Abstract:
A vibratory motor for a vibratory screening machine including a housing having a main shaft mounting outer shafts at its ends with a slip connection therebetween, bearings mounted on the outer shafts, first lubricant chambers on opposite sides of each of the bearings with a conduit therebetween, eccentric weights on the opposite sides of each bearing in each of the first lubricant chambers, second lubricant chambers outwardly of the first lubricant chambers, ducts between each outermost first lubricant chamber and an adjacent second lubricant chamber, second conduits between the second lubricant chambers, and conduits including the hollow portion of the main shaft and bores in the main shaft and outer shafts for conducting lubricant from the second lubricant chambers to the bearings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vibratory motor of the type which is used in a vibratory screening machine and which has a self-contained continuous lubrication system. 
     By way of background, vibratory motors are in use for vibrating the frame of a vibratory screening machine. Such motors apply extremely great stresses to the shaft bearings because of the violent vibrations which the motor produces because of both the size of the motor and the weight of the frame of the vibratory screening machine which the motor causes to vibrate. In the past, vibratory motors of the foregoing type required an external console which included a pumping mechanism for supplying lubricant to the motor. This was both costly and inefficient. Also in the past the main motor shaft was coupled directly to the bearing assembly which therefore transmitted undesirable forces from the main motor shaft to the bearings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a vibratory motor of the type used on a vibratory screening machine and which has an unique continuously circulating internal self-contained lubrication system. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibratory motor having an improved connection between its shaft and the bearings which support it so as to effectively reduce the transmission of vibration from the shaft to the bearings. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a vibratory motor of the type which is used on a vibratory screening machine and which has a self-contained lubrication system wherein the supply of lubricant to each of the bearings at the outer ends of the motor shaft is equalized, thereby assuring the adequate supply of lubricant to each of the bearings. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vibratory motor for a vibratory screening machine which has an unique connection between the vibratory motor shaft and its associated bearing structure which compensates for manufacturing variations and thermal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter. 
     The present invention relates to a vibratory motor comprising a housing having first and second housing ends, a main shaft in said housing, first and second ends on said main shaft in said first and second housing ends, respectively, first and second outer shafts encircling said first and second ends of said main shaft, respectively, first and second keyed slidable connections between said first and second ends of said main shaft and said first and second outer shafts, respectively, and first and second bearings on said first and second outer shafts in said first and second housing ends, respectively. 
     The present invention also relates to a vibratory motor comprising a housing having first and second housing ends, a shaft in said housing, first and second shaft ends on said shaft in said first and second housing ends, first and second bearings on said first and second shaft ends, respectively, first and second eccentric weights on said first and second shaft ends, respectively, first and second lubricant chambers proximate said first and second shaft ends, respectively, and a lubricant conduit extending between said first and second lubricant chambers. 
     The present invention also relates to a vibratory motor comprising a housing having first and second housing ends, a shaft in said housing, first and second shaft ends on said shaft in said first and second housing ends, respectively, first and second bearings on said first and second shaft ends, respectively, a first lubricant chamber proximate said first shaft end, a second lubricant chamber proximate said second shaft end, a third lubricant chamber between said first bearing and said first lubricant chamber, a fourth lubricant chamber between said second bearing and said second lubricant chamber, a first eccentric weight on said first shaft end in said third lubricant chamber, a second eccentric weight on said second shaft end in said fourth lubricant chamber, a first duct between said third lubricant chamber and said first lubricant chamber, and a second duct between said fourth lubricant chamber and said second lubricant chamber. 
     The present invention also relates to a vibratory motor comprising a housing, a main shaft in said housing, a hollow interior in said main shaft, a shaft end on said main shaft, an outer shaft on said shaft end, a first clearance between said shaft end and said outer shaft, a plurality of first bores between said hollow interior and said first clearance, a bearing mounted on said outer shaft, a second clearance between said outer shaft and said bearing, and a plurality of second bores in said outer shaft between said first and second clearances. 
