Reliance Electric Industrial Company

Arvin Industries, Inc.

Michael G Howe

James C Arthur

Edward F Krome, Jr

Robert T Usleman

Larry D Fields

Todd C Lucich

Joseph R Mihelick

A method of assembling a variable speed belt drive of the type having a pair of shiftable discs received on respective input and output shafts with a drive belt entrained thereabout. Methodology of the invention includes providing a drive housing with a relatively large interior access opening. The drive housing has a support backbone at a generally central location in the interior access portion. The support bracket is mounted to the support backbone to straddle support the output shaft having a pair of variable speed discs mounted thereon. A singular one of a pair of constant speed discs is mounted on the input shaft. The drive belt is installed about the output shaft entrained in between the variable speed discs and with the loop of the drive belt placed about the input shaft. A second one of the constant speed discs is mounted onto the input shaft. A further step often included involves installing speed change means for adjusting the drive ratio between the respective pairs of discs so as to vary the drive power transmitted between the shafts via the drive belt. A housing cover may then be secured to the drive housing opening. The assembly steps may also be selectively reversed for maintenance and/or adjustment to the drive belt and other components within the drive housing.

Method of assembling a maintenance friendly variable speed belt drive

A variable speed belt drive of the type having a pair of shiftable discs received on respective input and output shafts with a drive belt entrained thereabout further includes a cooperating housing backbone and support bracket. The housing backbone supports one axial end of the output shaft, and supports the support bracket, which extends through the loop of the drive belt to support the opposite end of the output shaft. The straddle support arrangement permits use of a nonload bearing housing cover and permits the performance of maintenance procedures for the drive belt and input shaft without disengaging alignment and support of the output shaft. One end of the input shaft is supported by the housing and the opposite end is supported with a thrust bearing which is received in a pivot mounted shifting yoke. The yoke cooperates with a member which is axially moved along a shifting screw, to transmit axial shifting force through the thrust bearing to the input shaft so as to change speeds for the variable belt drive. The output shaft support bracket cooperates with the housing to support the shifting screw. The body of the housing serves an alignment function for the fixed constant speed disc of the input shaft. Mounting the support bracket automatically aligns discs on the output shaft per snap rings received in predetermined slots on such shaft for axially situating bearings supporting the output shaft.

Maintenance friendly variable speed drive and methods

A variable speed drive for a screw conveyor includes a mechanical adjustable variable speed belt drive and a torque-arm speed reducer. The belt drive is associated with the speed reducer through the combination of a mounting adapter and a mounting plate. A coupling shaft extends from the output discs of the belt drive through the mounting adapter and plate into driving relationship with the input of the speed reducer. The output shaft includes a mated splined output for receipt in a female splined input of the speed reducer. The speed reducer is outfitted with a CEMA standard flange for attachment to a screw conveyor with the screw conveyor drive shaft received in an output bore of the speed reducer. The mounting adapter and plate support the belt drive in a C-flow drive power configuration for minimizing space requirements, while avoiding damage to the screw conveyor mounting flange by controlling undesired bending forces thereat. The resulting variable speed drive for a screw conveyor is particularly useful in food industry applications where the ability to make fine adjustments of screw conveyor speeds is highly desirable.

Variable speed drive for screw conveyor

An exhaust processor is provided for filtering particulate matter from a combustion product. The exhaust processor includes a housing providing a main passageway having a substrate mounted therein for solid particle filtration. The housing also provides an auxiliary passageway containing a muffler for attenuating noise of combustion product. Combustion product is diverted through the auxiliary passageway after the substrate collects a predetermined amount of solid particles from combustion product to permit regeneration of the substrate by a burner.

Tuned exhaust processor assembly

An exhaust processor is provided for filtering particulate matter from a combustion product. The exhaust processor includes a partition situated inside a housing to form a first flow passage and a second flow passage in an upstream portion of the housing. A main substrate is mounted in the first flow passage for solid particle filtration. An auxiliary substrate is situated in the second flow passage to filter combustion product passing through the second flow passage during regeneration of the main substrate. A muffler is situated in a downstream portion of the housing and is arranged so that the entire spacial volume of the muffler can be utilized by combustion product passing through either the first or second flow passages.

An exhaust processor is provided for filtering particulate matter from a combustion product. The exhaust processor includes a partition situated inside a housing to form a filtering region and a bypass region in an upstream portion of the housing. A substrate is mounted in the filtering region for solid particle filtration. A muffler is situated in a downstream portion of the housing spaced apart from the partition so that the entire spacial volume of the muffler can be utilized by combustion product passing through either the filtering region or the bypass region.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, IN, United States of America

Michael G Howe