The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 10 2010 021 961.4, filed May 28, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a vibration exciter (or an apparatus for exciting vibrations) for a ground compactor. The present invention further relates to a ground compactor having at least one such vibration exciter.
A generic vibration exciter, as well as a ground compactor equipped therewith, are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,802 B1. In order to improve the compacting action of the ground compactor shown, the compacting rollers are exposed to vibrations in compacting operation. The vibrations are generated by one (or by a plurality of) vibration exciters. A vibration exciter comprises an exciter shaft driven rotationally about an axis of rotation, on which a so-called exciter weight (exciter mass) is disposed eccentrically. In the following, “exciter weight” designates the structural entirety of exciter weight and exciter shaft unless otherwise specified. Vibrations which can be used for compaction are generated as a result of the imbalance produced by the eccentricity.
Furthermore, at least one so-called turnover weight which is also configured eccentrically (i.e., the center of mass lies outside the axis of rotation) is disposed on the exciter shaft. The turnover weight is rotationally decoupled with respect to the exciter shaft and the exciter weight located thereon or it can rotate about an axis of rotation and can adopt different angular positions with respect to the exciter weight in a rotational range delimited, for example, by stops. The axis of rotation of the exciter shaft with the exciter weight and the axis of rotation of the turnover weight relative to the exciter weight lie coaxially to one another.
The turnover weights are repeatedly entrained by the rotating exciter shaft by means of a pin (or the like) from a lower position as far as a kinematically determined turnover or rollover point at which the turnover weights roll over or turn over due to gravity and impact from the opposite side on a stop provided for this purpose on the exciter shaft or the exciter weight. The turnover weight can therefore, depending on the direction of rotation of the exciter shaft, adopt a position in which the mass of the turnover weight is added in the rotational movement to the exciter weight whereby the vibration amplitude is increased and another position in which the mass of the turnover weight acts against the mass of the exciter weight, whereby the vibration amplitude is reduced. The arrangement of exciter weight and turnover weight in the vibration exciter therefore allows the vibration intensity of the vibration exciter to be better regulated.
A disadvantage in the vibration exciters known from the prior art in particular is the uncontrolled recoil of the turnover weights upon impact. Another and frequently associated disadvantage is that frequently no distinct turnover of the turnover weight takes place. In practical operation it has further been shown that the turnover weight can adopt a neutral position in the known arrangements. As a result, for example, the position in which the turnover weight adds to the exciter weight cannot be reliably ensured or the maximum amplitude of the exciter unit cannot be achieved. As a result, the maximum compaction performance of the compactor cannot be provided.
It is the object of the present invention to further develop a vibration exciter of the relevant type in such a manner that the disadvantages associated with the prior art are obviated or at least significantly reduced.
In contrast to the vibration exciter known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,802 B1 in which the axes of rotation coincide or lie coaxially to one another and are therefore identical, it is provided according to one embodiment of the present invention that the axes of rotation of the exciter shaft or of the at least one exciter weight fastened thereon and the at least one turnover weight are axially offset with respect to one another. Axially offset means in the sense of the present invention that the two axes of rotation (axis of rotation of the exciter shaft with exciter weight and axis of rotation of the turnover weight) do not lie coaxially to one another and differ from one another in their spatial position. The two axes of rotation therefore do not lie on one another but adjacent to one another. According to one aspect of the present invention, the turnover weight does not pivot relative to the exciter weight concentrically to the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft. The turnover weight, on the contrary, can pivot on an eccentric rotational path with respect to the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft compared with the exciter weight.
As a result of this axial offset of the axes of rotation, it is possible to decisively vary the kinematic conditions so that from a certain angle of rotation, the at least one turnover weight is always pressed onto the stop on the exciter shaft or the exciter weight. By this means a distinct turning and an associated change of amplitude is ensured even if the turnover weight should recoil after the impact. The turnover weight therefore no longer adopts a neutral position. The recoil therefore has a less disadvantageous effect. Furthermore, the arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention also facilitates the switching of the direction of rotation of the vibration arrangement.
In principle, according to one aspect of the present invention, the two axes of rotation can lie with respect to one another such that they intersect at one point or are skew with respect to one another. It is preferable however that the axes of rotation of the exciter shaft and the at least one turnover weight are oriented parallel to one another. Optimal results can be obtained with this arrangement of the two axes of rotation with respect to one another. Furthermore, this embodiment is characterised by being comparatively easy to assemble.
