Built-up mainshaft for multi-unit rotary mechanisms and method of manufacture thereof

The method of constructing a built-up mainshaft for supporting a plurality of rotors in adjacent housing cavities for planetary rotary movement, the mainshaft having an elongated shaft element of substantially uniform outside dimensions throughout substantially the entire length and a plurality of eccentric elements telescopically received on the shaft element;

• the method steps comprises:
• a. providing each of the eccentric elements with a generally cylindrical, relatively rigid, body portion and an integral sleeve-like portion having an axis extending radially offset from and parallel to the axis of the cylindrical body portion;
• b. making a first slot in each of the eccentric elements to extend the full length of the cylindrical body portion and sleeve-like portion and radially to a point short of the outer periphery of the cylindrical body portion and forming a second slot in the sleeve-like portion to extend transversely of the axis of said shaft element and intersecting the first slot to thereby render the eccentric element deformable in an inward direction;
• c. angularly positioning each eccentric element on the shaft element and clamping it to the shaft element by deformation of the cylindrical body portion so that the eccentric element is attached to the shaft element in torque transmitting relationship;
• and
• d. machining the outer peripheral surface of each cylindrical body portion of each eccentric element to insure concentricity of the outer peripheral surface.