Soil compacting machine

Abstract

A machine for compacting soil includes a plurality of compacting elements or hammers elevated and lowered by means of a rotary shaft having an arm member for each hammer extending through aligned hammer openings, each arm member being mounted on the shaft eccentrically with respect to the hammer openings and at different radial positions along the shaft. For elongated hammers limiting rollers may be located at opposite side edges thereof and means are provided for rotating the shaft to effect a walking movement of the machine in a forward direction so that, upon such rotation, the hammers are moved successively upwardly as the arm members rotate between a forward horizontal position and an upward vertical position. The hammers are permitted to be moved successively downwardly into contact with the soil as the arm members each rotate beyond their rearward horizontal positions in the case of forward movement of the machine. Each hammer remains in shifting contact with the soil during rotation of its arm member between the rearward or forward horizontal position and the forward or rearward horizontal position thereof. The hammers effect a kneading action against the soil as they successively make contact therewith thereby expelling the air from the soil and effecting a rearrangement of the soil crystals for improving upon the compaction of the soil surface. Moreover, the extent of the shifting movement of each elongated hammer can be varied as one end of the limiting roller supports is moved toward or away from the shaft to thereby effect a turning movement for the machine. By moving both ends of the limiting roller supports to or away from the main shaft, the steps of the hammers will be enlarged or shortened all to the same degree. And rings may be used as compacting elements in lieu of the elongated hammers.