CA1315252C - Jaw crusher with multiple drive means - Google Patents

Abstract

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

IMPROVED JAW CRUSHER WITH MULTIPLE DRIVE MEANS

Abstract of the Disclosure Improvements are disclosed for a jaw crusher having converging and opposed jaws defining a space for passage of material to be crushed. An improved assembly for imparting oscillatory vibration to at least one jaw comprises multiple eccentric means arranged in vertically spaced apart relation and synchronously operated by split drive means for producing more uniform and consistent operation of the crusher under different load conditions. Another improvement comprises at lease two eccentric masses arranged in laterally spaced apart relation on the one jaw by separate shafts which are independently mounted by separate bearings whereby the size of both the eccentric masses and bearings is proportionately reduced to permit crusher operation at increased rates of rotation. A further improvement comprises an elongated resilient member mounted on the frame structure with a reaction member connected to the one jaw and surrounding the elongated resilient member for permitting oscillatory movement of the one jaw while limiting its travel in all directions on the frame structure. Preferably, both jaws are similarly constructed and mounted on the frame structure.

Description

~ - 1 3 1 5252 m e pre~ent invention relateg to rock oru~hing maohinea and more particularly to suoh machines wherein o~cillatory vibration or motion i~ produced in oppo~ed jaws by means of eccentric ma3ses or the like.
~ACKGROUND OF ~HE INVENTION
U.S. Patent 3,079,096, entitled "Crushing Apparatus" iasued February 26, 1963 to David P. McGonnell, father of the inventor herein. ~he crusher desoribed and claimed in that patent is particularly repre~entative of the prior art with reapect to the pre~ent invention and is accordingly discu~ed in greater detail below. The jaw orusher o~ the present invention includes oertain feature~ in common with the apparatus of the above patent and also in oommon with applicant '9 copending Canadian applioation serial No. 563,107 filed March 31, 1988 and entitled ~Improved Jaw Crusher With Drop-In Jaw" invented by ~aurenoe U. Turly and David P.
MoConnell, also the inventor herein.
Aooordingly, both U.S. Patent 3,0799096 and the oopending applioation referred to above may be referred to in order to provide a more oomplete understanding of the baokground of the present invention, partioularly as to oommon orushing apparatus features.
~ m e orushing apparatus of the present invention also inoludes certain features in oommon with apparatus disolosed in another oopending Canadian patent application -of the applioant Serial No. 563,108, filed March 31, 1988 and entltled "Jaw Crushing ~pparatus".

Referring now to the referenoes, U.S. Patent 3,079,096 disclo~ed a jaw orusher of the type generally referred to above wherein an eocentrio mass was supported for rotation behind eaoh ~.

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of it~ oppo~ed jawa. Subctantial forces acting upon the jaws were absorbed by resilient means including wheel~ with pneumatic tires arranged in shoes or cylindrical tracks partially surrounding the tires. In addition to absorbing tremendous shock loading on the jaws, the resilient tire~ permitted the jaw~ to move away from each other a3 nece~sary when uncrushable material formed, for example, from hardened steel or the like, entered between the jaws.
Aocordingly, the jaw cru~her of the reference wa~
particularly effective in orushing material~ such as rock while preventing the jaws or other portions of the crusher from being damaged b~ uncrushable material passing between the jaws.
Other jaw crushers including vibratory jaw crushers with opposed jaws operated by rotating eccentric masses have al~o been disclosed in the prior art. For example, reference i~ made to U. S.
Patent 1,247,701 issued November 27, 1917 to Michaelsen. However, at least for purpo~e~ of Pg/

