Lightweight conveyor roller

Abstract

A roller made lighter through the use of lightening elements. The inventive roller, with its lightening element(s), is lighter yet maintains its overall dimensions, is strong and durable enough to withstand the rigors of the transportation industry and/or is cost effective to produce and maintain. The lightweight roller may be part of a system having at least one operable roller unit, each roller unit having a roller, cylindrical in shape having a length and a diameter, and a center aperture extending through the length of the roller, an axel/shaft having a diameter sized to rotatably fit within the central aperture of the roller, the shaft further having a retention mechanism located upon the shaft ends and an elongate “U” shaped roller rack, the roller rack sized to extend the length of the roller and having a pair of upwardly extending arms located adjacent the ends of the roller, each arm end having an aperture sized to receive the respective shaft end and locate the shaft with the roller in a fixed location. The roller system has at least one roller, preferably more or all of the rollers, having internal and/or external lightening elements.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An aircraft roller comprising:
 a) a cylindrical body, said body having a length and diameter;   b) an aperture extending longitudinally along and through the center of said body; and   c) at least two lightening elements.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the lightening elements are internal. 
     
     
         3 . The aircraft roller of  claim 2 , wherein a shape of the internal lightening element is selected from the group consisting of tubular, ovular, elliptical, or spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the lightening elements are external. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft roller of  claim 4 , wherein a shape of the external lightening element is selected from the group consisting of tubular, circular (circumferential), semi-circular, divets, and grooves such as straight, curved or zig-zag. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the roller comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The aircraft roller of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of polysulfone, nylon, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyvinylidene fluoride and acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The aircraft roller of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer is acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the lightening element reduces the weight of a roller by at least ½ a gram. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the lightening element reduces the weight of a roller by at least 10 grams. 
     
     
         11 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the roller has a compressibility strength of at least 20 psi. 
     
     
         12 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the roller has an impact strength of at least 0.5 (foot lbs.)/inch. 
     
     
         13 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the lightening element is unfilled. 
     
     
         14 . The aircraft roller of  claim 1 , wherein the roller is coupled to a roller system. 
     
     
         15 . An aircraft roller comprising:
 a) a cylindrical body, said body having a length and diameter, wherein the body is made of a polymer;   b) the cylindrical body having two ends;   c) an aperture extending longitudinally along and through the center of said body;   d) at least two internal lightening elements extending longitudinally about the aperture; and   e) a covering affixed to the ends of the body to cover the lightening elements.   
     
     
         16 . The aircraft roller of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer is acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         17 . An aircraft roller system having at least one operable roller unit comprising:
 a) at least one roller being cylindrical in shape and having a length and a diameter, a center aperture extending through the length of the roller and at least one lightening element;   b) an axel having a diameter sized to rotatably fit within the central aperture of the roller, the axel further having a retention mechanism located upon the axel ends;   c) an elongate “U” shaped roller rack, the roller rack sized to extend the length of the roller and having a pair of upwardly extending arms located adjacent the ends of the roller, each arm end having an aperture sized to receive the respective axel end and locate the axel and roller in a fixed location.   
     
     
         18 . The aircraft roller system of  claim 17 , wherein the roller is made of a polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The aircraft roller system of  claim 18 , wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of polysulfone, nylon, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyvinylidene fluoride and acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         20 . The aircraft roller system of  claim 18 , wherein the polymer is acetyl copolymer.