Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEARING WEAR INDICATOR
The present im~ention relates to machine bearings. In
particular, the present invention relates to a bearing member having a wear
identifier filled cavity behind the wearing surtax, whereupon sufficient wear
of the wearing surface, the wear identifier is released from the cavity onto
the wearing surface and into lubricant to indicate excessive wear.
Machine bearings come in a variety of different forms and
shapes and are used in a wide range of machines. Machine bearings act as
a support and a guide for rotating, oscillating or sliding elements. Machine
bearings typically include at least two members which move relative to one
another. These members progressively wear down during operation of the
machine. To prevent catastrophic failalre, it is necessary to detect exactly
which members are worn out and require replacement.
Unfortunately, detecting and evaluating the extent of wear
upon the bearing members is time-consuming sad expensive. Wear
conditions of bearing members have been com~entionally determined by
physical inspection and dimensional lysis of the various machine
components. This method of determining the extent of wear upon the
bearing members requires dismantling of the machine. As a result, the
particular machine under inspection also has to be taken out of servix.
Because of the time and cost required for routine inspection of internal
components, inspections arc not always performed in a timely manner. This
lack of timely inspection increases the risk of exxssive wear and catastrophic
failure.
~UMMAKY Or I'tlh iNVIrNTION
The present imrention is an improved machine bearing
assembly. The bearing assembly for supporting and guiding a moving
member includes a first bearing member and a second bearing member.
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The second bearing member and the first bearing member have movement
relative to one another. 'The second bearing member includes a wearing
surface in ~atact with the first bearing member. The wearing surface wears
in response to the relative movement between the first and second bearing
members. The second bearing member also includes a chamber and a wear
identifier. The chamber is located behind the wearing surface. The wear
identifier is within the chamber. Upon sufficient wear of the wearing
surface, the wear identifier is released from the chamber onto the wearing
surface. As a result, excessive wear upon a wearing surface is quickly and
easily detected.
Figure 1 is a crass-seckional view of a step bearing assembly
including bearing wear indicators of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a bushing bearing
assembly including the bearing wear indicators of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a crusher employing
bearing wear indicators of the present invention.
17ET~D DE5C1Z»~ON OF T!-W PKH-F hiZK h.D hNL OD1NL.N'1~
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of step bearing assembly 10.
Step bearing assembly 10 includes shaft 12, shaft step 14, step washer 16,
piston-wearing plate 18 and lubricant 20. Shaft 12 is generally rylindrical
and includes lug 22. Ing 22 projects from a lower end of shaft 12. Iug 22
extends into shaft step 14 and permits shaft step 14 to be mounted to shaft
12.
Shaft step 14 is mounted to shaft 12 between shaft 12 and step
washer 16. Shaft step 14 includes non-wearing surface 24, wearing surface
26, lower bore 28, central hole 30, shoulder 32 and wear indicator 33. Non-
wearing surface 24 is a generally flat surface opposite of wearing surface 26.
Non-wearing surface 24 abuts a lower end of shaft 12. Wearing surface 26
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is a generally curved surface. Wearing surface 2b contacts, and at times, is
in frictional engagement with step washer 16.
Lower bore 28 extends into shaft step 14 from wearing surface
26 toward non-wearing surface 24. Lower bore 28 has an outer diameter
which narrows toward sn upper end of lower bore 28 to form central hole
30 and shoulder 32. Central hole 30 calends from non wearing surface 24
toward wearing surface 26. Central hole 30 is in communication with lower
bore 28. Lug 22 protrudes through central hole 30 into lower bore 28.
Retainer ring 15 is fixedly ~upled to the lower end of lug 22 within lower
bore 28. Retainer ring 15 engages shoulder 32 of shaft step 14 to couple
shaft 12 to shaft step 14.
Wear indicator 33 includes cavity or chamber 34, wear
identifier 35 and plug 36. Chamber 34 extends into shaft step 14 from non-
wearing surfacx 24 toward wearing surface 26. Chamber 34 includes an
upper end 38 and a lower end 40. Upper e~ 38 is positioned adjacent non-
wearing surface 24. L.awer end 40 is preferably conical-shaped, having a
point toward wearing surface 2b. Chamber 34 is positioned behind wearing
surface 26. Lower end 40 of chamber 34 is positioned behind wearing
surface 26 at a predetermined distance less than a distance behind wearing
surface 26 at which catastrophic failure of bearing assembly 10 would occur.
