Tamper

March 11, 1941.

2,234,831

E. R. PORTER

TAMPER

Filed March 21, 1939

<img file="US2234831A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Mar. 11,1941

2,234,831

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,234,831

TAMPER

Edwin R. Porter, Lock Haven, Pa.

Application March 21,1939, Serial No. 263,147

Claim.

(Cl. 306—7) and thus serves to retain the handle and tamper body in assembled relation, and it may be locked in any desired adjustment by a set screw 14.

The operation of the apparatus now will be described. It will be apparent that the ball and ⁵socket connection of the handle to the tamper body i permits a universal movement between the handle and tamper body, and by threading the retaining collar 11 upon the boss of the tamper body, the ball 7 is clamped between the col- ¹⁰lar and boss with a pressure that may be regulated by the extent to which the collar is threaded upon the boss. Thus, by suitable adjustment the articulate connection between the handle and tamper body may be made rigid ,¹⁰enough to hold the tamper head against movement relative to the handle by its own weight and enable the tamper to be used for its, intended purpose, and yet the connection will be yieldable enough so that the angular relation- 25 ship between the handle and tamper face may change upon impact of the tamper with an uneven surface to permit proper tamping action without danger of breaking the tamper handle. The articulate connection also relieves the body 25 of all shock when impact is made with the surface to be tamped, and the tamper automatically faces the material to be tamped, thus making it unnecessary for the operator to tamp at an angle. Although I have shown a tamper han- 30 die designed to be manually operated, it will be understood' that the tamper may be operated by a pneumatic reciprocating hammer or electric reciprocating hammer, if desired.

In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, 35 the articulate connection is obtained in a somewhat different manner. In this modification the tamping body comprises a flange 15 having a flat tamping face iS and upstanding ribs 17 integral with a central body portion IS, which has lugs 40 extending therefrom with apertures 20 therein. The body portion has a substantially spherical socket 21 therein and a ball 22 is received in the socket 2 i and is welded, or otherwise suitably secured to a handle 23. A retaining plate 45 24 has an, opening 25 surrounded by a recess or depression 26 and the handle extends through the opening so that ball 22 is engaged in the depression In plate 24. The body and handle are held in assembled relation with the ball 22 in 50 the socket 2f by means of retaining plate 24 which is held in position by means of two bolts 27 extending through the apertures 28 and having nuts 29 threaded on the outer ends. Coil springs 31 are interposed between the plate 24 55

The present invention relates to earth tampers adapted to be operated manually or by any suitable reciprocating motor.

It is an object of the present invention to pro5 vide an earth tamper in which the handle is secured to the tamper head through an articulate connection which allows the tamper head to conform to the contour of the earth being tamped, thus eliminating the danger of breakage of the 10 handle under certain operating conditions, as for example, in tamping fills of mixed earth and large stones.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an earth tamper which may be used con15 veniently in corners or along the edges of an excavation or other inaccessible portions.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an earth tamper head having an adjustable universal connection with its handle.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated specific preferred embodiments of my in25 vention. by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II—II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view partly in section of a modification, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV—TV of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the improved earth 35 tamping apparatus comprises a tamping head I which may be a casting of any suitable construction, and, as shown, comprises a rectangular flanged head I having a flat tamping face 2. Reenforcing ribs 3 extend diagonally on the top 40 surface of the flange and merge with the central body portion 4. Preferably integral with the central body portion is a central cylindrical boss 5 which is threaded on its exterior and has an approximately spherical socket S therein adapted 45 to- receive a ball Ί. Ball Ί is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a rod , which is suitably secured to the handle 9, as shown, and rod 8 fits into hollow handle 9 and is secured thereto by welding or in other manner. If desired, the ball 1 50 and rod 8 may be formed integral.

A retaining collar !l has a bore !2 therein through which passes the rod S, and the collar has an approximately spherical internal shoulder 13 adapted to engage the ball 7. Collar It 55 is internally threaded and threads upon the boss

2,234,831 and lugs 19 around the bolts and serve to prevent the nuts working loose.

In this modification the articulate joint formed by ball 22 between the handle 23 and 5 tamper body 18 may be adjusted by threading the nuts 29 upon bolts 27 so that the ball 22 is held with the desired clamping action in its seat.

While I have shown a ball and socket joint be10 tween the handle and tamper head, it will be apparent that the invention may be incorporated in other specific forms or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.