US3199424A

US3199424A - Soil tamping device

Info

Publication number: US3199424A
Application number: US225176A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl R Glass
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-21
Filing date: 1962-09-21
Publication date: 1965-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-10

Description

1965 c. R. GLASS 3,199,424

SOIL TAMPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CATZL E. G-LNsS ATTORN Y Aug. 10, 1965 c. R. GLASS SOIL TAMPING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1962 fig-4L 1N VENTOR.

W4 L s 68) 71 CAQL. i2 GLAS$ -rw-oewevs 0, 1965 c. R. GLASS 3,199,424

SOIL TAMPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CAra L 2 G LA$$ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,199,424 SGIL TAMIING DEVICE Carl R. Glass, 203 Peincianna Qircle, lifissirnrnee, Fla. Fitted Sept. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 225,176 8 Claims. (@l. 94-48) This invention relates to a tamping or impacting machine, such as used for conditioning soil, or other granular masses. Present-day methods and machines have long since displaced the primitive tampers, or rams, delivering individual blows through manual effort, and in particular, the system using imbalanced, revolving weights has commanded attention, as having capabilities both of cyclic impact and of self-propulsion, both flowing from the action of the eccentric weights. In the main, devices of this sort which have been proposed bear several points of similarity, one with another, as to the basic combination of elements, but the resemblance is more or less superficial, since the mechanical principles involved in the system are sufficiently involved that minor departures may well measure up to the difference between success and failure, or to differences in etiiciency or performance which are critical as to acceptability or rejection.

For example, one such device envisages an internal combustion engine as a source of power, mounted on the tamping machine and having a driving connection with a shaft having one or more eccentric weights. Considerations of compactness of design almost require that such an engine be mounted vertically above the eccentric element, which results in a second eccentric system unfavorably located in spaced relation to the working eccentric, which introduces complications, and lowers the efiiciency. The same would be true even if the engine were located close to ground level. In recognition of this, it has been proposed to provide timing means to guarantee synchronism between the two systems, but this represents a minor compromise at best, and leaves the main difficulties unremedied.

According to the present invention, this one particular difficulty has been remedied by employing an electric motor as a prime mover, or, to describe it in terms related to the underlying problem, a power source of uniform rotational inertia. It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a tamper comprising an eccentric system of compact form and simplicity of structure, and which is free from counteracting, extraneous, eccentric components.

On the other hand, although electric motors have been proposed for use in tempers, the working eccentrics have been included on the motor shaft, with a consequently low position of the center of gravity of the system, and a resultant loss of sensitivity of equilibrium.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to overcome this second difiiculty, and, in particular, to accomplish this result by means of a non-eccentric prime mover, at a high level, with a drive means to a working eccentric, located at a low level.

In addition to the foregoing, it is an object to locate the prime mover and eccentric in a mounting, in relative positions with respect to each other and to the mounting, which further enhances the efficiency of the organization, as will be detailed hereinafter.

The objects also include the provision of a device which is of minimum complexity, yet durable, and certain of operation, and which is easy of fabrication, assembly, repair and maintenance, and also low in cost.

These and other ends, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specification, as illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tamping machime in working position,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of the lower part of the machine, in tilted position, for transport,

FIGURE 3 is a bracketed view, in perspective, showing the parts of the transport dolly unit, in exploded form, with the wheel axis shown on a staggered line,

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the main housing of the tamper, as seen along the plane of the staggered line 44 of FIGURE 1, showing a section through the tubular guide shaft,

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the main housing, taken on the plane of the staggered line 55 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the housing, taken on the plane of the staggered line 6-6 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a detail of the flexible, handle coupling, taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the shaft carrying the eccentric weight, apart from the assembly, and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view through the shaft and its eccentric, taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 8.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown, in FIGURE 1, a complete tamping assembly, comprising a ground-dwelling housing, indicated as a whole by the numeral 10, and an upright, manipulating handle 12, connected to a horizontally disposed section 14, through a resilient coupling 16. The latter, which serves to absorb the shocks of the vibrations in the tamper unit It comprises an elbow-shaped section 18, (FIG- URE 7) of tough, resilient material, such as nylon plastic, or a tough stock of rubbery material, reinforced if necessary, to which is bonded or otherwise secured, a lower, angle plate 20, secured by bolts 22 to a transverse platform 24 on the top of the handle section 12, and an upper, angle plate 25, secured by bolts 23 to a flattened end on the tubular handle section 14. At its lower end, the handle section 12 is swingably mounted on a bracket 30, carried on the outer surface of the rear wall 32 of housing 10, by means of a pivot bolt 34, and the rearward swing of the handle is limited by a bolt 36, selectively engageable in aligned pairs of bores 38 in the walls of bracket 30. The most convenient setting of the handle angle will be selected by the operator in accordance with his own technique, and in view of the character of operations in any particular job, and the nature of the work, in general.

