Abstract: A method for estimating material compaction can include creating compaction lookup tables based on total drive motor current and slope angle for each of a plurality of machine types. The method can include receiving telematics data related to total drive motor current for an individual machine and receiving telematics data related to a slope angle for the individual machine. The method can further include receiving a machine type of the individual machine and selecting a compaction lookup table corresponding to the individual machine type. A compaction value is determined from the selected lookup table based on the total drive motor current and the slope angle.

Abstract: A vibrating screed comprising a screed member, a motor, and an exciter assembly configured to vibrate the screed member in response to receiving torque from the motor via a driveshaft. The exciter assembly includes a first eccentric mass fixed on the driveshaft and a second eccentric mass axially and rotationally moveable along the driveshaft between a first position and a second position in which the second eccentric mass is axially closer to the first eccentric mass than in the first position. The vibrating screed further comprises a mode selection member to switch the exciter assembly between a first, low vibration mode, in which the second eccentric mass is in the first position, and a second, high vibration mode, in which the second eccentric mass is in the second position.

Abstract: A seismic weight dropper arrangement for a drone. The arrangement comprises a winch assembly attachable to a drone and comprising an actuator and spool with a cable windable thereon. Arrangement also includes a seismic source assembly comprising a housing and a mass suspended within the housing via at least one resiliently elastic biasing element, such as a coil spring. The seismic source assembly is fast with the cable and the actuator configured selectively to eject the seismic source assembly from the drone under the influence of gravity. The resiliently elastic biasing element has a predetermined modulus of elasticity to facilitate the mass impacting the housing when the housing impacts a surface after such ejection from a predetermined height above the surface.

Abstract: A vibratory system for a compactor machine, the vibratory system optionally including a key shaft, an input shaft, a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The key shaft can have a first internal helically splined portion and a second internal helically splined portion. The first internal helically splined portion can be oppositely splined with respect to the second internal helically splined portion and arranged axially of the second internal helically splined portion. The input shaft can be configured with an external helically splined portion configured to be complimentary to the first internal helically splined portion of the key shaft. The first output shaft can be configured couple to the input shaft for rotation therewith. The second output shaft can have an external helically splined portion configured to be complimentary to the second internal helically splined portion of the key shaft.

Abstract: An automated concrete bridge paver with an ability to provide effective control of a concrete paver by a remotely locatable concrete bridge paver operator 202, which includes a fixed operator control station and a mobile wireless remote operator control station 210 which can be used when the remotely locatable concrete bridge paver operator 202 leaves the operator control station 204. Mobile wireless remote operator control station 210 includes a video screen which can display live video images from a plurality of remote wireless camera and sensor pods 212, which can be fixed on the paver or moved about the paver on an articulated arm, with or without a human basket.

Abstract: A compactor can optionally include a steering system configured to direct the movement of the compactor, a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of a material that forms a surface of the compacting area, and a controller coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller can be configured to: receive data indicative of the temperature of the material from the temperature sensor, determine if the temperature exceeds a first threshold temperature, and if the temperature of the compactor exceeds the first threshold temperature, control the steering system to limit a turning angle to a predetermined value such that a turning radius of the compactor is increased.

Abstract: A vibratory compactor is provided. The vibratory compactor may include a compactor plate, a frame coupled to the compactor plate, wherein the frame may include an inner space and a housing. The frame may include a plurality of mounting brackets coupled between a first side member and a second side member of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a vibration generation device coupled to the compactor plate within the inner space of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a plurality of isolators, each isolator coupled to one mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets. The housing may be coupled to the plurality of isolators, wherein the housing may include couplers removably coupled to a top surface of the housing. The couplers may be configured for coupling the vibratory compactor to an excavator type vehicle.

