U.S. patent application number 15/076267 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-14 for vibratory roller for compactors.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. Invention is credited to Nicholas A. Oetken.
Application Number | 20160201275 15/076267 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56367133 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160201275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oetken; Nicholas A. |
July 14, 2016 |
VIBRATORY ROLLER FOR COMPACTORS
Abstract
A vibratory roller for a compactor is provided. The vibratory
roller includes a rotary drum, and a vibratory mechanism. The
rotary drum includes an inner circumference. The vibratory
mechanism is installed within the rotary drum. The vibratory
mechanism includes a cradle and at least one actuating cylinder.
The cradle is axially suspended within the rotary drum and includes
an outer peripheral portion. The outer peripheral portion abuts
against a portion of the inner circumference of the rotary drum.
The actuating cylinder includes a housing and a piston-rod
arrangement. The piston-rod arrangement is slideably positioned
relative to the housing and is connected to the cradle. The housing
extends and retracts relative to the piston-rod arrangement and a
corresponding reaction imparts a vibratory motion in the cradle and
the rotary drum.
Inventors: |
Oetken; Nicholas A.;
(Brooklyn Park, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC. |
Brooklyn Park |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
INC.
Brooklyn Park
MN
|
Family ID: |
56367133 |
Appl. No.: |
15/076267 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 19/282 20130101;
E01C 19/286 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/28 20060101
E01C019/28 |
Claims
1. A vibratory roller for a compactor, the vibratory roller
comprising: a rotary drum including an inner circumference; a
vibratory mechanism installed within the rotary drum, the vibratory
mechanism including: a cradle axially suspended within the rotary
drum, the cradle including an outer peripheral portion, wherein the
outer peripheral portion of the cradle abuts against a portion of
the inner circumference of the rotary drum; and at least one
actuating cylinder, including: a housing; and a piston-rod
arrangement slideably positioned relative to the housing and being
connected to the cradle, wherein the housing of the at least one
actuating cylinder is adapted to extend and retract relative to the
piston-rod arrangement and a corresponding reaction imparts a
vibratory motion in the cradle and the rotary drum.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to vibratory
rollers for compactors. More specifically, the present disclosure
relates to a vibratory mechanism for a vibratory roller of a
compactor.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Compactors are commonly known, in the road construction
industry, for construction and repair of work surfaces, such as
roads. A variety of compactors are known, such as but not limited
to, soil compactors, landfill compactors, vibratory compactors,
tandem vibratory rollers, and pneumatic rollers. A vibratory
compactors is generally used to compact sand, gravel, or crushed
aggregate for foundations, footings, or driveways; base preparation
for concrete slabs, and asphalt parking lots. The vibratory
compactor includes at least one vibratory roller, that serves the
purpose of compacting a surface. The vibratory roller is mounted on
a main frame and is configured to compact the work surface beneath
the vibratory compactor.
[0003] Conventional vibratory rollers include a rotary drum and a
vibratory mechanism. The vibratory mechanism includes an eccentric
shaft (eccentric weights mounted on a rotary shaft) located within
the vibratory drum and coupled to the rotary drum. The eccentric
shaft is driven by a first motor to impart vibrations to the rotary
drum, thereby compacting materials on which the rotary drum rests.
Rotation of the rotary drum, and therefore movement of the machine,
is imparted to the roller by a second motor. Vibrations imparted by
the eccentric shaft are mechanical vibrations and therefore has a
relatively high response time. Therefore, the eccentric shaft takes
a relatively longer time to reach the maximum amplitude of
vibration. The vibratory compactor may have travelled some some
distance, during this response time of the eccentric shaft. This
may cause a portion of the work surface, to be left
uncompacted.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,144 discloses a vibratory countermine
system for a propulsion system. The vibratory countermine system
includes a vibratory sub-assembly that includes at least three
vibratory elements, to impart vibration to a ground-contacting
percussion system (rotary drum). Although, the vibratory elements
employed has a relatively low response time, however the vibratory
elements are deployed outside the ground-contacting percussion
system, which requires additional components for installation of
the vibratory elements. This leads to a bulky vibratory
sub-assembly.
[0005] Accordingly, the system and method of the present disclosure
solves one or more problems set forth above and other problems in
the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Various aspects of the present disclosure describe a
vibratory roller for a compactor. The vibratory roller includes a
rotary drum and a vibratory mechanism. The rotary drum includes an
inner circumference. The vibratory mechanism is installed within
the rotary drum. The vibratory mechanism includes a cradle and at
least one actuating cylinder. The cradle is axially suspended
within the rotary drum. The cradle includes an outer peripheral
portion. The outer peripheral portion of the cradle abuts against a
portion of the inner circumference of the rotary drum. The
actuating cylinder includes a housing and a piston-rod arrangement.