The working characteristics of the tamper depend, almost wholly, on the construction and arrangement of housing It and its contents, the several parts of which are important, each in itself, and in relation to other parts, in the achievement of the over-all, end result. One prime consideration is compactness in the container portion of the housing, coupled with a relatively expansive tread, or ground-engaging portion. That is to say, the portion which encloses the eccentric unit, is no bigger than need be to house this unit, so that inertial effect which would tend to counteract the output of the eccentric, and thus put severe restrictions on it, and lower its efficiency, are minimized. For similar reasons, the eccentric unit itself is kept within a moderate range of eccentricity, suited to the demands of the machine.

Thus, the housing It comprises a suitable box unit of rectangular configuration, having a forward wall 40, parallel to rear wall 32, the two walls being of equal length and being substantially elongate in a horizontal direction. The housing has a pair of

end walls

42, 44, joining the front and rear walls, and a top plate or cover 46, dwelling on the top edges of the four sides, and projecting beyond the front and rear walls, is secured by bolts as to angle brackets 5b, carried on front and rear walls 32, 4b, with one leg flush with the top edges thereof.

A motor 52, is secured by bolts 54 to cover plate 45, being spaced from the cover by washer tubes 56, and a plate 55. An elongate slot (it) in the cover plate as provides access to the interior of the box by a belt 62, mounted on a pulley 64- on the output shaft 66 of motor 52.

The bottom of housing it) is closed off by the groundengaging, tamper plate 68, welded to the bottom edges, and which is bent into three, distinct,

planar sections

70, 72, 74, rectangular in shape, as defined by two, parallel lines of bend, 7d, 75. The short, rearward section is perpendicular to the rear wall 32, and extends a short distance on each side thereof, the line of bend, '76, being located somewhat short of center of the housing. The middle section 68, inclined at a substantial angle to section 70 completes the span of the lower opening of the housing, and extends substantially beyond front wall From the second line of bend, 78, the bottom plate continues, at a substantial angle to section 72, and for a substantial distance. The end walls 42, 44- are shaped to conform with the ground plate, and the sides of the latter extend somewhat outwardly of these walls.

Within the housing, the eccentric rotor comprises a shaft 8% with its reduced ends 82 journalled in suitable bearing blocks 84, secured by bolts 36 on the inner faces of

end walls

42, 44, and the shaft is provided with a pulley 83, which is engaged by belt 62 from the motor.

Shaft 8b is provided with an offset weight 9%), of solid, cylindrical form, secured as by welding to the shaft, medially thereof, in very nearly tangential relation, but which is preferably flattened, or grooved, as at 91, along the line of contact, for greater holding power. In the preferred form shown the diameter of cylinder 90 is about twice that of shaft 80.

The several parts are shown in relative proportions which represent a preferred embodiment of a proved form of the device, and it will be noted that the width of the housing, between front and rear walls 4t), 32, is sized to provide minimized clearance between the eccentric Weight 9% and the walls.

FTGURE 5 shows the machine in a position of rest, with mid-section 72 of the ground plate horizontal. The arrangement is such that there is a distinct forward tilt of the housing, but the system is in equilibrium, because a vertical line from the center of gravity of the system, (which is somewhere along a plane through the axis of shaft 8%? and that of the motor) passes through the ample, center section 72 of the base plate. However, both by virtue of the appreciable tilt of this axial plane, and the elevation of the motor 52, the system is biased into proximity to a position favoring forward tipping, and this is attained, intermittently due to the action of the eccentric This action results from a tendency of the eccentric to rotate on an axis other than that of shaft 80. Due to this, the system is urged downward during one phase of rotation, and experiences an upward lift during another. Thus, it hops along, as assisted by its forward inclination, and during this progress, the system rocks about the ground plate, with forward section 74 preparing the ground in advance, preliminarily, with center section 72 next dropping into place, after a hop, to provide a main tamping action, and with rear section '79 providing a follow-up to the tamping, as the natural period of vibration, or rocking, of the system causes it to rock backward on this section.

In the over-all results, some of the main contributing factors are the confinement of eccentric action to the lower part of the system, the provision of an upwardly located prime mover, which provides a degree of topheaviness, without counteracting eccentric action, and the provision of the three-part tamper plate, with the main, central portion angularly related to the common plane of the centers of gravity, and expansive enough to provide normal, rest equilibrium, and the two, end rocker sections in the tamper plate.