Abstract: A highly efficient embankment machine eliminating the need of using different machinery such as graders, sprinkler trucks and rollers and merging their performances in one single unit; wherein loading, depot of materials, as well as distributing and rigging out materials, water spraying the granules of materials, leveling, tune-up and compacting layers is done with only one machine.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the compaction process of an asphalt layer to be compacted in road construction is provided comprising the steps: detecting the edges limiting the hot asphalt layer transversely to the road pathway by means of a temperature sensor arranged on a road roller compacting the asphalt layer, and dividing the detected asphalt layer into at least two width segments across the road pathway, wherein the position of the road roller on the asphalt layer transversely to the road pathway is determined from the measurement of the temperature sensor and is assigned to one of the width segments, the working operation of the road roller on the width segment is quantified via an operating parameter and stored, and the quantified working operation for each width segment is displayed to the operator for at least one past working interval. A road roller for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an isolation and restoration method for compound contaminated soil. The isolation and restoration method for the compound contaminated soil provided by the present disclosure is used for isolation and restoration of a contaminated site, which includes: laying an isolation layer, a pure soil layer and an arable soil layer containing compound soil in turn on the contaminated site which is flattened and compacted, where the compound soil is composed of loess, slaked lime, fine sand and substances having an adsorption function in a volume ratio.

Abstract: A method and a mandrel for forming a cavity at a target location. The mandrel may include a main drilling shaft, a plurality of T-shaped elements, a hollow-cylindrical-shaped element, and a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped stiffener plates. The main drilling shaft may include a hammer insertion part positioned at a first end of the main drilling shaft, a bore head positioned at a second end of the main drilling shaft, and a medium part positioned between the hammer insertion part and the bore head. The plurality of T-shaped elements may be mounted adjacently around the medium part in a way such that forming a closed octagonal from a top-view of the mandrel. A first size of a first cross-section at a first location from a top-view of the plurality of T-shaped elements around the medium part may be larger than a second size of a second cross-section at a second location from the top-view.

Abstract: A screed assembly is provided for use at a road finisher. This comprises a control unit, a first compacting device and a second compacting device, which is arranged in a first direction behind the first compacting device. The disclosure is characterized in that the control unit is configured to activate and/or deactivate the second compacting device in a delayed manner relative to the first compacting device by a time period, which is unequal to zero. A method for operating a screed assembly for use at a road finisher is also provided. This comprises the following steps: activating and/or deactivating a first compacting device of the screed assembly, activating and/or deactivating a second compacting device of the screed assembly, which is arranged in direction of travel of the road finisher behind the first compacting device, after expiration of a predeterminable time period, which is unequal to zero.

Abstract: In a method for stabilizing an earth formation exposed after removal of a track and ballast, in a first working pass in a work section following a rear crawler track with regard to a working direction, parallel to the removal of the ballast the earth formation is loosened up, aggregates are introduced, and grading takes place. In a second working pass, the earth formation to which aggregates have been added is mixed thoroughly by getting picked up by means of a clearing chain and transported onward to a discharge point located behind the rear crawler track and discharged again upon the exposed earth formation, after which, by grading and consolidating the discharged earth formation, a rehabilitation layer is formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of, and system for, obtaining an indication of the soil strength of soil over which a compactor roller travels. The method includes determining the depth to which a drum of the compactor roller penetrates into and depresses the soil when the compactor roller travels over a soil surface. The system includes a compactor roller, a measuring arrangement and a processor which is operatively connected to the measuring arrangement and which is configured to process data received from the measuring arrangement. The measuring arrangement includes an inertial measurement unit which is operatively connected to the compactor roller, wherein the arrangement is configured to obtain an indication of the soil strength of soil over which the compactor roller travels during operation, by determining the depth to which the drum penetrates into and depresses the soil over which it travels.

Abstract: A compactor for compacting a jobsite having a plurality of work areas has a frame, a compacting element coupled to the frame, and a control system. The control system receives a plurality of vibration measurements from a plurality of vibration sensors located at a plurality of measuring locations, determines a plurality of vibration distances where the plurality of vibration distances represent a distance and a direction for each vibration sensor to the compactor, and determines a projected compaction state for each of the plurality of work areas based on the plurality of vibration measurements and the plurality of vibration distances.

