US3912409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary fluid seal for steering yoke of wheel motor-driven vehicle
Assignee: COMPACTION AMERICA Inc A DE Corp
•
Filing: 1974-10-15
•
Granted: 1975-10-14
•
Expires: 1994-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled vibratory compactor has a one-piece frame supported at one end by a steel roller drum and at the other end by a yoke-mounted, single, high-flotation pneumatic rubber tire. The operator''s compartment includes a pair of laterally opposed operator''s seats at the opposite sides of the frame and is positioned on the frame over the pneumatic tire with steering, speed and directional controls positioned between the seats. An engine mounted on the frame behind and below the operator''s compartment, but forwardly of the roller drum, drives hydraulic pumps which supply fluid to a hydraulic vibrator motor which drives an eccentric shaft within the roller drum, a hydraulic wheel motor which drives the pneumatic tire, and a hydraulic power steering system for turning the yoke. The yoke spindle mounts a rotary seal which transmits fluid between a pump on the frame and the wheel motor on the yoke. A thin, narrow, rearwardly extending frame portion mounts the vibratory roller drum so as to provide the operator with good visibility of the ends of the drum when working close to curbs and other structures.
Inventors
- 👤 George D Herbst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K7/00; B60K7/0015; E; E01; E01C; E01C19/00; E01C19/22; E01C19/23; E01C19/231; E01C19/233; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/043; B60K17/046; B60K2007/0046; B60K2007/0092; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/40; B60Y2200/41; B60Y2200/413; E01C2301/00; E01C2301/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
In a self-propelled compaction vehicle having a main frame, a compaction wheel at one end of said frame and a steerable yokemounted driving wheel at the opposite end of said frame driven by a hydraulic wheel motor, said yoke including a yoke spindle rotatably mounting said yoke to said frame, ann engine-driven pump means on said frame for supplying said wheel motor with pressure fluid, and hydraulic passage means extending between said wheel motor on said yoke and said pump means on said frame, a rotary seal means for transmitting pressure fluid between said yoke and said frame comprising: a seal housing on said frame having an interior wall defining a bore, a seal shaft rotatable within said bore about the axis of rotation of said yoke spindle, means defining a pair of first and second annular fluid grooves in said seal shaft at vertically spaced-apart positions along said shaft, a fluid port extending through said seal housing to said interior bore wall and into fluid communication with each of said annular fluid grooves, first fluid passage means extending lengthwise through said yoke spindle and continuing into the interior of said seal shaft and into communication with said first annular fluid groove, a second fluid passage means extending lengthwise through said yoke spindle and continuing into the interior of said seal shaft and communicating with said second annular fluid groove, a first annular fluid sealing means extending between said interior bore wall and said shaft at a vertical first level above said annular fluid grooves, and a second annular fluid sealing means extending between said interior bore wall and said shaft at a vertical second level below said annular fluid grooves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a self-propelled compaction vehicle having a main frame, a compaction wheel at one end of said frame and a steerable yokemounted driving wheel at the opposite end of said frame driven by a hydraulic wheel motor, said yoke including a yoke spindle rotatably mounting said yoke to said frame, ann engine-driven pump means on said frame for supplying said wheel motor with pressure fluid, and hydraulic passage means extending between said wheel motor on said yoke and said pump means on said frame, a rotary seal means for transmitting pressure fluid between said yoke and said frame comprising: a seal housing on said frame having an interior wall defining a bore, a seal shaft rotatable within said bore about the axis of rotation of said yoke spindle, means defining a pair of first and second annular fluid grooves in said seal shaft at vertically spaced-apart positions along said shaft, a fluid port extending through said seal housing to said interior bore wall and into fluid communication with each of said annular fluid grooves, first fluid passage means extending lengthwise through said yoke spindle and continuing into the interior of said seal shaft and into communication with said first annular fluid groove, a second fluid passage means extending lengthwise through said yoke spindle and continuing into the interior of said seal shaft and communicating with said second annular fluid groove, a first annular fluid sealing means extending between said interior bore wall and said shaft at a vertical first level above said annular fluid grooves, and a second annular fluid sealing means extending between said interior bore wall and said shaft at a vertical second level below said annular fluid grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a third annular fluid sealing means extending between said interior bore wall and said shaft at a vertical level between said first and second annular fluid grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said seal shaft comprises a vertical extension of said yoke spindle extending upwardly from said yoke spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stationary seal housing includes internal bypass passage means interconnecting said first and second annular fluid grooves, bypass valve means normally closing said internal passage means to the flow of pressure fluid between said first and second annular fluid grooves, and selectively operable means for opening said valve means to permit the flow of pressure fluid through said bypass passage means between said first and second annular fluid grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first and second annular grooves are provided in an interior bore wall-confronting surface of said shaft and said first, second and third annular fluid sealing means comprise annular sealing grooves in said shaft surface and sealing ring means in said grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a third fluid port extending through said seal housing and communicating with said bore at a vertical third level below said second annular fluid seal, said bore providing an annular fluid passage between said housing interior wall and said shaft at said third level, third fluid passage means extending lengthwise through said yoke spindle and into said seal shaft and communicating with said bore through a port at said third level so that said third housing port is in fluid communication with said third yoke spindle fluid passage means, and third annular sealing means at a vertical level below said third level for preventing leakage of fluid from the lower end of said seal housing bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second annular fluid sealing means comprise high-pressure seals and said third annular sealing means comprises a low-pressure seal, and a third annular high-pressure seal between said housing bore wall and said seal shaft at a level between said annular fluid grooves so as to prevent fluid flow between said fluid grooves within said bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said third fluid passage means extends through said seal shaft to communicate with an upper portion of said seal housing bore above said first annular fluid sealing means whereby fluid leakage upwardly past said first annular sealing means is returned to the hydraulic fluid system through said third fluid passage means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2436757A
Cited
US3008424A
Cited
US3063511A
Cited
US3108520A
Cited
US3067831A
Cited
US3205962A
Cited
US3303762A
Cited
US3395626A
Cited
US3416419A
Cited
US3463063A
Cited
US3737243A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |