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 including a first end and a second end. The rod member includes a first end portion including a first tapering section which tapers towards the second end. The shift fork assembly includes a fork having a first side surface and a second side surface. The fork includes a through-aperture that receives the first end portion of the rod member therein. The through-aperture has a second tapering section which tapers towards the second side surface of the fork. The fork includes an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, such that, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the first 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 including:
 a first end received within the cylinder; 
 a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a first end portion, disposed between the first end and the second end and proximal to the second end of the rod member, that includes a first tapering section which tapers towards the second end; and 
 
 a shift fork assembly including a fork, wherein the fork includes:
 a first side surface; 
 a second side surface; 
 a through-aperture extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, the through-aperture receiving the first end portion of the rod member therein to couple the rod member with the fork, wherein the through-aperture has a second tapering section which tapers towards the second side surface of the fork; and 
 an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, such that, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the first end portion of the rod member. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the rod member defines a taper surface extending circumferentially about a central axis extending through the actuator and the fork, and wherein the taper surface is disposed at a first inclination angle relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The drum of  claim 2 , wherein the first inclination angle lies in a range of 5 degrees to 85 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The drum of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement surface is disposed at a second inclination angle relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The drum of  claim 4 , wherein the second inclination angle lies in a range of 5 degrees to 85 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The drum of  claim 4 , wherein the second inclination angle of the engagement surface is same as the first inclination angle of the taper surface of the first end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The drum of  claim 1 , wherein the rod member further includes a second end portion extending from the second end of the rod member to the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a uniform cross-section, and wherein, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the second end portion axially extends from the second side surface of the fork. 
     
     
         8 . The drum of  claim 7 , wherein the second end portion of the rod member includes a plurality of external threads. 
     
     
         9 . The drum of  claim 8 , wherein the shift assembly further includes a retaining member that couples the rod member with the fork, and wherein the retaining member includes a plurality of internal threads that engage with the plurality of external threads of the second end portion of the rod member to couple the rod member with the fork. 
     
     
         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 including: 
  a first end received within the cylinder; 
  a second end opposite the first end; and 
  a first end portion, disposed between the first end and the second end and proximal to the second end of the rod member, that includes a first tapering section which tapers towards the second end; and 
 a shift fork assembly including a fork, wherein the fork includes: 
  a first side surface; 
  a second side surface; 
  a through-aperture extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, the through-aperture receiving the first end portion of the rod member therein to couple the rod member with the fork, wherein the through-aperture has a second tapering section which tapers towards the second side surface of the fork; and 
  an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, such that, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the engagement surface of the fork engages with the first end portion of the rod member. 
 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the first end portion of the rod member defines a taper surface extending circumferentially about a central axis extending through the actuator and the fork, and wherein the taper surface is disposed at a first inclination angle relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . The compactor of  claim 11 , wherein the first inclination angle lies in a range of 5 degrees to 85 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The compactor of  claim 11 , wherein the engagement surface is disposed at a second inclination angle relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the second inclination angle lies in a range of 5 degrees to 85 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the second inclination angle of the engagement surface is same as the first inclination angle of the taper surface of the first end portion. 
     
     
         16 . The compactor of  claim 10 , wherein the rod member further includes a second end portion extending from the second end of the rod member to the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a uniform cross-section, and wherein, when the rod member is coupled with the fork, the second end portion axially extends from the second side surface of the fork. 
     
     
         17 . The compactor of  claim 16 , wherein the second end portion of the rod member includes a plurality of external threads. 
     
     
         18 . The compactor of  claim 17 , wherein the shift assembly further includes a retaining member that couples the rod member with the fork, and wherein the retaining member includes a plurality of internal threads that engage with the plurality of external threads of the second end portion of the rod member to couple the rod member with the fork. 
     
     
         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 including a first end and a second end, wherein the shift assembly is associated with the vibratory system to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system, wherein the rod member includes a first end portion, disposed between the first end and the second end and proximal to the second end of the rod member, that includes a first tapering section which tapers towards the second end;   forming a fork of the shift assembly, wherein the fork includes a first side surface, a second side surface, a through-aperture extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, and an engagement surface that faces the through-aperture, and wherein the through-aperture has a second tapering section which tapers towards the second side surface of the fork;   receiving the first end portion of the rod member within the through-aperture of the fork, such that the first end portion engages with the engagement surface of the fork; and   coupling, via a retaining member, the actuator with the fork based on receipt of the first end portion of the rod member within the through-aperture of the fork.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the rod member further includes a second end portion extending from the second end of the rod member to the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a uniform cross-section, and wherein the step of coupling the actuator with the fork further includes engaging a plurality of internal threads of the retaining member with a plurality of external threads of the second end portion of the rod member.