Compacting Roller With Vibrating Means Patents (Class 404/117)
  • Patent number: 11830350
    Abstract: Multiple subterranean probes at an area of land detect soil conditions and wirelessly transmit soil condition information to a service provider's backend server or to a technician's hand-held wireless device. The server provides multiple user interface screens of a customer application that display soil condition information and irrigation's system status. Local micro weather stations may determine and wirelessly transmit weather condition information to the server. An installer may use the customer application to determine that received signal strength at a given probe is weak and should thus be relocated, or to determine refined location information corresponding to the probe. Historical soil condition information and artificial intelligence may predict soil conditions where a previously installed probe has been moved or quit working. Probes' housings seal internal electronics, including soil condition sensors, wireless communication modules, processors, and memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GRAVITY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Diego A. Borrego, Bradley A. David, David Adams, Steven Loudon, Stephen Philip Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 11781278
    Abstract: An unbalance arrangement for a compactor roller of a soil compacter includes a first unbalance mass unit rotatable around an unbalance axis of rotation having a first center of mass eccentric with respect to the unbalance axis of rotation, a second unbalance mass unit rotatable around the unbalance axis of rotation having a second center of mass eccentric with respect to the unbalance axis of rotation, an unbalance drive for jointly driving the first unbalance mass unit and the second unbalance mass unit to rotate around the unbalance axis of rotation, and a phase position adjustment unit for adjusting a phase position of the first center of mass with respect to the second center of mass around the unbalance axis of rotation. The phase position adjustment unit includes a spur gear arrangement in the torque transmission path between the unbalance drive and the first unbalance mass unit or the second unbalance mass unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Wolfrum, Peter Jänner
  • Patent number: 11692317
    Abstract: A soil compactor includes at least one compactor roller, which is free to rotate about an axis of rotation of the roller, with a plurality of roller segments, which follow one another along the direction of the axis of rotation of the roller. In each case, at least one electromotive drive for producing an oscillating torque is assigned to each roller segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Werner Völkel
  • Patent number: 11542669
    Abstract: A soil working roller for a soil processing machine, in particular a soil compactor, comprising a roller shell (44) extending longitudinally in a direction of a roller axis of rotation (D) and delimiting a roller interior (26), at least one ballast unit (46, 48) arranged in the roller interior (26), characterized in that each ballast unit (46, 48) comprises at least one ballast element (54) supported with respect of the roller shell (24) by means of an elastic suspension assembly (58), wherein the at least one ballast element (54) is permanently coupled to the roller shell (24) by the suspension assembly (58) and is movable with respect to the roller shell in the radial direction, axial direction, and circumferential direction, and/or a plurality of ballast units (46, 48) is provided in the roller interior (26) arranged in series in the circumferential direction, wherein each ballast unit (46, 48) comprises at least one ballast element supported with respect to the roller shell (24) by means of an elastic sus
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventor: Franz Meixner
  • Patent number: 11479926
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed towards a system for compacting a work area. The system includes a compactor, a first compaction sensor positioned on a forward end of the compactor, a second compaction sensor positioned on a rearward end of the compactor, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first compaction data associated with the work area from the first compaction sensor. The controller is further configured to determine a first compaction effort based on the first compaction data and control the compactor to perform compaction with the determined first compaction effort. The controller is configured to receive a second compaction data associated with a compacted first portion from the second compaction sensor and determine a variance between the first and the second compaction data. Furthermore, the controller is configured to determine a correlation between the variance and the first compaction effort to determine a second compaction effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D Nagel
  • Patent number: 11453983
    Abstract: A compactor vibration system, apparatus, and method that selectively provide access to vibration control settings. The control can include receiving a setting for a first set of selectable amplitudes of vibration force at which to operate a vibratory system for a first predetermined amount of time, operating the vibratory system during the first predetermined amount of time by inducing the vibration force at amplitudes by the vibratory system, wherein the amplitudes of the vibration force are selected from among the first set of selectable amplitudes, and after the first predetermined amount of time, changing the setting to a second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first set of selectable amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, John Lee Marsolek, Michael William Ries, Bryan J. Downing