The piston-rod arrangement is slideably positioned relative to the
housing and is connected to the cradle. The housing of the
actuating cylinder is adapted to extend and retract relative to the
piston-rod arrangement and a corresponding reaction imparts a
vibratory motion in the cradle and correspondingly the rotary
drum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compactor, in accordance
with the concepts of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vibratory roller of the
compactor of FIG. 1, illustrating a rotary drum and a vibratory
mechanism of the vibratory roller, in accordance with the concepts
of the present disclosure; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the vibratory roller of the
compactor of FIG. 1, illustrating a partial sectional view of a
piston-rod arrangement of an actuating cylinder of the vibrating
mechanism, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. I, there is shown an exemplary compactor
10 that facilitates compaction of compactible work material or mat
11, such as for example soil, gravel, bituminous mixture, asphalt,
and various other work materials. The compactor 10 is a vibratory
compactor. For ease in reference and understanding, the compactor
10 will be interchangeably referred to as the vibratory compactor
10. The vibratory compactor 10 includes a rear frame 12, a frontal
frame 14, an engine compartment 16, an operator cabin 18, two
wheels 20, and a vibratory roller 22.
[0011] The rear frame 12 is a support structure positioned proximal
to a rear end 24 of the vibratory compactor 10. The rear frame 12
is adapted to support the engine compartment 16 and the operator
cabin 18 of the vibratory compactor 10. An operator is generally
positioned in the operator cabin 18, to access a number of control
circuitries (not shown) associated with the vibratory compactor 10.
Moreover, the rear frame 12 is supported on the wheels 20, which
facilitate machine maneuver from one place to another.
[0012] The frontal frame 14 is an elongated structure positioned
proximal to a frontal end 26 of the vibratory compactor 10. The
frontal frame 14 is steerable, relative to the rear frame 12 of the
vibratory compactor 10. The frontal frame 14 is adapted to
rotatably support the vibratory roller 22 that performs compaction
operation on the mat 11.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown the vibratory
roller 22 of the vibratory compactor 10. In general, the vibratory
roller 22 rolls and vibrates, to perform compaction operation on
the mat 11. The vibratory roller 22 includes a rotary drum 28 and a
vibratory mechanism 30.
[0014] The rotary drum 28 is a hollow cylindrical structure
rotatably installed on the frontal frame 14 of the vibratory
compactor 10. The rotary drum 28 rotates over the mat 11, to assist
machine maneuverability during compaction. More specifically, a
first motor (not shown) rotates the rotary drum 28 over the mat 11,
to assist machine maneuverability during compaction operation. The
rotary drum 28 includes an inner circumference 32 and an outer
circumference 34. The outer circumference 34 of the rotary drum 28
is in contact with the mat 11. The rotary drum 28 is imparted a
vibratory motion in a vertical direction, A, to perform compaction
on the mat 11. The rotary drum 28 is imparted with the vibratory
motion, with use of the vibratory mechanism 30.
[0015] The vibratory mechanism 30 is installed within the rotary
drum 28 of the vibratory roller 22. The vibratory mechanism 30
includes a cradle 36 and a multiplicity of actuating cylinders 38.
The actuating cylinders 38, in conjunction with the cradle 36,
impart vibratory motion to the rotary drum 28. Although, the
present disclosure contemplates usage a multiplicity of actuating
cylinders 38, usage of a singular actuating cylinder 38, to impart
vibratory motion to the rotary drum 28, may also be contemplated.
For clarity purposes, structure and arrangement of the singular
actuating cylinder 38 with the cradle 36 will be discussed in
details hereinafter. Similar structure and arrangement of remaining
actuating cylinder 38, may also be contemplated.
[0016] The cradle 36 is axially suspended within the rotary drum 28
of the vibratory roller 22, along a longitudinal axis X-X'. The
cradle 36 includes a first end portion 40, a second end portion 42
(FIG. 2), and an intermediate cylindrical portion 44 (FIG. 2). In
addition, the cradle 36 defines an outer peripheral portion 46, at
the first end portion 40 and the second end portion 42 (FIG. 2).
The cradle 36 defines an inner peripheral portion (not shown), at
the intermediate cylindrical portion 44 (FIG. 2). Moreover, the
cradle 36 is rotatably supported on the frontal frame 14, at the
first end portion 40 and the second end portion 42 (FIG. 2). The
cradle 36 is installed on the frontal frame 14, such that the outer
peripheral portion 46 of the cradle 36 abuts against a portion of
the inner circumference 32 of the rotary drum 28. Generally, the
outer peripheral portion 46 of the cradle 36 abuts against the
portion of the inner circumference 32 of the rotary drum 28, where
the outer circumference 34 contacts the mat 11. Further, the cradle
36 is imparted with the vibratory motion, with use of the actuating
cylinder 38. The cradle 36, in turn, transfers the vibratory motion
to the rotary drum 28, along the vertical direction, A. In an
embodiment, the cradle 36 is connected to a second motor (not
shown). The second motor (not shown) rotates an arrangement between
the cradle 36 and the actuating cylinder 38, to change the
direction of vibration motion transferred to the rotary drum
28.
