Shiftable Or Variable Ballast Patents (Class 404/130)
  • Patent number: 9416025
    Abstract: A water treatment and conveyance apparatus that has a barrel with two ends, each with an indentation to accommodate a handle made of a heavy-duty material, two side members, a transverse grip member and two transverse support members that fit securely into the indentations of the barrel ends. One end of the barrel (the top) has at least one hole accommodating a removable cap, a removable inlet filter of mesh to screen out particles from entering water, and a removable outlet filter. In use, the handle is attached to both ends of the barrel in the indentations and the barrel is rolled and pulled to a water source and back to the puller's abode. After filling the barrel, a cleansing chemical such as a chlorine tablet is added to the water to help sterilize the water in transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAFESIPP, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Joseph Schoepf, Taylor Lynn Barker, Lindsay Fleming, Jacob Edward Arredondo
  • 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
  • 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: 20140079484
    Abstract: A weight sensing system for a pneumatic compactor is provided. The weight sensing system includes a pressure sensor in communication with a pneumatic cylinder. The pressure sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. Further, a controller is communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. The controller is also configured to determine a compaction weight of the pneumatic compactor based on the received signal, a weight distribution on the pneumatic compactor, and a fixed volume of the pneumatic cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, Mark L. Norton, Timothy J. Lindholm
  • Patent number: 8636299
    Abstract: A ballast system provided herein includes: a ballast including: a first recessed bottom portion; a second recessed bottom portion; a sump portion between the first and second portion, the sump portion configured to extend downward past the first and second recessed bottom portions; and a machine comprising a ballast holding area, the ballast holding area including: a channel configured to receive a ballast; a first cantilevered lip; and a second cantilevered lip spaced apart from the first cantilevered lip, the first and second cantilevered lips configured to hold the ballast in place there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Tim J. Lindholm
  • Patent number: 8206061
    Abstract: A utility compactor is disclosed that includes a roller disposed on top of and connected to a base plate. The roller has two opposing vertical supports. The compactor also includes an eccentric vibratory shaft extending between and rotatably connected to the two vertical supports of the roller. The eccentric vibratory shaft includes a first rotor shaft coaxially spaced apart from a second rotor shaft. The first and second rotor shafts are coupled together by an offset shaft. The offset shaft has an I-beam cross section and includes a first angled portion, a second angled portion and a center portion disposed between and coupling the first and second angled portions together. The first angled portion is coupled to the first rotor shaft; the second angled portion is coupled to the second rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Arden Hansen, Kevin J. Magee
  • Patent number: 7775742
    Abstract: A roller for compacting a subsurface, in particular for road building, comprising a roller body with a central axis. The roller body is made up of a plurality of compartments (2), the compartments (2) being provided distributed in the circumferential direction around the central axis. In particular, each compartment (2) comprises at least one fluid chamber (3). More particularly, the fluid chambers (3) in the compartments (2) are in flow communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Buysman Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Buijsman
  • Patent number: 7540689
    Abstract: A counterweight system for maintain stability of a tractor and the ability to compress a support surface when desired includes a tractor. A frame is selectively hitched to the tractor. A counterweight is coupled to the frame. The counterweight has a weight to balance weight positioned at the front of the tractor. A plurality of hitch balls is coupled to the frame. A trailer receives one of the hitch balls to allow the trailer to be coupled to the frame and to be towed to a different location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: William J. Major, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7497641
    Abstract: A paving machine includes a frame having a hopper, a screed and a conveyor to transfer paving material between the hopper and the screed. A ballast system of the paving machine includes an actuator configured to adjust a movable ballast such as a liquid ballast to switch the paving machine between ballast states corresponding to different operating configurations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Toby Frelich
  • Patent number: 7017679
    Abstract: The invention relates to steerable vibration plates that are set vibrating by rotating unbalanced masses. By twisting the unbalanced masses relative to one another the resulting forces and their direction of action can be changed, thereby influencing the travel speed of the vibrating plate and its direction of travel. The inventive vibration plate is characterized in that the unbalanced masses disposed on a common shaft can be adjusted independent of external forces and torques since the adjustment piston adjusting the unbalanced masses is braced in the adjustment cylinder to a much higher degree than would be possible with conventional coil springs. To this end, every adjustable unbalanced mass is associated with a double-action hydraulic cylinder that comprises two liquid chambers. The connection of said chambers to a storage and a pump can be locked in order to fix the piston which can be adjusted within the hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Wacker Construction Equipment AG
    Inventors: Josef Sollinger, Norbert Jungwirth
  • Patent number: 6769838