  • Patent number: 11427972
    Abstract: A compactor machine includes a machine frame, at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine, and a first light attached to the machine frame, the light shining a line of light on a surface that indicates a location of an edge of the roller drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, John L. Marsolek
  • Patent number: 11421390
    Abstract: An adjustable mass eccentric for a multi-amplitude vibratory mechanism can comprise a body and an internal cavity defined by the body such that the body surrounds the internal cavity. The internal cavity can include a first section, a second section, and a third section between the first section and the second section. The third section can define a volume and/or an area less than respective volumes and/or areas of the first section and the second section of the internal cavity. Filler material may be provided in the internal cavity and can migrate to and from the first, second, and third sections based on rotational movement of the body and internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, Todd A. Impola, Timothy M. O'Donnell, Shannon G. Dudley
  • Patent number: 11371196
    Abstract: A surface compactor machine includes a cylindrical drum defining a cylindrical space in an interior portion of the cylindrical drum and having a central axis of rotation, and a counterweight in the cylindrical space. The compactor further includes a non-driven support wheel affixed to the counterweight and in contact with an underlying portion of an interior surface of the cylindrical drum beneath the counterweight. A drive motor is provided in the cylindrical space, and a drive wheel is mechanically rotatable by the drive motor. The drive wheel contacts an inner surface of the cylindrical drum such that rotation of the drive wheel by the drive motor urges the cylindrical drum to rotate about the central axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Robert Miles
  • Patent number: 11247426
    Abstract: A compactor includes a frame supporting a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly. At least one of the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly is moveable relative to the frame in a motion that includes an upward vertical component and a downward vertical component. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the first and second roller assemblies and is operable to repeatedly move at least one of the roller assemblies relative to the frame in both the upward vertical component and the downward vertical component to oscillate the roller assemblies relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11248350
    Abstract: An oscillation module for a compacting roller of a soil compactor includes a plate-like carrier, at least two oscillation mass units supported on the carrier at a distance from one another, and an oscillation drive motor supported on the carrier. The carrier has a connection formation for firmly connecting the carrier to a carrier structure of a compacting roller. Each oscillation mass unit includes an imbalance mass rotatably supported on the carrier about an oscillation axis of rotation. Each imbalance mass of each oscillation mass unit can be driven by the oscillation drive motor for rotation about the respectively assigned oscillation axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventor: Peter Janner
  • Patent number: 11225760
    Abstract: A construction vehicle includes a frame, at least one drum, and a vibratory system. The vibratory system includes a first eccentric weight, a second eccentric weight, and a shift assembly adapted to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system. The shift assembly includes a shaft member adapted to move along a first axis for changing a position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight. The shift assembly also includes an actuator and a fork assembly adapted to move the shaft member along the first axis. The fork assembly includes a fork fixedly coupled to the actuator. The fork assembly also includes a housing member concentrically disposed around the shaft member, wherein the fork is pivotally coupled to the housing member at a pair of pivot points defined proximate to the second end of the fork. The fork assembly further includes a bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Alex Impola, Nicholas Alan Oetken, Eric Arden Hansen, John Lee Marsolek
  • Patent number: 11162231
    Abstract: A soil-processing roller for a soil-processing machine includes a roller sleeve extending longitudinally in the direction of a roller axis of rotation, surrounding the roller axis of rotation, a first drive transmission element connected or connectable such that it can rotate to a rotor region of a roller drive motor for combined rotation about the roller axis of rotation, a first roller sleeve connecting element connected to the first drive transmission element by means of a plurality of first elastic suspension elements and to the roller sleeve for combined rotation about the roller axis of rotation, a second drive transmission element arranged at an axial distance to the first drive transmission element and connected by means of a drive transmission element connection arrangement to the first drive transmission element for torque transmission and a second roller sleeve connecting element connected to the second drive transmission element by means of a plurality of second elastic suspension elements and con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Wolfrum
  • Patent number: 10968576
