A modular pulley assembly for a continuous belt conveyor can be assembly from a plurality of modular pulley disks that can be axially aligned and abut against each other to provide pulleys of differing lengths per demand. The modular pulley disks can be made from a non-metallic material such as a polymer and can manufactured by a suitable molding process. Making the modular pulley disks from non-metallic materials enables the disks to be formed with structural geometries such that the assembled pulley is structurally more rigid and can better distribute torsional loads and momentum from the belt to the support shaft.

A modular pulley assembly for a continuous belt conveyor can be assembly from a plurality of modular pulley disks that can be axially aligned and abut against each other to provide pulleys of differing lengths per demand. The modular pulley disks can be made from a non-metallic material such as a polymer and can manufactured by a suitable molding process. Making the modular pulley disks from non-metallic materials enables the disks to be formed with structural geometries such that the assembled pulley is structurally more rigid and can better distribute torsional loads and momentum from the belt to the support shaft.

A method of fabricating a ball nut assembly is provided. The method includes providing a ball nut having a keyway slot. The method also includes forming a polymer pulley having an inner surface defining a bore, a cut-out formed in the inner surface, and a torque member extending radially inward from the inner surface, wherein the keyway slot is configured to receive the torque member therein.

A method of fabricating a ball nut assembly is provided. The method includes providing a ball nut having a keyway slot. The method also includes forming a polymer pulley having an inner surface defining a bore, a cut-out formed in the inner surface, and a torque member extending radially inward from the inner surface, wherein the keyway slot is configured to receive the torque member therein.

A ball screw nut includes a nut part and a pulley part integrally molded with the nut part on the outer peripheral side of the nut part and having external teeth. The pulley part has a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and facing the nut part in a radial direction, and an extended portion extending radially inward from the cylindrical portion and facing the nut part in the axial direction. A restriction part for restricting relative rotation of the nut part and the pulley part is provided between a facing surface of the extended portion facing the nut part and a facing surface of the nut part facing the extended portion.

A ball screw nut includes a nut part and a pulley part integrally molded with the nut part on the outer peripheral side of the nut part and having external teeth. The pulley part has a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and facing the nut part in a radial direction, and an extended portion extending radially inward from the cylindrical portion and facing the nut part in the axial direction. A restriction part for restricting relative rotation of the nut part and the pulley part is provided between a facing surface of the extended portion facing the nut part and a facing surface of the nut part facing the extended portion.

An apparatus includes a non-metal high torque sprocket and non-metal bushing. The non-metal high torque sprocket includes a body defining an outer periphery and a hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing, a continuous toothed structure disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the body adjacent the inner surface of the hub section, wherein the body is formed of a castable polymer material. The hub section inner surface is a tapered shape, and is adapted to engage a conventional QD bushing or a taper-lock bushing. The non-metal bushing is engageable by the hub section inner surface of the high torque sprocket. The non-metal bushing may be formed of a castable polymer material, which may optionally include ultra-high molecular weight powder. According to some embodiments, the non-metal bushing is a QD bushing.

An apparatus includes a non-metal high torque sprocket and non-metal bushing. The non-metal high torque sprocket includes a body defining an outer periphery and a hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing, a continuous toothed structure disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the body adjacent the inner surface of the hub section, wherein the body is formed of a castable polymer material. The hub section inner surface is a tapered shape, and is adapted to engage a conventional QD bushing or a taper-lock bushing. The non-metal bushing is engageable by the hub section inner surface of the high torque sprocket. The non-metal bushing may be formed of a castable polymer material, which may optionally include ultra-high molecular weight powder. According to some embodiments, the non-metal bushing is a QD bushing.

A hybrid drive component, such as a pulley, a drive sprocket, or an idler is composed of metal and composite material. The drive component manufacturing methods extend the overall life of the pulley while also reducing material usage and product weight thereby making the application more efficient. The drive component includes a drive element, a hub/bearing element and a connecting element. The connecting element is a molded construction that interconnects the drive element and the hub element.

A high torque sprocket includes a body defining an outer periphery and a hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing. A continuous toothed structure is disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the body adjacent the inner surface of the hub section. The body is formed of a castable polymer material. In some cases, one or two optional flanges are disposed on side(s) of the body immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure, in some aspects, a textile reinforcement may be embedded in a surface of the flange(s) immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure. In some aspects, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is incorporated into the castable polymer material mixture in an amount suitable to provide increased durability to the sprocket.