Lubrication and bearing structure for concentric, independently rotating drum and vibratory shaft

Claim 1

In a surface compacting machine including a main frame having parallel, spaced-apart side frame members, at least one hollow surface contacting drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis with the respect to said side frame members of said main frame, at least one shaft rotatably mounted within said drum on said horizontal axis, means to drive said drum at a relatively slow speed over a surface to be compacted, and means to drive said shaft separately from said drum to rotate at a relatively fast speed; the improvement including: A. at least one drum support assembly fixedly mounted to one of said side frame members, said assembly being provided with a main bearing housing; B. at least one main drum hub fixedly and concentrically associated with said drum; C. a main drum support bearing fixedly mounted in said main bearing housing and rotatably supporting said main drum hub for rotation on said horizontal axis; D. a rotary seal between said main bearing housing and an outer surface of said main bearing hub; E. said drum support assembly, said rotary seal and a portion of said outer surface of said main bearing hub defining a first oil sump; F. means to introduce a quantity of lubricating oil into said first sump to depth to immerse a substantial lower portion of the main drum support bearing; G. a shaft bearing housing at each end of the drum concentrically and fixedly mounted with respect to the drum and in fixed relationship to and in concentric alignment with said main drum hub; H. a shaft bearing fixedly mounted in each of said shaft bearing housings and rotatably supporting said shaft; I. a cylindrical second oil sump inside of said drum in concentric relationship with respect to said drum and encompassing said shaft and shaft bearings and in sealing relationship to each of said shaft bearing housings; J. means to introduce lubricating oil into said second sump; and K. means to cause oil in said second sump to lubricate said shaft bearings.