Method and apparatus for stamping concrete

Abstract

A vibratory tamper comprises a roller assembly, a chassis, a frame, and a vibrator. The roller assembly includes a roller drum having a roller surface. The chassis is supported on the roller assembly. The chassis includes a body and a grip. The frame is engaged by the grip of the chassis. The frame includes a handle positioned to be used by an operator to support at least a portion of the frame during operation of the vibratory tamper. The vibrator is supported on the chassis and operable to transfer vibration through the chassis to the roller assembly.

1 . A vibratory tamper comprising
 a roller assembly including a roller drum having a roller surface,   a chassis supported on the roller assembly, the chassis including a body and a grip,   a frame engaged by the grip of the chassis, the frame including a handle positioned to be used by an operator to support at least a portion of the frame during operation of the vibratory tamper, and   a vibrator supported on the chassis and operable to transfer vibration through the chassis to the roller assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least one leg, a handle, and a clamp coupled to the leg and the handle, the handle engaged with the clamp so that vibration transferred through the leg is dampened by a free end of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator includes a variable speed prime mover. 
     
     
         4 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly comprises a drum. 
     
     
         5 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 4 , wherein the mass of the drum is variable. 
     
     
         6 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 5 , wherein the drum is coated in an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly includes a shaft supporting the drum, a pair of roller brackets supported on the shaft and engaged with the chassis, the roller brackets each including a pair of opposed tapered roller bearings engaged with the shaft to support the shaft for rotation relative to the roller brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory tamper comprises an auxiliary handle that is expandable to extend the length of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . A vibratory tamper comprising
 a roller assembly including at least one roller drum having a roller surface,   a chassis supported on the roller assembly,   a frame supported by the chassis, the frame including a handle positioned to be used by an operator to support at least a portion of the frame during operation of the vibratory tamper, and   a vibrator supported on the chassis and operable to transfer vibration through the chassis to the roller assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 9 , wherein the roller assembly comprises two rollers supported on a single shaft, each roller comprising a roller drum having a roller surface. 
     
     
         11 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 10 , wherein the shaft is fixed to the chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 11 , wherein each of the rollers is supported on the shaft by a pair of opposed tapered bearings. 
     
     
         13 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 12 , wherein the vibratory tamper comprises an auxiliary handle that is expandable to extend the length of the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 12 , wherein each of the drums is coated in an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 12 , wherein the vibrator comprises a variable speed prime mover. 
     
     
         16 . The vibratory tamper of  claim 15 , wherein the variable speed prime mover includes a speed control and the vibratory tamper further comprises a throttle control coupled to the speed control, the throttle control including a variable position stop adjustable to vary the maximum speed the throttle control may transfer to the speed control. 
     
     
         17 . A manually manipulable vibratory tamper comprising
 a roller assembly including a roller drum having a roller surface, the roller surface configured to engage a surface to be worked by the vibratory tamper with a line of contact,   a chassis supported on the roller assembly, the chassis including a body and a grip,   a frame engaged by the grip of the chassis, the frame including a handle positioned to be used by an operator to support at least a portion of the frame during operation of the vibratory tamper, and   a vibrator supported on the chassis and operable to transfer vibration through the chassis to the roller assembly to impart a working vibration to the surface to be worked through the line of contact.   
     
     
         18 . The manually manipulable vibratory tamper of  claim 17 , further comprising an auxiliary handle that is movable between a stowed position and a use position. 
     
     
         19 . The manually manipulable vibratory tamper of  claim 18 , wherein the auxiliary handle is movable to a position wherein the auxiliary handle is engages the working surface to support at least a portion of the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The manually manipulable vibratory tamper of  claim 19 , wherein the roller assembly comprises two rollers, each roller supported on a single shaft by a pair of opposed tapered bearings, the shaft fixed to the chassis, and wherein the vibrator comprises a variable speed prime mover that includes a speed control and the vibratory tamper further comprises a throttle control coupled to the speed control, the throttle control including a variable position stop adjustable to vary the maximum speed the throttle control may transfer to the speed control.