Vibratory compactor and compact exciter assembly usable therewith

Abstract

A lightweight, easy to assemble, and compact exciter assembly for a compaction device such as a drum assembly of a vibratory trench roller or the like includes a fixed weight and one or more free swinging weights mounted on an exciter shaft, without using any mounting hardware, so as to hold the free swinging weights axially in position while permitting them to swing between first and second angular positions on the exciter shaft. Preferably, the fixed weight is mounted on a central portion of the exciter shaft, and two free swinging weights are mounted adjacent the ends of the fixed weight so as to be restrained from substantial sliding movement along the exciter shaft solely by the fixed weight and other operative components of the exciter assembly such as bearings and/or gears or other torque transfer elements. The reduction in length afforded by this design permits a reversible hydraulic motor to be mounted coaxially on the end of the exciter shaft without unacceptably increasing the overall length of a drum assembly, thereby further simplifying the machine's assembly and facilitating maintenance or repair of the machine.