Drum of compactor

Abstract

A drum of a compactor includes a vibratory system having a shift assembly. The shift assembly includes an actuator and a shift fork assembly. The actuator includes a cylinder and a rod member defining a first end and a second end. The rod member includes an end portion extending from the second end towards the first end. The end portion has a first hardness value. The shift fork assembly includes a fork defining a through-aperture to receive the end portion therein to couple the rod member with the fork. The fork defines an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture. When the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the end portion of the rod member. The engagement surface of the fork has a second hardness value that is same as the first hardness value of the end portion of the rod member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drum of a compactor, the drum comprising:
 an outer shell; and   a vibratory system disposed within the outer shell, wherein the vibratory system includes:
 a first eccentric weight; 
 a second eccentric weight concentric with the first eccentric weight; and 
 a shift assembly adapted to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system based on a change in a position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight, wherein the shift assembly includes:
 a shaft adapted to move along a first axis for changing the position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight; 
 an actuator disposed parallel to the shaft, the actuator including a cylinder and a rod member, the rod member defining a first end received within the cylinder and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the rod member includes an end portion extending from the second end of the rod member towards the first end of the rod member, and wherein the end portion has a first hardness value; and 
 a shift fork assembly including a fork, the fork defining a through-aperture to receive the end portion of the rod member therein to couple the rod member with the fork, the fork further defining an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, wherein when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the end portion of the rod member, and wherein the engagement surface of the fork has a second hardness value that is same as the first hardness value of the end portion of the rod member. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the rod member includes a core material having a first core hardness value, and wherein the end portion of the rod member is hardened to the first hardness value that is different than the first core hardness value of the core material. 
     
     
         3 . The drum of  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the rod member is hardened by at least one of induction hardening, nitride hardening, or direct hardening. 
     
     
         4 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the fork includes a core material having a second core hardness value, and wherein the engagement surface of the fork is hardened to the second hardness value that is different than the second core hardness value of the core material. 
     
     
         5 . The drum of  claim 4 , wherein the engagement surface of the fork is hardened by at least one of induction hardening, nitride hardening, or direct hardening. 
     
     
         6 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the end portion of the rod member includes a first hardened layer having the first hardness value. 
     
     
         7 . The drum of  claim 6 , wherein the first hardened layer is a chrome plated layer. 
     
     
         8 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement surface of the fork includes a second hardened layer having the second hardness value. 
     
     
         9 . The drum of  claim 8 , wherein the second hardened layer is a chrome plated layer. 
     
     
         10 . A compactor comprising:
 a frame; and   at least one drum coupled to the frame, wherein the at least one drum includes:
 an outer shell; and 
 a vibratory system disposed within the outer shell, wherein the vibratory system includes:
 a first eccentric weight; 
 a second eccentric weight concentric with the first eccentric weight; and 
 a shift assembly adapted to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system based on a change in a position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight, wherein the shift assembly includes:
 a shaft adapted to move along a first axis for changing the position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight; 
 an actuator disposed parallel to the shaft, the actuator including a cylinder and a rod member, the rod member defining a first end received within the cylinder and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the rod member includes an end portion extending from the second end of the rod member towards the first end of the rod member, and wherein the end portion has a first hardness value; and 
 a shift fork assembly including a fork, the fork defining a through-aperture to receive the end portion of the rod member therein to couple the rod member with the fork, the fork further defining an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, wherein, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the end portion of the rod member, and wherein the engagement surface of the fork has a second hardness value that is same as the first hardness value of the end portion of the rod member. 
 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the rod member includes a core material having a first core hardness value, and wherein the end portion of the rod member is hardened to the first hardness value that is different than the first core hardness value of the core material. 
     
     
         12 . The compactor of  claim 11 , wherein the end portion of the rod member is hardened by at least one of induction hardening, nitride hardening, or direct hardening. 
     
     
         13 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the fork includes a core material having a second core hardness value, and wherein the engagement surface of the fork is hardened to the second hardness value that is different than the second core hardness value of the core material. 
     
     
         14 . The compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement surface of the fork is hardened by at least one of induction hardening, nitride hardening, or direct hardening. 
     
     
         15 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the end portion of the rod member includes a first hardened layer having the first hardness value. 
     
     
         16 . The compactor of  claim 15 , wherein the first hardened layer is a chrome plated layer. 
     
     
         17 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the engagement surface of the fork includes a second hardened layer having the second hardness value. 
     
     
         18 . The compactor of  claim 17 , wherein the second hardened layer is a chrome plated layer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a vibratory system for a drum of a compactor, the method comprising:
 forming a rod member of an actuator of a shift assembly, the rod member defining a first end and a second end, wherein the rod member includes an end portion that extends from the second end of the rod member towards the first end of the rod member; and wherein the shift assembly is associated with the vibratory system to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system;   forming a fork of the shift assembly, the fork defining a through-aperture and an engagement surface facing the through-aperture;   performing one or more of:
 a first hardening operation on the end portion of the rod member to harden the end portion to a first hardness value; and 
 a second hardening operation on the engagement surface of the rod member to harden the engagement surface to a second hardness value, so that the engagement surface and the end portion have a same hardness value; 
   receiving the end portion of the rod member within the through-aperture of the fork, such that the end portion engages with the engagement surface of the fork; and   coupling, via a fastening member, the actuator with the fork based on receipt of the end portion of the rod member within the through-aperture of the fork.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first hardening operation and the second hardening operation includes at least one of an induction hardening operation, a nitride hardening operation, a direct hardening operation, or a chrome plating operation.