Towable compacting roller with remotely powered hydraulic vibrator

Abstract

A towable roller assembly for removable operable attachment to a prime mover, such as a tractor. The towable roller assembly includes a frame with a hitch portion for attachment to the prime mover and roller rotatably attached to the frame through an axle and bearing assembly for compaction of surfaces by rolling. A vibrator located within the roller may be engaged to cause the roller to vibrate to facilitate compaction of the surface under treatment. The vibrator is powered by motor of the prime mover, as through connection by hydraulic lines to the hydraulic system of the prime mover.

1 . A vibratory compaction roller comprising: 
 a frame adapted for releasable attachment to a prime mover;    a roller wheel disposed on the frame;    a vibratory assembly for vibrating the roller wheel, disposed in the roller wheel;    at least one connection line for releasably coupling the vibratory assembly to the prime mover to power the vibratory assembly from the prime mover motor.    
   
   
       2 . The vibratory compacting roller of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection line for releasably coupling the vibratory assembly to the prime mover to power the vibratory assembly from the prime mover motor comprises at least one hydraulic connection line for releasably coupling the vibratory assembly to the hydraulic system of the prime mover.  
   
   
       3 . The vibratory compacting roller of  claim 1 , wherein the frame adapted for releasable attachment to a prime mover comprises 
 a front member;    two side members extending perpendicular to the front member at either end thereof, allowing the roller wheel to be rotatably attached therebetween; and    a connection member extending perpendicularly from the front member in a direction opposite to the two side members, a distal end of the connection member configured for towable attachment to the prime mover.    
   
   
       4 . A method of compacting a surface using a vibratory compacting roller, the method comprising: 
 connecting a compacting roller implement designed for operation with a prime mover to a prime mover allowing it to be towed thereby;    connecting a connection line from the compacting roller to a connection point on the prime mover in order to provide power to operate a vibrator assembly located in a roller wheel of the compacting roller; and    moving the compacting roller over the surface by towing to roll over the surface with the roller wheel while vibrating the roller wheel with the vibrator assembly.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein connecting a connection line from the compacting roller to a connection point on the prime mover in order to provide power to operate a vibrator assembly located in a roller wheel of the compacting roller comprises connecting a hydraulic line in communication with the vibratory assembly to a hydraulic system of the prime mover.  
   
   
       6 . A towable soil compacting roller assembly comprising: 
 a roller including an internal vibrator, the vibrator powered from a power source remote from the roller assembly.