Hydraulic and earth engineering – Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying – retrieving,... – By means advancing along terrain and guiding pipe or cable...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-05-22
Bagnell, David (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying, retrieving,...
By means advancing along terrain and guiding pipe or cable...
C405S271000, C405S303000, C172S040000, C074S087000, C173S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234718
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to hydraulic and earth engineering and, more particularly, to exemplary applications such as pipe and cable laying using a vibrating plow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vibratory mechanisms find wide use in construction and other applications. An example of such an application is a road compacting machine of the type having a cylindrical drum which rolls over freshly laid asphalt and which vibrates to compact the asphalt into a relatively hard surface suitable for vehicular traffic. An example of such a machine and a vibratory drum used therewith are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,995 (Sadahiro). And another example of a vibratory drum used for road compaction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,847 (Stanton).
Road compaction represents but one way in which vibratory mechanisms are used. Such mechanisms also find utility in soil tillage. U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,056 (Rogers) discloses a multi-blade plow pulled by a farm tractor. The blades are vibrated by a rotating eccentric weight.
And as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,982 (Golobay), vibratory plows are used for underground placement (within a trench) of flexible cables, flexible pipelines and the like. Such placement is often referred to as “laying” a cable or pipeline.
Vibrating the plow blade results in a number of advantages including reduced disturbance of the earth, faster placement of the cable or pipeline and reduced drawbar pull, i.e., reduced force required to draw the blade through the earth. The benefits of reduced earth disturbance and faster installation are apparent. For a given plow blade, reduced drawbar pull can translate into reduced engine or vehicle size or, alternatively, into increased placement speed.
In many respects, the vibratory mechanism disclosed in the Golobay patent typifies the type of mechanism used with plows for underground placement. Such mechanism includes two eccentric weights, each affixed to a separate shaft. One of the weights is split into spaced-apart halves and the other weight passes between the halves as the weights rotate. Weight rotation is by direct motor drive to one of the shafts and by a belt, or other mechanized methods, to the second shaft; both shafts rotate in the same direction. But double-shaft-mounted weights which are gear-driven in opposite directions are also known.
While vibratory mechanisms of, for example, the type disclosed in the Golobay patent, have been generally satisfactory for the intended purposes, they are not without disadvantages. One disadvantage is that they are structurally large. This is so because the mechanism housing must be very sturdy to withstand the vibration and because the housing must be sufficiently large to accommodate two spaced shafts and their respective weights.
A related disadvantage is that they are heavy. And increased weight is often attended by increased manufacturing cost of the vibratory mechanism itself and by the need to “beef up” the supporting framework.
Yet another disadvantage relates to the way in which a vibratory cable-laying plow is sometimes used, namely, adjacent to building foundations or walls. A known type of mechanism (such as that disclosed in the Golobay patent) has a very significant lateral dimension, i.e., a dimension measured perpendicular to the plow direction of travel. This prevents the plow from being used as close to a building wall as it might otherwise be.
Still another disadvantage relates to productivity. For a given vehicle engine size, the energy available to do useful work, i.e., draw the plow through the earth, operate a cable reel or the like, diminishes as the size and weight of the vibratory mechanism and its supporting framework increase.
An improved vibratory apparatus which addresses disadvantages of earlier mechanisms would be an important technological advance.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vibratory apparatus which overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings of earlier vibratory mechanisms.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vibratory apparatus which has reduced size and weight compared to mechanisms of similar capability.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vibratory apparatus which helps increase productivity.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vibratory apparatus which is particularly useful for vibratory plows. How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new vibratory apparatus includes a housing and a shaft mounted with respect to the housing for rotation about the shaft long axis. First and second eccentric weights are supported by the shaft, also for rotation about the shaft axis.
More specifically, the first weight is affixed to the shaft so that such weight and shaft rotate in unison and in the same direction, i.e., a first direction which may be clockwise or counterclockwise. The second weight is mounted in such a way that it rotates on the shaft in a second direction opposite that of the first direction. The first weight and the second weight are in periodic rotational registry during each revolution of the shaft and in a specific embodiment, such weights are in rotational registry twice for each revolution of the shaft.
In other aspects of the invention, a first drive gear is fixed with respect to the shaft; that is, such first drive gear and the shaft rotate in unison and at the same rotational speed. A second drive gear is fixed with respect to the second weight and, most preferably, is formed as a part of such weight. The first and second drive gears are axially spaced from one another.
At least one transition gear engages the drive gears and in one embodiment, there are two such transition gears located 180° from one another. (Most preferably, the drive gears and the transition gear(s) are bevel gears and resemble a differential gear set.)
When the shaft rotates, the first weight, the first drive gear and the shaft rotate in a first direction with respect to the shaft axis. The second weight and the second drive gear rotate on the shaft in a second direction about the shaft axis. Considering only the first drive and second drive gears, such gears rotate in opposite directions.
The transition gear rotates with respect to a respective axle-like rod and a rod axis. If the embodiment includes two transition gears, there are two such rods and two rod axes which are coincident with one another. And the rod and rod axis (or each rod and rod axis) is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis. Like the first and second drive gears and for either direction of rotation of the main shaft (and assuming an embodiment with two transition gears), the first and second transition gears rotate in opposite directions about their respective rod axes.
In yet other aspects of the invention, the second weight includes a pair of axially-spaced weight members joined by a rib and defining a cavity between them. Such cavity has a cavity axial dimension, i.e., a dimension measured parallel to the main shaft long axis. The first weight has a first axial dimension less than the cavity axial dimension, thereby permitting the first weight to rotationally move in the cavity.
As to other details of the new apparatus, the housing comprises first and second dome-like closures and a ring-like central member interposed between the closures. Such closures bolt to opposite sides of the central member. While the first eccentric weight is affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith, the second eccentric weight is supported on the shaft by a first bearing set, thereby permitting the second weight to rotate independently of the shaft. The shaft and the weights comprise a rotating assembly and such assembly is supported in the housing by a second bearing set. The first bearing set includes a pair of axially-spaced first bearings and the second bearing set includes a pair of axially-spaced second bearings.
A motor is mounted wit
Frey Emory L.
Moffitt John M.
Bagnell David
Case Corporation
Jansson & Shupe & Munger Ltd.
Mayo Tara L.
LandOfFree
Vibratory apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vibratory apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vibratory apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2532245