Ground compacting apparatus

Claim 2

In ground compacting apparatus of the type having a rotatable vibratory roller for contacting the ground to be compacted, eccentric means within said roller, and motor means for driving said eccentric means to vibrate said roller, the improvement comprising: an eccentric support shaft supporting said eccentric means within said roller and having an opening extending axially inwardly from at least one end thereof; means for rotatably mounting said eccentric support shaft within said roller; and a flexible metal drive shaft of smaller cross section than said axial opening in said eccentric support shaft; said flexible drive shaft being connected at one end portion thereof to said motor means, extending freely into said axial opening in said eccentric support shaft in spaced relation to the walls of said opening, and being connected at an opposite end portion thereof to said eccentric support shaft.

Claim 3

A ground compactor of the vibratory roller type comprising: a ground contacting roller, means mounting said roller for rotation about its axis and for vibration relative to the ground, a hollow shaft carried by said roller for rotation about the axis of said roller, said shaft having an eccentric mass thereon within said roller so that upon rotation of said hollow shaft said mass revolves about the axis of said roller to vibrate said roller relative to the ground, motor means mounted for vibratory movement with said roller, a rotary output element on said motor means coaxial with and facing an end of said hollow shaft, and an elongated, slender, flexible, metal drive shaft extending within said hollow shaft, said drive shaft being connected at one end thereof to said output element on said motor means and being connected to said hollow shaft at a location spaced from the ends of said hollow shaft, the diameter of said metal drive shaft being so small as to space the exterior surface of said metal drive shaft from the internal wall of said hollow shaft except at said lOcation when said drive shaft is connected to said hollow shaft, whereby said elongated metal drive shaft transmits rotary motion from said motor means to said hollow shaft and flexes to accommodate displacements and torque variations generated during revolution of said eccentric mass and vibration of said roller.

Claim 4

A ground compactor of the vibratory roller type comprising: a ground contacting roller, means mounting said roller for rotation about its axis and for vibration relative to the ground, a hollow shaft carried by said roller for rotation about the axis of said roller, said shaft having an eccentric mass thereon within said roller so that upon rotation of said hollow shaft said mass revolves about the axis of said roller to vibrate said roller relative to the ground, motor means mounted for vibratory movement with said roller, a rotary output element on said motor means coaxial with and facing an end of said hollow shaft, and an elongated, slender, flexible, metal drive shaft extending within said hollow shaft, said drive shaft being connected at one end thereof to said output element on said motor means and being connected to said hollow shaft at a location spaced from the ends of said hollow shaft, the diameter of said metal drive shaft being so small as to space the exterior surface of said metal drive shaft from the internal wall of said hollow shaft except at said lOcation when said drive shaft is connected to said hollow shaft, whereby said elongated metal drive shaft transmits rotary motion from said motor means to said hollow shaft and flexes to accommodate displacements and torque variations generated during revolution of said eccentric mass and vibration of said roller.

Claim 5

In vibratory roller ground compacting apparatus of the type having a ground contacting roller which includes a cylindrical shell and transversely extending closures at opposite end portions of the shell having bearing receiving portions thereon, frame means movable over the surface to be compacted having portions opposite the ends of said roller and having mounting means including resilient means connected to said portions of said frame means for vibrationally suspending said closures of said roller on said frame means, shaft means extending generally axially of said roller and having at least one eccentric mass thereon between said closures of said roller, bearing means for rotatably mounting opposite end portions of said shaft means on said bearing receiving portions of said closures and an eccentric drive carried by said mounting means and having a rotary output element directed toward an end of said shaft means, the improvement comprising: means defining an opening extending axially of said shaft means from the end thereof nearest said rotary output element; a metal drive shaft rigidly coupled at its ends respectively to said shaft means and said rotary power output element, said drive shaft having a smaller cross section than said opening in said shaft means and extending along said opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof at least as far as said adjacent bearing means for said shaft means and being flexible to absorb deflection and shock loads developed as said shaft means is rotated to move said eccentric mass about the axis thereof.

