US 6,273,637 B1Granted

Dual wheel trench compactor

OwnerRandell D. Petersoninventor

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Abstract

A compactor including a forward and rearward compaction wheel each rotatably supported on a support arm and pivotally connected to a main frame. The forward compaction wheel is pivoted to a position aligned forwardly of and positioned below the rearward compaction wheel when in an operating position. A pair of diverter panels are connected to the frame and extend longitudinally on opposing sides of the rearward compactor wheel to divert fill dirt towards the compactor wheels. Each diverter panel has a diverter wing pivotally connected thereto with the diverter wings diverging outwardly and forwardly. The diverter wings are pivotally connected at a point of the forward compaction wheel and proximal thereto. The diverter panels are preferably parallel to one another and extend rearwardly beyond the rearward compaction wheel. The diverter wings preferably extend forwardly beyond the forward compaction wheel.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A compactor for filling a trench with fill dirt and compacting the fill dirt in the trench to a finish grade line, comprising:

a main frame;
a forward support arm having first and second ends;
a forward compactor wheel rotatably mounted to said first end of said forward support arm;
said second end of said forward support arm being directly secured to said main frame;
a rearward support arm having first and second ends;
a rearward compactor wheel rotatably mounted to said first end of said rearward support arm;
said second end of said rearward support arm being directly connected to said main frame;
said rearward compactor wheel positioned rearwardly and vertically above said forward compactor wheel and being longitudinally aligned therewith;
said forward and rearward compactor wheels having parallel rotational axes;
upstanding first and second horizontally spaced-apart diverter panels connected to said main frame positioned on lateral sides of said rearward compactor wheel;
said first and second diverter panels having rearward and forward ends;
upstanding first and second diverter wings having rearward and forward ends;
said rearward ends of said first and second diverter wings being secured to said first and second diverter panels adjacent the forwards ends thereof, respectively;
said first and second diverter wings extending forwardly and outwardly from the rearward ends thereof to divert fill dirt laterally towards said compactor wheel;
said forward ends of said first and second diverter wings being positioned forwardly of said forward compactor wheels.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.