 1 and 2). Axle 120
includes a hub portion 120a, which has the wheel 118 and bearing
assembly 124 rotatably mounted thereto, and a shaft portion or
mounting portion 120b, which is non-rotatably received in a
passageway 115 through trolley arm 114. Wheel 118 is rotatably
mounted to hub portion 120a of axle 120, which extends along an
axis of rotation of wheel 118, such as via bearing assembly
124.
[0040] Passageway 115 of trolley arm 114 is configured to at least
partially non-rotatably receive mounting portion 120b of axle 120
therein, such as in a similar manner as described above. In the
illustrated embodiment, passageway 115 is a pentagonal-shaped
passageway and mounting portion 120b of axle 120 is a
pentagonal-shaped shaft or axle portion so that axle is
non-rotatably received within passageway 115, thereby limiting or
substantially precluding any relative rotation between axle 120 and
trolley arm 114, even if the bearing were to lock up. The axle 120
is thus non-rotatably secured to the trolley arm 114, whereby wheel
118 rotates about axle 120 as the trolley assembly 110 and trolley
arm 114 travel along an I-beam track or rail or the like of a
trolley conveyor system of a material handling system.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the outer end 120c of
mounting portion 120b is flared (not shown in FIG. 4) radially
outwardly so as to limit or substantially preclude retraction of
the axle portion from the passageway of trolley arm 114. As can be
seen in FIG. 4, an outer region 115a of passageway 115 of trolley
arm 114 is flared radially outwardly, while the outer end or region
120c of mounting portion 120b of axle 120 may be partially
hollowed. The hollowed end region 120c of mounting portion 120b
allows a tool to be inserted at least partially into the hollowed
end region 120c of mounting portion 120b and radially expand the
outer hollowed end region 120c to substantially correspond to the
flared outer region 115a of passageway 115. Thus, after the
mounting portion 120b of axle 120 is inserted into passageway 115
of trolley arm 114, the outer hollowed end region 120c may be
flared radially outwardly to limit or substantially preclude
retraction of the mounting portion and axle from the trolley arm.
The axle thus is non-rotatably and non-removably secured to the
trolley arm, while the wheel is rotatable about the hub portion
120a of the secured axle 120.
[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, wheel 118 is rotatably
mounted to hub portion 120a of axle 120 via bearing assembly or
device 124, such as a bearing device comprising bearings or bearing
elements 124a that are movably received at inner and outer bearing
races or the like. Such bearings or bearing elements may comprise
any suitable element, such as ball bearings or journal bearings or
other known bearings, or such as journal bearings of the types
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,469, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety, without affecting the scope of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, bearing assembly 124 may
have an inner race or portion 124b and an outer race or portion
124c, which is rotatable about the inner portion via the bearing
elements (such as ball bearings 124a between an inner race and an
outer race or the like). The inner portion may be fixedly secured
to or integral with the hub portion 120a of axle 120, while the
outer portion is fixedly secured to or integral with the wheel 118,
such that the wheel 118 and outer portion are rotatable about the
hub portion 120a and axle 120 as the trolley assembly travels along
the beam or track or rail. Optionally, the axle may be unitarily
formed or integral with the inner portion of the bearing device
and/or the wheel may be unitarily formed or integral with the outer
portion of the bearing device, whereby the wheel rotates about the
axle via sliding engagement between the wheel and axle or via
sliding or rolling engagement with one or more bearing elements or
the like at the mating or engaging surfaces of the wheel and/or
axle (such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,469, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The axle 120
thus may be integral with or fixedly secured to the inner portion
or race or hub of the bearing device and may extend from the
bearing device and along the axis of rotation of the wheel for
attachment to the trolley arm.
[0043] The wheel assembly 112 includes shields 126a, 126b at
opposite sides of the wheel assembly to substantially seal the
bearing assembly within the wheel assembly. In the illustrated
embodiment, a contact seal 127a (such as a rubber or urethane seal
of the like) is attached to the wheel and rotates with the wheel,
while the hub has a seal seat 127b that does not rotate with the
wheel. The contact seal 127a and seal seat 127b thus slidingly mate
together to substantially seal the wheel assembly to limit and
substantially preclude water or dirt or debris or contaminant
intrusion into the bearing assembly during operation of the
material handling system.
