US2949829A - Tamping machine - Google Patents

Description

Allg- 1960 A. R. ASKUE 2,949,829

TAMPING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hanan-r 7?. l-Zsxus 3812 as Q fi ial A T To RIvEy Aug. 23, 1960 A. R. ASKUE 2,949,829.

TAMPING MACHINE Filed March 3. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

lime-R1- P. fisKuE BY A rromvsys Aug. 23, 1960 A. R. ASKUE 2, ,82

TAMPING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Uh BY Ewen-r R. 'flskuz If Ju es, /2 ffl l RTTORNEYS Unitcd rates Patent G TAMPING MACHINE Albert R. Askue, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Trencher Com any, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. '3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,589

2 Claims. (CI. 94 49) This invention relates in general to tamping machines and more particularly to an improved tamping mechanism for effectively compacting earth work fills. The improved tamping mechanism with which the present invention is concerned is arranged so as to be easily controlled to efllciently and effectively compact the filled earth following the back-filling of a trench, in the bottom of which a pipe line or conduit has been placed. However, it will be understood that the mechanism may be used for various other purposes, such as for breaking up hard surfaces and smashing frangible elements.

Tamping mechanisms for compacting earth-work and for breaking up frangible elements are known to the art. However, most of these prior art devices have not been found to be completely satisfactory, due in part to the substantial inflexibility of such mechanisms, and the difliculty in effectively controlling the necessary positional movement of the tamping apparatus thereof.

The present invention provides a tamping mechanism which is swingably mounted on a propelled machine chassis, and which may be readily and selectively moved and positioned with respect to the chassis, by means of a power operated motor unit, to increase the flexibility and efficiency of the tamping mechanism and associated machine carrier.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide all improved tamping machine arrangement possessing more flexible operating characteristics and greater useability, as compared to those heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamping mechanism moveably mounted on a base frame in combination with power means for selectively moving and positioning the tamper mechanism with respect to the base frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tamper apparatus swingably mounted on a vehicle chassis for movement in a generally horizontal plane, together with a fluid actuated motor unit for selectively moving and positioning the tamper apparatus with respect to the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motor propelled vehicle having a vertically reciprocable tamper mechanism and including an articulated tamper supporting and positioning frame structure swingably mounted on the vehicle for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane, and wherein a fluid actuated piston and cylinder unit is connected to the tamper frame and to the vehicle proper, such piston and cylinder unit being selectively controlled by the operator of the vehicle in combination with the operating controls for the tamper mechanism proper, to selectively and facilely position the tamper mechanism with respect to the vehicle and thereby provide a tamping machine having substantial flexibility and increased etficiency.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

2,949,829 Patented Aug. 23, 1960 Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tamping machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end, elevational view of the tamping machine of Fig. 1 taken from the left of the latter figure.

Fig. 3 is a generally diagrammatic, plan view illustrating the range of movement of the tamping mechanism and associated supporting structure and actuating power unit, with respect to the machine chassis, and in accordance with the instant invention.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being applied to a crawler propelled machine or vehicle. Such a machine broadly comprises a base frame structure 2 supported on suitable tractor treads 4, a motor 6 mounted on the forward end of the machine for driving the tractor treads, and thus propelling the vehicle, upright frame or mast structure 8 mounted adjacent the rearward end of the base frame 2, and articulated tamper support and positioning structure 9 comprising an inner frame 10 pivotallymounted on the vehicle chassis and an outer frame 12 swingably mounted or connected to the outer end of inner frame 10. Mounted on the frame 12 is a tamper mechanism 14 which includes a tamper foot 16 adapted for reciprocation in a vertical direction, and a fluid actuated motor unit 18 is pivotally connected to the frame 10 and to the vehicle chassis, and extends therebetween for swinging or moving the tamper mechanism and associated supporting structure 9 about the rearward end of the chassis, to thus quickly and effectively position the tamper mechanism with respect to the vehicle proper.

In United States Patent No. 1,947,356, issued February 13, 1934 to Augustus I. Penote, there is disclosed a tamper and back-filling machine of the general type with which the present invention is concerned, and accordingly it is not believed. necessary to further describe in greater detail the overall arrangement of the machine. It will be understood that while no back-filling mechanism (i.e. the boom and scraper or shovel elementsas shown in the latter mentioned patent) is illustrated in the present drawings, in actual commercial practice, the machine of the invention may be easily provided with such back-filling apparatus.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the inner frame 10 of tamper support structure 9 is pivotally mounted on mast structure 8 by means of vertically spaced bearing bracket structure 20 in combination with vertically disposed pin element 22 (Fig. 3). Frame 10 in the embodiment shown is of generally rectangular configuration in side elevation (Fig. l) and comprises upper and lower longitudinally extending members 24 connected at the ends thereof by vertically disposed members 26 and 28. Diagonal cross member 30 aids in rigidifying inner frame 10.