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the present in~ention, these other prior art ~nw crusher~
nre belleved to be generDlly equivalent to that of-tl)e sbove reference.
Although the prior nrt ~aw cru~hers discussed above were ver~ effectlve for their purpose, lt hns been found desirable to further improve their design for further enhancing Jnw crusher operatlon in n vnrlety of npplications.
Particularly in connectlon with lnrge 6ize crushers Ddapted for crushing large rocks or the like, some difficultg hns been found ~n as6uring uniform transmission of 03cillatory motion to differen~ parts of the ~aw8. For e~smple, when large rocks nre the like which are difficult to crusll are trapped between certnin portions oi tlle oppoeed ~nws, vibratory f.orces npplied to the ~aws follow the pnth of least resistnnce 80 that the ~aws tend to experlence incre~sed ~ibratory movement nt 8 locntion sway from the lDr~e rock.
rhis tendency naturnlly interferes with rapiù nnd efficient crusher operatlon.
In nddition, dlfficulty h~s nlso been encountered ~n assuring uniform tranamisaion of vibratory motion to ~nws of incren~ed cize. This iB true both for ~aws of extended or incrensed lsteral dimension, for example, to nchieve incrensed throst slze, or incrensed longitudinnl dimension, for exnmple where a longer, more grndual nlp is desired between the ~nw6.
It h~s nlso been noted thnt, ynrticulnrly with lnrger crushers, nssemblg and dian~sembly 1~ made more difficult.
Thia ~8 most noticenble in connection with the ~aws themselve~ which tend to experience concentrated weDr during operatlon of the cruaher.

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Accordlngly, there ha3 been found to remnln n need for n jaw crusher exhibiting improvements in the areas discussed above as well as in other areas~
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Summarv of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide nn improved ~aw crusher capable of overcoming one or more of the disadvsntRges discussed above.
It is n further object of the invention to provide a jnw crusher having Qpposed ~aws with at least one of the jaws being supported in floating relation on a supporting frame structure, improved means for impnrting 06cillntory ~ibr~tion to the one ~aw comprising multiple eccentric means arranged in vertically spaced apart relation on the one jaw in order to impart oscillfl~ory vibrQtlon to respective portions of the one ~aw for producing more uniform nnd consistent operation of the crusher under different load conditions, split drive means synchronously operating the multiple eccentric means.
It i~ a further ob~ect of the invention to provide such a crusher with opposed ~RW8 wherein st least two eccentric masses are arranged on separQte shsfts in laterally spnced apart relation, the sepQrate shafts being independently mounted on bearing means and interconnected by flexible coupIing means.
The two arrangement~ referred to above can of course be incorporated in a ~ingle ~aw crusher wherein vertically spaced apart eccentrlc means eQch comprise st least two eccentric masses arrAnged on separQte shnfts independently attached to the ~aw by bearlng means. In a crusher iDcluding either or both laterally spaced eccentric masses and/or vertically spaced eccentric masses, i~ has been found that vibratory motion can be more effectively and uniformly introduced into different portions of the ~sw, particularly where the Jaws are of relatively large si~e. At the same time, with the size of the ercentric masses being proportionately reduced relative to a single eccentric mass for driving the jaw, the size of the bearings supporting the multiple eccentric mssses is similarly reduced. Since the size of the bearings tends to limit the rate of rotation possible for the eccentric ma~ses, it i~ ~mmediately apparent that the arrangements contemplated by the present invention are capable of permitting operation at increased rates of speed as may be desired for achieving optimum pressure operation.
It iB yet another object of the invention to provide such a ~aw crusher for facilitating inst~llaticn and removal of either or both jaw~ wherein the ~8W i5 formed with a reaction member either integrally formed with the jaw or connected thereto, the reaction member ~urrounding an elongsted resilient member fittached to the supporting frame structure. With this arrsngement, the single eloDgated resilient member serves to permit oscillatory movement of the jaw in response to the eccentric means while at the same time limlting trsvel of the jaw in all directions on the frame structure. This arrsngement is also particularlg ad~antageous in avoiding multiple restraints for the jaw which te~d to work a8ain~t each other, for example, and absorb part of the vibratory force developed by the rotating : ~:

