EXCITER APPARATUS

Abstract

An exciter apparatus for a vibrating machine having an exciter body being configured to accommodate a lubricant. The exciter apparatus further has a first bearing comprising an inner bearing portion and an outer bearing portion separated by a number of rollers located in a gap between the inner bearing portion and outer bearing portion. A first shaft is rotatably connected to the exciter body by means of the first bearing. The first shaft has eccentric masses. The first bearing seat and the outer bearing portion comprising a through hole allowing a fluid to flow through the first bearing seat and the outer bearing portion into the gap, The exciter apparatus further comprising a lubricant provision means configured to provide a lubricant from the lubrication zone to the through hole.

Claims

1. An exciter apparatus for a vibrating machine, such as a screen machine or a feeder, comprising: an exciter body comprising a first bearing seat, said exciter body being configured for accommodating a lubricant and having a lubrication zone in a lower portion of the exciter body; a first bearing comprising an inner bearing portion and an outer bearing portion separated by a number of rollers located in a gap between the inner bearing portion and outer bearing portion, the outer bearing portion being attached to the first bearing seat such that the inner bearing portion is configured to rotate relative to the exciter body; a first shaft attached to the inner bearing portion, the first shaft comprising eccentric masses causing the exciter apparatus to vibrate upon rotation thereof; wherein the first bearing seat and the outer bearing portion comprising a through hole allowing a fluid to flow through the first bearing seat and the outer bearing portion into the gap, and wherein the exciter apparatus further comprising a lubricant provision means configured to provide a lubricant from the lubrication zone to the through hole.

2. The exciter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the first bearing seat and/or an outer surface of the outer bearing portion comprising a first groove.

3. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein: the lubricant provision means is a rotatable lubricant provision means at least partially located in the lubrication zone and configured to distribute lubricant around inside the exciter body upon rotation, said rotatable lubricant provision means optionally being a flinger device or a gear wheel, and/or the lubricant provision means is a fluid pump configured to pump a lubricant from the lubrication zone to the through hole, said fluid pump optionally being coupled to and driven by the shaft.

4. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim further comprising a lubricant reservoir having an open upper end adapted to receive a lubricant, the lubricant reservoir being located adjacent the through hole and being located in the exciter body such that a lubricant located in the lubricant reservoir is provided to the gap by means of gravity.

5. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the bearing seat has an extending edge forming a gutter, adapted to divert lubricant to the through hole.

6. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein a gutter arrangement is provided on an inner end surface of the exciter body, preferably the inner end surface being perpendicular to a radial direction of the shaft.

7. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the exciter apparatus comprising at least two lubricant reservoirs preferably located on opposite sides of the first bearing.

8. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, comprising a second bearing seat and a second bearing located in said second bearing seat, wherein an inner surface of the second bearing seat and/or an outer surface of the second outer bearing portion comprising a second groove, said second groove being fluidly connected to the first groove.

9. The exciter apparatus according to claim 8, wherein first and second lubricant reservoir are located on opposite sides of the first bearing seat and second bearing seat.

10. The exciter apparatus according to any of the previous claims comprising a plurality of through holes in the first bearing seat and the first outer bearing portion and/or in the second bearing seat and the second outer bearing portion.

11. The exciter apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the exciter apparatus comprises a deflector device located in an upper portion of the exciter body, optionally above the first bearing seat.

12. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim comprising a lid portion and wherein a deflector device is provided on an internal surface of the lid portion.

13. The exciter apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the deflector device is located centrally above the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat, or with an offset towards the first bearing.

14. The exciter apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the exciter apparatus is inclined with respect to horizontal, such that the first bearing seat is located above the second bearing seat.