[0017] The actuating cylinder 38 is a conventional cylinder
installed within the cradle 36. The actuating cylinder 38 may
embody, such as but not limited to, a servo ram, an electric
actuating cylinder, a hydraulic actuating cylinder, and a pneumatic
actuating cylinder. The actuating cylinder 38 is adapted to
generate vibratory motion, which is transferred to the rotary drum
28, via the cradle 36. The actuating cylinder 38 generally includes
a housing 48 and a piston-rod arrangement 50 (FIG. 3).
[0018] The housing 48 of the actuating cylinder 38 includes a
relatively heavy mass structure that slideably houses the
piston-rod arrangement 50 of the actuating cylinder 38. Notably,
amount of mass of the housing 48 corresponds to the amount of
maximum amplitude of vibratory motion, generated by the actuating
cylinder 38. Therefore, in the current embodiment, an additional
mass 52 is attached to the housing 48, to increase overall weight
of the housing 48 and correspondingly to increase the maximum
amplitude of vibratory motion. Although, the present disclosure
contemplates usage of the additional mass 52 to increase the
overall weight of the housing 48, usage of an increased mass
housing 48 may also be contemplated.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, the piston-rod arrangement 50 is
slideably positioned, relative to the housing 48. The piston-rod
arrangement 50 includes a piston 54 and a rod 56. In general, the
piston 54 of the piston-rod arrangement 50 is slideably positioned
within the housing 48. The rod 56 is connected to the piston 54 and
extends beyond the housing 48. More specifically, one end of the
rod 56 is connected to the piston 54 and another end of the rod 56
extends beyond the housing 48.
[0020] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuating cylinder 38
is mounted within the cradle 36, along the vertical direction, A.
In general, the rod 56 of the piston-rod arrangement 50 is attached
to the inner peripheral portion (not shown) of the cradle 36, to
mount and support the actuating cylinder 38 on the cradle 36. An
attachment between the rod 56 and the inner peripheral portion (not
shown) of the cradle 36 is facilitated by any of the known
attachment means, such as but not limited to, a weld attachment, a
bolt attachment, and an adhesive attachment.
[0021] Furthermore, the actuating cylinder 38 is connected to and
manipulated, with use of a control system (not shown). In general,
the control system (not shown) manipulates the actuating cylinder
38, to alternatively switch between an extended position and a
retracted position. In the extended position, the housing 48
extends relative to the piston-rod arrangement 50, in a direction
away from the cradle 36. In the retracted position, the housing 48
retracts relative to the piston-rod arrangement 50, in a direction
towards the cradle 36. Therefore, the housing 48 alternatively
extends and retracts relative to the piston-rod arrangement 50,
upon actuation of the control system (not shown). As the housing 48
extracts and retracts relative to the piston-rod arrangement 50, a
corresponding reaction force is imparted on the piston-rod
arrangement 50. The corresponding reaction force generates the
vibratory motion in the piston-rod arrangement 50, which is
transferred to the cradle 36 and correspondingly to the rotary drum
28.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0022] In operation, the control system (not shown) of the
vibratory roller 22 is actuated, as the vibratory compactor 10 is
started. Thereafter, the control system manipulates each of the
actuating cylinders 38, to alternatively switch between the
extended position and the retracted position. As the piston-rod
arrangement 50 is fixed to the cradle 36, the housing 48 extends
and retracts relative to the piston-rod arrangement 50, upon such
manipulation of the actuating cylinders 38. Such manipulation
generates a corresponding reaction force to the piston-rod
arrangement 50. The corresponding reaction force generates a
vibratory motion in the piston-rod arrangement 50, along the
vertical direction, A. As the piston-rod arrangement 50 is fixedly
connected to the cradle 36, the vibratory motion of the piston-rod
arrangement 50 is transferred to the cradle 36. The cradle 36 then
transfers the vibratory motion to the rotary drum 28, at the outer
peripheral portion 46. Therefore, the rotary drum 28 is imparted
with the vibratory motion, to perform compaction operation on the
mat 11. As the disclosed vibratory roller 22 employs the actuating
cylinders 38 (which is either of electrically or hydraulically or
pneumatically actuated), a relatively quick response time is
obtained by the vibratory roller 22. More specifically, the
disclosed vibratory roller 22 quickly reaches the maximum amplitude
of vibration and therefore negligible space is left uncompacted,
during start of the vibratory compactor 10. In addition, as the
entire vibratory mechanism 30 is positioned within the rotary drum
28, a compact vibratory roller 22 is obtained.
[0023] The many features and advantages of the disclosure are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the disclosure that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.
Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily
occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired to limit the
disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and
described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the
disclosure.
* * * * *