Abstract: A spindle and hub assembly for a vehicle wheel is constructed so that, in the event of a failure of the bearing arrangement rotatably supporting the hub on the spindle, separation of the hub from the spindle will not immediately occur but will be prevented for a period of time sufficient for the operator of the vehicle to safely continue to advance the vehicle to a location where corrective action may be taken. An annulus supported on the spindle is secured to the spindle by a nut separate from the annulus, and the annulus has an outside diameter large enough such that a shoulder located within the opening in the hub through which the spindle extends is capable of engaging the annulus in the absence of the bearing arrangement, thereby preventing the hub from separating from the spindle.

Abstract: A spindle and hub assembly for a vehicle wheel is constructed so that, in the event of a failure of the bearing arrangement rotatably supporting the hub on the spindle, separation of the hub from the spindle will not immediately occur but will be prevented for a period of time sufficient for the operator of the vehicle to safely continue to advance the vehicle to a location where corrective action may be taken. An annulus supported on the spindle is secured to the spindle by means separate from the annulus, and the annulus has an outside diameter large enough such that a shoulder located within the opening in the hub through which the spindle extends is capable of engaging the annulus in the absence of the bearing arrangement, thereby preventing the hub from separating from the spindle.

Abstract: A transfer station for a material conveyor system. The transfer station includes a portion for engaging a ground surface and for moving the transfer station relative to the ground surface. The transfer station includes a portion for supporting a conveyor belt, which has a longitudinal extent and which supports material, for movement relative to the ground in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the belt. The transfer station includes a portion for applying a skewing force against the belt to maintain the belt at a location relative to the means for supporting during movement of the belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing wheel bearings with grease. A frame is provided for supporting an axle assembly comprising an axle shaft with a wheel mounted on a wheel bearing at each end. A horizontally mounted ram and cylinder is mounted adjacent each wheel. Each ram has a greasing head at its distal end and each head has a nose portion adapted to pivot relative to a body portion. Each nose portion has an open-mouthed greasing chamber. Each ram is advanced toward each wheel so that each open-mouthed greasing chamber is in communication with a wheel bearing. Pressurized grease is delivered to a greasing chamber and, therefor, to a bearing.

Abstract: An assembled idler roll having an outer shell and end bearing assemblies. The bearing assemblies each have an outer race and an inner race. The inner race is press fitted onto a roller shaft to an initial position which is spaced inwardly from a final desired position. The outer shell of the roll is restrained and the shaft is reciprocated along its longitudinal axis to determine the degree of axial movement. The inner race of the bearing assembly is moved from its initial position to its final position as determined by the degree of axial movement.

Abstract: A method of assembling an idler roll having an outer shell and end bearing assemblies. The bearing assemblies each have an outer race and an inner race. The inner race is press fitted onto a roller shaft to an initial position which is spaced inwardly from a final desired position. The outer shell of the roll is restrained and the shaft is reciprocated along its longitudinal axis to determine the degree of axial movement. The inner race of the bearing assembly is moved from its initial position to its final position as determined by the degree of axial movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an uncontaminated portion of a seed cotton module from a water-contaminated face stratum are disclosed. The technique includes conveying a contaminated cotton module toward a housing having a plurality of rotating fiber release bodies mounted therein. The housing and the conveyor are arranged for relative movement so that only the uncontaminated portion of the module is fed into the fiber release bodies while the contaminated face stratum passes beneath the bodies. The uncontaminated cotton is collected and conveyed to a cotton gin and the contaminated cotton is conveyed to a disposal location.

Abstract: An idler roll assembly for conveyors is provided which is particularly adapted for one-shot lubrication. The assembly includes roll mounting bearings having inner races which are mounted on a tubular roll mounting shaft and inner and outer grease seals which define a bearing chamber. Lubricant is admitted to the bearing chamber from a bore in the tubular roll mounting shaft and through a radial passageway which communicates with another passageway defined by the inner bearing race and a channeled portion of the shaft. The outer grease seal is a labyrinth seal comprising a first labyrinth portion fixed with respect to the roll and a second labyrinth portion fixed with respect to the shaft. A grease release lubricant passage is defined between the second labyrinth portion and the shaft.

