Trunnion assembly

Abstract

A trunnion assembly for the paddle shaft of a mortar mixer including a substantially cylindrical drum having end plates includes a housing, having an interior space defined by an interior surface around the shaft. A first seal is located adjacent the end plate and is positioned around the shaft and is mounted between such shaft and the interior surface. A second seal is spaced outwardly from the first seal and positioned around the shaft between the shaft and the affixed interior surface. The first and second seals partition a portion of the interior space to define a first chamber for carrying grease. The second seal is spaced away from a shaft bearing to partition a second portion of the interior space to define a second chamber for carrying grease which forms a positive seal to prevent contaminated grease from entering the bearing when the first chamber is purged of contaminated grease.

1 . A trunnion assembly for a mortar mixer including a substantially cylindrical drum having end plates and an elongate paddle shaft mounted horizontally and extending into a bearing through each drum end plate into a bearing carried by said trunnion assembly, said trunnion assembly comprising a housing, said housing having an interior space defined by an interior surface around such shaft, a first seal means adjacent an end plate and positioned around such shaft, first mounting means for affixing said first seal means between such shaft and said interior surface, a second seal means spaced outwardly from said first seal and positioned around such shaft, second mounting means for affixing said second seal between such shaft and said interior surface, said first and second seal means partitioning a portion of said interior space to define a first chamber for carrying grease, said second seal means being spaced away from a shaft bearing to partition a second portion of said interior space to define a second chamber for carrying grease, said housing including a first grease passageway for providing grease into said first chamber and a second grease passageway spaced away from said first grease passageway for providing grease into said second chamber.  
   
   
       2 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first seal means includes a plurality of resilient seal elements, each said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 2  wherein said second seal means includes a single resilient seal element, said single seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second seal means includes a resilient seal element, said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A pair of trunnion assemblies for the paddle shaft of a mortar mixer including a substantially cylindrical drum having end plates, each said trunnion assembly comprising a housing, said housing having an interior space defined by an interior surface around such shaft, a first seal means adjacent an end plate and positioned around such shaft, first mounting means for affixing said first seal means between such shaft and said interior surface, a second seal means spaced outwardly from said first seal and positioned around such shaft, second mounting means for affixing said second seal between such shaft and said interior surface, said first and second seal means partitioning a portion of said interior space to define a first chamber for carrying grease, said second seal means being spaced away from a shaft bearing to partition a second portion of said interior space to define a second chamber for carrying grease, each said housing including a pair of spaced grease fittings, a first passageway communicating between one of said grease fittings and said first chamber and a second passageway communicating between another said grease fittings and said second chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 6  wherein said first seal means includes a plurality of resilient seal elements, each said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       8 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 7  wherein said second seal means includes a single resilient seal element, said single seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 6  wherein said second seal means includes a resilient seal element, said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . An improved trunnion assembly that includes a housing including a first and second end portion and an interior spaced defined by an interior surface for a shaft and a bearing mounted in said second end portion for such shaft, the improvement comprising a first seal means adjacent said first end portion and positioned around such shaft, said first seal means including at least one first seal element and mounting means for mounting said at least one seal element to said interior surface and in contact with such shaft, a second seal means spaced away from said first seal means including at least one second seal element and mounting means for mounting said at least one second seal element to said interior surface and in contact with such shaft, a portion of said interior space between said at least one first seal element and said at least one second seal element defining a first chamber for carrying lubricating material therein, a portion of said interior space between said at least one second seal element and a bearing mounted in said end portion defining a second chamber for carrying lubricating material therein, said housing including a first grease fitting and a first passageway communicating between said first grease fitting and said first chamber and a second grease fitting spaced away from said first grease fitting and a second passageway spaced away from said first passageway communicating between said second grease fitting and said second chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 11  wherein said first seal means includes a plurality of resilient seal elements, each said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 12  wherein said second seal means includes a single resilient seal element, said single seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The trunnion assembly as defined in  claim 11  wherein said second seal means includes a resilient seal element, said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . Improved trunnion assemblies for a rotatable mixing apparatus, each trunnion assembly including a housing including a first and second end portion and an interior space defined by an interior surface for a shaft and a bearing mounted in said second end portion for such shaft, the improvement comprising a first seal means adjacent said first end portion and positioned around such shaft, said first seal means including at least two first seal elements and mounting means for mounting each said first seal element to said interior surface and in contact with such shaft, a second seal means spaced away from said first seal means including at least one second seal element and mounting means for mounting said at least one second seal element to said interior surface and in contact with such shaft, a portion of said interior space between said at least one first seal element and said at least one second seal element defining a first chamber for carrying lubricating material therein, a portion of said interior space between said at least one second seal element and a bearing mounted in said end portion defining a second chamber for carrying lubricating material therein, each said housing including a pair of spaced grease fittings and a pair of elongated spaced passageways respectively connected with said first and second chambers.  
   
   
       17 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 16  wherein said first seal means includes three resilient seal elements, each said seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       18 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 17  wherein said second seal means includes a single resilient seal element, said single seal element having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       19 . The trunnion assemblies as defined in  claim 16  wherein each said first seal element includes a resilient member, said member having one end portion in contact with such shaft.  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)