eCcentric means. Thus, wlth such a design, a greater portion of the vibratory force can be transferred through the jaw faces to the material to be crushed for incIeased efficiency.
In a preferred design, the reaction member surrounding the elongated resilient member is prefernbly attsched to 8 lower portion of the jaw with additional resiliene menns being mounted on the frsme structure behind sn upper portion of the ~aw. As will disclosed in greater detail below, such an arrangement particularly facilitates installation and removal of the jaw as n unit from the crusher.
Additional ob~ects and advantages of the invention are made apparent in the following description having reference eO the accompanying drawings.
Brief Descripeion of the Drawin~s FIGURE 1 is a side vlew, with parts removed and other parts shown in cross section, to more clearly illustrate the constructlon of a ~aw crusher according to the present invention.
FIGURE 2 ls a plan view of the crusher ~aken generally from the top of FIGURE 1, the jaw crusher of FIGURE 2 including a base structure and drlve assembly which are omitted in FIGURE 1 for 8reater clarity.
FIGURE 3 is an end view of the crusher taken generally from the right side of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 i8 a fra8mentary sidë Yiew of the opposed jaws ln the crusher to better illustrete thelr unitary con6tructlon and configuratlon, one of the opposed jaws being illustrated with resilient meens for limitlng oscillatory movement of the jaw.
FIGURE 5 i8 a further view of one of the jaws, taken for example fram the right side of FIGURE 4, with the resilient means being removed.

Descri~tion of_the Preferred Embodiment A jaw crusher constructed according to the present invention is generDlly indicated st 10 in the drawings snd includes a base frame as~embly 12 snd a fabricaeed floating frame structure or jaw carriage frame 14. The base frame assembly 12 includes a platform 16 with upright frame members 18 and 20. Both the base fTame assembly 12 and jaw carriage frnme 14 are substantiQlly reinforced as illustrated.
The jaw carri~ge frnMe 14 includes opposed upright side plates 24 and 26 which are rigidly interconnected by cross members 28.
The ~8W carriage frame or floating frame assembly 14 is resiliently supported upon the base frsme 12 by a plurality of coiled sprlngs 30 interposed between the upright frame members 18 and 20 of the base frame 12 and the cross members 28 of the flosting frame Qssembly 14. The springs 30 nre positioned relatlYe to both the ~pright frsme members 18 and 20 snd the cross members 28 by means of positioning cups 32.
A palr of pres~ure Jaw8 34 and 36 are mounted on the ~aw carriage frame 14 in a manner described ln greDter detail below for allowing o~cillatory or vibrstory movement of the ~aws in synchronized relation with each other. The ', "' ' ': .. . .