Chamber 34 contains wear identifier 35.
Wear identifier 35 preferably consists of a powerful dye.
Alternatively, wear identifier 35 consists of a chemical or other foreign
material. Wear identifier 35 has a different color or chemical composition
than lubricant 20. As a result, wear identifier 35 is distinguishable from
lubricant 20.
Plug 36 engages upper end 38 of chamber 34 to seal chamber
34 and to prevent wear identifier 35 from being released through upper end
38. Plug 36 also permits chamber 34 to be easily filled during assembly.
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Shaft step 14 contacts step washer 16 along wearing surface 26
and permits relative movement between shaft step 14 and step washer 16.
As wearing surface 26 of shaft step 14 progressively wears away during
operation of bearing assembly 10, wearing surface 24 approaches lower end
40 of chamber 34. Upon suffiaent wear of wearing surface 26, wearing
surface 26 breaches lower end 40 of chamber 34 to create an opening into
chamber 34. As a result, wear identifier 35 is released onto wearing surface
26 and step washer 16 and into lubricant 20. Because wear identifier 35 is
visually or chemically distinguisl>able from lubricant 20, shaft step 15 and
step washer 16, wear identifier 35 permits easy detection of excessive wear
of shaft step 14 through either visual inspection or chemical analysis of
lubricant 20. Thus, the extent of wear upon shaft step 14 can be quickly and
easily determined without bearing assembly 10 needing to be dismantled or
taken out of service.
Because chamber 34 has a lower end which is conical-shaped,
breach of lower end 40 is less likely to cause shaft step 14 to break up
around lower end 40 of chamber 34. Because lower end 40 of chamber 34
is conical-shaped, an area of lower end 40 surrounding the opening of lower
end 40 will have a greater thickness as compared to a flat lower end of
chamber 34. As wearing surface 26 further wears, the opening or breach of
lower end 40 will increase in size. However, the thickness of the area
surrounding the opening will remain relatively thick. The conical shape of
lower end 40 prevents particles from shaft step 14 from becoming dislodged
into lubricant 20 between shaft step 14 and step washer 16. The conical
shape of lower end 40 of chamber 34 prevents dislodgement of these
particles and prevents damage to bearing assembly 10.
Step washer 16 is positioned between shaft step 14 and piston
wearing plate 1$ and includes contact surfaces 42, 44 and bore 46. Contact
surface 42 is generally curved and extends along an upper end of step
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washer 16. Contact sulfate 42 is shaped to mirror wearing surface 26.
Contact surface 42 contacts and partially fractionally engages wearing surface
26. Contact surface 42 supports and guides shaft step 14 and shaft 12, while
permitting shaft step 14 and shaft 12 to move relative to step washer 16.
Contact surface 44 is generally flat and extends along a lower
end of step washer 16. Contact surface 44 contacts and, at least partially
fractionally engages piston wearing plate 18. Bore 46 extends through a
center of step washer 16.
Piston wearing plate 18 includes wearing sun,ace 48, non-
wearing surfax 50, bore s2 and wear indicator s3. Wearing surface 48 is
generally flat and extends along an upper end of piston wearing plate 18.
Wearing surface 48 contacts and, at least, partially fractionally engages
contact surface 44 of step washer 16. Wearing surface 48 wears as a result
of relative movement between step washer 16 sad piston wearing plate 18.
Non wearing surface s0 is generally flat and is located opposite wearing
surface 48. Nonwearing surface s0 may be integral with or may be coupled
to s machine employing bearing assembly 10. Bore s2 extends through
piston wearing plate 18.
Wear indicator 53 includes cavity or chamber 54, wear
identifier 56 and plug s8. Chamber 54 extends into piston wearing plate 18
from non-wearing surface 50 toward wearing surface 48. Chamber 54
includes a lower end 60 and an upper end 62. Lower end 60 is positioned
adjacent to non-wearing surface s0. Upper end 62 is positioned behind
wearing surface 48 at a distance less than the distance at which catastrophic
failure would occur. Upper end 62 is preferably tapered or conical in shape.
