Vibration ram

Abstract

A vibration ram having an engine, a downwardly extending outer cylinder fixedly attached to the engine and an inner cylinder slidably mounted within the outer cylinder. A foot plate is attached to a lower end of the inner cylinder for contacting and tamping a ground surface. A top plate having an opening partially closes an upper end of the inner cylinder. An operating rod slidably extends through the top plate opening. The operating rod is reciprocatingly driven by the engine. An upper stop member is positioned on an upper portion of the operating rod and a lower stop means is provided on a lower portion of the operating rod spaced from the upper stop member. Upper and lower slide members are slidably mounted on the operating rod. The upper slide member is adapted to abut against the upper stop member, while the lower slide member is adapted to abut against the lower stop member. A partially compressed spring element is positioned between the upper and lower slide members and urges the upper and lower slide members into abutment with the upper and lower stop members. A seat member is fixedly positioned on the lower end of the inner cylinder for limiting the lower movement of the lower slide member independently of the lower stop member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.