1 31 52~;2 mounting of the jaws 34 and 36 upon the floating frame assembly 14 is of particular lmportsnce because of the ~ery substantial shock forces acting upon the jaws during operation of the cru~her.
In sny event, it will be more Apparent from the following description that, in thelr oscillatory or vibratory movement, the ~aws experience an upward stroke where they move upwardly and away from each other followed by a downward stroke where the jaws move downwardly and toward each other. The upward and downward 6trokes of the jaws produce vibratory and oscillatory movement in order to develop crushing force on rocks or other material passing between the jaws.
~s noted sbove, the crusher ~aws 34 and 36 are of substantially similar construction and are formed as mirror images to eRch other. Accordingly, the following description for the crusher jBW 34 ~lso applies to the crusher jaw 36 with ~imilar primed numerical labels being employed. However, it i~ to be noted that one of the jaws, for e~ample thHt indicated at 36, could be relatively fixed upon the ~aw carriage frame 14 with osclll~tory or vibratory movement between the jaws being produced by movement of ~he one ~sw 34 by itself. In sny event, similar operation of both jaws ~B generally preferred in order to achieve greater crushing forces.
The jaw crusher 10 ~8 described Qbove generally conforms with at leQst one embodiment in the copending references. Similar numericHl lsbels have also been employed to further fQcilitate comparison. However, ~t is to be noted that there are otherwise substantial differences ln the manner in which the ~awa nnd other portlons of tl)c crus1er Dre constructed nnd gupported for enhnnclng crusher operntion.
- Referrln~ now particularly t~ FIGURES l nnd 4 the crus11er ~nws 34 snd 36 a~e formed Witl1 upper hnrdened fnce plntes 38 Dnd 38 Dnd lower l1~rdened fnce plate~ 42 nnd 42 re6pectively. The lower fnce plate~ nre substsntially s1~orter itl vertlcal dimen~ion thnn tlle upper LMce plntes.
Althot1g11 not a pnrticular feature in connection with t1)e presc11t inventio11 it i9 noted tl1at the upper snd lo~er plnte~ nre preferablg formed from ver~ hard metfll nnd secured to a backing plnte 40 or 40 by means of countersu1)k bolts or ntuds (not ahown) ln order to facilitate removnl or replncement of the faclng portlon~ of the ~nws whicll ~re pnrticulnrly suaceptible to weor.
ReEerrlng to the unitary jaws as illustrated in FlGURES l and 4 the angular relationship between the ui)per a11(1 lower fnce plntes 38 42 ~nd 38 42 la of particu]nr importance within the pre~ent invention in order to nc11ie~e more efectlve crushing nction on rock or other mnterinl pnsslng between the Jnws. Generally it i8 desirnble ror tl1e lower fnce plates 42 and [12~ to be substantlally pnrnllel with each other for example wl1en fine crus11ing is desired within the Dppnrntus lO. At the snme time it IIDS
bee11 found desirable to form a converging angle between tlle ~pper face plntes 38 Dnd 38 for ~ number of rea~on~
discus~ed nt 8reater lengt11 in the lncorporated copen~i1-g reference noted abo~e.
ln any e~ent lt is to be kept ln mind ln connection with the preaent invention that the multiple drive menns . .
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~rovidcd by the present lnventlon fncllltntes not only construction of J~ws hnvlng Brenter lnternl dimenslotls bllt nlso Jnws hnvin~ grenter Yertlcnl dimcn~ions. The ~IenLcr vertlcnl dimen~ion~ for the ~nw8 permit, for ex~mple, ~ormntion of a longer tnpered thront between the upper fDce plntes of the two ~aw~.
Within a ~aw crusher ns described 0bove, there nrc tllree partlculnr DreQs of con~tructlon which nre o~
importnnce in connectlon Witll the present invention. 'I'llese three fentures include (1) novel upper snd lower resiliellL
elcmcnts 46 and 48 for posltloning the ~aw 34, (2) n multiple eccentric drlve nssembly genersll~ indicnted nt 44 in FlGURE S nnd (3) construction of the ~nws 34 nnd 36 nnd associated elements of the crusher n~ descrlbed in grenter detnil below for facilitnting ns~embly nnd'dlsnssembly of thc Jnws 34 nnd 36 in unitnry fnsllion from the crusher 10.
Tllcse element~ are descrlbed in Breater detnil below.
lnltlnlly, the upper ~nd lower elongnted resiliellt elements 46 and 48 nllow response of the ~nws to the rotnting eccentric mn~ses for producing the deslre(l oscillator~ movement of the Jaws. In nddition, the resilient elements 46 and 48 limit trnvel of the ~nws in n mnnller described in grenter detnil below~
The upper elongnted re~ilient element 46 is ~ormed b~
multiple members or tlre~ 50 whlch Are both resilient nnd compressible. The tires 50 nre mounted on a single 6hnfC or n~le 52 which 18 ~upported nt lta oyposite ends by benring moullts 54 nnd 56 which nre ad~ustable on the ~nw carrlnge rnme 14 or ~nr~lng the dlstAnce or throat formed betwccn the ~aws 34 and 36.

