Conveyor Roller System

Abstract

An aircraft conveyor system comprising an aircraft including an aircraft cargo storage bay; and a roller mounted within the aircraft cargo storage bay, the roller including a one-piece integral body having a cylindrical shape, the entirety of the body being made solely out of a single piece of polymeric material, said body having a length extending from a first outermost end to a second outermost end and a diameter and a first and second exterior shoulders at the ends, said body including an aperture extending longitudinally along and through the center of said body from the first outermost end to the second outermost end, the aperture sized to rotatably receive an axle therethrough, the axle being for mounting the roller within the aircraft cargo storage bay, wherein the roller has a burn rate of less than 4.0 inches per minute.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A roller system having at least one operable roller unit, each roller unit comprising:
 a. a roller, cylindrical in shape having a length and a diameter, the roller having a center aperture extending through the length of the roller and the roller being fabricated from a polymer;   b. a shaft in the form of an elongate cylinder having a diameter sized to rotatably fit within the central aperture of the roller, the shaft further having a means for retention located upon the shaft ends; and   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 ends located adjacent the ends of the roller, each end having an aperture sized to receive the respective shaft end and locate the shaft in a fixed location.   
     
     
         2 . The roller system as described in  claim 1  wherein the polymer forming the roller is a polymer select from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyvynilidene fluoride. 
     
     
         3 . The roller system as described in  claim 1  wherein the polymer forming the roller is an acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The roller system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a pair of bushings having central openings fitted within the central aperture of the roller and attached to the roller sized to rotatably accept the shaft within their respective central openings. 
     
     
         5 . The roller system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a pair of bearings having central openings fitted within the central aperture of the roller and attached to the roller sized to rotatably accept the shaft within their respective central openings 
     
     
         6 . A roller comprising:
 a. an outer housing constructed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyvynilidene fluoride;   b. the outer housing further having a central aperture disposed longitudinally therethrough; and   c. a bearing located surrounding the central aperture and attached to the outer housing.   
     
     
         7 . A monolithic roller comprising a cylindrical roller body, the roller body having a length and a diameter, the roller also having an aperture extending along and through the center of the roller, the roller fabricated from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The monolithic roller of  claim 7  further comprising a pair of bushings fitted within aperture of the roller extending inwardly into the aperture of the roller. 
     
     
         9 . The monolithic roller of  claim 8  wherein the pair of bushing is merged into a single bushing extending through the roller. 
     
     
         10 . The monolithic roller of  claim 7  further comprising a pair of bearings fitted within aperture of the roller extending inwardly into the aperture of the roller. 
     
     
         11 . The monolithic roller of  claim 7  wherein the polymeric material of the roller is selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyvynilidene fluoride. 
     
     
         12 . The monolithic roller of  claim 7  wherein the polymeric material of the roller is an acetyl copolymer. 
     
     
         13 . The monolithic roller of  claim 7  wherein the polymer has a compressibility strength of at least 20 psi, impact strength of at least 0.5 ft. Lbs./in. and flexural strength of at least 20 psi.