GB2119892A

GB2119892A - Roller bearing

Info

Publication number: GB2119892A
Application number: GB08303669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Friedrich Elsasser; Jurgen Liedtke
Original assignee: Witzenmann GmbH
Current assignee: Witzenmann GmbH
Priority date: 1982-04-30
Filing date: 1983-02-10
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: DE3216121C2; DK192183A; SE8302398D0; CH661779A5; SE8302398L; FR2526120A1; DK160723C; SE455016B; GB2119892B; DE3216121A1; DK192183D0; ATA37683A; DK160723B; GB8303669D0; AT385833B; FR2526120B1; BE896545A

Abstract

A roller bearing for mounting hot- or cold-conveying pipelines, or other apparatus, in which the pipe (1) or an insulation saddle (3) secured to the pipe may be displaced upwardly while being guided by way of the roller bearing (6) so as to counteract upwardly directed movement. The bearing (6) is rotatable in a housing. An arm (9) secured to the ends of the saddle (3) passes under the roller (5) with sufficient clearance to allow for the upward displacement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roller bearing The present invention relates to a roller bearing for mounting hot- or cold-conveying pipelines, or for use with other apparatus, comprising a housing which may be mounted stationary and at least one roller pivotable therein transversely to the axis of the pipe or direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus to act as a bearing means for the pipe or the apparatus respectively, the pipe or apparatus resting on the roller, where necessary by way of an insulation saddle secured thereto with an essentially U-shaped cross-section viewed in the direction of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus.

Roller bearings of this type are used to support pipelines or other large apparatus which extend over substantial distances and in which the temperature difference between the medium conveyed and the atmosphere results in changes in length which preclude a rigid mounting of the pipeline or apparatus. The roller bearing should, rather, permit the pipe or apparatus to undergo changes in length with as little constraint as possible.

In practice it has been found that hot- or coldconveying pipelines or apparatus of this type not only undergo purely longitudinal changes and thus, relative to the longitudinal section, axial movement, but also, as a result of stresses with respect to individual fixed points, tend to make lateral or upwardly directed deflection movements. Concerning lateral movements, there are roller bearing designs in which suitable degrees of freedom are provided by the displacement of the rollers on their shaft. Concerning undesired upwardly directed deflection movements, it would be possible to place a roller bearing over the pipe or apparatus respectively in each case for support purposes.This solution, however, would take up a great deal of space and be very expensive since the pipe or apparatus respectively must be surrounded by a support frame at the respective bearing points in order to secure the roller bearing disposed overhead.

The present invention therefore aims to develop a roller bearing of the type described above such that it may also be used simultaneously to support the pipe or apparatus respectively in relation to upwardly directed movements, the design basically being such that the roller bearing remains in its known (in each case) form and lifting may be prevented with only relatively minor difficulty, where necessary by steps to be applied subsequently.

The present invention provides a roller bearing for mounting hot- or cold-conveying pipelines, or other apparatus, comprising a housing which may be mounted stationary and at least one roller pivotable therein transversely to the axis of the pipe or direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus to act as a bearing means for the pipe or the apparatus respectively, the pipe or apparatus resting on the roller, where necessary by way of an insulation saddle secured thereto with an essentially U-shaped cross-section viewed in the direction of the pipe or in the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus, wherein the pipe or the apparatus or, when provided, the insulation saddle is guided on the housing of the roller bearing in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or in the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, where necessary leaving a degree of play when the pipe or apparatus rests on the roller bearing so as to counteract upwardly directed movement.

By virtue of the construction according to the invention the existing roller bearing or the housing thereof is employed at the same time to guide or to hold the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle joined to the pipe or the apparatus so as to counteract upwardly directed movement, and a predetermined degree of play allowing a permissible degree of freedom of the pipe or apparatus respectively in the vertical direction. Use is made of the design existing in any case for the roller bearing and the latter is used at the same time for the extended function so that only a slight increase in material and space is required for this purpose.

It has been found advantageous for at least one rod parallel to the axis of the pipe or direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively to be rigidly joined to the pipe, or the apparatus, or to the ends of the insulation saddle lying in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or the apparatus, for the length of the rod to correspond to the amount of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion and for the rod to pass through a bore in the housing of the roller bearing. In this connection, in the simplest case the housing bore can correspond essentially to the cross-section Qf the rod, so that the pipe or the apparatus respectively is prevented from being lifted by the housing of the roller bearing itself.

