Vibration exciter

Abstract

A vibration exciter, particularly for a vibration pile driver, includes at least four shafts disposed parallel to one another, on which two outer imbalance masses are disposed, in each instance, between which a central imbalance mass is positioned. The central imbalance mass is mounted on the shaft so as to rotate relative to the outer imbalance masses, in each instance. The imbalance masses of the at least four shafts are combined into two imbalance groups, the imbalance masses of which are all synchronized with one another in torsionally rigid manner, in each instance, wherein not only outer imbalance masses but also inner imbalance masses are provided in each of the two imbalance groups, and wherein a phase shifter is provided, by way of which the phasing of the two imbalance groups relative to one another can be adjusted.

Claims

1. A vibration exciter comprising: (a) at least first, second, third, and fourth shafts; (b) first and second outer imbalance masses and a first central imbalance mass disposed on the first shaft, wherein the first central imbalance mass is positioned between the first and second outer imbalance masses and mounted on the first shaft so as to rotate relative to the first and second outer imbalance masses; (c) third and fourth outer imbalance masses and a second central imbalance mass disposed on the second shaft, wherein the second central imbalance mass is positioned between the third and fourth outer imbalance masses and mounted on the second shaft so as to rotate relative to the third and fourth outer imbalance masses; (d) fifth and sixth outer imbalance masses and a third central imbalance mass disposed on the third shaft, wherein the third central imbalance mass is positioned between the fifth and sixth outer imbalance masses and mounted on the third shaft so as to rotate relative to the fifth and sixth outer imbalance masses; (e) seventh and eighth outer imbalance masses and a fourth central imbalance mass disposed on the fourth shaft, wherein the fourth central imbalance mass is positioned between the seventh and eighth outer imbalance masses and mounted on the fourth shaft so as to rotate relative to the seventh and eighth outer imbalance masses; and (f) a phase shifter; wherein the outer imbalance masses and the central imbalance masses of the first, second, third, and fourth shafts are combined into first and second imbalance groups; wherein in each of the first and second imbalance groups are arranged outer imbalance masses as well as central imbalance masses; wherein the imbalance masses of the first imbalance group are synchronized with one another in torsionally rigid manner and the imbalance masses of the second imbalance group are synchronized with one another in torsionally rigid manner; and wherein phasing of the first and second imbalance groups relative to one another are adjustable by way of the phase shifter.

2. The vibration exciter according to claim 1, wherein the phase shifter is a pivot motor.

3. The vibration exciter according to claim 1, wherein the phase shifter is a rotary vane pivot motor.

4. The vibration exciter according to claim 1, wherein the first imbalance group is connected with at least a first drive motor for driving the first imbalance group and the second imbalance group is connected with at least a second drive motor for driving the second imbalance group.

5. The vibration exciter according to claim 4, wherein the drive motors are hydraulic motors.

6. The vibration exciter according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second drive motors is a hydraulic adjustable motor having an adjustable displacement.

7. The vibration exciter according to claim 6, further comprising a control device connected with the first and second drive motors and set up so that activated displacement of the first and second drive motors of the first and second imbalance groups relative to one another can be identically adjusted.

8. The vibration exciter according to claim 6, further comprising a control device connected with the first and second drive motors and set up so that activated displacement of the first drive motor of the first imbalance group can be adjusted to be greater or smaller as compared with activated displacement of the second drive motor of the second imbalance group, in such a manner that a phase adjustment of the first and second imbalance groups relative to one another or support of the phase shifter is brought about by a difference of a total torque of the first drive motor of the first imbalance group relative to a total torque of the second drive motor of the second imbalance group.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters devote similar elements throughout the several views:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vibration generator;

(4) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the first imbalance group of the vibration generator; and

(5) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the second imbalance group of the vibration generator from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) The vibration exciter selected as an exemplary embodiment is structured as a four-shaft vibrator transmission. Four imbalance shafts 1, 2 are disposed parallel to one another, on which two outer imbalance masses 11, 21 are attached at a distance from one another.

(7) Centered between the two outer imbalance masses 11, 21, a central imbalance mass 22, 12 is provided, in each instance, which is connected with a gear wheel 13, 23. Two imbalance shafts 1, 2, in each instance, are directly driven by way of a drive motor M1, M2.

(8) Furthermore, a pivot motor 3 is provided, comprising a pivot motor shaft 31 as well as a pivot motor housing 32 that can be pivoted relative to the pivot motor shaft 31. The pivot motor 3 is disposed between the two imbalance shafts 1, 2 that are directly connected with the drive motors M1, M2. In this connection, the pivot motor shaft 31 is connected, by way of gear wheels 13, with the imbalance shafts 1 driven by the drive motor M1, as well as with the imbalance masses 12 mounted so as to rotate on the imbalance shafts 2 driven by the drive motor M2. The pivot motor housing 32 is connected, by way of gear wheels 23, with the shafts 2 driven by the drive motor M2, as well as with the imbalance masses 22 mounted so as to rotate on the shafts 1 driven by the drive motor M1.

(9) In FIG. 2, the imbalance masses 11, 12 connected with the pivot motor shaft by way of gear wheels 13 are shown. These imbalance masses 11, 12, which form a first imbalance group, are driven by way of the drive motor M1. In FIG. 3, the imbalance masses 21, 22 connected with the pivot motor housing by way of gear wheels 23 are shown, which masses are driven by way of the drive motor M2. These imbalance masses 21, 22 form a second imbalance group.

(10) The two drive motors M1, M2 are configured as hydraulic adjustable motors. In the case of hydraulic adjustable motors, the displacement is adjustable. The two drive motors M1, M2 are connected with a control devicenot shownthat is set up in such a manner that these drive motors M1, M2 have approximately the same displacement at all times. The task of the pivot motors 3 is restricted to phase shifting and to synchronization of the two imbalance groups.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft modules, in other words the shafts 1, 2 with the imbalance masses 11, 21, 12, 22 disposed on them, in each instance, are configured to be the same. The shaft modules below the pivot motor 3 are identical to the shaft modules above the pivot motor 3. In the present case, however, the shaft modules below the pivot motor 3 were installed in a mirror image with regard to the shaft modules above the pivot motor 3.

(12) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.