Vehicle for compacting surfaces

• US 5,088,855 A
• Filed: 05/07/1990
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electronic TUG International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic TUG International Incorporated
• Inventors: Giliberti, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kisliuk, Bruce M.
• Application Number:
  US07/520,264
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 404/102, 404/103, 404/75, 404/76, 404/122, 404/128, 404/130, 404/132, 180/20, 172/240, 172/242, 172/245, 172/246, 172/254
• US Class Current: 404/103
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/264 with attachments for work other than rolling, e.g. grading, scarifying rollers fitted to road-construction or earth-moving machinery E01C19/266
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/266 fitted to vehicles, road-construction or earth-moving machinery, e.g. auxiliary roll readily movable to operative position E01C19/268, E01C19/4806, E01C19/488, E01C19/52, E01C21/00, E01C23/065 take precedence; provided with means for facilitating transport; Means for transporting rollers; Arrangements or attachments for converting vehicles into rollers, e.g. rolling sleeves for wheels

Abstract

A device for compacting surfaces includes a frame and wheels rotatably mounted to the frame. At least one compacting cylinder structure is rotatably mounted to the frame and has an operative position between at least two wheels and the surface to compacted. Structure for driving at least two wheels is provided. The frame is provided in the form of a vehicle whereby the weight of the vehicle and the weight of the driver contribute to compacting the surface. The compacting cylinder comprises disk structures mounted about a central shaft. The disks are secured to an inside surface of a cylindrical sleeve of the compacting cylinder which serves to reduce the inside diameter to a size compatible with a small axle diameter and to provide a cavity to support a bearing assembly. A means for engaging and disengaging the driven wheels and the compacting cylinder is provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus for compacting a surface which comprises

a vehicle comprising a frame having at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the frame,

motor means driving at least two driven wheels mounted at a rearward position on said frame,

at least two compacting cylinders positioned contiguous to each other and pivotally mounted on said frame rearward of said driven wheels and adapted to rotate about an axis,

said compacting cylinders having a pivotal position in an operative position rearwardly of and in contact with said driven wheels and adapted to rotate about said axis and a pivotal position in an inoperative position free of contact from said driven wheels,

each of said compacting cylinders comprising a rotatable axle, at least two solid disks mounted on said rotatable axle and a cylindrical sleeve having a smooth cylindrical interior surface bonded to said solid disks and in the operative position the portion of the cylindrical sleeve opposite said interior bonded surface contacts said driven wheels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cylinder sleeves and said solid disks are formed of polyvinyl chloride.

3. The device for compacting surfaces of claim 1, further comprising brush means having a longitudinal length exceeding a lateral length, said brush means being pivotally mounted to support means on a vertical axis through the midpoint of said longitudinal length, said support means being mounted to said frame and having an operative position wherein said brush means contacts said surface.

4. The device for compacting surfaces of claim 3, wherein said support means is pivotally mounted to said frame.

5. The process of converting an apparatus for compacting a surface from an inoperative position to an operative position, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle comprising a frame having at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the frame,

motor means driving at least two driven wheels mounted at a rearward position on said frame,

at least two compacting cylinders positioned contiguous to each other and pivotally mounted on said frame rearward of said driven wheels and adapted to rotate about an axis,

said compacting cylinders having a pivotal position in an operative position rearwardly of and in contact with said driven wheels and adapted to rotate about said axis and a pivotal position in an inoperative position free of contact from said driven wheels,

each of said compacting cylinders comprising a rotatable axle, at least two solid disks mounted on said rotatable axle and a cylindrical sleeve having a smooth cylindrical interior surface bonded to said solid disks.

said process comprising interposing a block having a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface separated by two relatively flat surfaces between each of said driven wheels and said compacting cylinders, moving said driven wheels by said motor means from said first inclined surface to one of said flat surfaces thereby to engage said compacting cylinders for support of said wheels free of ground support and removing said block from contact with said driven wheels and said compacting cylinders.

6. The process of claim 5 which comprises positioning a block having a first inclined surface, a second inclined surface and two relatively flat surfaces between said inclined surfaces, moving said driven wheels by said motor means to one of said flat surfaces, pivoting said compacting cylinders above said driven wheels away from the ground and moving said driven wheels by said motor means to the ground.