Patent ID: 8162564

Claim:
A method of operating a surface compactor, comprising: supporting a base of the surface compactor on a surface; generating a fluctuating vertical force on the base with a vibratory mechanism, including moving at least two weights of the vibratory mechanism with a drive system of the vibratory mechanism; sensing a parameter of the operation of the vibratory mechanism that fluctuates in reaction to moving the at least two weights to generate the fluctuating vertical force; comparing an amplitude of fluctuation in the sensed parameter to a first reference value; and automatically adjusting the operation of the vibratory mechanism by moving at least two weights of the vibratory mechanism relative to one another to adjust the fluctuating vertical force based at least in part on the sensed parameter, wherein an amplitude of the fluctuating vertical force is increased in response to determining that the amplitude of fluctuation in the sensed parameter is less than the first reference value.