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, recycler, stabilizer or surface miner, comprising a machine frame (4), at least two travelling devices (2), at least one hydraulic drive system (50) for driving at least two travelling devices (2), at least one working device, in particular a milling drum (6), for working the ground pavement (3), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a detection device (44, 60, 62) is provided which detects fluctuations in the longitudinal speed (vact) of the construction machine (1) during movement of the construction machine (1), wherein a control unit (38) controls the hydraulic drive system (50) as a function of the detected fluctuations in such a fashion that the drive speed (vdrive) for driving the travelling devices (2) specified by means of the hydraulic drive system (50) is continuously adjusted so that the detected fluctuations are reduced or compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Wagner, Markus Bach, Christian Berning, Axel Mahlberg
  • Patent number: 10906527
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus is applied to a system including rotating electrical machine, a battery connected to the rotating electrical machine via a power conversion circuit, and an electric load. The engine control apparatus determines that engine speed is within a predetermined rotation speed range including at least a resonance range of an engine during a rotation drop period while engine speed drops to zero after engine combustion is stopped, and, in the case where it is determined that engine speed is within predetermined rotation speed range, selectively performs one of first rotation drop processing of increasing reduction rate of engine speed by regenerative power generation of the rotating electrical machine and second rotation drop processing of increasing reduction rate of engine speed by causing rotating electrical machine to perform power driving on an inverse rotation side. At a rotation drop control unit the first rotation drop processing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10883231
    Abstract: A construction machine comprises: a system region that can be rotated about an axis of rotation relative to a machine frame; at least one electrical load (50) in the rotatable system region; and an induction energy-transfer assembly (26) for wirelessly transferring energy into the rotatable system region, the induction energy-transfer assembly (26) comprising a transmitting assembly (27) having at least one transmitting coil (28, 30) and, in the rotatable system region, a receiving assembly (32) having at least one receiving coil (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Werner Völkel, Stefan Braunschläger
  • Patent number: 10865857
    Abstract: An accessory drive system for an engine 1 includes: a drive shaft (a crankshaft 21); a driven shaft (an oil pump drive shaft 31); an endless transmission member (a drive chain 33); a first tensioner disposed on a slack side of the endless transmission member (a first hydraulic tensioner 41); and a second tensioner disposed on a tight side of the endless transmission member (a second hydraulic tensioner 43). The second tensioner has a damping function to damp pushing force applied to the second tensioner by the endless transmission member in a direction opposite to a biasing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Iwagami, Masahiro Koizumi, Shota Kabasawa, Ikuma Takahashi, Kenya Ishii
  • Patent number: 10794014
    Abstract: A soil compactor includes at least one compactor roller, which is free to rotate about an axis of rotation of the roller, with a plurality of roller segments, which follow one another along the direction of the axis of rotation of the roller. In each case, at least one electromotive drive for producing an oscillating torque is assigned to each roller segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Werner Völkel
  • Patent number: 10662591
    Abstract: A forwards and reversible vibratory pothole packer includes a rotatable eccentric element shaft; a number of pulleys and linkages connected to the shaft; the pulleys and linkages changing the direction of the shaft. As a result, clockwise direction rotation of the shaft causes the drum to rotate in a counter clockwise direction thereby providing reverse direction of the unit and also counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft causes the drum will be propelled forwards. Thus, linear motion of the unit is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Vibco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sven-Axel K. Wadensten, Victor A. Cazares, Theodore S. Wadensten
  • Patent number: 10625302
    Abstract: A dynamic imbalanced force generator includes a pair of eccentric masses and a shaft frame. The generator further includes at least one support plate of a motor arranged radially with respect to the shaft frame, and a gear system. A second imbalance is arranged between a first imbalance and the shaft frame, and coaxially with respect to the first imbalance. At least one motor is supported by the plate and engaged with at least one of the first and second imbalances by the gear system. The support plate and the motor are arranged between the imbalances and the shaft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Marc François Six, Gérard Tavin
  • Patent number: 10435852
    Abstract: A method for determining the compaction state of a subgrade to be compacted using a roller compactor comprising at least one compactor drum having an oscillation-inducing arrangement and rotatable about a drum axis of rotation comprising the following steps: during at least one period of oscillating movement of the compactor drum, repeatedly determining the acceleration of the compactor drum in an first direction, representing a first acceleration value; in association with each first acceleration value, determining an acceleration of the compactor drum in a second direction representing a second acceleration value in order to provide acceleration value pairs, each consisting of a first acceleration value and a second associated acceleration value; and for at least one oscillation period, defining a compaction state value representing the compaction state of the subgrade based upon the period of oscillation determined for said acceleration value pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hamm AG
