Patent ID: 6419420
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: E01C,Y10T

Abstract:
A vibrating tamper comprising:a reciprocating tamper; an internal combustion engine operatively connected to said reciprocating tamper, and having an ignition circuit and a throttle control movable between a fully closed position, a starting/idling position and a full-throttle position; a microswitch movable between closed and open positions wherein said ignition circuit is disabled and enabled, respectively; a fuel tank operatively connected to said engine to supply fuel thereto; said fuel tank having a fuel valve movable between closed and open positions and a venting valve likewise moveable between closed and open positions; said fuel valve and said venting valve conjointly defining a valve assembly; a control lever pivotally mounted on said fuel tank to pivot about a first pivot axis; said control lever including actuating means for acting on said valve assembly to move said fuel and venting valves between said closed and open positions; said control lever having a curved cam slot formed therein and said slot having a curvature defining a radial distance measured from said first pivot axis which varies from a minimum radial distance at one end of said cam slot to a maximum radial distance at the other end of said cam slot; a pivot arm pivotally mounted on said fuel tank to pivot about a second pivot axis; said pivot arm being connected to said throttle control and having a free-running cam pin mounted thereon at a distance from said second pivot axis; said cam pin slidably engaging said cam slot so as to permit said pivot arm to pivot about said second pivot axis when said control lever is rotated about said first pivot axis; said control lever being pivotally moveable between: (a) a first position wherein said lever arm actuates said microswitch to disable said ignition circuit and wherein said fuel tank valve and said venting valve are in their respective closed positions and said throttle control is in said fully closed position; (b) a second position wherein said lever arm actuates said microswitch to enable said ignition circuit and said actuating means acts on said valve assembly for moving said fuel and venting valves into said open positions thereof and wherein said throttle control is moved into a starting/idling position; and, (c) a third position wherein said ignition circuit remains enabled, said fuel and venting valves remain in said open positions thereof and said throttle control is moved into said full-throttle position; and, a detent device for releasably holding said control lever in said positions.