15. A vibrating screen machine or a vibrating feeder comprising the exciter apparatus according to any previous claim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention will be described in more details below by means of non-limiting examples of presently preferred embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a vibrating screen machine comprising an exciter apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of an exciter apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of an exciter body according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of an exciter body according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the internal of an exciter apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an exciter apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a vibrating screen machine in the form of a double deck horizontal vibrating screen 1. The vibrating screen 1 comprises two parallel side plates 2 spaced from each other and connected by a number of cross members (not shown). Two screen decks 3 are located one above the other between the two side plates 2 and being supported by a number of deck support members (not shown) located below each screen deck 3. An upper and lower water spray system (4,5) are located above each screen deck and being adapted to provide water onto the screen decks 3. A plurality of lifting beams 6 are located above the upper screen deck 3. A drive arrangement 7 is located on the outer side of the side plate 2. Three exciter apparatus' 10 are arranged on a drive beam 12 which is attached to each of the side plates 2. The drive arrangement 7 is coupled to a number of shaft members 8. The drive arrangement 7 is configured to rotate the shaft members 8 and thereby to drive the exciter apparatus' 10. The vibrating screen 1 is located upon a support structure 9. During intended use the exciter apparatus' 10 causes the vibrating screen to vibrate.

[0049] Turning now to FIG. 2 showing an exciter apparatus 10 in greater detail. The exciter apparatus 10 has an exciter body 11. The exciter body 11 is substantially liquid tight, such that it may accommodate a lubricant, which due to the orientation of the exciter apparatus 10 will collect in the lubricant zone (not shown) in the lower portion of the exciter body. The exciter apparatus 10 is inclined with respect to horizontal, such that the shaft member 8 is located above the second shaft member 16. The lower portion of the exciter body 11 is attached to the drive beam 12. An exciter lid 13 is attach to the upper portion of the exciter body 11. A shaft member 8 is arranged through the exciter body 11 and rotatably attached to the exciter body by means of a first set of bearings (not shown). The exciter apparatus further comprises a second shaft member 16 arranged through the exciter body 11 and rotatably attached to the exciter body 11 by means of a second set of bearings (not shown). The shaft member 8 and the second shaft member 16 are rotatably connected by means of engaging means in the form of two engaging gear wheels 26 and 27 located in the exciter body 11. Eccentric masses 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are attached to the shaft member 8 and second shaft member 16. Because the masses of the eccentric masses 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are off-center from the point of rotation the exciter apparatus starts to vibrate, upon rotation thereof.

[0050] Turning now to FIG. 3 showing the inner portion of the exciter body 11 together with a first bearing 20 located in a first bearing seat 28 and a second bearing 30 located in a second bearing seat 38. The first bearing 20 comprising an inner bearing portion 21 and an outer bearing portion 22 separated by a number of rollers 24 located in a gap 23 between the inner bearing portion 21 and the outer bearing portion 22. Similarly, the second bearing 30 comprising an inner bearing portion 31 and an outer bearing portion 32 separated by a number of rollers 34 located in a gap 33 between the inner bearing portion 31 and the outer bearing portion 32. The first inner bearing portion 21 being attached to the shaft member 8 and the second inner bearing portion 31 being attached to the second shaft member 16. Each of the first outer bearing portion 22 and second outer bearing portion 32 being attached to the respective bearing seats 28, 38, such that the shaft member 8 and second shaft 16 are configured for rotating relative to the exciter body 11. The first outer bearing portion 22 comprising a through hole 25 extending through the outer bearing portion 22 such that a fluid may flow through the first outer bearing portion 22 into the gap 23.

[0051] A deflector device 35 is located on the upper inner portion of the exciter body 11. The deflector device 35 is located centrally between the first bearing 20 and the second bearing 30. Alternatively, the deflector device 35 may be located with an offset towards the first bearing 20 or second bearing 30.

[0052] Turning now to FIG. 4 showing the inner surface 40 of the exciter body 11 in greater detail. The first bearing seat 28 comprising a groove 41. The second bearing seat 38 comprising a groove 42. A number of through holes 25 are configured to provide a fluid from outside the bearing seat 28 and bearing seat 38 into the groove 41 and groove 42. A channel 43 is extending through the first bearing seat 28 and second bearing seat 38 from the groove 41 to the groove 42, thereby allowing fluid in one of the grooves to flow into the other groove.

