Self-propelled vibratory compactor vehicle

• US 3,901,617 A
• Filed: 10/15/1974
• Issued: 08/26/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Compaction America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: George D. Herbst
• Inventors: Herbst, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Byers, Jr., Nile C.
• Application Number:
  US05/514,416
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 404/117,103,122,123,124,125,126,127,133,113 180/20,55 37/DIG.7,DIG.11
• US Class Current: 404/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/413 Compactors
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/233 the rigid rolling elements being vibrated or subjected to impacts with vibrated elastically-deformable rolling elements E01C19/287
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2301/30 Cabin details

Abstract

A self-propelled vibratory compactor has a one-piece frame supported at one end by a steel roller drum and at the other end by a yoke-mounted, single, high-flotation pneumatic rubber tire. The operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment includes a pair of laterally opposed operator'"'"''"'"'s seats at the opposite sides of the frame and is positioned on the frame over the pneumatic tire with steering, speed and directional controls positioned between the seats. An engine mounted on the frame behind and below the operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment, but forwardly of the roller drum, drives hydraulic pumps which supply fluid to a hydraulic vibrator motor which drives an eccentric shaft within the roller drum, a hydraulic wheel motor which drives the pneumatic tire, and a hydraulic power steering system for turning the yoke. The yoke spindle mounts a rotary seal which transmits fluid between a pump on the frame and the wheel motor on the yoke. A thin, narrow, rearwardly extending frame portion mounts the vibratory roller drum so as to provide the operator with good visibility of the ends of the drum when working close to curbs and other structures.

Claims

1. A self-propelled vibratory compactor vehicle especially adapted for compacting loose, granular materials comprising:

a one-piece rigid frame, a single, undriven rigid metal compaction drum supporting one end of said frame and extending substantially the full width of said frame, vibrator means within said drum for vibrating said drum and resilient means connecting said drum to said frame for isolating said frame from drum vibrations, a single steerable and driven nonvibrating, high-flotation, lowpressure, wide, flexible, pneumatic tire supporting an opposite end of said frame, a steering yoke rotatably mounted to said frame and mounting said single tire in a centered position between the opposite sides of said frame, said tire ends terminating inwardly of the corresponding ends of said vibratory drum, and hydraulic wheel motor means carried by said yoke for driving said tire.

2. A compactor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the width of said high-flotation pneumatic tire from end to end thereof is substantially as great as its diameter.

3. A compactor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said steering yoke includes a yoke spindle rotatably mounting said yoke to said frame for rotation about a vertical axis at the longitudinal centerline of said frame and thereby supporting said pneumatic tire beneath a forward end portion of said frame for rotation about said centerline through a wide turning angle to provide said vehicle with a short turning radius.

4. A compactor vehicle according to claim 3 including hydraulic fluid pumping means on said frame and fluid supply and return passage means extending from said fluid-pumping means on said frame to said hydraulic wheel motor means on said yoke, said fluid supply and return passage means passing through said yoke spindle to enable rotation of said yoke about said centerline without restriction by said passage means.

5. A vibratory compactor according to claim 4 wherein said hydraulic fluid passage means includes hydraulic hose means between said pump means and said spindle, axial bores defining fluid passages through said spindle and rotary seal means interconnecting said hydraulic hose means and said axial bores and defining a hydraulic fluid-tight seal therebetween.

6. A vibratory compactor according to claim 4 wherein said frame extends over said pneumatic tire and provides a substantial clearance between said frame and said tire rearwardly of said tire, said yoke including a yoke spindle rotatably connected to a portion of said frame over said tire, steering means interconnecting said frame and said yoke and capable of turning said yoke about the axis of rotation of said yoke spindle through a substantial arc such that said vehicle can pivot in a tight turn with a minimal displacement of a portion of said roller drum acting as a pivot.

7. A vibratory compactor according to claim 3 wherein said means for driving said tire comprises an engine carried on said frame, a hydraulic pump means on said frame driven by said engine, said hydraulic wheel motor means mounted on said yoke, hydraulic fluid supply and return passage means interconnecting said pump means and said hydraulic motor means and passing through said yoke spindle, said hydraulic fluid passage means including hydraulic hose means between said pump means and said spindle, axial bores defining fluid passages through said spindle and rotary seal means interconnecting said hydraulic hose means and said axial bores and defining a hydraulic fluid-tight seal therebetween, said tire being the sole means for propelling said vehicle and having ground-engaging tread width greater than one-half the length of said vibratory roller drum, said drive meaNs comprising a hydraulic wheel motor mounted on said yoke externally of said tire at one side thereof, a centrally located drive shaft means drivingly connected to said wheel motor and a planetary drive means located on the opposite side of said tire from said wheel motor and connected to said drive shaft means.

8. A vibratory compactor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said pneumatic tire is cleated to enhance traction.

9. A vibratory compactor according to claim 1 including a pair of inwardly directed laterally opposed operator'"'"''"'"'s seats mounted at opposite sides of said frame over said pneumatic tire.

10. A vibratory compactor according to claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a unitary rigid one-piece frame structure having a forward frame portion extending over said pneumatic tire and a rear frame portion comprising a pair of thin narrow side frame members extending rearwardly from a lower forward frame portion, said side frame members rotatably mounting said roller drum therebetween, said forward frame portion mounting a pair of inwardly facing laterally opposed seats at opposite sides of said frame over said pneumatic tire and an engine for driving said vehicle mounted on said frame rearwardly and below the level of said seats and forwardly of said roller drum, and a steering control positioned on one side of said seats and accessible from both seats for steering said tire and a speed and directional control means on the opposite side of said seats and accessible from both seats for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said tire.