Abstract: A ramming device for compacting soil includes an upper mass and a lower mass. The lower mass is driven linearly back and forth with respect to the upper mass to compact material therebelow. An engine drives the lower mass and is supported by the upper mass. A muffler is fluidly connected to the engine and is contoured such that a majority of the muffler is positioned inboard of a footprint of a side of the ramming device. Preferably, the muffler has a shape that substantially matches a shape of the upper mass adjacent to the muffler thereby further reducing the distance that the muffler extends beyond a footprint of a sidewall of the device.

Abstract: A ramming device for compacting soil includes an upper mass and a lower mass. The lower mass is driven linearly back and forth with respect to the upper mass to compact material therebelow. An engine drives the lower mass and is supported by the upper mass. A muffler is fluidly connected to the engine and is contoured such that a majority of the muffler is positioned inboard of a footprint of a side of the ramming device. Preferably, the muffler has a shape that substantially matches a shape of the upper mass adjacent to the muffler thereby further reducing the distance that the muffler extends beyond a footprint of a sidewall of the device.

Abstract: A vibratory plate machine has an improved baseplate, console, clutch, and/or cage assembly. The baseplate has a semi-spherical bottom surface and barrel-shaped side surfaces to improve stability and maneuverability. The baseplate also has ribs on its upper surface configured to maximize stiffening ability and to channel debris off from the baseplate. The console is formed from a single cast metal element to reduce weight and to reduce assembly complexity and to permit shockmounts to be connected to the extreme corner portions of the console. The clutch is configured to distribute as much weight as practical to its outer diameter so that it functions as a flywheel to reduce jerking effects on the driven belt to reduce belt wear and increase belt life. The cage assembly is configured to maximize protection of sensitive components of the machine from external shocks and to facilitate machine lifting.

Abstract: A water supply system is adapted to spray lubricant, typically water, onto an asphalt surface in front of an asphalt vibratory plate machine at a generally constant rate regardless of the level of lubricant in the system's storage tank and regardless of machine inclination. The water is routed to a nozzle assembly of the water supply system through a pump that is preferably driven by the exciter of the asphalt vibratory plate machine. The pump is configured to provide adequate pressure with minimal increase in the machine's overall weight, complexity, or manufacturing expense. The nozzle assembly includes a spray bar which is configured to spray water uniformly across the entire compaction path but which is shorter than the baseplate of the machine so as to avoid snagging on neighboring obstructions.