[0044] Axle 120 thus extends along the axis of rotation of wheel
118, with wheel 118 being rotatable relative to the axle via the
bearing device 124. Mounting portion 120b of axle 120 has a
non-circular cross section or is a non-cylindrical shape so that
axle 120 may be non-rotatably received in the correspondingly
non-circular or non-cylindrical passageway 115. In the illustrated
embodiment, mounting portion 120b of axle 120 is pentagonal-shaped,
but other shapes, such as a rectangular shape or any other
non-circular shape may be utilized for the shape or configuration
of the outer surface or structure of the axle, without affecting
the scope of the present invention.
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, a lubrication passageway 120d
extends along axle 120, such as from an inner end of the hub
portion 120a to the outer end 120c of the mounting portion 120b.
Lubrication passageway 120d allows for lubricant (such as oil or
grease or the like) to flow through axle 120 and to the bearing
elements of the bearing device 124, such as lubricant that is
applied or injected or pumped into and through the lubrication
passageway 120d of axle 120. Preferably, mounting portion 120b of
axle 120 includes a fitting or nipple 128 at the outer end of
passageway 120d, so that lubricant or grease or the like may be
readily fed or pumped or injected into passageway 120d and thus
into and through axle 120 and into bearing device 124, so as to
ease lubrication of the bearing elements of the wheel assembly 112.
In the illustrated embodiment, fitting 128 is threaded into a
threaded portion of the lubrication passageway, but other types of
fittings may be otherwise secured or attached at the end of the
lubrication passageway of the axle, without affecting the scope of
the present invention.
[0046] The wheel assembly 112, which includes the wheel 118,
bearing device 124 and axle 120, thus may be connected or attached
to the trolley arm 114 via insertion of the mounting portion 120b
of axle 120 into the passageway 115 of the trolley arm 114, and
expansion of end portion 120c of axle 120 after insertion. When
assembled in this manner, the axle 120 of wheel assembly 112 is
non-rotatably received in axle passageway 115 of trolley arm 114
via the non-circular passageway or bore and the corresponding
mating axle. If lubrication is desired or needed for maintenance of
the bearing device or elements, lubricant may be dispensed through
the fitting 128 to provide lubrication to the bearing elements via
the lubrication passageway 120d of axle 120.
[0047] Therefore, the present invention provides a trolley assembly
for a conveyor or material handling system that has a trolley wheel
and bearing assembly that is removably mounted to the trolley arm.
The axle of the wheel assembly may be non-rotatably received within
a passageway through the trolley arm or bracket and may be secured
therein, such as via a threaded fastener or via other fastener
elements or fastening means, such as via a swaged axle-to-trolley
construction or the like. The non-circular axle and passageway
construction and engagement limits or substantially precludes
relative rotation of the axle portion within the trolley arm, even
if the bearing were to lock up.
[0048] Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 5 and 12, a trolley
assembly 210 includes one or more wheel assemblies 212 mounted at a
trolley arm or arms or bracket 214. The trolley assembly 210
includes an axle 220 (FIG. 5) for mounting each wheel assembly 212
to the trolley arm 214. Axle 220 includes a non-circular or
non-cylindrical flange 215 at a base of axle 220 and generally at
arm 214. Wheel assembly includes a hub portion 221 that receives
axle 220 therein when wheel assembly 212 is mounted on arm 214. In
the illustrated embodiment, hub portion 221 includes a generally
cylindrical portion 221a, with a non-circular or non-cylindrical
female anti-rotation feature 221b at its end that opposes arm 214.
