Earth compacting apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An earth compacting apparatus for mounting on an earth working vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of separate compaction units each comprising means for applying downward pressure on fill dirt in the bottom of a trench;
linkage means connected to said compaction units for pivotally mounting the units side by side on a ground working vehicle , said linkage means including a mounting bar, mounting means for pivotally mounting the mounting bar across an end of the vehicle, and a series of compaction unit linkages pivotally secured at one end at spaced intervals along the mounting bar, each compaction unit linkage being pivotally secured at its opposite end to a respective one of the compaction units; and
actuator means linked to said compaction units for independently raising and lowering said units between a raised position above the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground, and for applying downward pressure on each unit contacting the ground.
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Abstract
An earth compacting apparatus for mounting at one end of an earth working vehicle comprises a plurality of separate compaction units and a pivotal linkage for pivotally mounting the compaction units side by side on a vehicle. An actuator assembly operates on the linkage for independently raising and lowering each compaction unit between a raised, inoperative position and a lowered position in contact with the ground. The actuator assembly also provides downward pressure on each compaction unit in the lowered position.
26 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An earth compacting apparatus for mounting on an earth working vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of separate compaction units each comprising means for applying downward pressure on fill dirt in the bottom of a trench; linkage means connected to said compaction units for pivotally mounting the units side by side on a ground working vehicle , said linkage means including a mounting bar, mounting means for pivotally mounting the mounting bar across an end of the vehicle, and a series of compaction unit linkages pivotally secured at one end at spaced intervals along the mounting bar, each compaction unit linkage being pivotally secured at its opposite end to a respective one of the compaction units; and actuator means linked to said compaction units for independently raising and lowering said units between a raised position above the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground, and for applying downward pressure on each unit contacting the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An earth compacting apparatus for mounting on an earth working vehicle, comprising
a plurality of separate compaction units each comprising means for compacting fill dirt; -
a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting the units side by side on a ground working vehicle, comprising a mounting bar, linkage means pivotally secured at one end at spaced intervals along the mounting bar, each linkage means being pivotally secured at its opposite end to a respective one of the compaction units, and mounting means secured to said mounting bar for pivotally mounting the mounting bar across an end of the vehicle; and actuator means for independently raising and lowering said units between a raised position above the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground, and for applying downward pressure on each unit contacting the ground, the actuator means including a first hydraulic actuator assembly linked to each compaction unit for selectively raising and lowering each compaction unit independently, and a second hydraulic actuator assembly linked to said mounting bar for acting on the mounting bar to apply down pressure on any compaction unit in contact with the ground. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of compacting fill dirt in trenches using a vehicle on which a multiple compaction unit assembly is mounted, comprising the steps of:
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lowering a selected number of compaction units into an operative position in contact with the material in the trench, the selected number of units corresponding in width to the width of the trench to be compacted; and compacting the fill material in the trench by applying down pressure on the lowered units while driving the vehicle over the fill material.
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13. An earth working apparatus for mounting on an earth working vehicle, comprising:
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at least three separate earth working tool units; a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting the units side by side on a ground working vehicle, the mounting assembly including a mounting bar and linkage means for pivotally mounting each unit on the mounting bar; and actuator means for independently raising and lowering said units between a raised position above the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground, and for applying downward pressure on each unit contacting the ground; the actuator means including a first hydraulic actuator acting between each tool unit and the mounting bar for selectively raising and lowering each tool unit independently relative to the mounting bar, and a second hydraulic actuator assembly acting on the mounting bar to apply down pressure on any tool unit in contact with the ground.
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Specification