It is also possible, however, to arrange that when the pipe, the apparatus or the insulation saddle rests on a roller pivotable about a horizontal axis, the housing bore is made larger than the cross-section of the rod in such a way that the rod passing through the housing beneath the roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the roller, as a result of which there is freedom from rolling friction and corresponding wear as lifting is prevented.

In accordance with another design it may be advantageous, when the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the apparatus rests upon two rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, for a third roller to be pivotally mounted horizontally and transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively in the housing between the two rollers, and for the housing bore to be formed larger than the cross-section of the rod in such a way that the rod passing through the housing beneath the third roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to such roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the third roller.

In the cases mentioned, when horizontal transverse movement of the pipe or the apparatus respectively is allowed, the housing bore may be widened by the amount of the transverse movement permitted, without the prevention of lifting thereby being prevented.

In accordance with another design it is advantageous, when the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the apparatus respectively rests upon two tapered rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and joined to one another by a cylindrical bearing roller and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, for the housing bore to be formed larger than the cross-section of the rod in such a way that the rod passing through the housing beneath the bearing roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to such roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the bearing roller.In this case, when horizontal transverse movement of the structural unit formed by the tapered rollers and the bearing rollers is allowed about its pivot axis, the housing bore may be widened by the amount of the transverse movement permitted.

When the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the apparatus respectively rests upon two rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, two rods parallel to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively may. be connected to the pipe, to the apparatus or to the ends of the insulation saddle lying in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or of the apparatus respectively, the length of the rod may correspond to the amount of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion and the rods, where necessary passing through a housing bore and where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the rollers, may be prevented from moving upwards by one of the bearing rollers in each case.

Furthermore, it may be provided that when an intermediate element rests on at least one roller pivotable about a horizontal axis between the pipe or the apparatus respectively and has the length of the degree of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion, the intermediate element is provided with guide flanges projecting freely on both sides and parallel to the axis or the pipe on the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively and the guide flanges are prevented from moving upwards by guide rollers pivotably mounted in the housing. In this case the guide rollers may be circular discs pivotable about a vertical axis and engaging over the guide flanges. Here too, it is possible for additional rollers for the lateral mounting of the guide flanges to be pivotably mounted on the axis beneath the guide rollers.These additional rollers may form a structural component with the circular discs, but may also be independent components.

While the prevention of lifting is ensured in the case of the designs mentioned by one or more rods joined to the pipe, the apparatus or the insulation saddle and guided on the roller bearing housing and the cross-section of which may advantageously be made round or otherwise in a suitable shape, in the case of the last-named design it is the intermediate element, which may be formed by the insulation saddle, itself which holds the pipe or the apparatus byway of suitable guides on the roller bearing housing so as to prevent lifting.

Concerning the design of the structure for preventing lifting essentially in the form of the rods, the latter, including the means of positioning them, may where necessary be made of pre-fabricated in a plurality of parts, in order to facilitate subsequent insertion into already existing roller bearings for example by welding the individual parts or screwing them together.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accmpanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 7 respectively show, in a comparable manner, embodiments of roller bearings according to the invention, in a lateral view, and also in some cases in the axial direction of the pipe or the thermal expansion direction of an apparatus respectively.

Figure 1 is a front and lateral view of a pipe 1 having an insulation jacket indicated by dash-dot line 2 and an insulation saddle 3 essentially Ushaped in cross-section in the form of a welded structure whose horizontal cross-member 4 connecting the arms thereof rests upon a roller 5 of a roller bearing 6. The roller 5 is pivotably mounted in a housing 7 of the roller bearing which is secured to a base or the like (not shown) by way of screws 8 for example.

Arms 9, which are bent away from a rod 10 parallel to the axis of the pipe and which support the latter, are welded to the ends of the insulation saddle 3 lying in the direction of the pipe, the rod passing through a bore 11 in the walls of the housing 7 beneath the roller 5. When the insulation saddle 3 rests on the roller 5 the rod 10 has a certain degree of play relative to the roller 5, so that it only comes into contact with the roller when the pipe and therefore the insulation saddle are lifted off from the roller. In order to permit a limited degree of transverse movement of the pipe 1 the bore 1 is formed correspondingly wider than the cross-section of the rod 10.

In a manner of representation similarto Figure 1, Figure 2 shows a pipe 15 which is welded to an insulation saddle 16 of which a bearing surface 17 concentric to the axis of the pipe rests on two rollers 18 and 19 which are rotatably mounted adjacent to one another in a housing 20 of a roller bearing 21 and are inclined in a V-shape relative to one another.