The anti-rotation feature 221b is formed to generally correspond
with the non-circular flange 215 of axle 220 and to have dimensions
complimentary to or corresponding with the dimensions of
non-cylindrical flange 215. Thus, flange 215 is non-rotatably
received into anti-rotation feature 221b when hub portion 221
receives axle 220 and is installed at axle 220.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, hub portion 221 receives the other
components of wheel assembly 212, which includes a pair of inner
races or portions 224b that receive a set of ball bearings 224a
surrounded by an outer race or portion 218. Wheel assembly 212 is
thereby rotatably mounted to hub portion 221, which is
non-rotatably mounted to axle 220. When wheel assembly 212 is
assembled with hub portion 221, and hub portion 221 is fully seated
on axle 220 such that anti-rotation feature 221b receives
non-cylindrical flange 215, an outer end 220a of axle 220 may be
flared or swaged to limit or substantially preclude removal of the
hub portion 221 (and thus wheel assembly 212) from axle 220.
[0050] Optionally, and for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the
non-cylindrical flange 215 may comprise a hexagonal surface of the
axle 220 and the non-cylindrical female anti-rotation feature 221b
may also comprise a hexagonal shape. Other non-cylindrical or
non-circular shapes, such as regular polygonal shapes, such as a
rectangular shape or the like, may be utilized for the
non-cylindrical flange and non-cylindrical female anti-rotation
feature to non-rotatably receive the hub portion of the wheel
assembly, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, trolley arms 214 include a
wheel mounting portion 214a, to which axles 220 and wheel
assemblies 212 are attached, and a drive chain connecting portion
214b, which is connectable to a drive chain or conveyor chain for
moving the trolley along a track, as is known in the art. Drive
chain connecting portion 214b is a curved arm element that extends
downward from wheel mounting portion 214a and includes a passageway
or hole 214c (FIG. 5) for receiving a fastener therethrough for
retaining the arms 214 and a trolley engaging member 236 together
(FIG. 12). Trolley arms 214 may be clamped or fastened together to
entrap or lock trolley-engaging member 236 therebetween, such as by
placing threaded fasteners (not shown) through holes 214c and
tightening threaded nuts thereon.
[0052] Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a wheel
assembly 212' may comprise a hub portion 221' with an inner surface
221a' defining one or more recesses or channels 221b' that are
keyed or positioned to match corresponding ridges or radial
projections on an outer surface of an axle on a trolley arm or
bracket (not shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B). Channels 221b' receive or
engage corresponding ridges on an axle when hub portion 221' is
positioned on the axle, so that hub portion 221' is non-rotatable
with respect to the axle. Optionally, channels may be located at
the axle and corresponding radial projections or ridges may be
located at the inner surface of the hub portion in order to prevent
rotation between the axle and hub portion. Thus, the wheel assembly
may be non-rotatably mounted to a shaft or axle of a trolley arm or
the like, such as in a similar manner as described above. The wheel
assembly and trolley arms or brackets may otherwise be similar to
the wheel assemblies and arms discussed above, such that a detailed
discussion of the wheel assemblies and arms need not be repeated
herein.
[0053] Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 7-10, a trolley
assembly 310 includes one or more double wheel assemblies 311 for
supporting the trolley assembly 310 along a track, a rail, or other
support surface. Double wheel assemblies 311 comprise a pair of
wheel assemblies 312 rotatably mounted at opposite ends 320a of an
axle 320. Wheel assemblies 312 may be installed at axle 320, and
the axle ends 320a flared or swaged, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and
10, to retain the wheel assemblies thereon. Optionally, the wheel
assemblies may include hub portions 321 with non-cylindrical female
anti-rotation recesses or features 314a for engaging
non-cylindrical flanges 315 on axle 320, such as in a similar
manner as described above. Flanges 315 and female anti-rotation
features 314a may be similar to hub portions 221 and features 221b,
with hub portions 321 being non-rotatable with respect to axle 320,
such that a detailed explanation of the assembly and function of
wheel assemblies 312 and axle 320 need not be repeated herein.
Optionally, axle 320, flanges 315, and/or hub portions 321 may be
knurled or roughened or grooved to further prevent relative
rotation between axle 320 and hub portions 321 when axle 320 is
flared or swaged.