The axial offset of the two axes of rotation with respect to one another is further ideally selected in such a manner that its position stabilizing effect on the positioning of the turnover weight with respect to the exciter weight has almost the same effect on the two outer adjustment positions. According to a further development it is therefore provided that the axis of rotation of the at least one turnover weight is offset relative to the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft or the exciter weight by a defined value, where this value is measured as the inward-pointing distance on the angle bisector of the turning angle. The specific geometrical relationships of this embodiment will be explained in further detail hereinafter in connection with the figures.
The axial offset can fundamentally be varied in a wide range. The positive effect of the present invention appears however even with a relatively small axial offset. A comparatively small axial offset additionally has the advantage that the vibration exciter according to the present invention can be kept compact in its manner of construction as previously. Exceptional results are accordingly achieved if the distance of the axes of rotation on the angle bisector lies in the range of a few millimeters and preferably in the range of 1 mm to 15 millimeters and especially in the range of 1.5 to 10 millimeters, quite particularly in the range of 2 to 5 millimeters. The distance is measured in this case in the plane which is intersected perpendicularly by at least the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft. In particular, in this embodiment it is ideal if the two axes of rotation lie parallel to one another and consequently both intersect this plane perpendicularly. If the two axes of rotation do not run parallel to one another, the offset is determined from the shortest distance of the two axes of rotation to one another.
According to a further development it is provided in one embodiment that the vibration exciter has only one exciter weight. This exciter weight is preferably formed in one piece with the exciter shaft. By this means in particular the assembly and maintenance of the entirety of exciter shaft and exciter weight or the vibration exciter is appreciably simplified. It is however naturally also possible to form a plurality of exciter weights in one piece with the exciter shaft or for example, in addition to an exciter weight formed in one piece with the exciter shaft, to provide at least one other exciter weight which is connected to the exciter shaft and which is rotationally fixed, for example by means of a screw connection.
The number of the turnover weights per exciter shaft can also vary. According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable if the vibration exciter has only one turnover weight. It is further particularly preferred in one embodiment that the vibration exciter has only one turnover weight and only one exciter weight.
Specifically the axial offset of the two axes of rotation can be achieved in different ways.
One possibility consists, for example, in providing a bearing ring on the exciter shaft which has an inner shell disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft on which the turnover weight is finally guided. To this end, for example, a corresponding bearing journal on the turnover weight is guided in or through the bearing ring on the exciter shaft. This bearing ring can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the exciter shaft or however, preferably formed in one piece with the exciter shaft. If the bearing ring comprises an independent component, the variant according to the present invention can, for example, be retrofitted comparatively easily in a conventional exciter with coaxial axes of rotation. Overall a hub connection or a hub bearing is thus achieved in this way.
Alternatively or additionally, a hub connection, comprising a bearing hub or bearing journal and a bearing eye, can also be provided for mounting the turnover weight on the exciter weight. In this embodiment, the bearing journal on the turnover weight is received in an eye in the exciter weight. The eye is configured in the form of a hole. This embodiment is also particularly easy to assemble since the turnover weight can be pushed directly onto the exciter weight and then stabilized by the exciter weight itself in its position along the axis of rotation or in the axial direction at least in one direction. In this embodiment in other words, the turnover weight is connected rotationally to the exciter weight or to the exciter shaft in the region of its one axial end by means of a sliding bolt (i.e., bearing journal). This sliding bolt is received directly (i.e., without a rolling body) in a corresponding sliding hole (i.e., hole) in the exciter weight and/or the exciter shaft. This will be explained in detail hereinafter in connection with the figures.
In principle, the preceding bearing arrangement can also be used conversely. In a further embodiment, consequently for example, at least at one axial end the turnover weight has a bearing ring preferably configured in one piece with the turnover weight, in which a corresponding bearing journal is guided in or through on the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft.
In practical use it has been found that a combination of different mounting variants of the turnover weight on the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft is ideal in regard to assembly, maintenance and operation. An aspect of this embodiment therefore consists in that the turnover weight is not only mounted by means of a bearing on the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft but by means of a plurality of bearings, in particular two. In principle, the two bearings can be constructed in the same manner for this purpose so that for example, two pins located coaxially to one another and behind one another in the axial direction are provided on the turnover weight, each engaging in a corresponding recess on the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft.