     The present invention also relates to a vibratory motor comprising a housing having first and second housing ends, a shaft in said housing, first and second ends on said shaft in said first and second housing ends, respectively, first and second bearings on said first and second ends of said shaft, respectively, first eccentric weights on opposite sides of said first bearing, second eccentric weights on opposite sides of said second bearing, first lubricant chambers on opposite sides of said first bearing, second lubricant chambers on opposite sides of said second bearing, a first conduit connecting said first lubricant chambers, a second conduit connecting said second lubricant chambers, a third lubricant chamber proximate one of said first lubricant chambers on the opposite side of said one first lubricant chamber from said first bearing, a fourth lubricant chamber proximate one of said second lubricant chambers on the opposite side of said one second lubricant chamber from said second bearing, at least one first duct between said one first lubricant chamber and said third lubricant chamber, and at least one second duct between said one second lubricant chamber and said fourth lubricant chamber. 
     The various aspects of the present invention will be more readily understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein; 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved vibratory motor of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the left end of the motor of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2  and showing the bearing structure on the left end of the motor; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view taken substantially along line  3 A— 3 A of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the left end of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 5 with the parts rotated to the position of FIG. 6 as if line  7 — 7  were taken on FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  12 — 12  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line  14 — 14  of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 15A is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary plan view showing the bores in the motor housing for conducting lubricant between the ends of the motor and between the various chambers of the motor; 
     FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the end of the motor housing without the shaft or bearing therein taken substantially in the direction of arrows  17 — 17  of FIG.  3  and showing various lubricant bores; and 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of the left end of the motor housing and is a projection of FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved vibratory motor  10  of the present invention (FIGS. 1 and 4) is especially intended for use on a frame of a vibratory screening machine, but it may be used on other devices if applicable thereto. The frame of the vibratory screening machine may weigh in excess of two tons. Motor  10  includes a housing  11  in which an electric motor  12  is suitably mounted. An elongated main shaft  13  having a rotor  14  thereon is also suitably mounted in housing ends  15  and  15 ′. A stator  16  is mounted within housing  11 . At this point it is to be noted that vibratory motor  12  is substantially symmetrical about vertical centerline  17  (FIG.  4 ), and therefore the parts at the left end  15  are being designated by unprimed numerals, and any mirror-image counterparts at the right end which are referred to will be designated by primed numerals which correspond to the unprimed numerals. It will further be appreciated that not all parts at the right end of FIG. 4 will be designated by numerals, inasmuch as it is understood that there are all parts at the right end of the motor  10  in FIGS. 4 and 16 which correspond to the described parts at the left end thereof. 
     End caps  19  and  19 ′ are suitably secured to the left and right ends  15  and  15 ′, respectively, of housing  11  by bolts such as  20 . Brackets  21  and  21 ′ form parts of the left and right ends  15  and  15 ′, respectively, and they include bores  22  for receiving bolts (not shown) for securing motor  10  to a vibratory screening machine (not shown). 
     The motor  10  includes a lubrication system and unique connections at the outer ends of shaft  13  for enhancing the longevity of the bearings. End cap  19  includes a transparent plastic disc  23  which is secured to end cap  19  by ring  24  which is secured to end cap  19  by a plurality of bolts  25 . A chamber  27  is located in end cap  19  and defined by wall  29  which includes window  23  (FIGS. 3 and 5) and wall  30  (FIGS. 5 and 8) which includes a disc  31  secured to wall  30  by a plurality of bolts  32  (FIG.  8 ). A funnel  33  (FIGS. 5,  6 ,  7  and  8 ) has two side walls  34  (FIGS. 5,  6  and  8 ) extending outwardly from disc  31  and a bottom wall  35  also extending outwardly from disc  31  and joining the bottoms of side walls  34 . Funnel  33  also has an end wall  37  (FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 ) connected to the outer edges of side walls  34  and bottom wall  35 . Disc  31  has a bore  39  (FIGS. 5 and 8) therein which is in communication with a conduit in the form of a tube  40  (FIGS. 3 and 5) leading to the hollow inside  41  (FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 ) of main shaft  13 . As the motor  10  operates, the vibrations will cause the lubricant in chamber  27  to splash violently and enter the open top  42  (FIGS. 5 and 8) of funnel  33  and thereafter pass through bore  39  (FIG. 8) and tube  40  and into the hollow inside  41  of shaft  13 . 