Similar to chamber 34, chamber 54 contains wear identifier s6.
Wear identifier s6 preferably consists of a dye having a color
distinguishable from lubricant 20. Alternatively, wear identifier 56 consists
of a chemical or a foreign material distil ~?ehable from lubricant 20 and
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materials used to form step washer 16 and piston wearing plate 18. Wear
identifier 56 also is preferably distinguishable from wear identifier 35.
Plug 58 engages lrnver end 60 of chamber 54 to seal wear
identifier 56 within chamber 54. Plug 58 is preferably threadably secured
within lower end 60 of chamber 54. Alternatively, plug 58 is press-fit within
lower end 60 of chamber 54.
Piston wearing plate 18 bears against step washer 16 and
supports step washer 16, shaft step 14 and shaft 12. Wearing surface 48 of
piaton wearing plate 18 contacts step washer 16 and permits step washer 16
and piston wearing plate 18 to move relative to one another. As step washer
16 and piston wearing plate 18 move relative to one another during
operation of step bearing assembly 10, wearing surface 48 progressively
wears away unt~7 wearing surface 48 breaches upper end 62 of chamber 54
to create an opening into chamber 54. Because upper end 62 of chamber
54 is positioned behind wearing surface 48 at a distance less than the
distance at which catastrophic fal~ure ours, wearing surface 48 breaches
chamber 54 before catastrophic failure occurs. Upon breach of chamber 54,
wear identifier 56 is released onto wearing surface 48 and contact surface 44
and into lubricant 20. Because wear identifier 56 is visually or chemically
distinguishable from lubricant 20 and the materials used to form step washer
16 and piston wearing plate 18, breach of chamber 54 can be easily and
quickly detected without requiring bearing assembly 10 to be disassembled.
Thus, replacement of piston wearing plate 18 can be replaced at the end of
its effective life, yet before wearing excessively to the point of
catastrophic
failure. In addition, because wear identifier 56 preferably is visually or
chemically distinguishable from wear identifier 35, wear identifier 56 and
wear identifier 35 indicate the location of excessive wear and the individual
bearing component which needs replacement.
2~19~~~
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lubricant 20 extends between wearing surface 26 and contact
surface 42 and between contact surface 44 and wearing surface 48. As is
com~entionally known, lubricant 20 may be supplied by a circulating oil or
lubricant system (not shown) wherein lubricant 20 is contained in an external
tank and pumped to the wearing surfaces, after which lubricant 20 may also
be filtered and cooled. Alternatively, lubricant 20 may be supplied as part
of an oil or lubricant pool system (not shown) wherein lubricant 20 is
contained in a lubricant housing or "well" and is filled to a fill level which
submerges the wearing surface. In either case, lubricant 20 may be easily
accessed for inspection without disassembling step bearing assembly 10.
Consequently, excessive wear is easily detected by chemical or visual
inspection of lubricant 20 within the external tank or by chemical or visual
inspection of lubricant 20 drained from the lubricant housing or well.
lubricant 20 reduces friction between wearing surfaces 26 and 48 and
contact surfaces 42 and 44, respectively. Lubricant 20 preferably consists of
a petroleum-based or synthetic product as is ~m~entionally known in the art.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of bushing bearing assembly
70. Bushing bearing assembly 70 includes bushing 72 and rod or shaft 74.
Bushing 72 consists of a tube or sleeve normally mounted to a case or a
housing (not shown). Bushing 72 includes wearing surface 76, non-wearing
surface 78 and wear indicators 79a, 79b, 79c. Wearing surface 76 consists
of an inner surface of the tube comprising bushing 72. Wearing surface 76
surrounds an outer perimeter of shaft 74. Wearing surface 76 contacts and
partially fractionally engages shaft 74. As a result, wearing surface 76
progressively wears from relative movement between bushing 72 and shaft
74.
Non-wearing surface 72 extends along an outer diameter of the
tube comprising bushing 72. Non-wearing surface 78 is opposite of wearing
surface 76.
