Bryant Products, Inc.

Daniel M Genz

Todd A Brennecke

David A Roessler

Jeffrey Cathers Steiner

Frederick H Thimmel

Jon Michael Helt

Collyn McKinley Rankin

Adam Lee Palmer

Frederick Harold Thimmel, Jr

A telescoping belt tightener for conveyors includes an elongated outer body and a slider tube inserted in one end, with the slider tube able to slide into and out of the outer body to varying lengths. An adjuster at an opposing end can be turned to extend or retract the slider tube from the outer body. A bearing collar, with a bearing cavity that fits a spherical bearing, is attached to the slider tube. A collar shield snugly fits with the bearing collar to keep contaminants from entering the bearing cavity. One or both ends of the outer body include a stopper for keeping contaminants from entering the outer body. The outer body is round and without standing surfaces on which food and debris could accumulate. The outer body and adjuster are unitary parts without crevices in which contaminants can collect. The belt tightener is well-suited for food-grade applications.

Food-grade telescoping belt tightener

A belt tightening assembly for conveyor systems includes an elongated outer tube and an inner tube sized to be complementarily received in the outer tube. The inner tube retractably extends out of the outer tube to varying lengths. A bearing housing extends from a long end of the inner tube and is integrated with the inner tube such that the inner tube and bearing housing do not separate from each other during normal operation. A spherical bearing is inserted into the bearing housing, the belt tightener is secured to a roller of a conveyor system, and the assembly is secured to a side of a conveyor. A separate pillow block is not used, eliminating a number of collection points for contamination and lowering costs. Also, not requiring a pillow block to be fastened to the inner tube reduces shear forces that result from imprecise fastening.

Telescoping belt tightener with integrated bearing housing

Conveyor belt tightener

Growing community of inventors

Watertown, WI, United States of America

Daniel M Genz