Power auger machine with bearing shield
First Claim
1. In a power auger machine of the type having a frame defining a grinding chamber having a substantially vertical rear wall with a centrally-located, circular opening, auger means rotatably mounted on said rear wall for crushing and shredding material in said grinding chamber, motor means mounted on said frame for rotating said auger, and main bearing means for rotatably supporting said auger means on said rear wall, a bearing shield comprising:
- an annular outer shield element attached to said auger and having an annular channel formed in a rearward face thereof, said channel having radially inner and outer concentric side walls joined by a radially-extending bottom wall;
an annular inner shield element attached to said rear wall and being sized to fit within said annular channel and form gaps with said side walls, said inner shield element having an outer face in opposing relation to said bottom wall thereby forming a labyrinth seal with said recess;
said rear wall having an annular recess shaped to receive said annular outer shield element such that a forward face of said outer shield element is substantially flush with said rear wall and forms a portion of said labyrinth seal with said annular recess contiguous to said grinding chamber; and
means for forcing lubricant through said labyrinth seal such that lubricant bleeds outwardly between said outer shield element and said rear wall into said grinding chamber, whereby contaminants are prevented from entering between said inner and outer shield elements from said grinding chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bearing shield for a power auger machine having a bearing shield which includes an annular outer shield element attached to a rotating auger and having an annular channel formed in a rearward face thereof, an annular inner shield element attached to a wall which supports the auger and positioned within the annular channel such that a labyrinth seal is formed by the outer shield element, the inner shield element and the support wall, and a lubricant supply pump for forcing lubricant through the labyrinth seal and outwardly from between the outer shield element and the wall. In a preferred embodiment, a grease purge seal extends between the rear wall and bearing support structure for the auger to form a lubricant manifold communicating with the inner shield element and the labyrinth seal, for supplying lubricant to the labyrinth seal.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a power auger machine of the type having a frame defining a grinding chamber having a substantially vertical rear wall with a centrally-located, circular opening, auger means rotatably mounted on said rear wall for crushing and shredding material in said grinding chamber, motor means mounted on said frame for rotating said auger, and main bearing means for rotatably supporting said auger means on said rear wall, a bearing shield comprising:
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an annular outer shield element attached to said auger and having an annular channel formed in a rearward face thereof, said channel having radially inner and outer concentric side walls joined by a radially-extending bottom wall; an annular inner shield element attached to said rear wall and being sized to fit within said annular channel and form gaps with said side walls, said inner shield element having an outer face in opposing relation to said bottom wall thereby forming a labyrinth seal with said recess; said rear wall having an annular recess shaped to receive said annular outer shield element such that a forward face of said outer shield element is substantially flush with said rear wall and forms a portion of said labyrinth seal with said annular recess contiguous to said grinding chamber; and means for forcing lubricant through said labyrinth seal such that lubricant bleeds outwardly between said outer shield element and said rear wall into said grinding chamber, whereby contaminants are prevented from entering between said inner and outer shield elements from said grinding chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a device having rotatable auger means for working upon material, wall means for forming a barrier between a dirty environment and a relatively clean environment, said wall means having a circular opening for receiving said auger means and bearing means, located within said clean environment, for supporting said auger means, a bearing shield comprising:
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an annular outer shield element attached to said auger and having an annular channel formed in a rearward face thereof; an annular inner shield element attached to said wall means and being sized to fit within said annular channel and form a labyrinth seal therewith; said outer shield element including a plurality of outer shield element segments and said inner shield element including a plurality of inner shield element segments, each of said segments being separately attachable to and removable from said device; and means for forcing lubricant from said clean environment, between said inner and outer shield elements and outwardly into said dirty environment as said auger is rotated, whereby contaminants are prevented from entering from said dirty environment to between said inner and outer shield elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification