US3318211A

US3318211A - Earth compaction roller construction

Info

Publication number: US3318211A
Application number: US419121A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Grace
Original assignee: W E GRACE Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: W E GRACE Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1964-12-17
Filing date: 1964-12-17
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

May 9, 1967 w, R E 3,318,211

EARTH COMPACTION ROLLER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

william f. 6mm

1477 URNE Y5 United States Patent 3,318,211 EARTH COMPACTIGN ROLLER CONSTRUCTION William E. Grace, W. E. Grace Mfg, (30., 6000 Lamar St. 5., Dallas, Tex. 75215 Filed Dec. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 419,121 1 Claim. (Cl. 94--50) This invention relates to devices employed for the compaction of load-bearing surfaces of roads, airfields, playing fields, walks, etc., formed of soil, earth, road-oil mixtures, black-top or other functionally comparable aggregate materials, and particularly concerns an improved roller construction for effecting surface compaction of earth or aggregate materials.

It has been proposed heretofore to make aggregate breaking and compacting rollers out of heavy gauge hexagonal openings are larger than inner rims thereof;

The outer rims of the openings have alternate elevated or chiseled and recessed points. The elevated or chiseled points are each defined by six tapered inclined wall surfaces. Thus the angular cutting edge of each hexagonal opening has three elevated points alternating with three recessed points. The flaring construction of the openings resists collection of earth in the openings and facilitates cleaning. The sharp elevated or chiseled points alternating with the sharp recessed points are very effective in breaking up soft rock and aggregate and their inclined surfaces are easier to clean.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an earth breaking and compacting roller with a cylindrical drum-shaped body having hexagonal openings which flare outwardly between inner and outer sides of the body.

A further object is to provide an earth compactmg roller with an open-faced or perforated drum-shaped body as described, wherein alternate points of outer rims or cutting edges of the openings are elevated above adjacent outer points so that each opening has angular cutting edges with three outer high points and three outer low points.

Still another object is to provide an open-faced or perforated drum-shaped body for an earth breaking and compacting roller wherein each of the three high points and three low points of the angular cutting edge of each hexagonal opening is defined by six inclined, tapered faces.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an earth breaking and compacting roller embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of part of the roller of FIG. 1, developed on a flat plane, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The roller structure shown in FIG. 1 has a generally cylindrical open-faced or perforated drurn-shaped sectional body construction and is adapted for mounting in a trailer behind a tractor or for mounting as a drive roller in a tractor. The roller structure comprises spaced rolls 8 and 9 with

circular rings

12, 14 at opposite ends and has a center ring 16 separating the rolls. Suitable bushings 23 supported on arms 24 may be attached to

rings

12, 14 to receive an axle supported on an open substantially rectangular frame 15 by means of which the roller structure is rotatably secured to an open substantially rectangular frame 15 of a trailer or tractor. Boxes 17 containing ballast are preferably supported on the frame 15 forwardly and rearwardly of the roller for adding weight to the roller.

The drum-shaped body of the roller is formed with a multiplicity of hexagonal openings 20 distributed uniformly between the rings. The perforated drumshaped body constitutes an integral heavy cast metal structure. The inner surface of the body is smooth. Inner rims 22 of the hexagonal openings are spaced apart by webs 26. Outer rims of the openings are hexagonal and contiguous with each other. A wide wedge-shaped structure W is defined between the inner web 26 and each pair of slanted surfaces or faces F terminating in a sharp ridge or edge E. Adjacent edges E meet at radially outer or elevated points A and at adjacent radially inner points A which are recessed with respect to points A. There are three outer points A alternating with three inner points A around the outer hexagonal rim or cutting edge of each'opening 20, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each outer point A is lo cated at the apex of six adjacent inclined trapezoidal faces Fl-F6. The faces F1F6 all have longer outer top edges and shorter opposing parallel inner edges. Ends of the trapezoidal faces terminate at grooves G. It will be apparent that the outer points A are all tapered and fluted with three short grooves G alternating with three long ridges E.

The perforated drum-shaped body structure is preferably made of individual hexagonal segments welded together to form the complete roller. However the perforated drum-shaped body could be cast or otherwise formed from a lesser number of segments.

Adjacent ends of faces F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6 define grooves G. Adjacent edges of faces F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6, F1 define ridges E. Groove G extends between innermost points P and intermediate points A.

The described arrangement constitutes an angular cutting edge with three very strong piercing points A alternating with three very strong tapered crushing points A at each opening 20. Clogging of the openings by broken and compacted earth is resisted since the faces F all incline outwardly to the radius of the roller passing through the center of each opening 20. The faces F flare outwardly so that collected earth readily falls out of the openings.

The ground is broken effectively by the sharp edges E and points A and A as the roller moves along the ground and very thorough compaction takes place. A minimum of earth and aggregate enters the openings through the narrow rims 22 of the openings 20 and can easily be cleaned away from the interior of the roller while the points A and A remain clear of broken and compacted material which slides off faces F. Boxes 17 are shown forwardly and rearwardly of the roller for holding ballast to add Weight to the roller.

The roller can be made in various diameters, lengths and thicknesses to meet specified requirements. The onepiece construction of the roller with its rigid perforated drum-shaped body is very durable and adapted for long, heavy-duty roadwork. Another use for the roller is for pushing down into the earth where the soil is reasonably loose of small boulders so as to leave a smooth burrow ditch or road shoulder.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that 3 I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A roller for breaking and compacting earth, stone and the like, comprising a hollow cylindrical integrally formed perforated drum-shaped body structure, means for rotatably mounting said structure to rotate on its central axis, said structure having a multiplicity of uniformly distributed openings, each of the openings having an inner smaller hexagonal rim, adjacent inner rims of the openings being separated by straight webs, each of the openings having a larger outer hexagonal rim, adjacent outer rims of the openings being contiguous with each other, the inner and outer rims of each opening being defined by inner and outer opposing straight edges respectively of six trapezoidal flat faces, said faces having abutting narrow end edges defining three straight short grooves, said faces having abutting side edges defining straight ridges alternating with the grooves, each of the ridges being defined by one of said webs and two adjacent fiat faces inclined to the plane of the one Web, the outer rims of each of the openings having three alternate outwardly extended points and three alternate recessed points located outwardly of the inner rims of the openings and inwardly of the outwardly extended points, whereby the outwardly extended points and ridges serve to pierce and cut the earth and stone while the recessed points and flat faces serve to compact the earth and stone, said faces flaring outwardly between the inner and outer rims of the openings so that crushed earth and stone tend to slide off said faces and out of the openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,536 10/1911 Cooley 94-48 2,582,199 1/1952 Gardner 9450 2,911,893 11/1959 Archibald 9450 3,220,369 11/1965 Gandrud 94-50 X JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.