Abstract: A safety device for a self-propelled machine with a steering rod guided by an operator's handle includes a safety handle positioned proximately below the operator's handle in parallel to at least a portion of the operator's handle for grasping by the operator. The safety handle has first and second arms projecting vertically downward. A shaft is rotatably mounted in the steering rod below the safety handle, and a sleeve is journalled on the shaft. The first and second arms of the safety handle are rigidly attached to opposite ends of the shaft. An operating disc for controlling the motion of the machine is rotatably mounted in the steering rod. A spring normally biases the operating disc to maintain the machine in a stationary position. A locking arm is rigidly attached to the sleeve and engages teeth in the operating disc for securing the operating disc in a fixed position whereby the motion of the machine is constant.

Abstract: A cold surface pavement planer, used to scarify and profile concrete and asphaltic pavements, is constructed with a sealed cutter drum. A gear box in the cutter drum, transmitting power to the cutter drum from an engine on the planer chassis, is cooled efficiently by a coolant liquid in the cutter drum in which the gear box is partially immersed.

Abstract: A machine for finishing a flat surface, for example a floor made of cement, concrete, or similar hardened material, includes a chassis supported by at least three wheels arranged to carry the weight of the chassis. A grinding tool, preferably a grinding wheel, is mounted to the chassis to rotate about a vertical rotational axis and to rest on the floor when grinding work is in progress. The grinding wheel is mounted to move freely in the vertical direction relative to the chassis such that the weight of the grinding wheel is carried by the floor, and the grinding pressure is readily adjustable for differing applications.

Abstract: A road roller comprises a frame and a pair of drums, at least one of which is a guide drum, on which the frame is pivotally supported. A steering mechanism is attached to the guide drum for steering the road roller. The supporting mechanism for the guide drum includes a vertical pivot shaft coupled to the guide drum, a vertical anti-friction bearing on the pivot shaft for permitting the guide drum to pivot horizontally relative to the frame, and a flexible support coupled between the bearing and the frame for permitting limited lateral twisting of the guide drum relative to the frame. The flexible support comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced rubber mounts for absorbing longitudinal shocks but for inhibiting longitudinal twisting of the drum relative to the frame.

Abstract: An easily adjusted vibratory device useful, for example, on soil compacting vibratory rollers. One or more mass elements are supported eccentrically on a rotating shaft. The mass elements are pivotal about a pivotal axis or shaft perpendicular to the rotating shaft. Pivoting the mass elements during rotation of the shaft moves the center of gravity of the mass elements toward or away from the rotating shaft and thereby continuously alters the magnitude of the centrifugal force acting on the mass elements to cause vibration. The mass elements are formed, with respect to the pivotal shaft, to minimize the force necessary to pivot the elements by maintaining the moment arms from the axis of the pivotal shaft to the centrifugal force resultant at or near zero. In a specific embodiment the rotating shaft is cylindrical, the mass elements and pivotal shaft are supported within the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A concrete floor finisher for finishing newly-placed concrete. The machine comprises a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor arms on the hub for rotation about an axis, a blade pivotable on each arm, and a motor for driving the rotor hub. The pitch of the blades is adjustable depending upon the condition of the wet concrete, by a piston and cylinder centrally located about the axis of rotation of the rotor, and a stud connected at one end to the blades and at its other end engaging a portion of the piston to adjust the pitch of the blades in response to the axial displacement of the piston.

Abstract: A vibrating tamper with side-by-side engine section and tamper section connected by a suspension system including leaf springs. The tamper section includes a reciprocating leg terminating in a tamping plate. The engine section includes handles, an engine with a rotary drive shaft, and a transmission for converting the drive shaft rotary motion to reciprocating motion to be imparted to the tamper. A driven, eccentrically mounted roller cooperates with a lever forked at one end to embrace the roller. At its other end, the lever applies reciprocating drive to the tamper. The reciprocating drive is applied through helical springs encircling the tamper leg. The forked lever end and eccentric assure that forces substantially parallel the axis of the tamper leg are transmitted to the tamper section, minimizing forces perpendicular the leg.

Abstract: A plate vibrator for compacting soil, asphalt and similar materials comprises a bottom plate on which is rigidly mounted a vibrating element driven by a power unit that is mounted resiliently on the bottom plate. The vibrating element comprises at least two counterrotating eccentric weights mounted on a shaft, the phase positions of the eccentrics being capable of adjustment in relation to each other by means of an adjusting mechanism so that the direction of the resultant of the centrifugal forces can be arbitrarily selected in relation to the bottom plate. The location of the element and power unit in relation to each other on the bottom plate and the distribution of the masses oscillating with the bottom plate are chosen to minimize structural height and maximize translational motion both forward and in reverse.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating vibrations comprises at least two masses mounted on a rotatable shaft and capable of moving radially against a spring force in relation to the center line of the shaft. Means for locking the masses to each other are provided, and the masses are arranged such that their respective centers of gravity are so distributed about the center line of the rotatable shaft that the resulting eccentric moment of the masses in relation to the center line is low or substantially zero when the shaft is stationary or rotating at low speed.

Abstract: A reciprocating cylinder assembly for self-propelled sprinkler systems and the like comprising a cylinder tube having hollow plugs at each end having slidably engaged therein, a piston rod, said piston rod being surrounded by a repositionable valve slide and a piston. The piston rod projects through the hollow plugs at each end of the cylinder tube and have fluid inlet and outlet means at each end of the piston rod. When pressurized fluid is delivered to one end of the piston rod, the piston rod moves relative to the cylinder in a direction opposite to the direction of the entering fluid, and fluid is forced from the outlet at the opposite end of the piston rod until the valve slide engages the end plug of the cylinder tube whereupon pressure causes valve detents to slidably change positions thereby causing a reversal of fluid flow and the change of direction in the movement of the piston rod.

Abstract: Steering apparatus for road rollers of the self-propelled type having two drums each of which is journalled to rotate in a frame pivotally mounted on a common chassis. A piston rod, pivotally connected at its ends to the drum frames, is slidably mounted in a steering cylinder pivotally mounted on the chassis. A control system for transmitting and receiving a pressure medium through a pair of lines connected to the steering cylinder responds to a steering device to cause movement of the piston in the cylinder, so that the piston rod causes simultaneous rotation of the drum frames and proper tracking of the road roller drums.