Self-aligning trunnions for rotary dryer/mixer

1. Self-aligning trunnions connected to a cradle frame, and wherein said cradle frame supports a rotatable cylindrical drum having a pair of trunnion rings spaced along a central longitudinal axis thereof, said self-aligning trunnions comprising:

first and second pairs of base plates, said first pair positioned substantially proximate one of said trunnion rings and said second pair positioned substantially proximate the other of said trunnion rings, the two base plates of each said pair of base plates being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said cylindrical drum;

a single roller member with a longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis of said drum mounted on each of said four base plates with bearings to permit said roller members to engagingly support said trunnion rings at four positions to support said cylindrical drum; and

first and second support bearings connected to each said base plate to contact said cradle frame, said first and second support bearings being in alignment on said base plate substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation of said roller member mounted on said base plate, said first and second support bearings adapted to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

said first support bearing comprising mated ball and socket components wherein the ball component is rotatably received within the socket component to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

whereby said arcuate and tilting movements of said base plates permit the roller members mounted thereon to maintain full contact with said trunnion rings.

2. Self-aligning trunnions connected to a cradle frame, and wherein said cradle frame supports a rotatable cylindrical drum having a pair of trunnion rings spaced along a central longitudinal axis thereof, said self-aligning trunnions comprising:

first and second pairs of base plates, said first pair positioned substantially proximate one of said trunnion rings and said second pair positioned substantially proximate the other of said trunnion rings, the two base plates of each said pair of base plates being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said cylindrical drum;

a single roller member with a longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis of said drum mounted on each of said four base plates with bearings to permit said roller members to engagingly support said trunnion rings at four positions to support said cylindrical drum; and

first and second support bearings connected to each said base plate to contact said cradle frame, said first and second support bearings being in alignment on said base plate substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation of said roller member mounted on said base plate, said first and second support bearings adapted to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

said second support bearing comprising a strut and first and second mated ball and socket components connected to each end of said strut wherein each ball component is rotatably received within the corresponding socket component to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

whereby said arcuate and tilting movements of said base plates permit the roller members mounted thereon to maintain full contact with said trunnion rings.

3. A multi-point support system mounted on a cradle frame to rotate a cylindrical drum having a pair of trunnion rings spaced along a central longitudinal axis thereof, each point support comprising:

a base plate positioned substantially proximate of said trunnion ring, said base plate being spaced outwardly from a vertical plane through said central longitudinal axis a distance less than the radius of said cylindrical drum;

a roller member with a longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis of said drum mounted on said base plate with bearings to permit said roller member engages said trunnion ring; and

first and second support bearings connected to said base plate to contact said cradle frame, said first and second support bearings being in alignment on said base plate substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation of said roller member mounted on said base plate, said first and second support bearings adapted to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

said first support bearing comprising mated ball and socket components wherein the ball component is rotatably received within the socket component to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

whereby said arcuate and tilting movements of said base plate permit the roller member mounted thereon to maintain full contact with said trunnion ring.

4. A multi-point support system mounted on a cradle frame to rotate a cylindrical drum having a pair of trunnion rings spaced along a central longitudinal axis thereof, each point support comprising:

a base plate positioned substantially proximate of said trunnion ring, said base plate being spaced outwardly from a vertical plane through said central longitudinal axis a distance less than the radius of said cylindrical drum;

a roller member with a longitudinal axis of rotation substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis of said drum mounted on said base plate with bearings to permit said roller member engages said trunnion ring; and

first and second support bearings connected to said base plate to contact said cradle frame, said first and second support bearings being in alignment on said base plate substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation of said roller member mounted on said base plate, said first and second support bearings adapted to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

said second support bearing comprising a strut and first and second mated ball and socket components connected to each end of said strut wherein each ball component is rotatably received within the corresponding socket component to permit slight arcuate movement of said base plate about said first support bearing and to permit slight tilting movement of said base plate about a common transverse axis through said first and second support bearings;

whereby said arcuate and tilting movements of said base plate permit the roller member mounted thereon to maintain full contact with said trunnion ring.