[0054] Axle 320 is non-rotatably installed at a longitudinal
passageway in an axle mount 336, which may be mounted at trolley
assembly 310 (FIGS. 7 and 8). An anti-rotation or locking or shear
pin 338 may be partially inserted into a radial recess or hole 340
(FIG. 10) in axle 320 to prevent rotation of axle 320 in axle mount
336. A radial channel or slot 342 in axle mount 336 extends from an
outer surface of the axle mount to the longitudinal passageway and
is generally aligned with hole 340 to permit insertion and removal
of pin 338 from axle 320 via slot 342 (FIGS. 8-10). Because only a
portion of pin 338 is inserted into hole 340 of axle 320, another
portion of pin 338 protrudes into slot 342 of axle mount 336 when
pin 338 is installed, so that axle 320 is prevented from rotating
with respect to axle mount 336. The shear strength of pin 338 may
be selected to be relatively high so that, in the event that a
bearing assembly of wheel assembly 312 were to seize or lock, pin
338 may remain intact and prevent relative rotation between axle
320 and axle mount 336. Alternatively, the shear strength of pin
338 may be selected to be relatively low so that, in the event that
a bearing assembly of wheel assembly 312 were to seize or lock, pin
338 would fracture in shear and permit axle 320 to rotate with
respect to mounting member 314a until the fractured pin could be
replaced with a new pin.
[0055] Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 11, a wheel assembly,
such as a double wheel assembly 411, may comprise one or more inner
races 424b, each with an inner surface 430 defining a recess or
slot or key hole 432 that receives and generally corresponds to a
radial projection or key or ridge 434 on an outer surface of a hub
portion 421 on a trolley arm or bracket (not shown). In the
illustrated embodiment, each hub portion 421 includes a female
anti-rotation feature 421a that fits over an axle 420 and engages a
non-circular or non-cylindrical flange 415 at a base of axle 420 to
prevent relative rotation between hub portion 421 and axle 420,
such as in a similar manner as described above. Axle 420 is
received in an axle mount 436 and may be limited or substantially
precluded from rotating in the axle mount such as, for example,
with a shear pin or the like. Optionally, inner surfaces 430 of
inner races 424b may be grooved or knurled or roughened to provide
additional resistance to relative rotation between inner races 424b
and hub portion 421 when an outer end 421b of hub portion 421.
Outer end 421b is flared or swaged radially outward into contact
with inner surfaces 430 of inner races 424b. Alternatively, or
additionally, the axle 420 may be knurled or roughened to engage
smooth or roughened inner surfaces of the inner races during
flaring or swaging of the axle end.
[0056] Therefore, the present invention provides a trolley assembly
for a conveyor or material handling system that has a single or
double wheel assembly for which rotation is permitted only by the
wheel and/or bearing assembly. The wheel assemblies and at least a
portion of the bearing assemblies rotate about a rotationally-fixed
hub portion, which is non-rotatably coupled to an axle, which
itself is non-rotatably coupled to a trolley arm. The axle includes
a non-cylindrical flange, such as a hexagonal-shaped flange, that
engages a correspondingly-shaped non-cylindrical female
anti-rotation feature on the hub portion. When the hub portion is
installed on the axle, the female anti-rotation feature engages the
non-cylindrical flange to prevent rotation of the hub portion on
the axle. Optionally, the hub portion and axle may be
complimentarily non-cylindrical to prevent rotation. For example,
the hub portion may include one or more slots or grooves that
engage corresponding ridges or keys on the axle to prevent rotation
of the hub portion. The axle may be non-rotatably received in a
passageway through an axle mount, such as with a pin that is driven
radially through a slot in the axle mount and partially into a
radial hole in the axle. One or more inner races may be
non-rotatably mounted to the hub portion, such as with slots or
grooves that engage corresponding ridges or keys on an outer
surface of the hub portion, or with knurling or roughened surfaces
that are pressed or swaged together. The wheel and/or bearing
device or elements thus may be non-rotatably mounted to an axle at
the trolley arm, which limits or substantially precludes relative
rotation of the hub portion on the axle portion, inner races on the
hub portion, and the axle within the trolley arm, even if the
bearing were to seize or lock up.
[0057] Changes and modifications in the specifically described
embodiments may be carried out without departing from the
principles of the present invention, which is intended to be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted
according to the principles of patent law.
* * * * *