Abstract: A device and method of communicating the temperature of paving material on a surface, including receiving temperature and position information of a portion of the paving material, determining a plurality of predicted temperatures of the paving material each associated with a plurality of positions of the paving material with a temperature and positional model, and displaying the plurality of predicted temperatures of the paving material at the plurality of positions of the paving material with respect to at least one machine.

Abstract: A method to determine a slip state of the compactor roller of a soil compactor caused by an oscillation motion of a compactor roller, comprising the steps: a) Preparation of an acceleration quantity related to the oscillation motion of the compactor roller b) Based on the acceleration quantity, preparation of an acceleration frequency spectrum, c) Based on the acceleration frequency spectrum, determining the slip state of the compactor roller.

Abstract: A working device for ground compaction comprises an upper mass, a guide device coupled to the upper mass and intended to guide the working device, a lower mass which can move relative to the upper mass, which is movably coupled to the upper mass via a spring device, and which has a ground contact plate, and a vibration-generating device for producing a relative movement between the upper mass and the lower mass. Furthermore, a drive for driving the vibrating-generating device is provided, wherein the drive comprises an electric motor. The electric motor is supplied with electrical energy via an electrical energy store arranged on the guide device.

Abstract: A device for compaction is provided that includes a compaction tool and a vibration device. The compaction tool is adapted to be lowered vertically into a soil area to be compacted. The vibration device being configured to be placed at an upper end on the compaction tool. The compaction tool being moveable only in the vertical direction by the vibration device. The compaction tool at its bottom end has a tool head on which at least one ripping tool is arranged, which is pivotable around a horizontal pivot axis into a first position and into a second position. In the first position, the at least one ripping tool is oriented substantially parallel to the compaction tool and in the second position is oriented substantially radially to the compaction tool and radially projects beyond a diameter of the tool head.

Abstract: A vibrating plate for compacting soil comprises an upper mass; a lower mass, which is elastically coupled to the upper mass and which has at least one soil contact plate, and; a vibration generator device that acts upon the soil contact plate. The vibration generator device comprises at least four unbalanced masses that can each be rotationally driven about a rotation axis, the rotation axis of at least two of the unbalanced masses being arranged at an angle to the rotation axes of the other unbalanced masses. One of the unbalanced masses depicts a reference unbalanced mass that does not require its own phase adjusting device. On the other hand, a separate phase adjusting device is assigned to each of the other unbalanced masses, enabling the phase position of these unbalanced masses to be individually adjusted with regard to the reference unbalanced mass.

Abstract: A soil compacting device has an upper body and a lower body which is coupled to the upper body by a spring device and which has a soil contact element. Furthermore, a drive generates is provided for generating an operating motion of the soil contact element, and an energy store is provided for storing electrical energy. A cooling air flow, which is guided through a cooling air flow guide along the energy store, can be created by an air conveying device.

Abstract: A vibrating plate comprises a vibration generator device, which can be controlled in such a manner that the direction of the action of force can be set at a number of locations, particularly in more than two locations. In addition, an advance adjusting device is provided for controlling the vibration generator device whereby the direction of the action of force is set in a position in which a maximum possible advance of the vibrating plate is reached. The direction of the action of force can be changed according to a change in the surroundings of the vibrating plate, particularly to the slope and/or the hardness of a subsoil to be compacted by a soil contact plate. Alternatively, the direction of the action of force can be changed according to the wishes of the operator.

Abstract: A soil compacting device has an upper body and a lower body which is coupled to the upper body by a spring device and which has a soil contact element. Furthermore, a drive generates is provided for generating an operating motion of the soil contact element, and an energy store is provided for storing electrical energy. A cooling air flow, which is guided through a cooling air flow guide along the energy store, can be created by an air conveying device.

Abstract: A working device for ground compaction comprises an upper mass, a guide device coupled to the upper mass and intended to guide the working device, a lower mass which can move relative to the upper mass, which is movably coupled to the upper mass via a spring device, and which has a ground contact plate, and a vibration-generating device for producing a relative movement between the upper mass and the lower mass. Furthermore, a drive for driving the vibrating-generating device is provided, wherein the drive comprises an electric motor. The electric motor is supplied with electrical energy via an electrical energy store arranged on the guide device.

