Multiple bearing recirculating lubrication system

Claim 2

An eccentric drive mechanism including: a frame; a bearing unit supported on said frame and sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; a generally longitudinally disposeD shaft having an eccentric portion thereon and also having a journal received by said frame supported bearing unit; means for rotating said shaft; a bearing unit axially spaced from said first-mentioned bearing unit receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; means defining a fluid lubricant passage between said bearing units providing fluid communication therebetween; and means for recirculating the fluid lubricant through said bearing units and said passageway.

Claim 3

The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said spacer member is affixed to the shaft.

Claim 4

The mechanism defined in claim 2 wherein a sealing contact is disposed between one side of said spacer member and a relatively stationary frame, and a second sealing contact is disposed between the other side of said spacer member and a member connected to the bearing unit for the eccentric portion.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 1 including sealing means associated with said means defining said fluid lubricant passageway radially externally of said passageway for preventing the escape of fluid lubricant.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said second-mentioned bearing unit is sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except for the lubricant passing axially therethrough.

Claim 7

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart roller bearing units supported on said frame, and sealed except to the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced roller bearing units located axially between said first pair of roller bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion, said second pair of bearing units being sealed except to the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; a pair of spacer members between the bearing units of said first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair; each of said spacer members having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units of said first and second pair; and a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion.

Claim 8

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart roller bearing units supported on said frame, and sealed except to the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced roller bearing units located axially between said first pair of roller bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion, said second pair of bearing units being sealed except to the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; a pair of spacer members between the bearing units of said first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair; each of said spacer members having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units of said first and second pair; and a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 in which means is provided for introducing a lubricant fluid to one of said first pair of bearing units and removing it from the other after it has passed through said second pair of bearing units.

Claim 10

An eccentric drive mechanism including: a frame; a roller bearing unit supported on said frame and sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; a generally longitudinally disposed shaft having an eccentric portion thereon and also having a journal received by said frame-supported bearing unit; means for rotating said shaft; a roller bearing unit, sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except to the passage of fluid lubricant axially therethrough, axially spaced from said first-mentioned roller bearing unit receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; and a spacer member between said bearing units having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units.

Claim 11

An eccentric drive mechanism including: a frame; a roller bearing unit supported on said frame and sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except the passage of lubricant axially therethrough; a generally longitudinally disposed shaft having an eccentric portion thereon and also having a journal received by said frame-supported bearing unit; means for rotating said shaft; a roller bearing unit, sealed to prevent all escape of lubricant except to the passage of fluid lubricant axially therethrough, axially spaced from said first-mentioned roller bearing unit receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; and a spacer member between said bearing units having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units.

Claim 12

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart roller bearing units supported on said frame; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced roller bearing units located axially between said first pair of roller bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; a pair of spacer members between the bearing units of saiD first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair; each of said spacer members having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units of said first and second pair; a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion; and means for introducing a lubricant fluid to one of said first pair of bearing units and removing it from the other of said first pair of bearing units after it has passed through said second pair of bearing units.

Claim 13

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart roller bearing units supported on said frame; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced roller bearing units located axially between said first pair of roller bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; a pair of spacer members between the bearing units of saiD first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair; each of said spacer members having a fluid lubricant passageway extending therethrough providing fluid communication between said bearing units of said first and second pair; a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion; and means for introducing a lubricant fluid to one of said first pair of bearing units and removing it from the other of said first pair of bearing units after it has passed through said second pair of bearing units.

Claim 14

The mechanism defined in claim 9 in which said means includes a recirculating pump.

Claim 15

The mechanism defined in claim 10 in which a second elongate shaft is supported by frame-mounted roller bearing units at its outboard ends and has an eccentric central portion journaling a pair of spaced-apart oscillating member roller bearing units; there being seal providing spacer assemblies with passageways between each frame-supported and eccentric portion supported bearing unit; tubular means housing said eccentric portion of the second shaft and furnishing a lubricant passage between said eccentric mounted bearing units; a pipe connecting the bearing unit at one outboard end of one shaft and the bearing unit on an outboard end of the second shaft; said recirculating pump connected to one of the other frame-supported bearing units; and a line leading from the remaining frame-supported bearing unit to said pump.

Claim 16

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart bearing units supported on said frame; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced bearing units located axially between said first pair of bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; means defining a fluid lubricant passageway extending between the bearing units of said first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair providing fluid communication therebetween; a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion; and means for introducing a lubricant fluid to one of said first pair of bearing units and removing it from the other of said first pair of bearing units after it has passed through said second pair of bearing units.

Claim 17

An eccentric drive mechanism comprising: a frame; a first pair of spaced-apart bearing units supported on said frame; an elongated shaft journaled by said first pair of bearing units and having a central eccentric portion thereon; means for rotating said shaft; a second pair of spaced bearing units located axially between said first pair of bearing units, receiving said eccentric portion and oscillating in response to rotation of said eccentric portion; means defining a fluid lubricant passageway extending between the bearing units of said first pair and the axially adjacent bearing units of said second pair providing fluid communication therebetween; a tubular member extending between the bearing units of said second pair providing a peripheral fluid lubricant passageway around said eccentric portion; and means for introducing a lubricant fluid to one of said first pair of bearing units and removing it from the other of said first pair of bearing units after it has passed through said second pair of bearing units.