Abstract: An idler roll bearing assembly, made by a method, includes a shaft having a non-grooved outer surface. A shell extends about the shaft and is rotatable relative to the shaft. A rolling bearing is secured to the shaft. A roll head is secured to the rolling bearing. The roll head includes a portion preventing axial displacement of the rolling bearing. The shell is supported for the relative rotation by the roll head. A retaining sleeve is located on the shaft to prevent axial displacement of the rolling bearing. The sleeve has an interior surface in engagement with the non-grooved outer surface of the shaft. An inner diameter of the sleeve and an outer diameter of the shaft are sized such that the sleeve is secured onto the shaft by frictional interference fit and the sleeve is maintained at a position on the shaft by the frictional interference.

Abstract: A conveyor belt tensioning assembly having a winch drum and a pair of ac torque vector motors operatively connected to the winch drum. The motors are controlled by a motor controller which senses operational load on the winch drum and adjusts operating parameters of the motors to maintain belt tension within a desired range.

Abstract: An improved braked pulley assembly for an endless conveyor including a pulley body, a pair of gearboxes, and a pair of hydraulic braking members. The gearboxes have bodies affixed to relatively opposite ends of the pulley body and rotate with the pulley body. The hydraulic braking members are laterally adjacent the pulley body and include an output shaft which is mechanically coupled to an input shaft of an associated gearbox. Actuation of the braking members transfers braking forces to the gearbox inputs and to the pulley body to permit controlled slowing of the pulley body rotational speed and, hence, a conveyor mounted thereon. The braked pulley assembly is specially adapted for use in conveyor assemblies which have limited available area for braking mechanisms, and which will not accommodate conventional disc brake/caliper assemblies.

Abstract: A technique for the insertion and removal of a section of belting in and from an endless belt conveyor is disclosed. The technique includes method and apparatus including a frame which may comprise the frame of the main conveyor or the chassis of a wheeled vehicle. A driven belt pulley is rotatably mounted in the frame and is engageable by an idler pinch roll. A section of belting to be removed from the conveyor is engaged between the pulley and the pinch roll so that substantially all of the belt removing tension is absorbed by the motor driving the belt pulley. The belt may then be wound onto a driven reel at a substantially constant winding torque.

Abstract: An efficient, highly porous fabric filter medium capable of filtering air at temperatures up to about 500.degree. F. (260.degree. C.) has been provided. The filter medium is made from a polyimide fiber and is especially well suited for use in combination with a rotating drum filtering machine, thereby providing high temperature air filtration at a lower initial equipment and installation cost, and with subsequent lower operating and maintenance costs than have been previously possible.

Abstract: A frame or chassis for mobile homes and the like provides a pair of laterally spaced, parallel I-beams extending the length of the frame. Wood floor joists are mounted on top of the I-beams and extend laterally beyond the I-beams in both directions. One-piece uniriggers having substantial tensile strength but relatively minor column strength in compression are connected to their ends directly or indirectly to the ends of the floor joists. The uniriggers provide outrigger portions extending downwardly and inwardly to the adjacent I-beam and a cross member portion extending laterally between the I-beams. The uniriggers are welded to the bottoms of the I-beams and cooperate with the associated floor joist to provide a trusslike structure which prevents rolling action of the beams. The frame or chassis provides adequate strength and rigidity when the frame is being supported by wheels and axles for road transportation and also when the frame is supported at intervals around its periphery at a use location.

Abstract: Apparatus to remove dust, fibers, lint or other undesirable particles from air. Air ladened with dust, lint or other undesirable matter is drawn into a filtering housing to contact the surface of a rotatable screen-covered drum. The air passes through the drum while the particles remain on the drum surface. The air passes from a higher pressure area exterior of the drum into a lower pressure area within the center of the drum and is conveyed away. The particles are retained on the exterior surface of the drum which is covered by the fine mesh screen. The particles, which form a bat, are then separated from the rotating drum surface by being moved into contact with a smooth compressor roll cooperating with a flighted doffing to lift away the bat from the drum and drop it to a collection zone.A supplemental doffing roll with rigid flights is rotated parallel to the axes of the compression roll and flighted doffing roll in such manner as to interfere with the rotation of urethane flights of the doffing roll.

Abstract: An idler roller assembly for use with a belt conveyor having a roll cylinder supported by spaced roll heads with anti-friction roller bearings whose shaft is larger in the center than at the ends to reduce shaft deflection. The hub supports a pair of spaced seals that frictionally contact the ends of the shaft to seal the bearing assembly.

Abstract: An improved friction roller including arcuate sections applied to an external surface thereof, the sections configured to receive and engage a magnetic flexible element such as a cable, and including a magnetic field generating coil means for attracting the cable to the arcuate section and thereby to the frictional roller.

Abstract: A high angle conveying apparatus including a conveyor belt and a cover belt trained for movement in endless paths of travel. An improved roller assembly is provided for providing fully equalized pressure to the back face of the cover belt for improved performance.

Abstract: A high angle conveying apparatus including a conveyor belt and a cover belt trained for movement in endless paths of travel. An improved roller assembly is provided for providing fully equalized pressure to the back face of the cover belt for improved performance.

Abstract: A system for decompacting modules of compacted seed cotton. The system includes apparatus moveable through the compacted modules to feed the cotton to a remote location for further processing. Improved electronic controls permit automatic activation of a containment door against the trailing face of the last module, automatic reversal of the apparatus after containment of the last module and automatic inactivation of the system in the event of a malfunction.

Abstract: Air filtering apparatus with electric controls for varying the speed of filtering as a function of the contamination within the air being filtered. Pressure sensing devices are provided at the input and output ends of the filtering apparatus. The sensing devices are coupled with the electrical controls to either speed up or to slow down the filter cleaning mechanisms when appropriate.

Abstract: Apparatus to remove dust, fibers, lint or other undesirable particles from air. Air ladened with dust, lint or other undesirable matter is drawn into a filtering housing to contact the surface of a rotatable screen-covered drum. The air passes through the drum while the particles remain on the drum surface. The air passes from a higher pressure area exterior of the drum into a lower pressure area within the center of the drum and is conveyed away. The particles are retained on the exterior surface of the drum which is covered by the fine mesh screen. The particles, which form a bat, are then separated from the rotating drum surface by being moved into contact with a smooth compressor roll cooperating with a flighted doffing to lift away the bat from the drum and drop it to a collection zone. Fixed rubber seals are located to contact the rotating edges of the drum.