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Wear indicators 79a, 79b, 79c include cavities or chambers SOa,
80b, SOc, wear identifiers 82a, 82b, 82c, and plugs 84, respectively.
Chambers 80a-80c extend into bushing 72 from non-wearing surface 78
toward wearing surface 76. Each of chambers 80a-80c includes an upper end
86 and a lower end 88. Upper end 86 is located adjacent non-wearing
surface 78. Lower end 88 is positioned behind wearing surface 76 at a
predetermined distance less than the distance at which catastrophic failure
occurs. Lower end 88 is preferably tapered or conical-shaped, having a point
pointing toward wearing surface 76. Chambers 80a-SOc hold and contain
wear identifiers 82a-82c, respectively.
Wear identifiers 82a-82c indicate when wearing surface 76 of
bushing 72 has worn to a point where catastrophic failure may occur shortly.
Wear identifiers 82a-82c preferably consist of a dye which is visually
distinguishable from lubricant 75. Alternatively, wear identifiers 82a-82c
consist of a chemical which is chemically disringuishable from lubricant 75.
Preferably, wear identifiers 82a-82c are also visually or chemically
distinguishable from each other.
Plugs 84 are fixedly coupled to lower end 86 of chambers
80a-80c. Plugs 84 are preferably threadably secured within lower end 86 of
chambers 80. Alternatively, plugs 84 may be press-fit within lower ends 86
of chambers 80. Plugs 84 seal wear identifiers 82a-82c within chambers
80a-80c.
Lubricant 75 extends between bushing 72 and shaft 74. As is
conventionally /mown, lubricant 75 may be supplied by a circulating oil or
lubricant system (not shown) wherein lubricant 75 is contained in an external
tank and pumped to the wearing surfaces, after which lubricant 75 may also
be filtered and cooled. Alternatively, lubricant 75 may be supplied as part
of an oil or lubricant pool system (not shown) wherein lubricant 75 is
contained in a lubricant housing or "well" and is filled to a fill level which
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submerges the wearing surface. In either case, lubricant 75 may be easily
accessed for inspection without disassembling bearing assembly 70. Thus,
excessive wear is easily detected by chemical or visual inspection of
lubricant
75 within the external tank or by chemical or visual inspection of lubricant
75 or drained from the lubricant housing or well. lubricant 75 reduces
friction between bushing 72 and shaft 74. Lubricant 75 preferably is a
petroleum-based or synthetic product as is com~entionally known in the art.
Bushing 72 guides the movement of shaft 74. As shaft 74
moves within bushing 72, wear surface 76 progressively wears away. Upon
sufficient wear of wearing surface 76, wearing surface 76 breaches at least
one of chambers 80a-80c to create an opening into at least one of chambers
SOa-80c. As a result, at least one of wear identifiers 82a-82c is released
from
chamber 84 onto wearing surface 76 and shaft 74 and into lubricant 75.
Because lower ends 88 of chambers 80a-80c are looted behind wearing
surfact 76 at a distance less than the distance at which catastrophic failure
would occur, wear identifiers 82a-82c are released before catastrophic failure
occurs. Bec;suse wear identifiers 82a-82c are visually or chemically
distinguishable from lubricant 75, excessive wear of bushing 72 can be
quickly and easily detected without bushing bearing assembly needing to be
disassembled or com~entionally analyzed. In addition, because wear
identifiers 82a-82c are also visually or chemically distinguishable fmm one
another, an exact location of excessive wear in bushing 72 may be
determined.
Furthermore, because lower ends 88 of chambers 80a-80c are
conical or tapered in shape, bushing 72 is less likely to break apart around
the opening into chambers 80a-80c. Thus, lower ends 88 of chambers
$Oa-80c prevent dislodgement of large bushing particles into lubricant 75 and
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between bushings 72 and 74 and prevents damage to bushing bearing
assembly 70 caused by these particles.
Figure 3 shows a cress-sectional view of a gyratory cnuher 100
including wear indicators of the present im~ention which are shown in greater
detail in Figures 1 and 2. Gyratory crushers are commonly used for crushing
and reducing the size of materials such as sand, gravel, ores and other virgin
material. Crusher 100 includes top shell 102, bottom shell 104, hydroset
cylinder 106, piston 108, step bearing assembly 110, main shaft 112, spider
bushing 113, mantic 114, concave 116, bottom shell bushing 118, eccentric
assembly 120, pinion shaft housing 122, pinion shaft 124, lobe lines 126a,
126b and lubricant 127.