Abstract: A tamper of a screed having an eccentric shaft including an eccentric section and an eccentric bushing rotatably mounted in a connecting rod driving a tamper bar. The stroke of the tamper bar is adjustable by a relative rotation between the eccentric shaft and the eccentric bushing, and a tappet and a preselection area with two tappet stop positions defining two different tamper bar strokes are provided between the eccentric shaft and the eccentric bushing, enabling adjustment of the tappet to each tappet stop position, by reversing the direction of rotation of the eccentric shaft to switch between the two strokes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil compaction device, in particular such as a tamper or a vibration plate device, having an internal combustion engine and a tank container for receiving fuel for the operation of said internal combustion engine. According to the present invention, there is at least one clamping device on the soil compaction device which has a mechanical effect on an elastically flexible section of a fuel line arranged between the tank container and the internal combustion engine in order to be able to disconnect the fuel flow, wherein the clamping device is mechanically coupled to a manually actuated gas actuation apparatus and/or start-stop apparatus for the internal combustion engine, or integrated therein, wherein at least one roll or roller is arranged on the extension which has an effect on the elastically flexible section of the fuel line in order to disconnect the fuel flow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tamper device. The tamper device includes a housing, a drive, a tamper, and a wobble connection. The drive is connected the housing. The tamper is adapted to reciprocate relative to the housing and apply pressure to a surface. The wobble connection is between the drive and the tamper, wherein the wobble connection includes a wobble plate. A first end portion of the tamper is at a side of the wobble plate.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibrator device for a vibratory compacting machine, said device comprising: a tubular body extending longitudinally and having a bottom end; at least one first hydraulic motor disposed in the tubular body and comprising a rotor and a stator; an eccentric member arranged inside the tubular body between the bottom end and the first hydraulic motor, said eccentric member being adapted to be rotated by the rotor of the first hydraulic motor so as to generate vibration. The invention is characterized in that the stator of the first hydraulic motor is constituted by the tubular body.

Abstract: A tamper bar mechanism includes a drive shaft with an eccentric section on the shaft. A tamper drive member is driven by the eccentric section and drives a tamper bar between an upper position and a lower position to define a tamper stroke length. A stroke adjustment link is operatively connected to the tamper drive member and a stroke adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the stroke adjustment link to adjust an angular orientation of the stroke adjustment link relative to the path of travel of the tamper bar and adjust a length of the tamper stroke length. A paving machine and a method of adjusting the tamper stroke length are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil compaction device, in particular such as a tamper or a vibration plate device, having an internal combustion engine and a tank container for receiving fuel for the operation of said internal combustion engine. According to the present invention, there is at least one clamping device on the soil compaction device which has a mechanical effect on an elastically flexible section of a fuel line arranged between the tank container and the internal combustion engine in order to be able to disconnect the fuel flow, wherein the clamping device is mechanically coupled to a manually actuated gas actuation apparatus and/or start-stop apparatus for the internal combustion engine, or integrated therein, wherein at least one roll or roller is arranged on the extension which has an effect on the elastically flexible section of the fuel line in order to disconnect the fuel flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for soil compaction, especially a vibration tamper and a vibrating plate, comprising a compaction device which is driven via an electric motor, a rechargeable storage unit for electrical power, and an especially vibration-damped guide device. The invention further relates to an apparatus and a method for compaction control, especially for electromotively driven compaction apparatuses.

Abstract: A method and a system is described for controlling at least one compaction machine in which the oscillations propagating from the compaction machine in the ground are detected by means of a sensor at least at one relevant measuring location. The measured oscillation values as detected by the sensor are sent to a data-processing unit which then compares the same with a permissible oscillation limit value for the respective measuring location. Upon exceeding the limit value, at least one compaction parameter of the compaction machine is changed in such a way that the measured oscillation values as measured at the measuring location are set by a control loop circuit automatically to a value smaller than or equal to the oscillation limit value.

