Walk-behind compaction roller incorporating noise reduction measures

A vibratory compaction roller comprising:

• a frame having first and second opposed sides;
• first and second longitudinally-spaced drums that support the frame on a surface to be compacted, each drum having a cylindrical outer surface and first and second hubs that are rotatably supported on the respective sides of the frame via respective first and second drum supports;
• an exciter assembly that transmits vibrations to at least one of the drums;
• first and second hydraulic wheel motors, each of which has an output shaft and a housing that is mounted on an associated drum support, wherein the output shaft is connected to the first hub of the associated drum so as to deliver drive torque thereto;
• and
• first and second pretensioning mechanisms, each of which pushes the output shaft of the respective motor against an associated thrust bearing so as to inhibit relative axial movement between the motor output shaft and the motor housing, each pretensioning mechanism including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced compression springs that surround the output shaft of the associated motor and a plurality of bearing structures, each of which is positioned axially between an inner end of an associated spring and the associated first hub and each of which slides against the associated first hub upon drum rotation relative to the frame.

A method of operating a vibratory compaction roller having a frame and first and second longitudinally spaced drums that rotatably support the frame on a surface to be compacted and that are mounted on the frame, the method comprising:

• driving the first drum to rotate via operation of a motor supported on the frame adjacent a first end of the first drum;
• imparting vibrations to the first drum via operation of an exciter assembly;
• and
• forcing the first drum and motor apart via operation of a pretensioning mechanism;
• wherein the motor is a wheel motor and the pretensioning mechanism comprises a spring that pushes an output shaft of the motor against a thrust bearing of the motor.