The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1999
William M. Smith, Kewanee, IL (US);
Compaction America, Inc., Kewanee, IL (US);
Abstract
A vibration generator includes a weight member, a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation extending longitudinally therethrough and having a mounting area on which the weight member is mounted, and a positioning arm disposed in engagement with the weight member on the shaft and rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to both the shaft and the weight member. The mounting area engages the weight member and prevents movement of the weight member relative to the shaft in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation but permits movement of the weight member relative to the shaft in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation and coplanar with the circumferential direction. The weight member also defines an elongate positioning slot and the positioning arm includes an axially extending portion disposed through the positioning slot for slidable movement within the positioning slot during rotation of the positioning member relative to the shaft. The axially extending portion in fact defines a cam surface disposed in engagement with the weight member within the positioning slot. Rotation of the positioning arm relative to both the shaft and the weight member moves the weight member relative to the shaft in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation thereby altering the moment of inertia of the weight member about the axis of rotation and resulting in a different amplitude of vibration during rotation of the weight member.