Cartridge bearing assembly for volumetric feeder

Claim 1

A dry good material feeding apparatus, comprising (a) a housing; (b) a feed hopper in said housing having an outer wall defining a storage portion for holding dry material and an auger housing portion, said auger housing portion having a first cylindrical space defined therein on a first side, and a second cylindrical space defined therein on a second side, said first and second cylindrical spaces being substantially aligned and extending through said outer wall so as to communicate said storage portion with an exterior space; (c) an auger member having a shaft and at least one helical flight connected thereto, said auger member being positioned so as to extend into both of said first and second cylindrical spaces; (d) a cartridge bearing assembly extending into said first cylindrical space for supplying mechanical energy to turn said auger member, comprising (i) a tubular member having a first end extending into said first cylindrical space and a second end attached to a wall of said housing; (ii) a bearing race assembly removably mounted in said tubular member for supporting a drive shaft releasably connected to said auger shaft; and (iii) an opening in said housing wall sized to permit passage of said bearing race assembly therethrough whereby said bearing race assembly can be replaced without removing said tubular member.