Outer support frame 12 of articulated structure 9 is swingably or rotatably mounted on the outer end of inner frame 10 by means of bracket structure 32 and vertically disposed pin elements 34 (Fig. 3). Frame 12, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises parallel bar members 36 connected at the ends thereof by cross members 38 (Fig. 3), to form a generally rectangular upper portion, and downwardly extending bar elements 37, 37a, 37 b and 37c which generally converge adjacent the lower of bracket structure 32, to complete the construction of frame 12, the latter being of generally triangular configuration when viewed in side elevation (Fig. 2) and functioning substantially as a boom. Frame 12 directly supports the aforementioned, diagrammatically illustrated, tamper mechanism 14 which includes tamper element 16.

Actuation of tamper mechanism 14 and resultant reciprocation of the tamper foot 16 is accomplished by motor 40 (which is preferably of the internal combustion type), mounted on frame 12, in combination with driving mechanism generally referred to by reference number 41. Reference is made to United States Patent No. 2,338,056, issued December 28, 1943 to Vincent 5. Penote, as disclosing a driving arrangement for a multiple tamping mechanism which is connected to an associated internal combustion engine mounted on the tamper support frame for causing reciprocation of the tamper element. The latter patent in combustion with the aforementioned United States Pateut No. 1,947,356, discloses arrangements which could be utilized in the structure of the present invention to obtain the desired reciprocation of the tamper element, and accordingly a more detailed description of the structure for such an arrangement is not necessary here.

Extending between the tamper support frame member 12 and the vehicle chassis and being pivotally connected thereto by any suitable means, such as pins 46, is a tie rod member 45. Tie rod 45 is disposed outwardly of the inner frame 10, and it will be seen that the latter frame element and the tie rod in combination with the outer frame element 12 and the vehicle chassis, form a four-bar, pin jointed, linkage arrangement of generally pantographic configuration for transmitting motion to the tamper mechanism 14. The aforementioned motor or piston and cylinder unit 18 is rotatably or pivotally mounted on the vehicle frame for movement in a generally horizontal plane, as by means of bracket member 47 and vertical pin 47a, with the piston rod 48 of the motor unit 18 being movably pinned, as at 50, to the frame section 10. Frame therefore, serves as the driver element in the four-bar linkage arrangement, with the tie rod 45 serving as the follower element, the portion of the tamper support frame 12 disposed intermediate the tie rod and the frame 10 serving as a connecting element, and the vehicle chassis serving as the stationary link of the mechanism.

The motor unit 18 is preferably fluid actuated and as illustrated is in the form of a double acting, piston and cylinder unit. Unit 18 is furnished power from a pump (not shown) and which may be of conventional type, mounted on the machine chassis and suitably connected by means of a power take ofi, to the aforementioned power unit 6 mounted on the forward end of the vehicle. Unit 18 is suitably connected by feed lines 52 and 52a (Fig. 2) to the pump, and conventional valve mechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the flow of fluid to unit 18. The stroke or maximum reciprocable movement of the piston rod 48 of unit 18 controls the limits of maximum travel or pivotal movement of the tamper support and positioning frame structure 9, and therefore no auxiliary stops or limit abutments are necessary to so limit the travel of tamper mechanism 14 with respect to the machine chassis.

The operator of the tamping machine generally sits in the location designated by reference No. 56 (Fig. l), and the controls for operating the motor unit 6 and associated tractor treads 4, the controls for operating reciprocable tamper mechanism 14, and the controls for operating the tamper positioning piston and cylinder unit 18, are preferably all arranged in this location, so that the machine operator can easily and selectively control all of the operations of the tamper mechanism and supporting vehicle from one location. With the motor unit 18 being fluid actuated, the tamper mechanism 14 and associated supporting and positioning frame structure 9 can be quickly and continually moved in a path extending transversely of the direction of travel of the earthwork fill being tamped, thus providing for efiicient and effective tamping of a wider earth-work fill than heretofore possible with other types of tamping mechanisms. Moreover, the longitudinal axis of the tamper foot 16, in the instant arrangement, is substantially aligned with the path or direction of travel of the earth-work fill when disposed in substantially any position in its range laterally of the machine chassis, as can be best seen from Fig. 3

of the drawings. Thus a wider earthwork fill than the width of the tamper foot 16 itself may be effectively tamped during forward movement of the vehicle and lateral movement of the tamper mechanism 14 and associated frame element 12 without any substantial retamping of the earth-work fill occurring, thus increasing the efficiency and speed of the tamping operation.