Another important innovation is the use of a cylindrical eccentric weight. Although it is common to employ a sector-form of eccentric, centered on the axis of the shaft, analysis will show that the tangent cylinder provides a moment of inertia which is substantially equal to that of a sector of equivalent cross-sectional area, and no greater angular extent relative to the shaft axis. This result has at least two important benefits; first, it is easily fabricated by cutting sections from round stock, and second, what is more important, it locates the center of mass of the eccentric system closer to the shaft axis than in the case of the sector form, with a resultant reduction in amplitude of vibrations, and hence smoother and more controllable operations. In other words, the operation is improved, without sacrifice of the amount of available, working energy.

For ready transport, as between one work site and another, the machine is conveniently provided with a dolly, which is so disposed as to be out of the way during tamping operations, but is readily brought into use by simple tilting of the machine. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the dolly comprises a split, cylindrical tube 92, received on upright handle section 12, and having two pairs of cars 94, receiving clamping screws 96. An oblique strut 98, with one end secured longitudinally to tube 92, has its other end secured peripherally to a horizontal bearing sleeve 10th, in which is journalled an axle m2, carrying a pair of rubber-tired wheels 1%, supplied with washers 106 and retained by cotter pins ltld. As seen in FIG- URE 2, when the inclination of handle 12 is lowered, the system rocks about the wheel axis, resulting in the lifting of the tamper plate from the ground, and thus enabling transport of the machine on the supporting wheels 104.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vibrating machine, for earth tamping and the like, comprising a housing with four, rectangularly disposed Walls including front and rear walls, and parallel end walls, said walls having co-planar, upper edges, and a cover plate secured to said housing in covering relation to said upper edges, said front wall being less in depth than said rear wall, and the bottom edges of said end walls each comprising two angularly disposed portions, one portion perpendicular to said rear wall, and extending inwardly therefrom, for a distance less than half the width of the end face, and the other portion extending from the said one portion to said front wall, a bottom plate in three angularly disposed sections, secured to the bottom edges of said walls, and extending outwardly of said end walls, and having a first section coinciding with said one portion, and extending outwardly of said rear wall, a second section coinciding with said other portion, and extending substantially beyond said front wall, and a third section disposed at an angle to said second section, and inclined toward the top of said housing, a motor carried by said coverplate, outwardly of said housing, a shaft within said housing, journalled to said end walls generally medially of the distance between said front and rear walls, and medially of the depth of said front wall, a driving connection between said motor and said shaft, and an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, medially of the length thereof, and comprising a solid right circular cylinder, having a longitudinal groove mating with the periphery of said shaft, and secured thereto, a handle comprising a first portion, pivoted to said housing, and means to adjust the inclination of said first portion, a second portion disposed transversely to said first portion, and a resilient coupling connecting said portions.

2. A device as in claim 1, said resilient coupling comprising a generally arcuate section of plastic material, and metallic angle plates carried by the said handle portions, and bonded to opposite faces of said material.

aloe tea 3. A vibrating machine, for earth tamping and the like, comprising a housing with four, rectangularly disposed wails including front and rear walls, and parallel end walls, said walls having co-planar, upper edges, and a cover plate secured to said housing in covering relation to said upper edges, said front wall being less in depth than said rear wall, and the bottom edges of said end walls each comprising two angularly disposed portions, one portion perpendicular to said rear wall, and extending inwardly therefrom, and the other portion extending from the said one portion to said front wall, a bottom plate in three angularly disposed sections, secured to the bottom edges of said walls, and having a first section coinciding with said one portion, and extending outwardly of said rear wall, a second section coinciding with said other portion, and extending substantially beyond said front wall, and a third section disposed at an angle to said second section, and inclined toward the top of said housing, a motor carried by said cover plate, outwardly of said housing, a shaft within said housing, journalled to said end walls, a driving connection between said motor and said shaft, and an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, medially of the length thereof, and comprising a solid right circular cylinder, having a longitudinal groove mating with the periphery of said shaft, and secured thereto, a handle comprising a first portion, pivoted to said housing, and means to adjust the inclination of said first portion, a second portion disposed transversely to said first portion, and a resilient coupling connecting said portions.

4. A vibrating machine, for earth tamping and the like, comprising a housing with four, rectangularly disposed Walls including front and rear walls, and parallel end Walls, said walls having co-planar, upper edges, and a cover plate secured to said housing in covering relation to said upper edges, said front wall being less in depth than said rear wall, and the bottom edges of said end walls each comprising two angularly disposed portions, one portion perpendicular to said rear wall, and extending inwardly therefrom, and the other portion extending from the said one portion to said front Wall, a bottom plate in three angularly disposed sections, secured to the bottom edges of said walls, and having a first section coinciding with said one portion, and extending outwardly of said rear wall, a second section coinciding with said other portion, and extending substantially beyond said front wall, and a third section disposed at an angle to said second section, and inclined toward the top of said housing, a motor carried by said cover plate, outwardly of said housing, a shaft Within said housing, journalled to said end walls, a driving connection between said mot-or and said shaft, and an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, medially of the length thereof, and comprising a cylinder secured to the shaft in approximately tangential relationship, a handle comprising a first portion, pivoted to said housing, and means to adjust the inclination of said first portion, a second portion disposed transversely to said first portion, and a resilient coupling connecting said portions.