    Abstract: A vibratory mechanism includes first and second eccentric weights connected to a gearbox. The gearbox includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft and first and second planetary gear sets. The first and second planetary gear sets are connected to a motor that drives the first and second eccentric weights during operation via the inner shaft and outer shaft respectively. A phase control device is operatively connected to the second planetary gear set to index the second eccentric weight relative to the first eccentric weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
    Inventor: Dean R. Potts
  • Patent number: 6585450
    Abstract: The eccentric assembly includes a tubular section, an eccentric weight, and a counterweight. The eccentric weight is mounted within the tubular section such that as a motor rotates the eccentric assembly, the eccentric weight generates vibrations that are transferred to the drum assembly of the vibration compacting machine. The counterweight is slidably coupled to the eccentric weight and moves between a first position where the counterweight contacts the eccentric weight and a second position where the counterweight contacts the tubular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Kent Meyers, Steve K. Yates
  • Patent number: 6551020
    Abstract: A vibratory mechanism 26 is provided for a compacting work machine 10. The vibratory mechanism 26 includes a first/outer eccentric weight 50 and a second/inner eccentric weight 80. The second weight 80 has a cavity 88 with a movable mass 90 that when rotated in a first direction 124 opposes the first eccentric weight 50 and when rotated in a second direction 126 the movable mass 90 combines with the first eccentric 50. The second eccentric weight 80 is also manually indexable relative to the first eccentric 50 to a plurality of distinct positions giving a plurality of different amplitude vibratory impact forces when rotated in either of the first and second directions 124,126.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Swanson, Dean R. Potts, Gregory H. Dubay, Thomas J. Suelflow
  • Patent number: 6485227
    Abstract: A concrete breaking apparatus includes a wheeled support assembly having an open end to accommodate the variable positioning of an impact roller therebetween and a closed end opposite the open end. A frame having opposing longitudinal arms connected near one end so as to define open and closed end portions is pivotably supported by the wheeled support assembly on pivot arms which connect the frame to the wheeled support assembly. An impact roller is fixedly interposed for rotation between the opposing longitudinal arms of the frame near the open end portion thereof. The impact roller has opposing ends, an axis of rotation through the opposing ends, and a surface equipped with spaced apart primary and secondary impact members traversing the opposing ends of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: R and G Construction Co.
    Inventor: Reinhold P. Mathiowetz
  • Patent number: 6007273
    Abstract: An arrangement for cooling a bearing assembly. The arrangement includes a drum assembly having (i) a drum member having an interior sidewall, (ii) a first bulkhead secured to the interior sidewall, (iii) a second bulkhead secured to the interior sidewall, (iv) an interior cavity defined by the interior sidewall, the first bulkhead, and the second bulkhead, (v) a drive plate secured to the drum member, (vi) a planetary gear box secured to the drive plate, and (vii) a drive motor mechanically coupled to the planetary gear box such that actuation of the drive motor causes the drum member to rotate around a central axis thereof. The arrangement also includes a first bearing assembly positioned within the interior cavity. The arrangement further includes a first dipping member having a first dipping cavity defined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Magee
  • Patent number: 5993110
    Abstract: A ballast system is provided for a compacting machine, which operate on their own weight (static weight) and is propelled on rollers or wheels. A plurality of identical, modular, ballast boxes are mounted to the median extension of the machine which is located between the front and rear wheel axel assemblies. In order to facilitate adjustment of a static compacting load to ideal operating conditions; each ballast box can receive a variable amount of a flowable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Svedala Dynapac LTDA
    Inventor: Alfredo Aurelio de Antunes Bueno
  • Patent number: 5984572
    Abstract: To be able to start and stop vibration without resonating a vibratory body as well as to prevent a drawback of a conventional technology in which when a vibration generating shaft is rotated at a high speed, a torsional coil spring is worn by being brought into abrasive contact with a bent support member and a receiving seat and a large sound is generated when a main weight returns in an axial direction of the vibration generating shaft, there is provided a vibratory generating mechanism having a movable eccentric weight 4 rotatable around a pivoting shaft 3, a sliding member 11 capable of linearly moving on the axial line of the vibration generating shaft along a guide member 6 at one end of the vibration generating shaft, a connecting rod 12 one end of which is connected to the sliding member and other end of which is connected to the movable eccentric weight for transforming a displacement of a linear movement of the sliding member into a displacement of a rotational movement around a pivoting shaft of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sakai Heavy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Mitsui
  • Patent number: 5398769
    Abstract: An aerator includes a frame supported on a pair of forward wheels and a pair of rearward wheels. An aerator head is mounted on a pivot frame on the forward end of the aerator frame, the pivot frame mounted to move the aerator head from a disengaged position above the ground, downwardly to an engaged position wherein tines on the aerator head work the soil. The pivot frame includes a forwardly projecting arm upon which the aerator head is mounted, and a rearwardly projecting arm upon which the forward wheels of the frame are mounted, such that movement of the pivot frame will engage either the forward wheels of the frame or the aerator head. An hydraulic cylinder is mounted between the frame and the pivot frame to selectively move the pivot frame to engage the aerator head or the forward wheels with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Clarke H. Staples