     The lubricant is then conducted to the roller bearing  43  which is mounted in housing end  15  in the following manner. A sleeve  44  (FIGS. 5,  10  and  15 ) is shrunk-fitted into motor end  15  (FIGS. 5 and 15) and it has an annular shoulder  45  (FIG. 15A) which bears against annular shoulder  47  of housing end  15  to thereby position it in its proper location. The roller bearing  43  has an outer race  49  and an inner race  50 . The bearing  43  is retained in position within annular sleeve  44  by annular retaining rings  51  which have their outer edges received in annular grooves  52  in sleeve  44 . 
     As noted previously, lubricant is supplied to the hollow inside  41  of shaft  13 . The lubricant then travels outwardly through bores  53  in shaft  13  (FIGS. 3,  5  and  15 ) as the shaft rotates. In this respect, as can be seen from the drawings, there are two series of four bores  53 . The two series are axially spaced from each other, and each series comprises four bores  53  spaced 90° apart. The lubricant travels outwardly through bores  53  and into very narrow clearance space  55  (FIG. 15) between main shaft  13  and outer shaft  57  (FIGS. 5,  7 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 ) mounted thereon. The sleeve bearings  58  (FIG. 5) act as seals to confine the lubricant to annular space  55  between them. The lubricant then travels outwardly through four bores  59  (FIGS. 3,  10  and  15 ) in outer shaft  57  and thereafter into the four axial slots  60  (FIGS. 14 and 15) between outer shaft  57  and inner race  50  of roller bearing  43 . Each slot  60  in the outer surface of outer shaft  57  is aligned with a radial bore  59  in outer shaft  57 . The lubricant thereafter is supplied to the rollers  61  between the inner and outer races. 
     Substantially semi-cylindrical eccentric weights  62  (FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12 ) are clamped onto outer shaft  57  by yoke-like clamping members  63  (FIGS. 5 and 11) and bolts  64 . These weights effect the vibration of motor  12  as they are rotated. 
     The bearing  43  is held against axial movement relative to housing  15 . In this respect, sleeve  44  is held against axial movement because of its shrink-fit connection, and because annular rim  56  (FIG. 15A) of sleeve  44  is clamped between shoulder  45  of housing end  15  and the annular edge  58  of cap  19 . Bearing  43  is held against axial movement by retaining rings  51  and because it is press-fitted into sleeve  44 . The inner race  50  of bearing  43  is also held against axial movement because of its construction relative to the remainder of the bearing, and the outer shaft  57  is also held against axial movement relative to bearing  43  because it is press-fitted into race  50 . Also the central inner edges of weights  52  press against the opposite sides of inner race  50  of bearing  43  at  58  thereby further securing outer shaft  57  against axial movement. An O-ring seal  66  is installed as shown in FIG.  15 A. 
     The main shaft  13  can move axially relative to stationary outer shaft  57  during motor vibration because of a slidable connection therebetween. The bearing  43  is mounted between stationary sleeve  44  and stationary outer shaft  57 , and it is therefore held against axial movement. Any axial movement of main shaft  13  due to motor vibration will not be transmitted to bearing  43 , thereby enhancing its longevity. More specifically, there is a keyed slip connection between the main shaft  13  and the outer shaft  57 . The slip connection includes a substantially key-like configuration  65  (FIGS. 5 and  12 ) on shaft  13  which fits between side walls  69  of slot  67  of outer shaft  57  so that shaft  13  drives outer shaft  57  while permitting relative axial movement therebetween. Annular bearings  58  (FIG. 5) are positioned between shaft  13  and outer shaft  57 . In addition, the slidable connection compensates for temperature and manufacturing variations. In addition, the bearing assembly at each end of the housing  11  can be installed in position independently of the other and independently of the position of shaft  13  because of the above-described slidable connection. 