    Inventors: Johannes Pistrol, Fritz Kopf, Werner Völkel, Sebastian Villwock
  • Patent number: 10428482
    Abstract: An apparatus for compaction of soil and asphalt includes a first mass, such as a compaction drum, or vibrating plate, a second mass configured to oscillate vertically and an unbalanced shaft configured to vibrate the first and second masses. Wherein removable masses can be added and removed from the second mass, in order to enable resonance vibration of the first and second masses, thereby doubling and even tripling the compaction forces applied to the surface being compacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AMMANN SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Lukas Recher
  • Patent number: 10301781
    Abstract: A device for ground compaction, comprising a frame and a drive motor supported by the frame, a vibration exciter driven by the drive motor and a ground compaction apparatus, in particular a base plate or a roller drum, that is connected to the vibration exciter, wherein the vibration exciter causes the ground compaction apparatus to vibrate at a fixed vibration frequency or within a vibration frequency range during a compaction operation, and wherein a conversion device for the conversion of vibrations into electric energy is provided which converts vibrations of the device for ground compaction into electric energy, wherein the conversion device comprises two spring-mass systems with different resonance frequencies, and wherein a control unit is provided which determines the degree of compaction of the ground from the electric energy obtained by the individual spring-mass systems, in particular the respective voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventor: Niels Laugwitz
  • Patent number: 10196791
    Abstract: A compacting machine includes a frame supporting a compacting member and a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes a sensor, a computer-readable medium bearing a compacting member monitoring program, a controller, and an interface device in communication with the controller. The sensor is arranged with the compacting member to sense a parameter of its ground-engaging surface and to generate a surface parameter signal indicative of the parameter. The controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the surface parameter signal therefrom and is configured to execute the compacting member monitoring program. The compacting member monitoring program is configured to determine whether a piece of the material being compacted becomes adhered to the ground-engaging surface based upon the surface parameter signal satisfying a condition and to produce, through the interface device, an indicator alerting the operator once the surface parameter signal satisfies the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Patent number: 10072386
    Abstract: A vibration system for a compactor drum including a central support structure fixedly mounted within the compactor drum. The vibration system also includes a first vibratory exciter coupled to the central support structure. The vibration system further includes a second vibratory exciter coupled to the central support structure. The second vibratory exciter is longitudinally spaced apart from the first vibratory exciter. The vibration system includes a stabilizer element coupled to, and extending between, the first and second vibratory exciters. The stabilizer element is parallel to the central support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Alan Lehtola, Nicholas Alan Oetken
  • Patent number: 10036129
    Abstract: A vibratory compacting machine may include an engine, a main frame supporting the engine, and a compacting element mounted on the main frame and driven by the engine. The vibratory compacting machine may further include a vibratory system housed within the compacting element and configured to rotate about a rotation axis to vibrate the compacting element. The vibratory compacting machine may further include a control system configured to control a direction of rotation of the vibratory system. The control system may reverse the direction of rotation of the vibratory system when a predetermined number of pass counts is reached or when a predetermined density of the compactable material is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Alan Oetken, Federico Rio
  • Patent number: 9737910
    Abstract: An eccentric assembly for a compaction machine comprises an outer eccentric member that is longitudinally elongated cylinder shaped and has a partial longitudinal opening through the length; an inner eccentric member that is longitudinally elongated cylinder shaped and has a partial longitudinal opening through the length and rotatably connected inside of said outer eccentric member so that the inner eccentric member can rotate with respect to the outer eccentric member around the same axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Howard Smith, Edward Magalski, Petar Milkovic, Aman Mahajan
  • Patent number: 9725855
