Pulverizer with keyless main shaft

1. A main shaft for a pulverizer, comprising:

a first threaded portion located at an axial end of the main shaft and having threads extending along at least a portion of the first threaded portion;

a first tapered portion adjacent to the first threaded portion, the first tapered portion having a narrowest circumference closest to the first length and configured to accept a yoke;

an intermediate portion adjacent to the first tapered portion, the intermediate portion having a circumference greater than a greatest circumference of the first tapered portion;

a second threaded portion located adjacent to the intermediate portion, the second threaded portion having a circumference greater than the circumference of the intermediate portion and having threads extending along at least a portion of the second threaded portion;

a second tapered portion adjacent to the second threaded portion, the second tapered portion having a narrowest circumference closest to the second threaded portion and configured to accept a bevel gear assembly;

an end portion adjacent to the second tapered length, the end portion having a circumference less than a greatest circumference of the second tapered portion;

an upper jackbolt nut adapted to thread onto the first threaded portion to secure the yoke to the main shaft; and

a lower jackbolt nut adapted to thread onto the second threaded portion to secure the bevel gear assembly to the main shaft;

wherein the main shaft excludes any keyway.

2. The main shaft of claim 1 wherein:

the intermediate portion includes a plurality of sub-portions; and

each of the plurality of sub-portions has a different circumference, each different circumference being greater than the greatest circumference of the first tapered portion, and less than the circumference of the second threaded portion.

3. The main shaft of claim 2 , wherein:

the end portion includes a plurality of sub-portions; and

each of the plurality of sub-portions has a different circumference, each different circumference being less than the greatest circumference of the second tapered portion.

4. The main shaft of claim 1 , wherein the pulverizer is an EL type pulverizer.

5. The main shaft of claim 1 wherein the main shaft is a replacement main shaft.

6. A main shaft for a pulverizer, comprising:

a first threaded portion located at an axial end of the main shaft and having threads extending along at least a portion of the first threaded portion;

a first tapered portion adjacent to the first threaded portion, the first tapered portion having a narrowest circumference closest to the first length and configured to accept a yoke;

an intermediate portion adjacent to the first tapered portion, the intermediate portion having a circumference greater than a greatest circumference of the first tapered portion;

a second threaded portion located adjacent to the intermediate portion, the second threaded portion having a circumference greater than the circumference of the intermediate portion and having threads extending along at least a portion of the second threaded portion;

a second tapered portion adjacent to the second threaded portion, the second tapered portion having a narrowest circumference closest to the second threaded portion and configured to accept a bevel gear assembly; and

an end portion adjacent to the second tapered portion, the end portion having a circumference less than a greatest circumference of the second tapered portion;

wherein the first and second tapered portions exclude any keyway, and the main shaft further comprises:

an upper jackbolt nut adapted to thread onto the first threaded portion to secure the yoke to the main shaft; and

a lower jackbolt nut adapted to thread onto the second threaded portion to secure the bevel gear assembly to the main shaft.

7. The main shaft of claim 6 , wherein the pulverizer is an EL type pulverizer.

8. The main shaft of claim 7 wherein the main shaft is disposed in the EL type pulverizer in place of a main shaft including at least one keyway.