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, respec- tively, 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 3A-3A of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially 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 substan- tially along line 6-6 of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially 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 substan- tially along line 9-9 of FIG. 3; FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially along line 10-10 of FIG. 3; FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially along line 11-11 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially along line 12-12 of FIG. 3; FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken substan- tially 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 under- stood 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 0-ring seal 66 is installed as shown in FIG.

15A.

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.

Der\Appln\PCT-2701. SPC