    Abstract: An assembly for vibrating a compacting drum of a compacting machine includes a shaft rotatably mountable to a compacting drum of the compacting machine. The center of mass of the shaft is offset from the geometrical rotation axis of the shaft. An outer eccentric member is arranged outside of the shaft, wherein the center of mass of the outer eccentric member is offset from the geometrical rotation axis of the shaft. The outer eccentric member is displaceably mounted relative to the shaft for adjustment of the eccentricity of the assembly. An extension of the outer eccentric member in a direction parallel with the geometrical rotation axis of the shaft is at least two times an average extension of the outer eccentric member in a radial direction perpendicular to the geometrical rotation axis of shaft such that a mass of the outer eccentric member forms a distributed load along the geometrical rotation axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Michael Kreische
  • Patent number: 9593453
    Abstract: A vibratory compaction roller has a pretensioning mechanism that exerts a pretension or biasing force between the drum and the motor housing that inhibits relative axial movement between the output shaft of each drive motor and the associated motor housing, thus significantly reducing the generation of noise that would otherwise be created during machine operation. The pretensioning mechanism may take the form of one or more springs positioned between the drum and a drum support that also supports the motor. Bushings are provided between the springs and the drum to accommodate rotational motion between each spring and the drum. Alternatively, the pretensioning mechanism may be provided on a side of the drum opposite the motor and may pull the drum away from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventors: Arber Halimi, Paul Sina
  • Patent number: 9587361
    Abstract: A compactor system for compacting a work material includes a roller drum, a vibratory mechanism, and a controller. The roller drum is configured to compact a work material. The vibratory mechanism is coupled to the roller drum and operatively coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a vibration effort based on a vibration parameter, and further configured to generate an output signal to control the vibratory mechanism to apply the vibration effort to the roller drum. The controller includes at least one sensor and a processor. The at least one sensor is configured to sense a first data parameter of the work material and a second data parameter of the roller drum. The processor is configured to calculate the vibration parameter based on the first data parameter and the second data parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Oetken, John Marsolek, Maria Biberdorf, Bryan Downing
  • Patent number: 9464641
    Abstract: An hydraulic transmission device (10,110) comprising an hydraulic motor (16, 18), an hydraulic pump (20), a fluid accumulator (22). The device has an accumulator-driven mode, an energy-recovery mode, a pump-driven mode. In the pump-driven mode, the pump supplies the motor with fluid drawn from an unpressurized reservoir; and in the energy-recovery mode, the motor is supplied by the pump drawing fluid from said reservoir. An assembly (1) comprising a device (10,110) as defined above, a shaft (11, 13), and a mass (12, 14) mounted eccentrically on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: POCLAIN HYDRAULICS INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Jean Heren
  • Patent number: 9334621
    Abstract: An eccentric shaft for a compacting machine is rotatable about a rotational axis and includes a fixed and movable eccentric mass where the movable eccentric mass cooperates with the fixed eccentric mass in one of the directions of rotation of the eccentric shaft to partly balance the fixed eccentric mass in the other rotation direction of the eccentric shaft. At least one section of the fixed eccentric mass shows a maximal radial extension (UB) in relation to the rotational axis, limited by an arc-shaped curve, which extends to a circle shape, with the diameter (D) showing a distance (A), between the point (P) on the circle-shaped curve that is located closest to the point of intersection of the rotational axis and the section plane, and the point of intersection, from 0 up to 0.1(D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Dynapac Compaction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Andreas Persson, Hans Christensen
  • Patent number: 9267245
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provides for an improved steering system for an articulated vibratory roller machine. Steering can be accomplished without the use of a dedicated steering actuator. Instead, steering angles may be created by independently driving left and right side drum halves at the front and rear ends of the machine at different speeds and/or directions. This differential action creates the desired steering angle by rotating the front and back halves of the machine about a central articulated joint. As a result, a cost-effective and versatile solution that eliminates the need for conventional steering components and their associated disadvantages is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventor: Michael Braun
  • Patent number: 9234316
    Abstract: A vibratory pothole packer includes a frame that supports an engine and a rotatable drum, and a rotatable eccentric shaft is supported within the drum. The eccentric shaft may be a drum shaft with a mass welded to its surface. The eccentric shaft is supported within the drum by bearings, and is also supported on the frame by bearings. The engine shaft can be selectively linked with eccentric shaft to selectively effect vibrational rotation of the eccentric shaft. The small, lightweight pothole packer is manually movable on a surface by one person, and can be moved along a surface either while the eccentric shaft rotates or while the eccentric shaft is not rotating. The center of mass of the eccentric shaft is offset towards one end of the shaft to allow the vibratory pothole packer to be easily moved in a straight line along a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: VIBCO, INC.