     The lubricant which is provided to bearing  43  passes along the outer sides of inner race  50  into bearing  43  and also passes into chambers  71  and  72  (FIGS. 3 and 5) on the opposite sides of bearing  43 . Also, the lubricant can leak from slots  60  into chambers  71  and  72 . In this respect, there are four clearances in the form of slots  60  spaced at 90° intervals on the outside of outer shaft  57 . The lubricant from chamber  71  will pass through a conduit in the form of bore  75  (FIGS. 5,  13  and  16 ) leading from chamber  71  to chamber  72 . The reason that bore  75  is shown as being oblong in FIG. 5 is because of the attitude in which section line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2 was taken. Thereafter, the weight  62  (FIG. 5) to the left of bearing  43  in chamber  72  will throw the lubricant upwardly into ducts in the form of mirror image troughs  77  (FIGS. 5,  8  and  9 ) which conduct the lubricant into chamber  27  from which it is thrown into funnel  33  as a result of the vibration of motor  10 , and thereafter the above-described circulation of the lubricant is repeated. As can be seen from FIG. 5, trough  77  is formed in end cap  19  as a part of chamber  72 . The troughs  77  are tilted slightly downwardly from chamber  72  toward chamber  27  to facilitate the lubricant flow into chamber  27 . Some lubricant also passes over wall  30  (FIG. 8) and through the space between ducts  77 , and this part of the wall therefore also acts as a duct into chamber  27 . In addition, the weights  62  will continuously agitate the lubricant in chambers  71  and  72  and supply it to bearing  43 . It is to be noted that in operation the motor  10  is installed on a vibratory screening machine in an attitude which is approximately 45° clockwise from the attitude depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, and this positions the troughs  77  at favorable attitudes to receive the lubricant from chamber  72  and conduct it to chamber  27 . The foregoing 45° clockwise orientation also positions the funnel  33  in a vertical attitude with its open top extending substantially horizontally. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the two lubricant chambers  27  and  27 ′ on opposite ends of the motor  10  are in communication with each other in order to equalize the lubricant level therebetween by a conduit in the nature of a series of bores. In this respect, bore  80  (FIGS. 11,  12 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 ) along with associated bores extend between chamber  27  in the left end of cap  19  and chamber  27 ′ in the right end cap  19 ′. More specifically, as can be seen from FIG. 18, the bore  80  is located in elongated substantially rectangular solid portion  86  of housing  11 , and it includes a plug  81  at its end in wall  82  (FIGS. 3,  5 ,  11  and  18 ). A cross bore  83  (FIG. 18) is in communication with bore  80 , and cross bore  83  is in communication with bore  84  which is in communication with bore  85  through cross bore  87 . Bore  87  is plugged at  89 . It is the outlet  90  of bore  85  which is in communication with chamber  27  via bore  91  (FIGS. 7,  8  and  9 ). In this respect, bore  91  (FIGS. 6 and 9) in end cap  19  lines up with the outlet  90  of bore  85 , and bore  91  is in communication with chamber  27 . Bore  91  is in a solid portion  96  (FIGS. 5,  8  and  9 ) in end cap  19 , and it extends through wall  30  and wall  98  (FIGS. 5 and 9) which are part of solid portion  96 . A mirror image counterpart series of bores are positioned in the right end  15 ′ of housing  11  and in end cap  19 ′ for effecting communication between bore  80  and chamber  27 ′. Therefore, there is communication of lubricant between the two ends of motor  10 , and such communication is between chambers  27  and  27 ′. There is also a bore  92  (FIGS. 5 and 9) in wall  98  of end cap  19  which lines up with conduit  75  to thereby conduct lubricant from chamber  71  to chamber  72 . A drain plug  95  (FIGS. 1 and 5) is located in end cap  19  for the purpose of closing bore  95 ′ used to drain lubricant. The preferred lubricant which is used is known as turbine  68  oil. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.