Alternatively however, differently constructed bearings can be combined with one another in a vibration exciter according to the present invention. It is particularly favorable in this case if the turnover weight in the axial direction of the parallel located axes of rotation coming from the motor initially embraces a bearing ring on the exciter shaft with eccentric outer shell with respect to the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft and thereafter in the axial direction engages with a pin whose axis is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the bearing ring, in a hole on the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft. This special arrangement particularly simply prevents an axial displacement of the turnover weight with respect to the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft and can at the same time be rapidly and simply mounted by pushing the turnover weight onto this structural unit.
In order to fundamentally ensure the axial positioning of the turnover weight on the exciter shaft, in the axial direction of the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft, the bearing ring of the turnover weight is located directly between a drive-side bearing and a stop on the exciter weight or on the exciter shaft. In the axial direction the turnover weight is therefore fixed in its position between the stop and the drive-side bearing. This embodiment is advantageous insofar as additional fixing means are not required for axial securing of the turnover weight.
It is further preferred not to configure the exciter shaft as continuous but as multi-membered. Those parts of the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft which lie directly on the axis of rotation of this unit are counted as the exciter shaft. In a multi-membered configuration of the exciter shaft, this is therefore interrupted at least once between its two outer ends lying in the axial direction so that a space is obtained between the individual members. The individual members of the exciter shaft are thereby interconnected via the exciter weight, which is optionally also configured as multi-membered. This space serves in particular to simplify assembly since a pushing of the turnover weight onto the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft is thereby simplified. In addition, this arrangement enables a particularly favorable weight distribution.
According to a further development it is provided that the turning angle for the turnover weight lies in the range of 120° to 200° and preferably at about 130°. The turning angle is determined in the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turnover weight with respect to the exciter shaft or with respect to the exciter weight and is determined by the two maximum pivot positions of the turnover weight with respect to the exciter weight or the exciter shaft.
A motor, for example, is provided for driving the exciter shaft, which is connected directly (e.g., via a flange connection or splined shaft connection) or indirectly (i.e., via at least one driving intermediate piece) to the exciter shaft. Such a motor is in particular a hydraulic motor. It is further preferably provided that the axis of rotation of the motor is in alignment with or lies coaxially with the axis of rotation of the exciter shaft in order to enable as direct as possible and therefore structurally simple transmission of the drive power of the motor to the exciter shaft.
The solution of the object also extends to a ground compactor comprising at least one vibration exciter according to the present invention. Such a ground compactor is, for example, a plate vibrator, a hand-guided roller or a roller with an operator's platform, wherein at least one compacting band of a ground compactor is acted upon by vibrations by means of at least one vibration exciter according to the present invention. Such a roller can, for example, comprise a so-called trench roller.
The present invention is explained in detail hereinafter as an example and in a non-restrictive manner by reference to the figures. In the figures:
a shows the turnover weight of the vibration exciter from
b shows the structural unit comprising exciter weight and exciter shaft from
a-c show sectional views along the lines A-A, B-B and C-C from
The turnover weight 130 is disposed on the one-piece unit comprising exciter shaft 110 and exciter weight 120 so that it can rotate relative to the exciter weight by means of two bearings 131 and 132 located one behind the other in the axial direction of the axes of rotation Dg and Du. The bearings 131 and 132 can be designated in relation to the motor 140 in the axial direction as front bearing point 131 and rear bearing point 132. Further details of the two bearings 131 and 132 can be seen in
The turnover weight 130 comprises a turnover mass 137 having an annular segment-shaped cross-section, having a surface stop 134, a cam 133 having a surface stop 136 opposite to the surface stop 134 in the direction of rotation Du and a bearing ring 135 in the region of the front bearing 131, wherein the bearing ring 135 has a hollow-cylindrical inner shell 172 configured coaxially to the axis of rotation Du. A cylindrical bearing journal 180 is further provided in the region of the rear bearing 132, wherein the cylinder axis of the bearing journal 180 also lies coaxially to the axis of rotation Du.
The structural unit comprising exciter weight 120 and exciter shaft 110 according to
b further illustrates that the exciter shaft 110 is not configured to be continuous along the axis of rotation Dg but comprises a front member 110a and a rear member 110b which are separated from one another by a space F in the axial direction. This space F makes it considerably easier to assemble the turnover weight 130 with the structural unit comprising exciter weight 120 and exciter shaft 110, as will be explained in further detail hereinafter. The space F also has the result that in the axial intermediate space between the front bearing point 131 and the rear bearing point 132, substantially no mass is disposed, with the result that an advantageous weight distribution in regard to the generation of vibrations is obtained.
