# US 11,078,634 B2 · Variable tamper bar amplitude for asphalt pavers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,634 B2 - Document ID: US11078634B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/674,387 - Filed: 2019-11-05 - Published: 2021-05-06 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-05 - Assignees: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Inventors: Vitaly Y. Taran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078634B2 ## CPC - E01C 19/405: {with spreading-out, levelling or smoothing means other than the tamping or vibrating means for compacting or smoothing, e.g. with screws for spreading-out the previously dumped material, with non-vibratory lengthwise reciprocated smoothing beam (E01C19/407 takes precedence)} - E01C 19/38: with means specifically for generating vibrations {, e.g. vibrating plate compactors, immersion vibrators (E01C19/40, E01C19/41 take precedence)} - E01C 19/486: {with non-vibratory or non-percussive pressing or smoothing means; with supplemental elements penetrating the paving to work the material thereof} - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## Abstract A paving machine can include a frame; a screed assembly coupled to the frame; and a tamper bar assembly located on the screed assembly, wherein the tamper bar assembly includes a connecting rod configured to have a reciprocating up and down motion; a plate connected to a lower end of the connecting rod; and a tamper bar positioned beneath the plate, wherein the tamper bar is coupled to the plate by one or more dampening members extending between the tamper bar and the plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A paving machine comprising: a frame; a screed assembly coupled to the frame; and a tamper bar assembly located on the screed assembly, wherein the tamper bar assembly includes: a connecting rod configured to have a reciprocating up and down motion; a plate connected to a lower end of the connecting rod; and a tamper bar positioned beneath the plate, wherein the tamper bar is coupled to the plate by one or more dampening members extending between the tamper bar and the plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the connecting rod is coupled to an eccentric rotating shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the dampening members include one or more springs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more dampening members are directly connected to both the plate and the tamper bar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The paving machine of claim 1, wherein there is no other connection between the tamper bar and the plate except the dampening member such that the dampening member absorbs some of the force created by the tamper bar such that there is automatic amplitude adjustment of the tamper bar depending on the hardness of the material being compacted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the tamper bar assembly further includes one or more adjustable stop members located on the plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The paving machine of claim 6, wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are positionable between the plate and the tamper bar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The paving machine of claim 7, wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are adjustable such that a distance between the one or more adjustable stop members and the tamper bar can be varied. ### Claim 9 A screed assembly comprising: a screed frame; a screed plate coupled to the screed frame; and a tamper bar assembly coupled to the screed frame, wherein the tamper bar assembly includes: a connecting rod configured to have a reciprocating up and down motion; a plate connected to a lower end of the connecting rod; and a tamper bar positioned beneath the plate, wherein the tamper bar is coupled to the plate by one or more dampening members extending between the tamper bar and the plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The screed assembly of claim 9, wherein the connecting rod is coupled to an eccentric rotating shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The screed assembly of claim 9, wherein the dampening members include one or more springs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The screed assembly of claim 9, wherein the dampening member is directly connected to both the plate and the tamper bar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The screed assembly of claim 9, wherein there is no other connection between the tamper bar and the plate except the dampening member such that the dampening member absorbs some of the force created by the tamper bar such that there is automatic amplitude adjustment of the tamper bar depending on the hardness of the material being compacted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The screed assembly of claim 9, wherein the tamper bar assembly further includes one or more adjustable stop members located on the plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The screed assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are positionable between the plate and the tamper bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The screed assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are adjustable such that a distance between the one or more adjustable stop members and the tamper bar can be varied. ### Claim 17 A method of adjusting amplitude for a tamper bar comprising: providing a screed assembly including a tamper bar assembly, wherein the tamper bar assembly includes a connecting rod configured to have a reciprocating up and down motion, a plate connected to a lower end of the connecting rod, and a tamper bar positioned beneath the plate; and coupling the tamper bar to the plate by connecting one or more dampening members between the plate and the tamper bar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the dampening member is directly connected to both the plate and the tamper bar with there being no other connection between the tamper bar and the plate except the dampening member, such that the dampening member absorbs some of the force created by the tamper bar such that there is automatic amplitude adjustment of the tamper bar depending on the hardness of the material being compacted. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein herein the tamper bar assembly further includes one or more adjustable stop members located on the plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The screed assembly of claim 19, wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are positionable between the plate and the tamper bar and wherein the one or more adjustable stops members are adjustable such that a distance between the one or more adjustable stop members and the tamper bar can be varied.