Patent ID: 6467964
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A self cleaning bearing assembly for use in a washer or dehydrator for particulate solids comprising (a) a reservoir for receiving a slurry of liquid and particulate solids, and (b) an inclined main screw conveyor having a diameter, a pitch, an axis, a rotatable main screw conveyor shaft along said axis, and a lower end portion with a projecting lower end portion of said main screw conveyor shaft submerged in the reservoir; the bearing assembly comprising:a housing having an end cap at one end and an opening at an opposite end in communication with the interior of the reservoir, the housing having a longitudinal center-line coincident with the axis of the main screw conveyor and the main screw conveyor shaft; a stub shaft mounted on the end cap of the bearing assembly and having its axis coincident with the axis of the main screw conveyor and the main screw conveyor shaft, the projecting lower end portion of the main screw conveyor shaft and the stub shaft being disposed one within the other in radially spaced relationship, leaving a radial space therebetween; a sleeve bearing disposed in the radial space between the stub shaft and the projecting lower end portion of the main screw conveyor shaft; and a short auxiliary screw conveyor section, having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the main screw conveyor, disposed in the bearing housing and acting to sweep solids upwardly and away from the sleeve bearing, whereby to maintain the sleeve bearing in a clean condition for lubrication by the liquid in the reservoir.