When the turnover weight 130 is inserted along the dashed arrows in
The rear bearing 132 has a different structure. There the bearing journal 180 of the turnover weight 130 is mounted in the hole (not visible in
The structure of the turnover weight 130 will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to the figures.
In operation the exciter weight 120 is driven rotationally by the motor 140 via the exciter shaft 110.
If a switchover now takes place from the “small amplitude” operating mode (in the direction of revolution U) into the “large amplitude” operating mode (contrary to the direction of revolution U), the exciter weight initially impacts with its stop 124 against the stop 134 of the turnover weight and thereby pushes the turnover weight contrary to the direction of revolution U away from the exciter weight 120.
The effect of the present invention now lies in the fact that the relative position of the turnover weight 130 with respect to the exciter weight 120 is stabilized by the axial offset of the axes of rotation Dg and Du according to the present invention and counteracts a neutral positioning the turnover weight. The turnover weight 130 therefore has a different or offset axis of rotation Du compared with the exciter shaft Dg. The offset is thereby accomplished in a plane perpendicular to the two axes of rotation Dg and Du relative to the line of the neutral position (i.e., angle bisector) in the direction pointing away from the side of the mass body on the turnover weight 130. This special offset consequently enables a distinct tipping over of the turnover weight 130 and counteracts the pushing away of the turnover weight 130 by the exciter weight 120. To this end the turnover weight 130 has the axis of rotation Du different from the exciter shaft 110 or from the exciter weight 120, which is axially offset relative to the axis of rotation Dg or runs adjacent to this. The two axes of rotation Dg and Du therefore do not run coaxially to one another. The two axes of rotation Dg and Du are further parallel to one another.
The sectional view in
The adjacently located or axially offset arrangement of the axes of rotation Dg and Du ultimately results during operation that the axis of rotation Du of the turnover weight 130 moves on an orbit about the fixed axis of rotation Dg of the exciter shaft 110. As a result of the defined spacing of the two axes of rotation Dg and Du (i.e., the two axes of rotation Dg and Du are offset by a defined value), it is ensured in particular that from a certain angle of rotation, the turnover weight 130 is reliably pressed against the surface stop 124 (in the case of large amplitude) and against the surface stop 121 (in the case of small amplitude) of the exciter weight 120. By this means a distinct tipping over and an associated change of amplitude is ensured even if the turnover weight 130 should recoil after impact. The defined spacing of the two axes of rotation Dg and Du is determined as the inward-pointing distance on the angle bisector of the turning angle, as is explained in detail herein below in connection with
In order to ensure that from a certain angle of rotation, the turnover weight 130 is reliably pressed with the stop surface 134 against the surface stop 124 of the exciter weight 120, its axis of rotation Du is consequently offset on the line of the neutral position (angle bisector of the turning angle) by a defined value as is explained hereinafter in connection with
The center of mass m of the turnover weight 130 moves on an orbit K about the turning point or about the axis of rotation Du. The tipping of the turnover weight 130 takes place between O and T. The turning angle is for example about 180°. The angle bisector of the turning angle shown by the dashed line is given by N. The axis of rotation Du on the angle bisector N is offset inwards (with respect to the turning angle, i.e., to the left in the diagram) with respect to the axis of rotation Dg by the value e. The value of e can be determined using the formulae given hereinafter depending on the individual case. The calculations are based on the assumption that two significant forces and resulting moments Mrest and Mfric act on the turnover weight 130 or its mass m. As soon as the restoring moment Mrest is greater than the friction moment Mfric, the turnover weight 130 goes unstoppably onto its respective stop.
The value e can be determined by the formulae given hereinafter:
where:
e (eccentric) distance
Mfric Friction moment
Mrest Restoring moment
FR Force (according to
FT Force (according to
FZ Force (according to
μ Friction value at the pivot point of the turnover weight (e.g., 0.5)
rU Centroidal distance (radius) of the mass m to the pivot point Du
rhub Radius of the exciter shaft about which the turnover weight turns
α Angle according to
β Angle according to
γ Angle according to
δ Turning angle
ε Safety distance to allow for the recoil angle (e.g., 8°)
a to 5c show different sectional views of the vibration exciter 100. The section along the line A-A is taken through the rear bearing 132 and perpendicular to the axes of rotation Dg and Du so that the axes of rotation Dg and Du are merely visible as points. The eccentric distance e between the axes of rotation Dg and Du is clearly visible. The section along the line B-B is taken through the front bearing 131 and perpendicular to the axes of rotation Dg and Du. The view shown in
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants' invention.
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