  • Patent number: 4759659
    Abstract: A vibratory drum soil or asphalt compactor has a variable vibratory mechanism selectively operable to vary the vibrations imparted to the drum from a balanced mode to a maximum amplitude vibratory mode independently of the vibratory mechanism shaft rotation. A shaft having a shaft chamber for accommodating fluid is rotatably mounted on the drum. The shaft is equipped with a cylinder having a cylinder chamber connected with a passage to the shaft chamber. A piston closing the cylinder chamber and slidably mounted on the cylinder supports an eccentric weight. A control piston located with the shaft chamber operated by an external linear actuator is operable to move the piston away from the cylinder thereby move the weight into engagement with the shaft to balance the shaft and allow the weight to move away from the shaft to produce maximum vibration upon rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Inventor: Fernand Copie
  • Patent number: 4749305
    Abstract: The subassembly comprises a shaft having an eccentrically-weighted portion journalled in a tube which also has an eccentrically-weighted portion. The tube has an abutment therein which prevents full rotation of the tube relative to the shaft. With rotation of the tube in one direction, its abutment, at one side, comes into engagement with the eccentrically-weighted portion of the shaft and, consequently, both portions are in proximity and radially aligned to produce a maximum, oscillatory vibration. Tube rotation in the opposite direction causes the shaft portion to engage the other side of the abutment and, consequently, the portions are in opposite, radial dispositions, and produce a minimum, oscillatory vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Samuel K. Brown, Steve K. Yates
  • Patent number: 4647247
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for compacting a layer of material using a compacting machine having at least one drum which is rolled over the layer; the material layer is acted on by gravitational force of the roller and an oscillating force. The latter is the result of applying a rapidly substantially alternating torque to the drum about its axis. The direction of action of the torque is reversed with a high frequency in relation to the frequency with which the direction of travel of the compacting unit is reversed. The invention also embraces means for executing the method wherein the torque on the drum is provided by at least two synchronously operating, rotating eccentric means spaced from the shaft of the drum, and which are adapted such that the forces caused by their synchronous movement can substantially neutralize each other radially to the drum and co-act to form a pure torque on the drum about its shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Geodynamik H. Thurner AB
    Inventor: Ake Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 4577995
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for generating vibrations in the horizontal plane for a ground compacting machine is disclosed. At least a rotary shaft with an eccentric mass mounted for generating required vibrations is rotatably supported within the rolling wheel. The rotary shaft adapted to be rotated by a hydraulic motor assumes the position where its center line of rotation is located on a linear line radially extending from the center line of rotation of the rolling wheel. Rotation of the hydraulic motor is usually transmitted to the rotary shaft for the eccentric mass via bevel gears. Typically, an opposing pair of rotary shafts are disposed opposite to one another relative to the center line of rotation of the rolling wheel. Three or more rotary shafts may be disposed in such a manner that their eccentric masses are distributed so as to assure good weight balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Sakai Heavy Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisanori Sadahiro
  • Patent number: 4322094
    Abstract: A weighting device is suspended beneath a tractor and between its wheels to improve the traction of the wheels and the stability of the tractor. The device has the general form of a flat, elongated element with a width substantially less than the spacing between the wheels of the tractor and which extends from at least the rear of the tractor to a point beyond the front of the tractor in order to carry weights which are utilized to prevent the tractor from rearing or lifting. The weight is suspended on the tractor by elements which include flaps, sliding shoulders integral with the tractor, sliding wing flanges and jacks. The jacks may be controlled by fluid distributors for driving the device, and therefore the weights, both longitudinally and transversely along a plane substantially parallel to the ground or other support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Jeune Bobard
    Inventor: Emile Bobard
  • Patent number: 4018541
    Abstract: A road roller comprises a ballast means made in the form of a chamber of gasproof material, said chamber having one side open and being provided with an end wall connected to a chassis of the road roller. The chamber communicates with a source of vacuum and is arranged so that, when vacuum is induced in the chamber, the pavement being compacted overlaps said open side of the chamber with the result that forces are transmitted from the chamber to the chassis of the road roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1977
    Inventors: Ernst Ivanovich Denikin, Nikolai Yakovlevich Khazkhuta, Alexandr Andreevich Shestopalov, Vladimir Vachaganovich Badalov, Alexandr Alexandrovich Vasiliev, Vyacheslav Ivanovich Okunev, David Abramovich Kaplan, Jury Borisovich Deinego, Alexandr Danilovich Kazakov, Vladimir Ivanovich Gienko, Alexei Alexeevich Marchenko, Mikhail Avramovich Laevsky