Vibrating compactor with adjustable vibration-damped handle

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vibrating compactor equipped with a handle (9) in which the vibrations are damped by means of vibration dampers (8) with an adjustable, automatically acting device to limit the sprung movement of the said vibration dampers, the handle consisting of a lower section (5) and an upper section (9) joined by vibration dampers, the lower section of the handle being provided with through spindles (11) which can be tightened in oblong holes (10) in the said lower section and run in corresponding holes (12) in the upper section of the handle, which holes are also oblong but widen towards one end.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for a self-propelled vibrating compactor equipped with a vibration-damped handle, in which the degree of vibration damping is limited automatically when the compactor must be operated manually to compact wet surfaces, such as clays, particularly when working on upward slopes. All previously known vibrating compactors are equipped with vibration-damped handles which employ vibration dampers of various kinds. These are provided with the softest possible rubber elements or springs to enable them to provide maximum damping effect. When compacting wet surfaces or clays, especially when working on upward slopes, the operator is obliged to push the compactor with the handle to achieve mobility. Because of their softness, the vibration damping elements are thereby strained beyond permissible limits, shortening their life significantly. In the Utility Model DE 29701737 U it is shown a handle with rubber elements which respond with a more firm resistance to steering operations than to vibration movements, but there is no limiting function described that prevents overload of the rubber elements. The purpose of the present invention is, in accordance with the patent claims, to eliminate the disadvantages of previously known vibrating compactors by providing the vibration dampers with an automatic, but adjustable limiting device. This is achieved by providing the upper and lower sections of the handle, which consist of shaped channel sections joined by means of four soft rubber elements, with two spindles passing laterally through the said sections. The lower section of the handle is provided with two oblong holes on either side, the holes being aligned longitudinally, in which the spindles may be tightened in the desired position. The upper section of the handle is provided with corresponding holes, oblong in shape but widening towards one end, in which the said spindles run. No limit is imposed on the movement of the vibration dampers when the spindles in the oblong holes in the lower section of the handle are adjusted so that they are aligned with the centre of the widening area of the holes in the upper section of the handle. On the other hand, the movement of the vibration dampers is completely restricted when the spindles in the oblong holes in the lower section of the handle are adjusted so that they are aligned with the centre of the non-widening area of the holes in the upper section of the handle. The movement of the vibration dampers can be limited in a steplessly variable manner by varying the position of the spindles between the two abovementioned end positions. In normal operation, therefore, in which the operator is required to apply only a light force to move the machine forward, the vibration of the handle is well damped. However, when compacting wet materials or clays, when the operator is required to apply a greater force to control the machine, control must be achieved without straining the vibration dampers beyond permissible limits. To achieve this, the movement of the handle relative to the compactor can be adjusted to one of three positions, normal working position, half raised position and fully raised position, by means of a locking device. The invention will be described in further detail with the aid of the appended figures, of which Fig. 1 is a side view of a vibrating compactor, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the lower section and the lower part of the upper section of the handle, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through Fig. 2. In Fig.1, the sole plate 2 of the vibrating compactor is provided with excentric elements 3 attached to the chassis 1 by means of four vibration dampers 4. The lower section 5 of the handle is attached to the chassis by a vertically pivoting joint by means of the fulcrum pin 6 and by the spring-loaded locking pin 7, which can be engaged with holes 14 in the locking plate 13 and, thereby, adjusted to different positions, such as normal working position, half raised position and fully raised (i.e. vertical) position. The lower section 5 of the handle is a channel section, inside which are arranged four soft vibration dampers 8, which dampers are, in turn, attached at the outer end to the upper section 9 of the handle, which is also a channel section. Each side of the lower section 5 of the handle is provided with two open, oblong holes 10 aligned longitudinally in the direction of the handle. Two spindles 11 running laterally through the handle are provided with threaded ends and locknuts to enable them to be tightened in position in the oblong holes. Fig. 2, which is a vertical cross-section through the lower section 5 of the handle and the lower end of the upper section 9 of the handle, shows the corresponding holes 12 in which the spindles 11 run in the upper section of the handle, which holes are oblong in shape but widen towards one end. Fig. 3, which is a horizontal cross-section through Fig. 2, the spindles 11 are shown fixed in position in the oblong holes 10 in the lower section 5 of the handle and passing through the holes 12 in the upper section 9 of the handle, which holes are oblong in shape but widen towards one end. The vibration dampers are designated 8.

Claims: Vibrating-damped handle for a vibrating compactor characterised in that the handle is provided with an adjustable, automatically acting means to limit the sprung movement of its vibration dampers (8), the handle comprising a lower handle section (5) consisting of a channel section and attachable to the vibrating compactor chassis (1) by means of a vertically pivoting joint, and an upper handle section (9) consisting of a channel section and attached to the said lower handle section by means of a number of vibration dampers, wherein two spindles (11) are attached adjustably to the said lower handle section (5) in oblong holes (10) aligned longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the handle and pass through corresponding holes (12) provided in the upper handle section (9), which holes are also oblong but widen towards one end, so that the sprung movement of the vibration dampers can be limited by varying the position of the spindles between the ends of said holes (12) hop provided in the upper handle section (9). Vibrating-damped handle as per patent claim 1, characterised in that the vertically pivoting joint of the handle is adjustable to different positions by means of a spring-loaded pin (7) designed to engage with a number of holes (14) in a locking plate (13) permanently attached to the chassis of the vibrating compactor and provided for the purpose of adjusting the handle to different positions.

Inventors: PERSSON GERT, PERSSON, GERT
Applicants: METSO DYNAPAC AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E01C19
IPC codes: E01C19, E02D3