US3885883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast and similar materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-21
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1993-03-21
Abstract
Abstract In a method of compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast, etc. by means of a compacting tool, the time-pressure curve representing pressure of the tool on the material being compacted is not sinusoidal but has a shape representing an initial sudden increase in pressure, maintenance of pressure for a selected period of time thereafter and finally a rapid decrease of pressure to a low value. The period during which pressure is maintained after the initial push is long enough to permit the material to become stabilized in a compacted state so that it does not spring back materially when the pressure is released. During the selected period, the pressure can be maintained substantially constant, progressively increased to a higher value, progressively decreased to an intermediate value or quickly decreased to an intermediate value at which it is maintained until the end of the period. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a fluid pressure system and continuously operating value means controlling the supply of pressure fluid to and discharge of pressure fluid from the hydraulic cylinder to provide the desired nonsinusoidal timepressure curve.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Sieke
- 👤 Rainer Sieke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:57
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D3/00; E02D3/02; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/18; B06B1/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A process for compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast and similar material which comprises subjecting a selected small area of sand material at a time to a periodic succession of individual pressure thrusts by means of a rectilinearly reciprocating compacting tool which is reciprocated cyclically but nonsinusoidally, the compacting tool at the beginning of each cycle being given a strong push through which a strong compacting pressure thrust is exerted on said material and pressure being thereafter maintained on said material by said tool for a selected period of time not less than one quarter of a cycle to hold the compacted material in place and thereby allow time for it to become settled and fixed in compacted condition, whereupon the pressure of said compacting tool on said material is relieved to complete the cycle, and thereupon repeating the cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast and similar material which comprises subjecting a selected small area of sand material at a time to a periodic succession of individual pressure thrusts by means of a rectilinearly reciprocating compacting tool which is reciprocated cyclically but nonsinusoidally, the compacting tool at the beginning of each cycle being given a strong push through which a strong compacting pressure thrust is exerted on said material and pressure being thereafter maintained on said material by said tool for a selected period of time not less than one quarter of a cycle to hold the compacted material in place and thereby allow time for it to become settled and fixed in compacted condition, whereupon the pressure of said compacting tool on said material is relieved to complete the cycle, and thereupon repeating the cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the pressure exerted by said compacting tool on said material is maintained substantially constant for a selected period of time after an initial push.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the pressure exerted by said compacting tool on said material is progressively increased during a selected period of time after an initial push.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the pressure exerted by said compacting tool on said material progressively decreases during a selected period of time after an initial push.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process according to claim 1, in which said compacting tool is given a rectilinear compacting movement in a first direction to exert a compacting action on said material and thereupon in the same cycle is given a further rectilinear compacting movement in a second direction approximately at right angles to said first direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
215 words
A process for compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast and like material which comprises subjecting a selected small area of said material to a periodic succession of individual pressure thrusts by a compacting tool reciprocated rectilinearly cyclically but non-sinusoidally by a hydraulic cylinder, said process comprising providing a continuous supply of hydraulic fluid under predetermined pressure for operating said hydraulic cylinder and cyclically controlling the supply of said pressurized hydraulic fluid to and discharge of said fluid from said cylinder to actuate said compacting tool, each cyCle comprising: a. supplying pressurized fluid rapidly to said hydraulic cylinder to move said compactng tool suddenly in a direction toward said material to subject the small area of said material engaged by said tool to a strong compacting pressure thrust, b. thereupon maintaining pressure in said hydraulic cylinder and thereby maintaining pressure of said compacting tool on the compacted material for a selected period of time not less than one quarter of a cycle to hold the compacted material in place and thereby allow time for it to become settled and fixed in compacted condition, and c. thereafter permitting discharge of said fluid from the hydraulic cylinder and applying a force to retract said compacting tool, whereby the pressure of said compacting tool on said material is momentarily relieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
215 words
A process for compacting earth, sand, gravel, ballast and like material which comprises subjecting a selected small area of said material to a periodic succession of individual pressure thrusts by a compacting tool reciprocated rectilinearly cyclically but non-sinusoidally by a hydraulic cylinder, said process comprising providing a continuous supply of hydraulic fluid under predetermined pressure for operating said hydraulic cylinder and cyclically controlling the supply of said pressurized hydraulic fluid to and discharge of said fluid from said cylinder to actuate said compacting tool, each cyCle comprising: a. supplying pressurized fluid rapidly to said hydraulic cylinder to move said compactng tool suddenly in a direction toward said material to subject the small area of said material engaged by said tool to a strong compacting pressure thrust, b. thereupon maintaining pressure in said hydraulic cylinder and thereby maintaining pressure of said compacting tool on the compacted material for a selected period of time not less than one quarter of a cycle to hold the compacted material in place and thereby allow time for it to become settled and fixed in compacted condition, and c. thereafter permitting discharge of said fluid from the hydraulic cylinder and applying a force to retract said compacting tool, whereby the pressure of said compacting tool on said material is momentarily relieved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 6, in which said selected period that pressure is maintained in said hydraulic cylinder is approximately one half of each cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 6, in which said pressure in said hydraulic cylinder is maintained substantially constant for said selected period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process according to claim 6, in which after said compacting thrust, said compacting tool is moved rectilinearly in a second direction approximately at right angles to the direction of said compacting thrust by a second hydraulic cylinder, pressurized hydraulic fluid being supplied to said second hydraulic cylinder to effect said movement in said second direction and the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said second cylinder being controlled in timed relation to the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said first mentioned hydraulic cylinder to effect said movement of said compacting tool in said second direction after said compacting thrust and while pressure is maintained in said first mentioned hydraulic cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2497682A
Cited
US1731014A
Cited
US2043585A
Cited
US2084983A
Cited
US2254744A
Cited
US2633782A
Cited
US2821935A
Cited
US2909106A
Cited
US3675581A
Cited
US3625156A
Cited
US3621786A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |