Patent Application
20180135257
The present disclosure relates to rotary mixers and more particularly, to a rotor assembly for a rotor mixer.
Machines, such as road reclaimers, soil stabilizers and rotary mixers, have a rotor assembly for removing or mixing road surface and base materials such as, rock, asphalt, concrete, or soil. The rotor assembly typically includes a rotor having multiple cutting tools disposed on a peripheral surface thereof. The rotor is rotated through a suitable interface, e.g., a drive mechanism drawing power from an engine. During operation, the rotor rotates, causing the cutting tools to come in repeated contact with the road surface for cutting and/or mixing the road surface materials. Typically, a cutting depth created by the rotor is dependent upon a diameter of the rotor and ground clearance distance to the drive mechanism. In order to create a deeper cut, a diameter of the rotor may be required to be increased. However, increasing the diameter of the rotor can lead to a decrease in an amount of force generated by the cutting tools disposed on the peripheral surface of the rotor. As a result, productivity of the machine may be reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,198, hereinafter the '198 patent, describes an automatically steered gearbox for controlling an implement with a pivoting tongue. According to the '198 patent, a mower is suspended from a frame and includes a header with a cutter. A tongue is pivotally connected to the mower frame and is moveable with respect to the frame by a hydraulic cylinder. At the front of the tongue a front gearbox is rigidly attached to the tongue. The front gearbox transmits rotary power from the power take off of the tractor to a rear gearbox pivotally attached to the header. Further, the rotary power from the rear gearbox, is passed on ultimately to the rotary cutting units. Pivoting of the rear gearbox is controlled by a steering connection operatively attached between the front and rear gearboxes.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a rotary mixer is provided. The rotary mixer includes a frame and a drive train journaled within a drive train housing pivotably mounted to the frame. The rotary mixer further includes a bearing housing pivotably mounted to the frame and a generally cylindrical rotor coupled to the bearing housing. The cylindrical rotor has a drive end and a bearing end opposite to the drive end. The cylindrical rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotary mixer further includes a transmission contained within the rotor at the drive end and having an input shaft operatively coupled to the drive train. The transmission further includes an output shaft at an offset from the input shaft. The output shaft is operatively coupled to the rotor, and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotary mixer further includes a bearing assembly contained within the rotor at the bearing end. The bearing assembly has a mounting axis and a bearing axis offset from the mounting axis. The bearing assembly is fixedly mounted around the mounting axis to the bearing housing. The bearing assembly has a rotatable bearing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor and is operatively coupled to the rotor.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a rotor assembly for a rotary mixer is provided. The rotor assembly having a generally cylindrical rotor, having a drive end and a bearing end opposite to the drive end, being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor assembly further includes a transmission contained substantially within the rotor at the drive end. The transmission has an input shaft and an output shaft offset from the input shaft. The output shaft is operatively coupled to the rotor and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor assembly further includes a bearing assembly contained substantially within the rotor at the bearing end. The rotor assembly has a mounting axis and a bearing axis offset from the mounting axis. The bearing assembly further has a rotatable bearing operatively coupled to the rotor and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a rotary mixer is provided. The rotary mixer includes a frame and an engine mounted on the frame. The rotary mixer further includes a drive train journaled within a drive train housing pivotably mounted to the frame operatively coupled to the engine. The rotary mixer further includes a bearing housing pivotably mounted to the frame and a generally cylindrical rotor coupled to the bearing housing. The cylindrical rotor has a drive end and a bearing end opposite to the drive end. The cylindrical rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotary mixer further includes a transmission contained within the rotor at the drive end and having an input shaft operatively coupled to the drive train. The transmission further includes an output shaft at an offset from the input shaft. The output shaft is operatively coupled to the rotor, and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotary mixer further includes a mixing chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, and a means for varying a height of the rotor above or below a ground surface. The rotary mixer further includes a bearing assembly contained substantially within the rotor at the bearing end. The bearing assembly has a mounting axis and a bearing axis offset from the mounting axis. The drive train housing and the bearing housing are attached to hydraulic cylinders that are coordinated to raise and lower the two housings together. The bearing assembly is fixedly mounted around the mounting axis to the bearing housing. The bearing assembly has a rotatable bearing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor and is operatively coupled to the rotor.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, are illustrative of one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and, together with the description, explain various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Further, the accompanying drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale, and any values or dimensions in the accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and may or may not represent actual or preferred values or dimensions. Where applicable, some or all select features may not be illustrated to assist in the description and understanding of underlying features.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the described subject matter and is not necessarily intended to represent the only embodiment(s). In certain instances, the description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts.
Any reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, operation, or function described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, any appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures, characteristics, operations, or functions may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, and it is intended that embodiments of the described subject matter can and do cover modifications and variations of the described embodiments.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification, appended claims and abstract, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. That is, unless clearly specified otherwise, as used herein the words “a” and “an” and the like carry the meaning of “one or more. ” Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the described subject matter to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. merely identify one of a number of portions, components, points of reference, operations and/or functions as described herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the described subject matter to any particular configuration or orientation.
Generally speaking, embodiments of the present subject matter provide a rotor for a rotary mixer where the drive arrangement for the rotor has an input shaft that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the rotor. A bearing assembly is also provided on the rotor. The bearing assembly is operatively coupled to the rotor and has an offset mounting similar to that of the drive arrangement. The offset of the drive and bearing arrangements may allow the rotor to achieve increased cutting depth as compared to a rotor system without an offset arrangement.
Referring to
The rotary mixer 100 includes a powertrain 108 having an engine 110, a gearbox (not shown) mounted on the frame 104, and ground engaging units 116. In one embodiment, the engine 110 is disposed at a front end 112 of the rotary mixer 100, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the powertrain 108 may include a generator to derive electric power from the power generated by the engine 110. In such a case, each of the ground engaging units 116 may be coupled to electric motors such that the electric motors get electrical power from the generator, and in turn propel the ground engaging units 116 on the ground surface 102.
In other embodiments, the powertrain 108 may include one or more hydraulic pumps. In some embodiments, each of the ground engaging units 116 may be coupled to hydraulic actuators (hydraulic motors, cylinders, etc.) such that the hydraulic actuators are driven from one or more of the hydraulic pumps, and in turn propel the ground engaging units 116 on the ground surface 102.
The rotary mixer 100 further includes a mixing chamber 118. In one or more embodiments, a width of the mixing chamber 118 may be equivalent to a width of the rotary mixer 100. In alternate embodiments, the width of the mixing chamber 118 may vary based on an operational requirement of the rotary mixer 100. Although the present disclosure is described with respect to the rotary mixer 100 having the mixing chamber 118 disposed between the front and rear ground engaging units 116, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the mixing chamber 118 may be disposed at one of the rear end 114 and the front end 112 of the rotary mixer 100 without limiting the scope of the present disclosure.
The mixing chamber 118 may be defined by a first side plate 120, a second side plate (not shown) opposite to the first side plate 120, an overhead plate (not shown) coupled to each of the first side plate 120 and the second side plate, a front door (not shown), and a rear door (not shown). Specifically, each of the first side plate 120, the second side plate, and the overhead plate are coupled to each other to define the mixing chamber 118. In one embodiment, each of the first side plate 120, the second side plate and the overhead plate may be coupled to each other using fasteners, such as nuts and bolts. In another embodiment, each of the first side plate 120, the second side plate, and the overhead plate may be welded to each other to form a single integrated structure. The front door and the rear door can be pivotably coupled to the overhead plate. Owing to the pivoted coupling, the front and rear doors may be opened and closed to selectively exit reclaimed material via one or more hydraulic actuators (not shown). In some embodiments, the mixing chamber 118 may be configured to move with respect to the frame 104 of the rotary mixer 100. Specifically, the mixing chamber 118 may be configured to tiltably move with respect to the frame 104 of the rotary mixer 100 between a lowered and raised position. In other embodiments, the mixing chamber 118 may be fixedly mounted to the frame 104.
The rotary mixer 100 may further include a drive train housing 122 pivotably mounted to the frame 104 of the rotary mixer 100. More specifically, a first end 124 of the drive train housing 122 may be pivotably coupled to the frame 104 of the rotary mixer 100. The drive train housing 122 may be coupled to the frame 104 in such a way that the drive train housing 122 can be pivoted about an axis A-A′ (shown in
As shown in
Referring again to
The rotary mixer 100 may include a hydraulic system 140 (shown in
As illustrated in
The rotor 202 may be provided with multiple cutting tools 206. The multiple cutting tools 206 are disposed circumferentially along an outer surface 204 of the rotor 202, and extend outwardly from the outer surface 204. The cutting tools 206 may be detachably attached to the outer surface 204 of the rotor 202. The cutting tools 206 may be selected based on the operational requirement of the rotary mixer 100. A cutting plane of the rotary mixer 100 is tangential to the plane containing periphery of the bottom portion of the mixing chamber 118 and is parallel to a direction of travel of the rotary mixer 100.
The rotor 202 may have a drive end 208 and a bearing end 210 opposite the drive end 208. As mentioned previously, the rotary mixer 100 may have the drive train housing 122 and the bearing housing 128 pivotably mounted to the frame 104. The drive train housing 122 may be pivotably mounted adjacent to the drive end 208 of the rotor 202. A drive train 212 is journaled within the drive train housing 122. The drive train 212 is configured to receive power from the engine 110 and transfer the power to the rotor 202. In one embodiment, the engine 110 may be coupled to the drive train 212 via a coupling 214. In another embodiment, the engine 110 may be operatively coupled to the drive train 212 via a belt drive or other method known in the art. The bearing housing 128 is pivotably mounted adjacent to the bearing end 210 of the rotor 202. The bearing housing 128 is configured to house multiple bearings therein to reduce friction generated due to rotation of the rotor 202.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the transmission 302 of the rotor assembly 300 may include a first gear box 320, having a housing fixedly mounted around a mounting axis Z-Z′ to drive train housing 122. In some embodiments, the transmission 302 of the rotor assembly 300 may include a second gear box 322 fixedly mounted to second ring 328 of the rotor 202. In the embodiments illustrated in
The transmission 302 may be contained substantially within the rotor 202 at the drive end 208. In some embodiments, the transmission 302 is contained within the rotor 202 such that a portion of the transmission 302 lies outside the rotor 202 by a predetermined distance from a plane containing periphery of a first end 318 of the rotor 202. In other embodiments, the transmission 302 may be completely contained within the rotor 202.
In some embodiments, the transmission 302 of the rotor assembly 300 may be configured to transfer power from the drive train 212 (see
Referring to
In some embodiments, the rotor assembly 300 for the rotary mixer 100 may further include the bearing assembly 304 at the bearing end 210 of the rotor 202. The bearing assembly 304 may be fixedly mounted around the mounting axis Z-Z′ to the bearing housing 128. In one embodiment, the bearing assembly 304 may be fastened to the bearing housing 128 via fasteners, such as nuts and bolts. In another embodiment, the bearing assembly 304 may be welded to the bearing housing 128. The bearing assembly 304 may be contained substantially within the rotor 202 at the bearing end 210. In some embodiments, the bearing assembly 304 may be contained within the rotor 202 such that a portion of the bearing assembly 304 lies outside the rotor 202 by a predetermined distance from an imaginary plane containing periphery of a second end 332 of the rotor 202. In other embodiments, the bearing assembly 304 may be completely disposed within the rotor 202.
The bearing assembly 304 may include a shoulder portion 334 and a neck portion 336 defined at a distance from the shoulder portion 334. The shoulder portion 334 of the bearing assembly 304 may be defined along the mounting axis Z-Z′ of the bearing assembly 304 and the neck portion 336 may be defined along a bearing axis B-B′ of the bearing assembly (shown in
The bearing assembly 304 may have a rotatable bearing (not shown) coupled to the neck portion 336 of the bearing assembly 304. The rotatable bearing may be disposed along the bearing axis B-B′ of the bearing assembly 304 and, as such, may be aligned coaxial with the longitudinal axis Y-Y′ of the rotor 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotatable bearing may be contained within shoulder portion 334 of bearing assembly 304.
The present disclosure relates to the rotor assembly 300 for the rotary mixer 100. The rotor assembly 300 includes the rotor 202 having a generally cylindrical shape, the transmission 302, and the bearing assembly 304. When using the rotary mixer 100, the power generated by the engine 110 is transferred to the drive train 212 of the rotary mixer 100 via the coupling 214. As the drive train 212 is operably coupled to the input shaft 312 of the transmission, the input shaft 312 begins to rotate, and further transfers the rotational motion, through the transmission 302, to the rotor 202. The rotational motion of the rotor 202 causes the rotatable bearing within the bearing assembly 304 to rotate. The rotor 202 may rotate at one of the first predetermined speed and the second predetermined speed as selected by the operator. The bearing assembly 304 aids in maintaining the speed of the rotor 202, and also reducing the friction generated by the rotor 202 during rotation. The engine 110 of the rotary mixer 100 also supplies the power to the ground engaging units 116 and thereby propels the rotary mixer along the ground surface 102.
Further, during operation of the rotary mixer 100, the operator of the rotary mixer 100 may actuate the hydraulic cylinders 138 to lower or raise the rotor 202 with respect to the frame 104. As such the cutting tools 206 of the rotor 202 can be brought into contact with the ground surface 102. An extent of such lowering of the rotor 202 may be determined on the basis of a cutting depth required, and dimension or type of the cutting tools 206 attached to the outer surface 204 of the rotor 202. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber 118 may also be lowered and raised along with the rotor 202. In other embodiments, the mixing chamber 118 may be fixedly attached to the frame 104.
As the rotor 202 rotates, the cutting tools 206 come in repeated contact with the ground surface 102 to break up a layer of material from the ground surface 102 to form the reclaimed material. The reclaimed material is held within the mixing chamber 118 and the operator may actuate the one or more hydraulic actuators to open or close one of the front door and the rear door to selectively exit the reclaimed material. On completion of the operation, the operator may raise the rotor 202 by actuating the hydraulic cylinders 138.
The transmission 302 provides an offset from the input shaft 312 to the longitudinal axis Y-Y′ of the rotor 202. This offset may provide a greater clearance between the cutting tools 206 of the rotor 202 and the drive train housing 122 and the bearing housing 128.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