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-The lower elongated re3ilient elemen~ 40 is ~imilarly formed by tlres 58 mounted on n single shaft or axle 60 which is supported at it6 opposite endY by bearing mounts or pillow blocks 62 nnd 64. Ths pillow block~ 62 and 64 are simllarl~ ad~ustable on a lower portion of the jaw carriage frame 14 while also being detachable from the frnme 14 in order to facilitate assembly and disns3embly of the jaw 34 rom the crusher 10 in unltnry fashion as described in greater detail below.
The ~aw 34 is formed with a reaction member 66 in the form of a rigid shoe or cylindrical track which entirely surrounds the tires 58. In this manner, the reaction member 66 ser~es to interact with the tlres 58 for limiting trnvel of the ~aw 34 in all directions during operation of the crusher. Because of the construction o~ the reaction member 66, the upper tires 50 act directly against the jaw itself since they do not serve a function of limiting the stroke or tra~el of the jaw.
Thus, the construction of the ~aw is unitary to facilitate its being lnatalled or remo~ed from the crus}ler.
At the same time, ~ince travel of the ~aw in all directions is limited only by the reaction member 66, the design of the jnw further a~oids interference which might occur lf a further reaction member (not shown or employed in the in~ention~ were nece6sarr. Such an arrangement of upper and lower reaction members is illustrated in the ropending reference. ~y comparison, the design of the present jaw s~oids interference between ~uch membera which might tend to absorb or neutralize a portion of the oscillatory or vibratory force otherwise being transferred to the jaw : .
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Inces.
Before completing the descrlption of the unitnrg Jnw and the n~nner in which it can be assembled or disnssembled from the crusher, the construct~on o~ the mnltiple eccentrlc drlve nssembly 44 is flrst dencrlbe(l.
Rererring psrticulsrl~ to FIGURE 5, each ~aw, particulnrly tllnt indicated at 34, i9 provided wlth multiple ~ets of eccentrlc means genernll7 indicnted nt 68 and 70. Tlle eccentric means 68 nnd 70 whlcll are verticslly spnced nl)nrt upon tlle Jnw 34 each lnclude lnternlly nrrnnged eccelltric mnsnes 68A, 68B snd 70A, 70B ~o thnt four unlformlg si7.e~1 eccelltrlc masses are arranged bo~h laternlly and verticnlly upon the Jaw 34 to facilltate more uniform tr~nsmission of oscillator~ motlon to all portions of tlle ~nw.
Furthermore, the upper eccentrlc mnsses 58A nnd o~l3 nre nrrnnged on sepnrnte ahaft6 72 and 74 which nre interconnected by n ~le~lble drlve coupllng 76 while being independentl~ coupled with the Jnw 34 througll sepnrnte benrlng mounts 72A, 72B and 74A, 74B. The lower eccelltric mnssea 70A and 70~ are similarl~ mounted on sepnrnte 6llnfts 73 nnd 80 uhich are also lnterconnected by menns of n 1c~ible drive coupling 82 nnd eupported upon the Jaw 3l~ by in(lependellt benring mount~ 78A, 78B and 80A, 80~.
` ln addition to bein~ lnternlly nnd vertlcnlly nrrMngetl ul)on the Jnw for more uniform trsnsmis610n of force to the Jnw~ tl~i~ nrrangement permlta o number of ndvnntnges in tlle invention. Initinll~, wlth tlle lnternlly spnced eccentric mas~es bein~ nrrnnged on ~epnrote shnft~, there iB no ~roblem of mnintninin8 olignment between the two eccentric mnsses. A1BO~ with the four eccentric mnsse~ 68A, 68l~ nn(l .
' `` 1 31 5252 70A, 70B replncing a aingle eccentric mnss~ the independent be~rings for the various eccentric mDsses cAn be of substnntially reduced size and diameter. This in turn permits operation of the eccentric masses at higher rates of rotation, at lea~t partly becallæe of the reduced mass in the bearings. Still further, the reduced size of the eccentric masses permits them to be arranged closer to the fnce 38 of the jaw 80 that oscillatory motion is more effectively transferred to the jaw face at lenst partly becau~e of the reduced moment arm between the jaw face and the eccentric mas~es.
Each of the flexible drive couplings 76 and 82 is of generally conventional construction for coupling the respective shafts 72, i4 and 78, 80 while allowing them to be independently supported by their respectiYe bearings.
For example, referring particularly to FIGURE 5, the flexible drlve coupling~ 76 and 82 nre each formed by members 84 and 86 which nre respectively coupled with the shaft 72 and 74 or 78 and 80 while be~ng coupled for rotation with each other by means of 0n internal spider 88.
Referring al30 to FIGURES 2 and 3, nll of the eccentric masses for both ~aws 34 and 36 nre operated by n single drive motor 90 which is coupled with both the upper and lower eccentric means 68 and 70 by a ~plit drive train generally indicated at 92. The motor 90 iB connected with thè split drive train 92 through driYe belts gener~lly indicated at 94. The split drive train 92 ltself comprises drive gears 96, 98, 100 and 102 which are interconnected respectively with the upper and lower eccentric means ior each of the ~nws 34 and 36.