Abstract: A tamper as a soil-compacting device having a combustion engine, a soil contact element, and a motion conversion device for converting a rotary movement of the combustion engine into an oscillating linear movement of the soil contact element. Furthermore, a clutch device for connecting and interrupting the force flow between the combustion engine and the motion conversion device is provided. In addition to the combustion engine, an electric motor with a rotor and a stator is provided, wherein the operator can switch between the combustion engine and the electric motor. The rotor can be arranged directly on a clutch bell of the clutch device.

Abstract: A mobile pothole patching vehicle includes a chassis and front and rear support wheels for the chassis. A cab is mounted on the chassis as is a paving material storage hopper. A paving material dispensing mechanism is mounted on the chassis and is in communication with the hopper. A discharge chute is in communication with the dispensing mechanism. A boom mechanism includes a proximal end mounted on the chassis. A first swivel mechanism rotates the boom mechanism in relation to the chassis. A tamper plate is mounted on a distal end of the boom mechanism. The machine can patch potholes through the actions of a single operator who remains in the cab during the patching or repair process, thus enhancing the safety of the patching operation.

Abstract: An oscillation exciter, in particular for a vibration plate, has a rotating unbalanced mass (3) for producing a non-directional oscillation which is transmitted to a ground contact element (1). In order to transmit the oscillation to the ground contact plate (1), a transmission device (7, 8) is provided, which connects the unbalanced shaft (3) to the ground contact element (1) and by means of which the non-directional oscillation of the unbalanced shaft (3) can be converted to a directional oscillation for the ground contact plate (1). The transmission device (7, 8) is designed such that, with respect to an oscillation plane, it has different and variable stiffnesses in different directions within the oscillation plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibrating tamper for soil compaction, which has a superstructure having a drive motor and a substructure having a tamper plate driven by the drive motor, the tamper plate being fastened on a tamper foot associated with the substructure, and this tamper foot being mounted so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper using a guide element. It is provided that the tamper foot is implemented integrally with the guide element.

Abstract: An apparatus for soil compaction, such as a vibration tamper, comprises a substructure having a tamper foot and a bottom guide cylinder arranged thereon, and a superstructure having a housing, an upper guide cylinder arranged thereon and at least one drive unit which is in operative connection via a drive train with the tamper foot in the substructure in such a way that it can be moved relative to the superstructure along at least one compaction axis (Av) with at least one compaction amplitude (a), with at least one stop element being arranged between the superstructure and the substructure, which stop element will stop the movement of the substructure relative to the superstructure upon exceeding a maximum compaction amplitude (amax).

Abstract: A vibration tamper for compacting subsoil comprises a superstructure and a substructure, with the superstructure comprising a motor and an eccentric disk which is driven by the same. A connecting rod is eccentrically mounted on the eccentric disk, which connecting rod converts the rotational movement into a linear movement. The substructure comprises a tamper foot with a tamper plate which is driven by the linear movement of the connecting rod into a tamper movement along a tamper axis. As a result of the bent portion of the connecting rod, the tamper axis is disposed in a plane which is disposed parallel to a plane opened up by the bearing of the connecting rod on the eccentric disk against a direction opposite of the advancing direction of the vibration tamper.

Abstract: At the end of a guide handle of a vibration plate service as soil-compactor an actuating element is mounted which can be moved in relation to the guide handle. Each position of the actuating element is detected by a sensor device which transmits a corresponding signal to a hydraulic steering unit. In this way, the phase angles of unbalance masses can be modified which in turn influences the direction of travel of the vibration plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibrator device for a vibratory compacting machine, said device comprising: a tubular body extending longitudinally and having a bottom end; at least one first hydraulic motor disposed in the tubular body and comprising a rotor and a stator; an eccentric member arranged inside the tubular body between the bottom end and the first hydraulic motor, said eccentric member being adapted to be rotated by the rotor of the first hydraulic motor so as to generate vibration. The invention is characterized in that the stator of the first hydraulic motor is constituted by the tubular body.