In Fig. 3 the tamper mechanism 14 and associated supporting and positioning frame structure 9 are shown in various positions with respect to the machine chassis. Reference letter A designates the position-illustrated in dot-dash linesof such mechanism and associated frame structure when the latter has been moved to the extreme right hand position (as viewed in Fig. 3), which is the location generally used during loading and moving operations of the machine proper. The corresponding position of the pivotally mounted motor unit 18 is also shown in dot-dash and designated by reference letter A. In such position, the piston rod 48 of unit 18 is retracted within its associated cylinder the maximum permissible amount. Upon supplying fluid from the aforementioned pump to the cylinder of unit 18 via feed line 52, piston rod 48 is caused to move outwardly causing inner frame 10 and the tie rod 45 to swing the outer frame element 12 and associated tamper mechanism 14 outwardly toward the left (as viewed in Fig. 3), laterally of the vehicle chassis to a wide range of positions with respect thereto. In dot-dash lines designated by reference letter B is shown the maximum outward, laterally disposed position of the tamper mechanism 14 and associated supporting and positioning frame structure 9. In the latter position, the piston rod 48 of motor unit 18the latters position being referred to by letter B-is extended its maximum amount with respect to its associated cylinder. It will be understood therefore that the instant arrangement of swingable tamper mechanism, together with the fluid actuated motor unit, makes it possible to quickly and accurately position the tamper mechanism 14 at various distances from the vehicle chassis and associated supporting tractor treads, in both a lateral and longitudinal direction, thereby providing for tamping of a earth-work fill in a Wide range of distances from the vehicle proper, with all such controlling of the positional movements of the tamper mechanism being effected from the machine operators location 56 on the vehicle proper. The latter characteristics are a distinct advantage since the machine can then be adapted to readily tamp earth-work fills under varying ground conditions, to thus insure that the weight of the machine proper will not crumble or cave-in the supporting ground in the vicinity of the previously excavated and back-filled ditch, thereby preventing bogging-down of the machine.

In the embodiment shown, the maximum lateral position of the tamper foot 16 disposes the latter at a side or lateral distance of approximately 6 feet from the associated left hand tractor tread as viewed in Fig. 3 of the vehicle.

It will be also be seen from Fig. 3 that the cylinder and associated piston rod 48 of motor unit 18 is so disposed with respect to the vehicle chassis and with respect to the inner positioning frame element 10 that the cylinder cannot pivot sufiiciently to permit the latter to become jammed and inoperable in its function of moving the frame section 10 about it pivotal connections 22 to the mast structure 8. This is provided for by so positioning the mounting of the cylinder of unit 18 with respect to the vehicle chassis that the pivotal connection 50 of the piston rod 48, to the frame section 10 is always disposed outwardly, or rearwardly (as viewed in Fig. 3), of a vertical plane passing through the connections 22 of frame 10 and the pivotal connection 47a of motor unit 18, to the vehicle proper, in all positions of the tamper mechanism 14 and associated supporting and positioning frame structure 9.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a tamping mechanism swingably mounted on a base frame and in the embodiment shown on a power driven vehicle, which can be quickly and effectively moved to a wide range of positions by an operator controlled motor unit mounted on the vehicle, and wherein such unit can be selectively and quickly actuated by the operator of the machine in combination with and coordination with the controls for the other operating elements of the machine, to provide a tamping mechanism and associated supporting vehicle having increased efliciency and flexibility.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible Within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a mobile tamping machine for compacting earthwork fills and the like, comprising a base frame, driving mechanism supporting said frame for propelling said machine, tamping mechanism including a vertically reciprocable tamper foot, an articulated frame structure mounted on one end of said base frame for movement in a generally horizontal plane and supporting said tamping mechanism to position the latter in spaced relation to said base frame and driving mechanism, said articulated frame structure comprising an inner frame pivotally mounted on said base frame to one side thereof as defined by the longitudinal vertical center plane of said base frame and projecting outwardly from said base frame, and an elongated outer frame pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said inner frame with the distal end thereof extending toward said one side of said base frame, said outer frame supporting said tamping mechanism thereon, said tamper foot being positioned generally adjacent said distal end of said outer frame, said outer frame extending in a direction generally transverse to said base frame, elongated connecting means of substantially the same lengthwise dimension as said inner frame pivotally attached at one end to said outer frame and at the other end to said one side of said base frame, said connecting means being disposed in outward laterally spaced and generally parallel relation to said inner frame and controlling the movement of said outer frame with respect to said inner frame, and fluid powered motor means for selectively moving said articulated frame structure to position said tamping mechanism with respect to said base frame whereby said outer frame and associated tamping mechanism may be selectively positioned over a wide range moving generally transversely with respect to said base frame and may be positioned laterally to one side of said base frame and driving mechanism for tamping operations and may be moved back in the opposite direction to a retracted position directly behind said base frame in close proximity to said one end thereof, to thereby increase the tamping range and maneuverability characteristics of the machine while providing for reduced overall length and width of the machine.

2. In a mobile tamping machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluid powered motor means comprises a double acting piston and cylinder motor unit coacting between said inner frame and said base frame, the cylinder element of said motor unit being pivotally mounted on the other side of said base frame as defined by the longitudinal vertical center plane of said base frame, for movement in a generally horizontal plane, and the piston rod element of said motor unit being pivotally connected to said inner frame, the pivotal connection of said piston rod element to said inner frame being always disposed in outwardly spaced relationship to a vertical plane passing through the pivotal connections of said inner frame and said cylinder element to said base frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images