Abstract: A continuous belt (14) has upper and lower runs (14a, 14b) and is supported by upper and lower runs (23a, 23b) of steel ropes (23) carried and driven by roller (12, 13). The ropes (23) are supported on wheels (22) carried by a frame (11). Rollers (30) invert the lower run of the belt and lead it onto the lower run of the ropes. Magnetic members (50) are secured to the belt and hold the belt relative to the ropes to inhibit relative movement and reduce wear.

Abstract: A continuous belt (14) has upper and lower runs (23a, 23b) of continuous ropes (23) carried and driven by end rollers (12, 13) and intermediate wheels (22). To allow the lower run (14b) of the belt to be supported by the lower run (23b) of the ropes, the lower run of the belt is laterally diverted from below the lower run (23b) of the ropes and re-diverted back onto the lower run of the ropes by rollers (30) in the region of one end roller (12). The lower run of the belt is again diverted laterally and re-diverted below the lower run (23b) of the ropes adjacent the other end roller (13). In another embodiment, the belt (114) is twisted while the lower run of the ropes (123) is vertically diverted to allow space for the twisting of the lower run of the belt below the upper run of the belt, so that lateral movement of the belt beyond the normal confines of the conveyor arrangement is avoided.

Abstract: A high angle conveying apparatus including a conveyor belt and a cover belt trained for movement in endless paths of travel. The belts are supported for movement by an array of upwardly directed and downwardly directed troughed idler rolls for movement through a material loading zone whereat the belts are out of operative proximity with each other, through a material lifting zone whereat the belts are in operative proximity to each other whereby material on the conveyor belt will be held in contact therewith by the cover belt, and then through a material discharge zone whereat the belts are moved out of operative proximity with each other for discharging material therefrom. Pressure devices are provided to maintain predetermined belt speeds and pressures.

Abstract: An idler roll cylinder is secured to roll heads mounted within the ends thereof by forming an annular, outwardly opening groove in and around the outer periphery of each roll head facing the inner surface of the roll cylinder. A forming pressure is applied adjacent each end of the roll cylinder to form an inwardly extending annular lock member which is pressed into the annular groove. Angularly spaced, outwardly opening recesses are provided in the outer periphery of each roll head facing the inner surface of the roll cylinder and receive inwardly projecting lock elements formed in the roll cylinder by the forming pressure applied thereto.

Abstract: Module reclaim apparatus comprising a housing open at the bottom and an end and movable over a stack of seed cotton or other fibrous modules. The housing carries a descending series of pronged feeder rollers near one end which release fibers from the adjacent end of the module and throw same onto a transversely traveling conveyor for ultimate delivery, for instance, to the gin equipment. A rotary sweeper returns escaped fibers to the feeder rollers and a novel jacking system provides for adjusting the vertical positioning and levelling of the housing. A door at the forward end of the housing moves against the rear end of the module when the fibrous remnant is too thin to be self-supporting.

Abstract: A conveyor belt drive assembly embodying a supporting frame extending transversely of the belt. A pair of transverse drive axles mounted in the supporting frame are spaced from each other in the direction of belt travel. Drive wheels on the drive axles engage the under surfaces of the edges of the upper strand of the belt and the upper surfaces of the edges of the lower strand. A resiliently mounted rotatable support engages the under surfaces of the edges of the lower strand opposite the drive wheels with the lower strand pinched therebetween. A floating frame operatively connected to the supporting frame is movable relative thereto. Upper wheels carried by transverse axles on the floating frame engage the upper surfaces of the edges of the upper strand opposite the drive wheels with the upper strand pinched therebetween.