Top shell 102, bottom shell 104, sad hydroset rylinder 106 are
coupled together to form a casing or a housing for containing ~mponents
of crusher 100. Top shell 102 snd bottom shell 104 are coupled together to
define an inner cavity for the reception of main shaft 112, mantle 114,
~acave 116, bottom shell bushing 118 and eccentric assembly 120. Hydroset
cylinder 106 is coupled to a lower end of bottom shell 104 and houses piston
lOB.
Piston 108 is generally cylindrical and is guided within hydroset
rylinder 106. Piston 108 vertically supports and maintains shaft 112 within
top shell 102 and bottom shell 104. Piston 108 is hydraulically raised and
lowered to vertically adjust shaft 112 and mantle 114.
Step bearing assembly 110 is coupled between piston 108 and
shaft 112 and includes piston wearing plate 128, step washer 130, and shaft
step 132. Step bearing assembly 110 is similar to step bearing assembly 10
shown in Figure 1. Piston wearing plate 128 is preferably made from
bronze. Piston wearing plate 128 is coupled to piston 108 by dowel 134.
Piston wearing plate 128 includes wearing surface 138 and wear indicator
140. Wearing surface 138 is generally flat. Wearing surface 138 contacts
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and is partial frictional engagement with step washer 130. Wearing surface
138 wears as a result of relative movement between piston wearing plate 128
and step washer 130.
Wear indicator 140 is identical to wear indicator 63 shown in
Figure 1. Wear indicator 140 extends behind and toward wearing surface
138. Upon sufficient wear of wearing surface 138, wearing surface 138
breaches or opens wear indicator 140 to release a wear identifier onto
wearing surface 138, step washer 130 and into lubricant 127.
Step washer 130 is positioned between piston wearing plate
128 and shaft step 132. Step washer 130 is preferably formed from a
hardened allay steel and includes contact surfaces 142,144. Contact surface
142 is generally flat and extends along a lower end of step washer 130.
Contact surface 142 contacts wearing surface 138 of piston wearing plate
128. Contact surface 142 moves relative to wearing surface 138. Contact
surface 144 is generally arcuate and extends along an upper end of step
washer 130. Contact surface 144 contacts shaft step 132. Contact surface
144 permits relative movement between shaft step 132 and step washer 130.
Step washer 130 supports shaft step 132 and guides movement of shaft step
132 above step washer 130.
Shaft step I32 is coupled to main shaft 112 by doll pin 146
which prevents rotation. Shaft step 132 includes wearing surface 148 and
wear indicator 152. Wearing surface 148 is generally arcuste and extends
along a lower end of shaft step 132. Wearing surface 148 contacts and is in
partial frictional engagement with step washer 130. As a result of relative
movement between shaft step 132 and step washer 130, wearing surface 148
progressively wears away.
Wear indicator 152 extends behind and toward wearing surface
148. Wear indicator 152 is identical to wear indicator 33 sho<vn in Figure
1. Upon sufficient wear of wearing surface 148, wearing surface 148
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breaches or opens wear indicator 152 to release a wear identifier onto
wearing surface 148 and contact surface 144 and into lubricant 127. As a
result, excessive wear of shaft step 132 can be quickly and easily identified
through visual inspection or chemical analysis of lubricant 127 so that shaft
step 132 may be replaced before wearing to a point of catastrophic failure.
Main shaft 112 extends above shaft step 132 through bottom
shell 104 and top shell 102. Maia shaft 112 includes cylinder 154. Cylinder
154 is coupled to mantle 114 and gyrates upon step bearing assembly 110
within eccentric assembly 120 and spider bushing 113.
Spider bushing 113 is secured to top shell 102 by bolt 160.
Spider bushing is generally hourglass-shaped. Spider bushing 113 encircles
the top end of cylinder 154 of main shaft 112. The top end of cylinder u4
gyrates within spider bushing 113. Spider bushing 113 guides the top end of
cylinder 54 during operation of crusher 100.
