Patent ID: 6324952
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: A01G,F16C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A rotary saw assembly for a timber harvesting machine, comprising:a) a vertically oriented saw housing having a generally cylindrical body;b) a vertically elongated spindle having a disc saw on its lower end, said spindle extending upwardly through said housing from a cylindrical lower spindle section to a cylindrical upper spindle section, said upper and lower spindle sections being separated by an intermediate spindle section;c) said spindle being supported for rotation on its vertical axis in said housing on an upper bearing sub-assembly in said housing and a lower bearing sub-assembly in said housing;d) an upper bearing seal mounted in said housing immediately below said upper bearing sub-assembly;e) a lower bearing seal mounted in said housing immediately above said lower bearing sub-assembly;f) said upper bearing assembly including an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race defining a bearing cavity between them in which bearing elements are mounted;g) said lower bearing assembly including an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race defining a bearing cavity between them in which upper bearing elements are mounted;h) a grease inlet passage to said upper bearing cavity above its bearing races and a grease outlet passage from said upper bearing cavity below its bearing races; andi) a grease inlet passage to said lower bearing assembly cavity above its bearing races and a grease outlet passage from said upper bearing assembly cavity above its bearing races;j) said housing containing a first grease cavity above said upper bearing cavity and a second grease cavity below said upper bearing cavity;k) said grease inlet passage to said upper bearing cavity being connected to said first grease cavity and said grease outlet passage from said upper bearing cavity being connected to said second grease cavity;l) each of said first and second grease cavities extending entirely around said spindle axis.