Abstract: A shaft coupling construction for a vibratory screed. The screed includes at least two vibratory shafts which are disposed in end-to-end relation and an end of each shaft is secured within a bore in a sleeve or connecting member. Each shaft is mounted for eccentric motion to impart vibration to the screed. Each adjacent pair of connecting members are secured together by a flexible tubular coupling, and to transmit rotation between the shafts, the connecting members are provided with external splines which mate with internal splines on the tubular coupling. The spline connection is not symmetrical and is arranged so that the connecting members can be engaged with the tubular coupling only in one circumferential position, thereby insuring that the eccentricity of one shaft is circumferentially aligned with the eccentricity of the other shaft.

Abstract: A compaction apparatus including a pair of frames. A compaction drum is mounted for rotation on a first of the frames and resilient isolation mounts interconnect the two frames. A vibratory unit is mounted on the first frme and includes pair of eccentric weights arranged so that vertical vibratory forces generated by the weights are added, while fore-and-aft vibratory forces are cancelled. The isolation mounts are at different distances on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the drum, so that the vertical vibratory forces acting through the two isolation mounts produce unequal moments tending to rotate the drum and subject the soil to a shear-type action.

Abstract: An adjuster handle construction for a soil compactor such as a percussion rammer. The compactor includes a shoe adapted to engage the surface to be compacted and the shoe is driven in a reciprocating path by a drive cylinder which, in turn, is operated by an engine located at the upper end of the compactor. A tubular guard surrounds the engine and engine components, and a handle is pivotally connected to the guard. The handle can be locked to the guard through an adjustable locking mechanism, so that the handle can be positioned in a plurality of different elevations.

Abstract: An improved directional control mechanism for a riding-type surface working machine. The machine includes a pair of frame sections which are disposed in fore and aft relation. A rotor that carries surface working implements, such as trowel blades, is mounted for rotation on each frame section and an engine is mounted on one of the frame sections and is operably connected to the rotors to drive the rotors in opposite directions. The frame sections are connected together by a mounting arrangement that permits each frame section to be tilted in a fore and aft direction, as well as laterally, with respect to the other frame section. Manually operated levers are connected to each frame section to pivot the frame sections in a fore and aft direction, while a foot pedal is operable to tilt the frame sections laterally. By selective tilting of the frame sections, directional control of the machine can be obtained.

Abstract: A directional control mechanism for a surface working machine. The surface working machine includes a frame that carries at least a pair of rotors each having a vertical rotatable shaft. Surface working means, including a plurality of radially extending blades, is operably connected to the shaft and rotates therewith. Each blade is mounted for tilting movement with respect to the rotor shaft about a horizontal axis and by simultaneously tilting the blades about the respective horizontal axes, the pitch of the blades can be varied. In addition, a second operating mechanism is included for individually tilting the blades of each rotor as the rotor rotates to effect directional control of the machine.

Abstract: A hydraulic operated control system for remotely operating a walk-behind soil compactor. A remotely operated three-position valve is connected to the pressure line of the hydraulic system of the soil compactor and serves to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to opposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder unit that is operably connected to a hydraulic pump which operates the speed and direction control for the compactor. The cylinder unit includes a piston that is slidable within the cylinder and the piston is biased to a neutral position by springs. Through remote operation of the valve, hydraulic fluid will be directed to either end of the cylinder to provide direction and speed control for the compactor. A deadman switch is located on the remote control panel and manual release of the deadman switch will open the hydraulic circuit between the opposite ends of the cylinder to prevent fluid from being directed to the cylinder and will enable the springs to return the cylinder to a neutral no speed position.

Abstract: A vibratory concrete screed composed of a plurality of interconnected sections. Each section includes a series of frame members which are located at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the section. Each frame member is generally triangular in configuration and is composed of a base and a pair of sides which are connected together at an apex. The ends of the bases of the frame members are connected to a pair of parallel screed plates, while a ridge tube is connected to the apices of the frame members. The ridge tubes of adjacent sections are connected together by an adjustable connecting mechanism, and axial adjustment of the ridge tubes will tend to tilt the screed plates of one section relative to the adjacent section to provide the desired crown for the screed.

Abstract: An improved walk behind soil compactor having a double vibratory drum and an articulated frame. The compactor includes a rear drive unit having a pair of drive wheels and a forward frame is connected to the forward end of the rear drive unit by an articulated joint. The forward frame is attached through isolation mounts to a drum frame that includes a vertical support plate. A horizontal shaft is journaled with respect to the plate and a pair of drums are secured to the shaft on either side of the support plate. A power operated drive mechanism carried by the drum frame is connected through a gear drive to the shaft to drive the drums and a vibratory unit mounted on the drum frame imparts vibration to the drums. As the drums are supported solely from the central vertical support plate, the compactor is capable of compacting soil immediately adjacent to vertical walls.

Abstract: A riding-type surface working machine includes a pair of rotors each of which carries a plurality of trowels or surface working members. Each rotor includes a transmission unit and power from the engine is transmitted through each transmission unit to rotate the individual rotors. To provide directional movement for the machine, the upper end of each rotor includes a shaft that is connected to the respective transmission unit. The shaft is mounted for universal tilting movement with respect to the frame of the machine. An eccentric is mounted on each rotor shaft and is rotatable in a fixed sleeve. Each eccentric is connected through a chain drive to a vertical control stick and the control sticks for the respective rotors are mounted concentrically on the machine. Through manual operation of the control sticks the eccentrics can be individually rotated to thereby tilt the rotors to cause directional movement of the machine.

Abstract: A vibratory compactor having forward and reverse movement. The compactor comprises a bottom plate and a pair of standard, single shaft, vibration generating units are mounted in side-by-side relation on the bottom plate and each unit includes an eccentric shaft. The eccentric weight of one of the shafts can be varied in angular position with respect to the weight of the other shaft to provide both forward and reverse movement for the compactor. To adjust the angular position of one of the eccentric shafts, an axially slidable collar is splined to the eccentric shaft and a drive lug on the collar can be selectively engaged with a drive element on a drive gear or with a drive element on a ring which is fixed to the gear and spaced axially therefrom. The drive elements on the gear and the ring are displaced 180.degree.. By moving the collar axially through a manual control, the drive lug will be disengaged with the drive element on the gear and will be engaged with the drive element on the ring.

Abstract: A concrete finisher of the type having driven paddles surrounded by a peripheral guard ring is made with one or more relieved guard ring sections, each preferably having a flattened outer edge, so that the finisher can be used to finish concrete surfaces adjacent to a wall or other obstruction. In some embodiments the relieved guard ring wall guide section is fixed. In other embodiments it is retractable.