    Inventor: Theodore S. Wadensten
  • Patent number: 9206564
    Abstract: A drum assembly for a vibratory compactor and method of retrofitting a vibratory compactor to measure the acceleration and/or vibratory movement of a drum rotatably mounted on the frame of the vibratory compactor. The drum assembly may comprise a drum including a shell, a mounting wall disposed inside the drum and a bulkhead disposed inside the drum and attached to the shell, a first bearing disposed between the frame and the mounting wall, a second bearing, a sensor, and a strap. The first bearing may include an inner race fixedly mounted to the frame. The second bearing may comprise a hub and a bearing shaft circumscribed by the hub and mounted to the bulkhead of the drum. The strap may be attached to the inner race and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jeffrey A. Renard, Brian G. Moriarity, Joseph A. Lehtola
  • Patent number: 9103077
    Abstract: A vibratory mechanism for a compaction machine, the vibratory mechanism including first and second eccentrics, and a key shaft including oppositely helically splined portions. The first helically splined portion is complimentary to and disposed at least partially within a first internally helically splined bore of the first eccentric. The second helically splined portion is complimentary to and disposed at least partially within second internally helically splined bore of the second eccentric. The key shaft is disposed to linearly translate within the helically spined bores to cause the second eccentric to rotate in a direction opposite the first eccentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Patent number: 9039324
    Abstract: A compaction device includes at least one traveling drum rotatable about a drum shaft and having vibration exciters including unbalanced masses rotating out of phase by 180 degrees in the same direction of rotation and generating an oscillation torque about the drum shaft, and having a drive shaft running coaxial to the drum shaft for driving the vibration exciters. The drum is divided at least once and each drum part includes at least two coupled vibration exciters mounted at a distance from the drum shaft in the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Ackermann, Peter Janner
  • Publication number: 20150139731
    Abstract: An eccentric shaft for a compacting machine is rotatable about a rotational axis and includes a fixed and movable eccentric mass where the movable eccentric mass cooperates with the fixed eccentric mass in one of the directions of rotation of the eccentric shaft to partly balance the fixed eccentric mass in the other rotation direction of the eccentric shaft. At least one section of the fixed eccentric mass shows a maximal radial extension (UB) in relation to the rotational axis, limited by an arc-shaped curve, which extends to a circle shape, with the diameter (D) showing a distance (A), between the point (P) on the circle-shaped curve that is located closest to the point of intersection of the rotational axis and the section plane, and the point of intersection, from 0 up to 0.1(D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Persson, Hans Christensen
  • Patent number: 9028168
    Abstract: A concrete finishing machine includes a mobile frame supported above the slab on front and rear wheels with at least one screed roller and a plurality of vibrators are suspended from the frame between the front and rear wheels. The front and rear wheels are rotatable at least ninety degrees between a longitudinally directed traveling orientation and a laterally directed concrete finishing orientation. The front and rear wheels are driven and steerable so that the mobile frame may travel longitudinally down a lane of a road, and then upon pivoting of the wheels, move laterally over a hole in an adjacent lane having uncured concrete to be finished by the finishing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Ronald A. Knapp
  • Patent number: 8967910
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor includes a roller and an eccentric shaft. The roller is rotatably mounted on a main frame and may include a first vertical support and a second vertical support. The eccentric shaft is rotatably connected between the first vertical support and the second vertical support in the roller. The eccentric shaft includes a first end, a second end, a first eccentric weight, a second eccentric weight, and a center portion, casted as a single piece. The first eccentric weight is proximal to the first end and the second eccentric weight is proximal to the second end. The center portion may be disposed between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight. The center portion may include at least one cavity on a surface of the center portion. The at least one cavity is elongated between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A Hansen, Matthew D. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 8961066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compacting machine comprising a shaft, an unbalanced mass and a drum, wherein the shaft is connected both to the unbalanced mass and to the drum and is adapted to transfer imbalance forces from the unbalanced mass to the drum, and further wherein the shaft is mounted in a plain bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Darscheid, Robert Laux
  • Publication number: 20150003911
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor having a first compacting element having a variable vibratory mechanism that sets a modifiable compaction effort, a second compacting element, a first sensor configured to measure a first surface compactability associated with the first compacting element, a second sensor configured to measure a second surface compactability associated with the second compacting element and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the first surface compactability, receive the second surface compactability, determine a target compaction effort for the first compacting element based on the first surface compactability and the second surface compactability, and modify the variable vibratory mechanism to set the compaction effort at the target compaction effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Publication number: 20140341650
