Apparatus for providing an indication of compaction in vibration compacting machines

A method for providing an indication of compaction in vibration compacting machines of the type having a vibrating working part comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the acceleration of said vibrating working part to derive a monitored value;
• preselecting an acceleration value;
• comparing said preselected value with said monitoring value;
• and
• generating a control signal for driving said preselected value toward said monitored value at a rate proportional to the difference between the monitored and preselected values.

Apparatus for providing an indication of compaction in vibration compacting machines of the type having a vibrating working part, said apparatus comprising:

• an acceleration monitor mounted on said working part, said monitor generating a first signal proportional to the acceleration of said working part;
• means for generating a second signal indicative of a preselected acceleration value;
• means for generating third signals indicative of a range of stepped acceleration values, said second signal having a value of substantially one half of said range;
• means for comparing said first signal with said second signal;
• and
• means for driving said second signal toward said first signal.

An apparatus for providing an indication of compaction in vibration compacting machines of the type having a vibrating working part, said apparatus comprising:

• means for monitoring the acceleration of said vibrating working part;
• means for preselecting an acceleration value;
• means for comparing said preselected value with said monitored value;
• and
• means for generating a control signal for driving said preselected value toward said monitored value at a rate proportional to the difference between the monitored and preselected values.

An apparatus for providing an indication of compaction in vibration compacting machines of the type having a vibrating working part, said apparatus comprising:

• an acceleration monitor mounted on said working part, said monitor generating a first signal proportional to the acceleration of said working part;
• a resistor having a series of variable potential taps;
• a power source for creating a potential difference across said resistors;
• a comparison circuit for comparing the magnitude of said first signal with the magnitude of the signal appearing on each of said variable potential taps when said power source is energized, said comparison circuit generating a different output signal for each variable potential tap when said first signal exceeds the potential thereon;
• and
• a summing circuit for summing said output signals, said summing circuit generating a signal indicative of the degree of compaction.