Modular lint cleaning roller with removeable and replaceable opposing shaft components

Abstract

Improved lint-cleaning cotton gin rollers feature protruding end shafts that may be removed and replaced without having to replace the entire roller, thereby saving considerable time and expense. A pair of hub components are configured for installation into respective open ends of an elongated cylindrical tube, and removeable and replaceable shaft components are configured for installation into the hub components. Each hub component may have a recess with a predetermined shape, and each shaft component has a peripheral shape that corresponds to the shape of each recess. The shafts that extend from the ends of hub components may terminate in a wrench-receiving geometry enabling manual rotation of the assembled roller. Each hub component may comprise at least one flange with an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the elongated cylindrical tube. The hub components may be configured to receive counterweights for operational balancing.

1 . A modular, lint cleaning roller adapted for use in cotton gins, comprising:
 an elongated cylindrical tube having two open ends and an outer surface adapted to cotton lint extraction;   a pair of hub components configured for installation into respective open ends of the tube;   a pair of removeable and replaceable shaft components, each shaft component having an insert and a shaft; and   wherein the insert of each shaft component is configured for installation into a respective one of the hub components such that the shafts extend outwardly and in axial alignment from the ends of the elongated cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         2 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each hub component has a recess with a predetermined shape; and   the insert of each shaft component has a peripheral shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of each recess.   
     
     
         3 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses are axially non-round to resist unwanted rotation of the shaft components relative to the cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         4 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses and inserts have a shape including a plurality of rounded lobes. 
     
     
         5 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses and inserts have a shape including an odd number of rounded lobes. 
     
     
         6 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 2 , wherein the shafts extending from the ends of cylindrical tube terminate in a wrench-receiving geometry. 
     
     
         7 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongated cylindrical tube has an inner diameter;   each hub component comprises at least one flange with an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the elongated cylindrical tube; and   the flanges of the hub components are inserted and fastened into respective ends of the elongated cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         8 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongated cylindrical tube has an inner diameter;   each hub component comprises a plurality of spaced-apart flanges attached to a rigid member;   wherein all of the flanges have an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the elongated cylindrical tube; and   the hub components are inserted and fastened into respective ends of the elongated cylindrical tube such that one flange of each hub component is flush with a respective end of the elongated cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         9 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 1 , wherein the hub components are configured to receive counterweights for operational balancing. 
     
     
         10 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 9 , wherein each hub component includes a circular array of threaded holes associated with counterweight mounting. 
     
     
         11 . The modular, lint cleaning roller of  claim 10 , further including a pair of endplates adapted to cover the hub components on each end of the elongated cylindrical tube.