In a manner similar to Figure 1 the arms 22 of a rod 23 bent vertical are welded to the ends of the insulation saddle 17 as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 15, namely in such a way that the rod 23 passes through the housing 20 between the rollers 18 and 19 by way of a bore 24 which essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the rod 23 while leaving a slight degree of play. In this case, therefore, the pipe 15 is prevented from shifting laterally by the mutual inclination. of the rollers 18 and 19, while it is prevented from being lifted off on account of the rod 23 being guided in the bore 24 of the housing 20. The housing 20 in turn is secured to a base (not shown) for example by way of screws 25.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment differing from Figure 2, in which the part 30 shown in section may be the walling of a pipe, the bearing surface of an insulation saddle concentric with a pipe or, however, an outer surface of an apparatus formed accordingly. The part 30 in turn rests on rollers 31,32 which are pivotably mounted in a housing 33 of a roller bearing 34 and inclined in a V-shape relative to one another, it being possible to secure the housing 33 to a base in the manner already described.

The part 30 (pipe, insulation saddle, or other apparatus) bears arms 35 of a T-section of weldedon form which are arranged in the vertical direction in the manner already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and which may be bent away from a rod 36 or may be welded to the latter substantially at right angles. The rod 36 also has a T-shaped cross-section and its cross-member 37 extends, where necessary with a degree of play, beneath a roller 38 which is mounted in the housing 33 as an additional roller between the rollers 31 and 32 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, again in the manner of representation already employed in Figure 1, a pipe 40 together with an insulation jacket 41 is mounted, by way of an insulating saddle 42 welded to the latter and having its bearing surface 43 coaxial liy curved relative to the axis of the pipe, on two tapered rollers 44 and 45 which in turn are joined together by a cylindrical bearing roller 46 and are mounted in a housing 47 of a roller bearing 48 so as to be pivotable transversely to the axis of the pipe.

Vertical arms 49 are welded to the ends of the insulation saddle 42 and support a rod 50 which is parallel to the axis of the pipe and which passes through the housing 47 of the roller bearing 48 by way of a bore 51 beneath the bearing roller 46, with which the rod 50 comes into contact when the pipe is lifted off the roller bearing.

Here too the arrangement is such that the pipe 40 has a certain degree of transverse movement, for which purpose the component formed by the tapered rollers 44 and 45 and the bearing roller 46 is mounted inside the housing 47 on a shaft 52 so as to be displaceable transversely to the axis of the pipe.

The bore 51 of the housing 47 is widened accordingly so that the rod 50 may perform transverse movement.

Figure 5 shows a front view of a section of a part 60 which may be a pipe, a bearing surface of an insulation saddle concentric to the axis of the pipe or a part of an apparatus formed accordingly. The part 60 is supported on the roller 61 of a roller bearing 62 with rollers arranged in a V-shape, the illustration showing only one side of the roller bearing. The roller 61 is mounted pivotably in a housing 63 which has a recess 64 through which the outward end of the roller 61 is exposed at the bottom, which applies on the other side of the roller bearing in mirrorimage manner.

In the manner already described with reference to Figure 1, the arms 65 of a bracket-shaped or U-shaped component, which extend essentially vertically or radially respectively and which support between them a rod 66 which engages under the roller 61 in the region of the recess 64 and is orientated parallel to the axis of the pipe or direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, are welded to the part 60. If an attempt is made to lift the part 60 off the roller 61, the rod 66 moves upwards to bear against the roller and thus prevents lifting off.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, for which reason the description insofar as it has already been given in connection with Figure 5 will not be reiterated.

The embodiment according to Figure 6 differs from the embodiment according to Figure Sin that a housing 70 of the roller bearing is displaceable within limits transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of an apparatus respectively, for which purpose the housing 70 may travel, by way of rollers 71 disposed on both sides, in U-shaped rails 72 which are formed by welding an L-shaped section onto a base plate. In order that a rod 73 may perform this displacement movement, the rails 72 are provided with openings 74 defining the longitudinal extension of the transverse displacement of the roller bearing, through which openings the rods pass. The roller bearing thus formed is as a whole secured to a support again for example by screwing the base plate jointly forming the rails 72.

Finally, Figure 7 shows a roller bearing of a pipe, boiler, or heat exchanger 80, in which a longitudinal web 81 of a T-rail is welded to the part 80, the transverse flange 82 of the web 81 being supported on a cylindrical roller 83 which is pivotably mounted in a housing 84 of a roller bearing 85. The flange 82 forms lateral guide flanges 86 and 87 which are prevented from moving upwards by guide rollers 88 and 89 which are mounted in the housing 84 so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis and which engage upwards over the guide flanges 86 and 87.