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~ '- ' ' - : ' , Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, the respective drive gesrs are interconnected with the upper and lower eccentric means 68, 70 and 68', 70' for the jaws 34 and 36 by means of universal couplings all indicsted at 104. The universal couplings 104 further avoid possibilities of misalignment while also providing means for uncoupling the eccentric means from the drive train to facilitste removal and installation of the jaws in unitary fashion.
Referring again to the construction of the upper and lower elongated resilient elements 46 and 48, the pillow blocks 62 and 64 can be simplg disconnected from the jaw carriage frame 14 to permit the lower tires 58 and shaft 60 to remain within the reactlon member 66 80 that they form part of the unitary ~aw during assembly and disassembly.
Furthermore, with the pillow blocks 62 and 64 being disconnected, the lower end of the ~aw 34, as viewed for exampls ln FIGURE l, can be shifted outwardly or to the right so that the upper end of the ~aw 34 drops out of engagement wlth the upper elongated resllient element 46. Thereafter, the entire unitary ~aw 34 can simply be moved away from the crusher lO for repalrs or replacement as desired.
Similarly, the unltary construction of the jaw 36 permits it to be assembled or disassembled from the crusher lO in the same manner.
In addltion to facilitatin~ removal and installation of the ~aws 34 and 36, these features of the crusher lO also permit the overall height of the crusher 10 to be reduced not only to minimi~e the need for head room but Also to lower the center of gravlty for the crusher. Ths need for a~ailable overhead space ls further reduced because of the 1~

ability to remove and ~nstall the unitary jaw~ 34 snd 36 in the manner described aboYe. Still further, in addition to reducing the overall height of the crusher 10, the throat srea lOo formed between the ~aw8 34 and 36 and by the lateral liners 108 and 110 mounted on the ~aw csrriage frame 14 to extend further downwardly 80 that they terminate closel,v ad~acent a hopper or other container 112 for receiving crushed rock or other material from the crusher.
The genera~ion of dust can be further reduced by arranging a shroud 114 around the lower end of the throNt area 106 80 that the shroud 114 e~tends downwardly toward the hopper 112.
Accordinglv, there has been disclosed n novel and improved jaw crusher offering a number of advantages as described in detail nbo~e. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in addition to those specifically described above. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the following appended clalms.

Claims (16)

1. An improved jaw crusher including a supporting frame structure, a pair of opposed downwardly converging crusher jaws defining therebetween a space for passage of material -to be crushed, means supporting one of the jaws in floating relation on the frame structure, means supporting the other jaw on the frame structure for opposed crushing action relative to the one jaw, and improved means for imparting oscillatory vibration to the one jaw comprising multiple eccentric means arranged in vertically spaced apart relation on the one jaw for imparting oscillatory vibration to respective portions of the jaw and producing more uniform and consistent operation of the crusher under different load conditions, and split drive means for synchronously operating the multiple eccentric means, each vertically spaced eccentric means comprising at least two eccentric masses arranged on separate shafts in laterally spaced apart relation, the separate shafts being independently mounted on bearing means and interconnected by flexible coupling means, the split drive means being coupled with the shafts for driving the eccentric means in rotation.

2. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 1 wherein the split drive means is coupled with one shaft in each eccentric means.

3. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 2 wherein the other jaw is similarly supported as the one jaw and provided with similar multiple eccentric means, the split drive means being coupled with the multiple eccentric means on both jaws.

4. An improved jaw crusher including a supporting frame structure, a pair of opposed downwardly converging crusher jaws defining therebetween a space for passage of material to be crushed, means supporting one of the jaws in floating relation on the frame structure, means supporting the other jaw on the frame structure for opposed crushing action relative to the one jaw, and improved means for imparting oscillatory vibration to the one Jaw comprising multiple sets of similar eccentric masses arranged in vertically spaced apart relation, each set having at least two eccentric masses arranged in laterally spaced apart relation on separate shafts independently mounted on the one jaw by separate bearing means, the shafts for each set of eccentric masses being interconnected by flexible coupling means, and drive means operatively interconnected with the eccentric masses for driving them in rotation and imparting oscillatory vibration to the one jaw whereby the size of the eccentric masses is proportionately reduced relative to a single eccentric mass for driving the one jaw and the size of the bearings is similarly reduced permitting operation of the eccentric masses at increased rates of rotation as desired for achieving optimum operation of the crusher, one of the shafts for each set of eccentric masses being interconnected with the drive means by split gear means for synchronously operating the multiple sets of eccentric masses.

5. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 4 wherein the other jaw is similarly supported as the one jaw and provided with similar laterally spaced apart eccentric masses, the drive means being operatively interconnected with the laterally spaced apart eccentric masses on both jaws.

6. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 5 wherein the means supporting each jaw comprises an elongated resilient member connected with the frame structure behind the jaw, a reaction member connected to the jaw and surrounding the elongated resilient member for permitting oscillatory movement of the jaw in response to the eccentric masses while at the same time limiting travel of the jaw in all directions on the frame structure.

7. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 6 wherein the reaction member is connected to a lower portion of the jaw and further comprising additional resilient means mounted on the frame structure behind an upper portion of the jaw, releasable means connecting the elongated resilient member with the frame structure and permitting the elongated resilient member to be disconnected from the frame structure to facilitate installation and removal of the jaw as a unit.

8. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 7 further comprising motor means mounted on the frame structure and interconnected with the eccentric masses by the split drive means and releasable coupling means allowing the eccentric masses to be installed and removed as part of the jaw unit.

9. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 4 wherein the means supporting the one jaw comprises an elongated resilient member connected with the frame structure behind the one jaw, a reaction member connected to the one jaw and surrounding the elongated resilient member for permitting oscillatory movement of the one jaw in response to the eccentric masses while at the same time limiting travel of the jaw in all directions on the frame structure, the reaction member being connected to a lower portion of the one jaw and further comprising additional resilient means mounted on the frame structure behind an upper portion of the one jaw, releasable means connecting the elongated resilient member with the frame structure and permitting the elongated resilient member to be disconnected from the frame structure to facilitate installation and removal of the one jaw as a unit.

10. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 9 further comprising motor means mounted on the frame structure and interconnected with the eccentric masses by the split drive means and releasable coupling means allowing the eccentric masses to be installed and removed as part of the jaw unit.

11. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 1 wherein the means supporting the one jaw comprises an elongated resilient member connected with the frame structure behind the jaw, a reaction member connected to the one jaw and surrounding the elongated resilient member for permitting oscillatory movement of the jaw in response to the eccentric means while at the same time limiting travel of the one jaw in all directions on the frame structure.

12. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 11 wherein the reaction member is connected to a lower portion of the jaw and further comprising additional resilient means mounted on the frame structure behind an upper portion of the one jaw, releasable means connecting the elongated resilient member with the frame structure and permitting the elongated resilient member to be disconnected from the frame structure to facilitate installation and removal of the jaw as a unit.

13. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 12 further comprising motor means mounted on the frame structure and interconnected with the eccentric means by the split drive means and releasable coupling means allowing the eccentric means to be installed and removed as part of the jaw unit.

14. In a jaw crusher including a supporting frame structure, a pair of opposed downwardly converging crusher jaws defining therebetween a space for passage of material, means supporting one of the jaws in floating relation on the frame structure, means supporting the other jaw on the frame structure for opposed crushing action relative to the one jaw, an improved support for the one jaw comprising an elongated resilient member connected with -the frame structure behind the jaw, a reaction member connected to the jaw and circumferentially surrounding the elongated resilient member for permitting oscillators movement of the jaw in response to an eccentric means while at the same time limiting travel of the jaw in all directions on the frame structure, the reaction member being connected to a lower portion of the jaw and further comprising additional resilient means mounted on the frame structure behind an upper portion of the jaw, releasable means connecting the elongated resilient member with the frame structure and permitting the elongated resilient member to be disconnected from the frame structure to facilitate installation and removal of the jaw as a unit, and motor means mounted on the frame structure and interconnected with the eccentric means by releasable coupling means allowing the eccentric means to be installed and removed as part of the jaw unit.

15. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 14 wherein the other jaw is similarly supported as the one jaw and provided with a similar improved support.

16. The improved jaw crusher of Claim 14 further comprising retainer means mounted on the frame structure for preventing an upper end of the one jaw from collapsing inwardly toward the other jaw particularly when the upper end of the crusher is empty of material to be crushed, the retainer means being further adapted to facilitate installation and removal of the jaw as a unit.