[0053] Lubricant reservoirs 45 are located in both ends of the exciter body 11. The reservoirs have an open upper end such that they may receive a lubricant. The lubricant reservoir 45 is fluidly connected to the through hole 25. The lubricant reservoir 45 is located above the through hole 25, such that a lubricant in the lubricant reservoir 45 may flow through the through hole 25 into the gap 41,42 by means of gravity. The reservoir 45 is formed by the inner surface 40 and an outer edge 46. Because of the height of the outer edge 46 a fluid column of lubricant may collect in the lubricant reservoir 45. The weight of the fluid column may increase the flow through the through hole 25. Additional through holes 25a may be located around the upper periphery of the first and second bearing seats 28, 38.

[0054] A part of the outer surface of the bearing seats 28 and 38 has an extending edge that form a gutter 47 and is adapted to collect a lubricant. The gutter shape is connected to the reservoir 45 such that collected lubricant is diverted to the through hole 25. Preferably the gutter allows the collected lubricant to flow along the outer surface of the bearing seats 28 and 38 into the reservoir 45.

[0055] A second gutter 49 is provided to the inner surface 40 in the ends of the exciter apparatus 10 to further collect and divert lubricant to the through hole.

[0056] Turning now to FIG. 5 showing a cross-sectional view of the exciter apparatus 10. The exciter apparatus 10 comprising a rotatable lubricant provision means in the form of a first gear wheel 26 and a second gear wheel 27. The first gear wheel 26 and second gear wheel 27 are engaging thereby rotatably connecting the shaft member 8 and the second shaft member 16.

[0057] The bottom portion of the exciter body 11 is liquid tight such that when it is partially filled with a lubricant, a lubrication zone 50 is formed in the lower portion. During intended use of the exciter apparatus 10, it is inclined with respect to horizontal as seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. During such orientation the lubrication zone 50 is formed in the lowest corner of the exciter apparatus 10. At least one of the first gear wheel 26 and/or the second gear wheel 27 is at least partially located in the lubrication zone 50. During intended use the first gear wheel 26 is rotated anticlockwise and the second gear wheel 27 is rotated clockwise. Upon rotation of the gear wheel(s), the outer surface of the gear wheel(s) is rotated through the lubrication zone 50 and contacts the lubricant. As the gear wheel(s) rotates the lubricant is hurled around inside the exciter body 11. Lubricant is thereby transported from the lubrication zone 50 to the lubricant reservoir 49 and further through the through hole 25 into the bearings. Because of the inclination of the exciter apparatus 10, the lubricant reservoir 45a is located closer to the lid 13 than the lubricant reservoir 45b. The height at which each of the lubricant reservoirs 45 are located are determined based on the desired inclination of the exciter apparatus 10.

[0058] The deflector device 35 arranged above and between the first gear wheel 26 and second gear wheel 27 deflects the hurled lubricant towards the lubricant reservoirs 45. In the embodiment shown the deflector device 35 is located centrally between the first bearing 20 and the second bearing 30. A breather 70 is connected to the exciter apparatus 10. The breather 70 allows gas to flow in and out of the exciter apparatus 10 as the temperature changes during use and the volume of gas in the exciter apparatus increases. The embodiment in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 shows an optional feature in the form of a fluid pump 60 and its related components such as the rotatable member 63 which drives the fluid pump 60. The fluid pump 60 may be used as an additional lubricant provision means to provide lubricant from the lubrication zone 50 to the lubricant reservoir 45. The fluid pump 60 fluidly connects the lubrication zone 50 to the lubricant reservoir 45b through a liquid outlet 61 and a number of liquid inlets 62. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the exciter apparatus 10 has a manifold 65, which distributes the pumped lubricant between several liquid inlets 62. The fluid pump 60 is connected to and driven by the first gear wheel 26 by the rotatable member 63. The manifold 65 is not required together with the fluid pump 60. Instead, the pumped lubricant may be supplied to a single liquid inlet at to the lubricant reservoir.