Further rollers 90 and 91, which are mounted on the same axis as the guide rollers 88 and 89 beneath the latter, are used for lateral guidance. Figure 7 shows, in different ways at the right and left sides thereof, that the guide rollers 88 and 89 on the one hand and the additional rollers 90 and 91 on the other hand may be separate components but may equally well be produced as one component.

The embodiments illustrated show how pipes or apparatus may be prevented from lifting off in a simple manner while using already known roller bearings. What is always essential is that the length of the rod used in each case to prevent lifting should correspond to the displacement, to be expected and caused by thermal expansion, of the component supported by way of the roller bearing in each case.

In this connection the structure bearing the rod may be made and mounted in one piece in the form illustrated, which is possible primarily in the case of plants to be newly constructed. This structure may also, however, comprise a plurality of parts which may be assembled for example by welding or screwing to one another, in particular if lifting is to be prevented afterwards in the case of already existing roller bearings or if the design of the roller bearing itself makes a construction of this type necessary.

Claims

1. A roller bearing for mounting hot- or coldconveying pipelines, or other apparatus, comprising a housing which may be mounted stationary and at least one roller pivotable therein transversely to the axis of the pipe or direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus to act as a bearing means for the pipe or the apparatus respectively, the pipe or apparatus resting on the roller, where necessary by way of an insulation saddle secured thereto with an essentially U-shaped cross-section viewed in the direction of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus, wherein the pipe or the apparatus or, when provided, the insulation saddle is guided on the housing of the roller bearing in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or in the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, where necessary leaving a degree of play when the pipe or apparatus rests on the roller bearing so as to counteract upwardly directed movement.

2. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 1,wherein at least one rod parallel to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively is rigidly joined to the pipe, or the apparatus, or to the ends of the insulation saddle lying in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus, the length of the rod corresponding to the amount of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion and the rod passing through a bore in the housing of the roller bearing.

3. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the housing bore corresponds essentially to the cross-section of the rod.

4. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the pipe, the apparatus or the insulation saddle rests on a roller pivotable about a horizontal axis, and wherein the housing bore is made larger than the cross-section of the rod such that the rod passing through the said housing beneath the roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the roller.

5. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus rests upon two rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, and wherein a third roller is pivotably mounted horizontally and transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively in the said housing between the said two rollers, and the housing bore is formed larger than the cross-section of the said rod in such a way that the rod passing through the housing beneath the third roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the said roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the third roller.

6. A roller bearing as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein horizontal transverse movement of the pipe or the apparatus respectively is permitted, and wherein the housing bore is widened by the amount of the transverse movement permitted.

7. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively rests upon two tapered rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and joined to one another by a cylindrical bearing roller and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, and wherein the housing bore is formed larger than the cross-section of the said rod such that the rod passing through the said housing beneath the bearing roller, where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the said roller, is prevented from moving upwards by the bearing roller.

8. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 7, wherein horizontal transverse movement of the structural unit formed by the said tapered rollers and the said bearing roller is permitted about its pivot axis, and wherein the housing bore is widened by the amount of the transverse movement permitted.

9. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pipe, the apparatus or an insulation saddle provided with a curved bearing surface essentially concentric to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively rests upon two rollers which are inclined towards one another in a V-shape and disposed adjacent to one another transversely to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, and wherein two rods parallel to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively are connected to the pipe, to the apparatus or to the ends of the insulation saddle lying in the longitudinal direction of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, the length of the rod corresponding to the amount of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion and the rods, where necessary passing through a housing bore and where necessary with a degree of play with respect to the rollers being prevented from moving upwards by one of the bearing rollers in each case.

10. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an intermediate element rests on at least one roller pivotable about a horizontal axis between the pipe or the apparatus respectively and has the length of the degree of movement of the pipe or apparatus caused by thermal expansion, and wherein the said intermediate element is provided with guide flanges projecting freely on both sides and parallel to the axis of the pipe or the direction of thermal expansion of the apparatus respectively, the guide flanges being prevented from moving upwards by guide rollers pivotably mounted in the housing of the roller bearing.

11. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the guide rollers are circular discs pivotable about a vertical axis and engaging over the guide flanges.

12. A roller bearing as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein additional rollers for the lateral mounting of the guide flanges are pivotably mounted on the axis beneath the guide rollers.

13. A roller bearing according to Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.