Abstract: An apparatus 400 and a method are provided for increasing the density of a compactible material 10 while continuously evaluating the density of the material. The evaluation of material density is carried out by calculating the total of the static, dynamic and centrifugal forces applied by a vibrating tool 102 l to the compactible material 10. The total applied force calculation includes measuring the vertical acceleration of the material contacting member 102 and the position of an eccentric mass 206 mounted on the material contacting member 102. The acquisition of these parameters is carried out simultaneously, and the calculation of the dynamic and centrifugal forces is made when the material contacting member 102 is at its lowest position.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling the frequency of vibration of a compacting machine. The frequency control is carried out by the apparatus which determines the actual time at which a ground contacting member of the compacting machine is at its true vertically lowest position. This is determined by measuring the time at which the vertical acceleration of the ground contacting member has a maximum value during one rotation of an eccentrically mounted, vibration inducing mass. The time difference between the time at which the vibration inducing eccentric mass is at predetermined position and the time at which the acceleration of the ground contacting member is at the maximum value is used to calculate a phase angle relationship (.phi.) between the ground contacting member and the eccentrically attached member. This method of determining the phase angle relationship (.phi.

Abstract: Apparatus for compacting or consolidating a strip of road surfacing material essentially comprises a self-propelled compacting machine and a guide vehicle. The guide vehicle has a steerable wheel and a set of drive wheels. The compacting machine is guided for orbital movement around the guide vehicle at a preset turning radius. The guide vehicle may be self-propelled in which case it carries its own motor for driving its driving shaft. Preferably the guide vehicle is driven for progressive displacement along the strip of surfacing material in response to the turning of a coupling bar, connecting the compacting machine with the guide vehicle about its end for determining the turning radius of the former. The coupling bar in turn rotatably drives the driving shaft of the guide vehicle which in turn drives the drive wheels of the guide vehicle through a power transmission.