Vibratory roller with composite exciter drive gear

摘要

A vibratory roller is provided with an exciter assembly that need not be lubricated by an oil bath because the exciter gears need not be lubricated. At least an outer ring portion of at least one gear of the exciter assembly is formed from a non-metallic material. In one embodiment, a first gear is a composite gear having an outer toothed ring portion formed from a machined nylon material imbedded with at least one of a heat stabilizer and a lubricant, and a second, mating gear is formed from metal and acts as heat sink for the first gear. In another embodiment, both the first and second gears are composite gears having an outer toothed ring formed from a robust and thermally stable molded polymer. The gears can survive when the roller is operated at least 8 hours at a duty cycle of at least 50% while operating the roller at an ambient temperature of over 38°C (100°F) and while the exciter shaft is driven at a velocity of over 2,000 RPM and the exciter housing is subjected to over 31.13 kN (7,000 lbf) of centrifugal forces at a vibrational frequency of over 40 Hz.