Vibratory compaction/driving apparatus

Abstract

A soil compactor/driver that includes a housing and a substantially sealed chamber defined within the housing. A weight assembly that is carried by the housing and includes an eccentrically mounted weight. The weight is supported for rotation within the chamber by a pair of sealed, spherical bearings that do not require maintenance. First and second end plates are adapted to receive at least a portion of an associated sealed bearing and the housing defines first and second openings associated with the first and second end plates. The end plates, bearings and weight are arranged to be preassembled outside of the housing to form the weight assembly which is then installable as a unit into the housing which substantially reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs.

1 . A vibratory apparatus for generating vibratory forces, comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a chamber defined within said housing;   c) mounting structure for attaching said housing to a manipulating machine;   d) a weight assembly carried by said housing including a centrically mounted weight rotatable within said chamber;   e) said weight being supported for rotation within said chamber by a pair of sealed bearings that do not require maintenance;   f) said weight assembly including first and second end plates, each of said end plates adapted to receive at least a portion of one of said sealed bearings, said housing defining first and second opening associated with said first and second end plates; and   g) said weight assembly including said end plates, said bearings and said weight arranged to be pre-assembled outside of said housing and said resulting subassembly being installable as a unit, into said housing.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first end plate and said associated first opening have diametral dimensions that are smaller than the diametral dimensions of said second end plate and an associated second opening. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a weldment that includes two spaced apart vertical side plates welded to a base plate and further including a pair of abutting inverted L-shaped plate members welded to the side plates, said base plate and to each other in order to define at least a portion of said chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sealed bearings are sealed spherical roller bearings. 
   
   
       5 . A vibratory apparatus for generating vibratory forces, comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a chamber defined within said housing;   c) mounting structure for attaching said housing to a manipulating machine;   d) a weight assembly carried by said housing including a centrically mounted weight rotatable within said chamber;   e) said weight being supported for rotation within said chamber by a pair of sealed bearings that do not require maintenance; and   f) said weight assembly including first and second end plates, each of said end plates adapted to receive at least a portion of one of said sealed bearings, said housing defining first and second opening associated with said first and second end plates.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said bearings are sealed, spherical bearings. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said first and second end plates, said bearing and said weight are arranged to be preassembled outside of said housing to form said weight assembly, said weight assembly being installable as a unit, into said housing. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said chamber is substantially sealed.