5. A vibrating machine, for earth tamping and the like,

comprising a housing with four, rectangularly disposed walls including front and rear walls, and parallel end walls, said walls having co-planar, upper edges, and a cover plate secured to said housing in covering relation to said upper edges, said front wall being less in depth than said rear wall, and the bottom edges of said end walls each comprising two angulariy disposed portions, one portion perpendicular to said rear wall, and extending inwardly therefrom, and the other portion extending from the said one portion to said front wall, a bottom plate in three angularly disposed sections, secured to the bottom edges of said walls, and having a first section coinciding with said one portion, and extending outwardly of said rear wall, a second section coinciding with said other portion, and extending substantially beyond said front wall, and a third section disposed at an angle to said second section, and inclined toward the top of said housing, a motor carried by said cover plate, outwardly of said housing, a shaft within said housing, journalled to said end walls, a driving connection between said motor and said shaft, and an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, medially of the length thereof, and comprising a cylinder secured to the shaft in approximately tangential relationship.

6. A vibrating machine for earth tamping and the like, comprising a housing with a front wall, a rear wall, and two end walls, a cover plate on the top edges of said walls, and perpendicular thereto, a motor carried by said top plate, a bottom plate secured to the lower edges of said walls and bent along two parallel fold lines to form three sections defining two dihedral angles, including a first section parallel to said cover plate, and extending on both sides of said rear wall, a second said section contiguous with said first section and inclined at a positive angle thereto, and extending on both sides of said front wall, and a third section contiguous with, and inclined at a positive angle to said second section, an eccentric rotor journalled in said end walls, and a driving connection between said motor and said rotor, said second section of said bottom plate being so located as to be intersected by a perpendicular from the cent-er of gravity of the shaft and motor combination.

7. A device as in claim 6, said eccentric rotor comprising a concentric shaft, and a cylindrical block secured to said shaft in approximately tangential relation.

3. A device as in claim '7, said cylindrical block having a diameter approximately twice that of said shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,979 2/51 Barnes 94-48 2,596,281 5/52 OBrien 74-87 2,644,379 7/53 Lowe 94-48 2,737,094 3/56 Jackson 94-48 2,856,828 10/58 Brown 94-48 2,894,435 7/59 Brown 94-48 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

Claims

1. A VIBRATING MACHINE, FOR EARTH TAMPING AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A HOUSING WITH FOUR, RECTANGULAR DISPOSED WALLS INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR WALLS, AND PARALLEL END WALLS, SAID WALLS HAVING CO-PLANAR, UPPER EDGES, AND A COVER PLATE SECURED TO SAID HOUSING IN COVERING RELATION TO SAID UPPER EDGES, SAID FRONT WALL BEING LESS IN DEPTH THAN SAID REAR WALL, AND THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID END WALLS EACH COMPRISING TWO ANGULARLY DISPOSED PORTIONS, ONE PORTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID REAR WALL, AND EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREFROM, FOR A DISTANCE LESS THAN HALF THE WIDTH OF THE END FACE, AND THE OTHER PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE SAID ONE PORTION TO SAID FRONT WALL, A BOTTOM PLATE IN THREE ANGULARLY DISPOSED SECTIONS, SECURED TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID WALLS, AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID END WALLS, AND HAVING A FIRST SECTION COINCIDING WITH SAID ONE PORTION, AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID REAR WALL, A SECOND SECTION COINCIDING WITH SAID OTHER PORTIN, AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND SAID FRONT WALL, AND A THIRD SECTION DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO SID SECOND SECTION, AND INCLINED TOWARD THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING, A MOTOR CARRIED BY SAID COVERPLATE, OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING, A SHAFT WITHIN SAID HOUSING, JOURNALLED TO SAID END WALLS GENERALLY MEDIALLY OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS, AND MEDIALLY OF THE DEPTH OF SAID FRONT WALL, A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID MOTOR AND SAID SHAFT, AND AN ECCENTRIC WEIGHT CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT, MEDIALLY OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, AND COMPRISING A SOLID RIGHT CIRCULAR CYLINDER, HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE MATING WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SHAFT, AND SECURED THERETO, A HANDLE COMPRISING A FIRST PORTION, PIVOTED TO SAID HOUSING, AND MEANS TO ADJUST THE INCLINATION OF SAID FIST PORTION, A SECOND PORTION DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID FIRST PORTION, AND A RESILIENT COUPLING CONNECTING SAID PORTIONS.