Soil compacting machine
First Claim
1. A soil compacting machine comprising frame means with a rotary shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of hammers serving as compacting elements, each of said hammers having a curved opening through which said shaft extends, each said hammer having a ground-engaging surface, ground-engaging means on said frame means for stabilizing the machine during its soil compacting operation, arm members mounted along said shaft for rotation therewith, one of said arm members being associated with each of said hammers and each being mounted eccentrically with respect to said hammer openings at different radial positions along said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to effect a walking movement of the machine in forward and reverse directions whereby, upon said rotation, said hammers are caused to be moved successively upwardly as said arm members each rotate between an approximately forward or rearward horizontal position and an upward vertical position, and whereby said hammers are permitted to be moved successively downwardly into contact with the soil as said arm members rotate beyond their approximately rearward or forward horizontal positions, each said hammer remaining in contact with the soil at said opposite end thereof during rotation of its respective arm member between the approximately rearward or forward and the approximately forward or rearward horizontal positions thereof, whereby said hammers effect a kneading action against the soil to thereby expel the air therefrom and effect an orientation of the soil crystals for improving upon the compaction of the soil surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machine for compacting soil includes a plurality of compacting elements or hammers elevated and lowered by means of a rotary shaft having an arm member for each hammer extending through aligned hammer openings, each arm member being mounted on the shaft eccentrically with respect to the hammer openings and at different radial positions along the shaft. For elongated hammers limiting rollers may be located at opposite side edges thereof and means are provided for rotating the shaft to effect a walking movement of the machine in a forward direction so that, upon such rotation, the hammers are moved successively upwardly as the arm members rotate between a forward horizontal position and an upward vertical position. The hammers are permitted to be moved successively downwardly into contact with the soil as the arm members each rotate beyond their rearward horizontal positions in the case of forward movement of the machine. Each hammer remains in shifting contact with the soil during rotation of its arm member between the rearward or forward horizontal position and the forward or rearward horizontal position thereof. The hammers effect a kneading action against the soil as they successively make contact therewith thereby expelling the air from the soil and effecting a rearrangement of the soil crystals for improving upon the compaction of the soil surface. Moreover, the extent of the shifting movement of each elongated hammer can be varied as one end of the limiting roller supports is moved toward or away from the shaft to thereby effect a turning movement for the machine. By moving both ends of the limiting roller supports to or away from the main shaft, the steps of the hammers will be enlarged or shortened all to the same degree. And rings may be used as compacting elements in lieu of the elongated hammers.
9 Citations
6 Claims
- 1. A soil compacting machine comprising frame means with a rotary shaft mounted thereon, a plurality of hammers serving as compacting elements, each of said hammers having a curved opening through which said shaft extends, each said hammer having a ground-engaging surface, ground-engaging means on said frame means for stabilizing the machine during its soil compacting operation, arm members mounted along said shaft for rotation therewith, one of said arm members being associated with each of said hammers and each being mounted eccentrically with respect to said hammer openings at different radial positions along said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to effect a walking movement of the machine in forward and reverse directions whereby, upon said rotation, said hammers are caused to be moved successively upwardly as said arm members each rotate between an approximately forward or rearward horizontal position and an upward vertical position, and whereby said hammers are permitted to be moved successively downwardly into contact with the soil as said arm members rotate beyond their approximately rearward or forward horizontal positions, each said hammer remaining in contact with the soil at said opposite end thereof during rotation of its respective arm member between the approximately rearward or forward and the approximately forward or rearward horizontal positions thereof, whereby said hammers effect a kneading action against the soil to thereby expel the air therefrom and effect an orientation of the soil crystals for improving upon the compaction of the soil surface.
Specification