    Abstract: A device for detection of the motion of a compactor roller (20) of a soil compactor (10) rotatable about an axis of rotation (A), where said roller comprises on one inside of a roller mantle (22) a plurality of motion sensors (ai) arranged in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation (A) and at a spacing from each other and moveable with the roller mantle (22) around the axis of rotation (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Werner Völkel
  • Patent number: 8827593
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor includes a first compacting element having a variable vibratory mechanism that sets a modifiable compaction effort, a second compacting element, a fluid reservoir, a first sensor configured to measure a first data parameter associated with the fluid reservoir, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the first data parameter, determine a target compaction effort for the first compacting element based on the first data parameter; and modify the variable vibratory mechanism to set the compaction effort at the target compaction effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Publication number: 20140205380
    Abstract: A vibratory ride-on roller machine includes a chassis supported on front and rear vibrating drum assemblies that compact the surface on which the machine travels. The machine is controlled via a control assembly including a control lever. A number of control elements for controlling operations of the roller machine are located on the control lever, the operations including one or more of turning the exciter assembly on and off, switching between exciter assemblies, controlling the level of vibration of the exciter assemblies, controlling a spray assembly, and sounding a horn element. The control elements are advantageously positioned to enable operator actuation regardless of the operator's orientation on the roller and regardless of the position of the control lever within its operating stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Geier
  • Patent number: 8770887
    Abstract: A vibratory ride-on roller machine includes a chassis supported on front and rear vibrating drum assemblies that compact the surface on which the machine travels. The machine is controlled via a control assembly including a control lever. A number of control elements for controlling operations of the roller machine are located on the control lever, the operations including one or more of turning the exciter assembly on and off, switching between exciter assemblies, controlling the level of vibration of the exciter assemblies, controlling a spray assembly, and sounding a horn element. The control elements are advantageously positioned to enable operator actuation regardless of the operator's orientation on the roller and regardless of the position of the control lever within its operating stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Waacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Geier
  • Publication number: 20140161531
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unbalance type exciter (6) for a soil compaction device. This exciter comprises a carrying structure (5) as well as an unbalance weight (8, 9), which by means of a bearing (11a, 11b) is supported at the carrying structure (5) in rotatable manner around a rotation axis (Y) which in the intended use is stationary with respect to the carrying structure (5), for generating an intermittent exciting force for causing the carrying structure (5) in the intended use to vibrate. The bearing (11a, 11b) of the unbalance weight (8, 9) is arranged at least partially within the space which is circled by the unbalance weight (8, 9) when rotating around the rotation axis (y). Owing to the fact that this space is used for receiving at least part of the bearing of the unbalance weight (8, 9) it becomes possible to provide unbalance type exciters (6) having very small axial overall length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: AMMANN SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Martin Schärer, Christoph Anliker
  • Publication number: 20140161529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compacting machine comprising a shaft, an unbalanced mass and a drum, wherein the shaft is connected both to the unbalanced mass and to the drum and is adapted to transfer imbalance forces from the unbalanced mass to the drum. The task of providing a compacting machine in which the provision of the unbalanced mass requires less space is achieved in that the shaft is mounted in a plain bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Darscheid, Robert Laux
  • Patent number: 8727660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a soil compacting device having an exciter part (1), which has an unbalance exciter (2) for producing an intermittent exciter force and a contact surface (3) for transmitting a force component of the exciter force directed perpendicularly to the contact surface (3) to the soil surface (4) to be compacted as a pulsing compressive force. The device also has a vibration damper part (5), which is connected to the exciter part (1) by means of a spring-damper unit (15). The spring stiffness of the spring-damper unit (15), the damping of the spring damper unit (15), the spring pre-load of the spring-damper unit (15), the mass of the vibration damper part (5), the mass moment of inertia of the vibration damper part (5), the mass of the exciter part (1), and/or the mass moment of inertia of the exciter part (1) can be varied during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ammann Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Roland Anderegg, Martin Gerhard, Kuno Kaufmann, Dominik Anton Von Felten
  • Publication number: 20140133909
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor includes a roller and an eccentric shaft. The roller is rotatably mounted on a main frame and may include a first vertical support and a second vertical support. The eccentric shaft is rotatably connected between the first vertical support and the second vertical support in the roller. The eccentric shaft includes a first end, a second end, a first eccentric weight, a second eccentric weight, and a center portion, casted as a single piece. The first eccentric weight is proximal to the first end and the second eccentric weight is proximal to the second end. The center portion may be disposed between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight. The center portion may include at least one cavity on a surface of the center portion. The at least one cavity is elongated between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Eric A. Hansen, Matthew D. Chisholm