Abstract: A vibrating plate serving as a tamping device comprises an upper mass equipped with a drive and comprises at least two lower masses, which are coupled to the upper mass while being able to oscillate relative to the upper mass. Each of the lower masses comprises a soil contacting plate and at least one oscillator assigned to this soil contacting plate. The oscillators can be controlled differently so that, in addition to an advancing and compacting action, a turning moment can be executed about a vertical axis (Z).

Abstract: A vibrating plate system comprises at least two vibrating plates are mechanically coupled to one another via a coupling device and a controlling transmitter for outputting control data to the vibrating plates. Each of the vibrating plates comprises a receiving device for receiving the control data, a drive mechanism for propelling the vibration plate forwardly and rearwardly, and a position determining device for determining the position of the relevant vibrating plate within the group. A rule memory is also provided in which control rules are stored. One control rule defines a correlation between a control measure for controlling the traveling mechanism according to the position of the vibrating plate and an item of control information given by the control data. In each vibrating plate, a single control device selects a suitable control rule according to the position of the vibrating plate and to the control measure.

Abstract: A compactor device for attaching to a shaft of a hydraulic hammer or the like comprising a base, an outer receiving tube and inner receiving component attached to the top of the base, wherein the inner receiving component is for clamping onto the shaft of the hydraulic hammer. The compactor device is for compacting all materials, such as dirt, sand, and/or aggregate material.

Abstract: A transport attachment of a vibration plate and a vibration plate having transport wheels is provided. The transport wheels are pivotable between a transport position and an operating position, and are located further outward in the viewpoint of the vibration plate in the width direction in the transport position than in the state of the operating position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tamper device. The tamper device includes a housing, a drive, a tamper, and a wobble connection. The drive is connected the housing. The tamper is adapted to reciprocate relative to the housing and apply pressure to a surface. The wobble connection is between the drive and the tamper, wherein the wobble connection includes a wobble plate. A first end portion of the tamper is at a side of the wobble plate.

Abstract: In a tamper of a screed having an eccentric shaft comprising an eccentric section and an eccentric bushing arranged thereon which is rotatably mounted in a connecting rod driving a tamper bar, the stroke of the tamper bar is adjustable by a relative rotation between the eccentric shaft and the eccentric bushing, and a tappet and a preselection area with two tappet stop positions defining two different tamper bar strokes are functionally provided between the eccentric shaft and the eccentric bushing, so that the tappet can be adjusted without tools to each tappet stop position by a reversal of the direction of rotation of the eccentric shaft to switch between the two strokes.

Abstract: A vibratory percussion rammer includes a gear box, a percussion delivery unit extending downwardly from the gear box, and one or more slide bearings disposed in the percussion delivery unit between adjacent surfaces of reciprocating metal components. The slide bearings are made from a sheet of plastic material that is curved into the shape of a tube having a C-shape in cross section and define an open seam extending the entire length of the slide bearing. Slide bearings according to this design can be disposed in the percussion delivery unit to eliminate some or all of the metal-on-metal contact between reciprocating components, including between the ram and shaft assembly and spring box and the guide cylinder, the spring separator and the spring box, and the shaft of a ram and shaft assembly and an upper end of the spring box. The seam width of any slide bearing is wider than the anticipated width-wise thermal expansion of the slide bearing during normal operation.

Abstract: A vibratory plate compactor with aggregate feed system includes a frame, a soil compacting plate and a drive mechanism, such as a hydraulic motor, is mounted on the frame and has a rotatable drive shaft which uses a V-belt to drive a vibratory actuator on the tamping plate. The frame also carries a hopper that uses a screw conveyor to force the stored aggregate into a vertical conduit. A tamping piston forces aggregate out of the vertical conduit, through apertures in the compactor plate and compacts the loose soil with a multitude of blows, the vibratory plate is then actuated to further compact the aggregate. The process is repeated until the cavity is filled and compacted to the required density. The vibratory plate compactor with aggregate feed system is ideally suited to filling and compacting aggregate in used automobile tires that are used in the formation of a tire wall.

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.