Method and apparatus for cooling the impulse mechanism of a vibratory device

1. An impulse mechanism for a vibratory device comprising:

(a) an eccentrically weighted shaft having an eccentrically weighted drive shaft that is supported by bearings and that is adapted to be rotated to create vibratory forces;

(b) a fan component that is mounted on the eccentrically weighted shaft, said fan component having a plurality of fan blades spaced around its periphery that curve radially around a portion of the shaft when the fan component is mounted on the shaft, wherein the fan component is combined with a drive sheave component to form a unitary structure comprising a combination drive sheave and fan having a motor side;

(c) a drive belt that is operatively attached to the sheave component of the combination drive sheave and fan;

(d) a wheel case having a wheel case side cover that encloses the bearings supporting the eccentrically weighted drive shaft, wherein the fan component of the combination drive sheave and fan is adapted to direct air across an outer surface of the wheel case side cover as the eccentrically weighted drive shaft is rotated:

(e) a guard that is mounted to the outside of the wheel case and that is adapted to enclose the combination drive sheave and fan and is adapted to channel air moved by the fan blades of the combination drive sheave and fan across a lower portion of the wheel case side cover and then upwardly across the wheel case side cover and to accelerate the air moved by the fan blades of the combination drive sheave and fan to improve the convection heat transfer from the surface of the wheel case, the guard comprising:

an enclosure that is adapted to protect the combination drive sheave and fan from impact by materials being processed by the vibratory device;

a guard side cover for the enclosure that is generally parallel to the wheel case side cover, said guard side cover having an opening that allows outside air to be drawn into the guard by the rotation of the combination drive sheave and fan;

a closed end of the enclosure spaced away from the combination drive sheave and fan;

a top wall for the enclosure which is provided with a plurality of air outlets; and

curved ducting that wraps around the motor side of the combination drive sheave and fan and slopes downwardly from the top of combination drive sheave and fan towards the closed end of the enclosure, which curved ducting has a plurality of upper air outlets near an end of the guard away from combination drive sheave and fan so that air is drawn into the guard by rotation of the combination drive sheave and fan and directed to flow across the outer surface of the lower portion of the side cover of the wheel case and then upwardly across the side cover through the upper outlets in the curved ducting and through the air outlets in the top wall of the enclosure after passing across the upper portion of the side cover for the wheel case.

2. The impulse mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the combination drive sheave and fan has an outer side and an inner side;

(b) the fan component of the combination drive sheave and fan is on the inner side of the combination drive sheave and fan;

(c) the sheave component of the combination drive sheave and fan is on the outer side of the combination drive sheave and fan.

3. The impulse mechanism of claim 2 wherein the combination drive sheave and fan includes openings on its outer side through which air is drawn by rotation of the combination drive sheave and fan.

4. The impulse mechanism of claim 3 wherein the combination drive sheave and fan comprises a centrifugal fan component that:

(a) draws air through the openings on the outer side of the combination drive sheave and fan;

(b) accelerates the air as the fan blades redirect the air flow by 90°;

(c) disperses the air flow radially from the center of the combination drive sheave and fan.

5. The impulse mechanism of claim 1 wherein the wheel case contains a lubricant.