Mantle 114 is fixedly secured to an intewnediate portion of
rylinder 154 of main shaft 112. Mantle 114 is generally conical-shaped.
Mantle 114 is preferably formed from manganese steel. Mantle 114
cooperates with concave 116 to cnlsh various materials.
Concave 116 generally consists of a hollow concave tube.
Concave 116 is preferably forded from manganese steel. Concave 116 is
coupled to top shell 102 by bolt 162. Concave 116 surrounds and partially
encloses mantle 112. Concave 116 and mantle 114 define the crushing area
164. During operation of crusher 100, material is injected into crushing area
164. Gyration of main shaft 112 causes mantle 114 to gyrate with respect to
concave 116. As a resort, material within crushing space 164 is crushed and
released toward a lower end of crushing space 164.
The gyration of main shaft 112 is caused by tht rotation of
eccentric assembly 120 within bottom shell bushing 118. Bottom shell
bushing 118 generally consists of a thin tubular member having a wearing
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surface 168 and wear indicators 170x, 170b. Wearing surface 168 consists
of an inner diameter of bushing 118 and contacts an outer perimeter of
eccentric assembly 120. Wearing surface 168 guides rotation of eccentric
assembly 120 within bushing 118. As a result of relative movement between
eccentric assembly 120 and bushing 118, wearing surface 168 progressively
wears.
Wear indicators 170a,170b are similar to wear indicators 79a,
79b shown in Figure 2. Wear indicators 170a, 170b extend behind and
toward wearing surface 168. Upon sufficient wear of wearing surface 168,
wearing surface 168 breaches or opens at least one of wear indicators 170x,
170b to release at least one wear identifier onto wearing surface 168 and
eccentric assembly 120 into lubricant 127. Because the wear identifiers are
visually distinguishable from lubricant 127, excessive wear of wearing surface
168 can be quickly and easily detected so that bushing 118 may be timely
replaced before bushing 118 wears to a point of catastrophic failure. in
addition, inspection of wear extent upon bushing 118 may be performed
visually or through chemical analysis. Routine inspection does not require
disassembly of bushing 118 from bottom shell 104. Because the wear
identifiers are preferably distinguishable from one another location of
excessive wear can also be easily identified.
Ea;entric assembly 120 rotates within bushing 118 to cause
main shaft 112 to gyrate. Ecxentric assembly 120 includes eccentric 172,
beveled gear 174, eccentric wearing plate 176 and eccentric bushing 178.
Eccentric i72 generally consists of off-centered bore extending through a
cylinder. Eccentric 172 has an outer diameter contacting wearing surface
168 of bushing 118. Eccentric 172 has an inner diameter in abutment with
eccentric bushing 178. Eccentric 172 partially surrounds rylinder 154 of
main shaft 112. Cylinder 154 extends through the off-centered bore of
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eccentric 172. As a result, rotation of eccentric 172 causes main shaft 112
to reciprocate in a rectilinear motion or gyrate.
Beveled gear 174 is com~entionally (mown in the art and is
coupled to a lower end of eccentric 172. Rotation of beveled gear 174
causes eccentric 172 to rotate.
Eccentric wearing plate 176 is secured to hydroset cylinder 106.
Wearing plate 176 is preferably formed from bronze. Wearing plate 176
includes wearing surface 180 and wear indicator 182. Wearing surface 180
is generally flat and contacts the lower end of eccentric 172. As a result of
relative movement between rotating eccentric 172 and wearing plate 176,
wearing surface 180 progressively wears down.
Wear indicator 182 is identical to wear indicator 53 shown in
Figure 1. Wear indicator 182 extends behind and toward wearing surface
180. Upon excessive wear of wearing surface 180, wearing surface 180
breaches wear indicator 182 to release a wear identifier onto wearing surface
180 and eccentric 172 and into lubricant 127. As a result, excessive wear
upon wearing plate 176 can be quickly and easily detected, visually or
through chemical analysis, without wearing plate 176 needing to be
dismantled in crusher 100.