Claim 6

In vibratory roller ground compacting apparatus of the type having a ground contacting roller which includes a cylindrical shell and transversely extending closures at opposite end portions of the shell having bearing receiving portions thereon, frame means movable over the surface to be compacted having portions opposite the ends of said roller and having mounting means including resilient means connected to said portions of said frame means for vibrationally suspending said closures of said roller on said frame means, shaft means extending generally axially of said roller and having at least one eccentric mass thereon between said closures of said roller, bearing means for rotatably mounting opposite end portions of said shaft means on said bearing receiving portions of said closures and an eccentric drive carried by said mounting means and having a rotary output element directed toward an end of said shaft means, the improvement comprising: means defining an opening extending axially of said shaft means from the end thereof nearest said rotary output element; a metal drive shaft rigidly coupled at its ends respectively to said shaft means and said rotary power output element, said drive shaft having a smaller cross section than said opening in said shaft means and extending along said opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof at least as far as said adjacent bearing means for said shaft means and being flexible to absorb deflection and shock loads developed as said shaft means is rotated to move said eccentric mass about the axis thereof.

Claim 7

In ground compacting apparatus of the type having a ground contacting roller which includes a cylindrical shell and transversely extending closures at opposite end portions of the shell, frame means movable over the surface to be compacted and having portions opposite the ends of said roller, a mounting unit between each of said frame portions and said roller, means resiliently connecting each of said mounting units to one of said frame portions for vibration relative thereto, means rotatably connecting each of said mounting units to one of said closures of said roller to permit rotation of said roller relative to said mounting units, shaft means extending generally axially of said roller and having at least one eccentric mass thereon between said closures of said roller, bearing means at opposite end portions off said shaft means for supporting said shaft means within said roller, and an eccentric drive motor carried by one of said mounting units and having a rotary output element directed toward an end of said shaft means, the improvement comprising: means defining an opening extending axially of said shaft means from the end thereof nearest said motor to a location beyond the adjacent one of said bearing means; and a flexible metal drive shaft rigidly connected to said rotary output element of said motor and extending into said opening in spaced relation to the walls of said opening, an inner end portion of said metal drive shaft being rigidly connected to said shaft means at a location between said bearing means for transmitting rotating motion from said motor output element to said shaft means.

Claim 8

In ground compacting apparatus of the type having a ground contacting roller which includes a cylindrical shell and transversely extending closures at opposite end portions of the shell, frame means movable over the surface to be compacted and having portions opposite the ends of said roller, a mounting unit between each of said frame portions and said roller, means resiliently connecting each of said mounting units to one of said frame portions for vibration relative thereto, means rotatably connecting each of said mounting units to one of said closures of said roller to permit rotation of said roller relative to said mounting units, shaft means extending generally axially of said roller and having at least one eccentric mass thereon between said closures of said roller, bearing means at opposite end portions off said shaft means for supporting said shaft means within said roller, and an eccentric drive motor carried by one of said mounting units and having a rotary output element directed toward an end of said shaft means, the improvement comprising: means defining an opening extending axially of said shaft means from the end thereof nearest said motor to a location beyond the adjacent one of said bearing means; and a flexible metal drive shaft rigidly connected to said rotary output element of said motor and extending into said opening in spaced relation to the walls of said opening, an inner end portion of said metal drive shaft being rigidly connected to said shaft means at a location between said bearing means for transmitting rotating motion from said motor output element to said shaft means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said motor is removably connected to said one of said mounting units and wherein a spline-type connection is employed between said drive shaft and said rotary output element of said motor.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said motor is a hydraulic motor and is a part of a hydraulic system, and wherein said drive shaft is sufficiently flexible to permit a limited amount of twist of the ends thereof relative to each other to accommodate torque variatiOns and minimize surges in the hydraulic system.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said bearing means includes a spherical bearing at each end portion of said hollow shaft to permit flexing of said hollow shaft during revolution of said eccentric mass, and wherein said drive shaft flexes to accommodate deflections of said hollow shaft relative to said motor.