Importance

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Abstract

The present invention contemplates a gyratory compaction apparatus for creating compression and shear forces in a sample material, the apparatus using a single roller to accomplish the gyration comprising a hollow cylinder mold including first and second end plates in slidable engagement with the mold at respective first and second open ends, with a chamber inside the mold for receiving the sample material, a support frame having an interior suitable for receiving the mold therein, a compression mechanism for compressing the sample material, and a gyratory assembly comprising a rotational drive motor having a drive shaft aligned along the longitudinal axis of the support frame interior, a cam mounted at the end of the drive shaft, a gyratory plate having an inner housing for encompassing and operably engaging the cam including a spring biased plunger operably engaging the cam and a first outer angular contact bearing for operably engaging the mold inner surface and a driven plate operably mounted to the support frame with a second angular contact bearing and operably coupled to the gyratory plate with a pin mounted eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical interior and an annular planar thrust bearing concentric to the pin so that when the cam is driven in a first direction the gyratory plate is rotated concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical interior and when the cam driven in an opposite second direction, the cam engages the plunger pivoting the gyratory plate about the axis of the pin radially displacing the gyratory plate and first angular contact bearing so that the gyratory plate rotates eccentric to the longitudinal axis while the first angular contact bearing tilts the mold to a specified angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing and gyrates the mold about the specified angle while the sample material is compressed within the mold.

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First Claim