Eccentric bushing 178 generally consists of a tube preferably
formed from bronze. Eccentric bushing 178 is preferably press-fit to the
inside diameter of eccentric 172. Eccentric bushing 178 includes wearing
surface 186 and wear identifiers 188. Wearing surface 186 extends along an
inner diameter of bushing 178. Wearing surface 186 contacts and partially
frictionally engages rylinder 154 of main shaft 112. Wearing surface 186
guides movement of main shaft 112. As a result of relative movement
between main shaft 112 and bushing 178, wearing surface 186 progressively
wears down.
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Wear indicators 188 are identical to wear indicators 79a, 79b
shown in Figure 2. Wear indicators 79a, 79b extend behind and toward
wearing surface 186. Upon excessive wear of wearing surface 186, wearing
surface 186 breaches at least one of wear indicators 188 to release at least
one wear identifier onto wearing surface 186 and main shaft 112 and into
lubricant 127. As a result, excessive wear of bushing 178 can be quickly and
easily detected by visual inspection or through chemical analysis of lubricant
127 without bushing 178 needing to be dismantled from crusher 100.
Pinion housing 122 is ~upled to bottom shell 104 and hydroset
cylinder 106. Pinion housing 122 houses and contains pinion shaft 124.
Pinion shaft 124 extends through pinion housing 122 and
includes drive shaft 190 and beveled gear 192 Drive shaft 190 extends
through housing 122. Drive shaft 190 has a first cad coupled to a sourx of
power for rotating pinion 124. Drive shaft 190 has a send end coupled to
beveled gear 192. Beveled gear 192 is conventionally known in the art.
Beveled gear 192 engages beveled gear 174. Upon rotation of drive shaft
190, beveled gear 192 engages beveled gear 174 to rotatably drive eccentric
172 of eccentric assembly 120. Rotation of eccentric assembly 120 causes
main shaft ii2 to gyrate above step bearing assembly 110. As a result,
material contained within crushing area 164 is crushed between mantle 11~.
and ~ncave 116.
Iube line 126a and lute line 126b are part of an overall
circulating lubricant system. Iube line 126a extends through bottom shell
104 and is in communication with an interior of bottom shell 104. Lobe line
126a supplies lubricant 127 to points between bottom shell bushing 118 and
eccentric 172. Inbe line 126b supplies lubricant 127 to points between
piston wearing plate 128 and step washer 130, between step washer 130 and
shaft step 132, between main shaft 112 and eccentric bushing 178, and
between eccentric wearing plate 176 and eccentric 172. As a result,
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lubricant 127 may be easily accessed for inspection without disassembling
crusher 100. Excessive wear of a~ of the wearing surfaces is easily detected
by chemical or visual inspection of lubricant 127 contained within an
external tank (not shown) of the circulating lubricant system. lubricant 127
reduces friction between moving members of crusher 100. lubricant 127
preferably insists of a petroleum-based or synthetic product as is
comrentionally (mown in the art.
Main shaft 112 is supported and guided by step bearing
assembly 110 and eccentric bushing 178. At the same time, eccentric 172 of
eccentric assembly 120 is supported and guided by exentric bearing plate
178 and bottom shell bushing 118. Because piston wearing plate 128, shaft
step 132, bottom shell bushing 118, eccentric bushing 178 and eccentric
wearing plate 176 include wear indicators, excessive wear of these
components can be quickly and easl7y detected through a visual inspection
or through chemical analysis of lubricant 127. Routine inspection of these
components can be performed without disassembling cNSher 100. As a
result, crusher 100 does not need to be shut down for inspection or shut
down due to catastrophic failure caused by excessive wear.
As can be appreciated, the wear indicators of the present
mention may be located in a variety of locations behind wearing surfaces
so that a specific amount of wear upon a wearing surface is indicated by the
release of the wear identifier. For example, multiple chambers of the wear
indicators can be placed at different distances behind the wearing surface.
The extent of wear upon the wearing surface can be precisely determined
based upon the individual wear identifier that is released. Thus, in addition
to identifying excessive wear and the location of excessive wear, the wear
indicators of the present im~ention may be used to indicate the precise extent
of wear upon the bearing member.
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Although the present irn~ention has lien descn'bed with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize
that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
