Soil compactor having low profile muffler

A compaction device comprising:

• an engine;
• a crankcase housing a gear train that is driven by the engine;
• a lower unit attached to the crankcase for engaging a work material;
• and
• an exhaust for discharging combustion gases, the exhaust having a first portion that is nearer an exhaust port of the engine and that extends in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the compaction device and a second portion that is downstream from the first portion and that extends at an angle from the first portion so that the second portion crosses the longitudinal axis of the compaction device, and wherein the exhaust fits-entirely within a footprint of a side of the compaction device and substantially entirely within a cavity defined by a line that is tangent to both a radially outermost exterior surface of the engine and a radially outermost exterior surface of the crankcase.

A compaction rammer comprising:

• an upper unit having an engine and a crankcase;
• a lower unit attached to the upper unit and housing a spring;
• and
• an exhaust connected to the engine and being positioned such that a majority of the exhaust is positioned inboard relative to a plane that is tangential to the engine and the crankcase, wherein the exhaust has a generally vertical portion and a generally horizontal portion with respect to an operating orientation of the compaction rammer, and wherein the generally horizontal portion of the exhaust extends to at least a longitudinal center-line of the compaction rammer.

A compaction device comprising:

• an engine;
• a crankcase housing a gear train that is driven by the engine;
• a lower unit, attached to the crankcase, for engaging a work material;
• an exhaust for discharging combustion gases, the exhaust shaped to fit entirely within a footprint of a side of the compaction device;
• and
• a catalyst disposed across at least a portion of a flow path through the exhaust.