Trench Compactor
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Trench compactors are different from other types of compactors or rollers in that they typically deal only with granular soil and often require certain dimensions to work within the narrow confines of a trench.
Today’s trench compactors come with modern technology that allows them to be remote-controlled, portable, and sometimes, hand-held.
Trenching compaction is typically used in construction projects such as yards, golf courses, parks, and more.
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[edit] History
Although it is not known when the trench compactor was first invented, compactors are derived from rollers used in the early 18th century. Self-propelling steam engines were invented by Nicholas Cugnot and were used for easy transportation of heavy military weapons. Compactors were typically used in the construction industry for soil compaction in backfill, surface treatment finish, and base preparation.
Similarly, rollers and compactors were used primitively in the agricultural industry, pulled by a carriage-drawn horse by farmers.
Compactors used for compacting the backfill of trenchers appeared after the 1900s when manufacturers began producing trenching machines that could excavate in a continuous motion.
Remote controls for trench compactors are a new technology that is being utilized on many machines today, with manual operation becoming a rarity. Aside from eliminating the dangers of placing an operator in a trench, trenching equipment and the trenches themselves can be made deeper and narrower than an operator-controlled machine would allow.
[edit] Today’s Trench Compactors
Ingersoll Rand’s TC-13 utilizes a hand-held radio remote control that makes it a driverless machine. The TC-13 compact trencher was designed with a heavy-duty battery and a set of auxiliary controls located in the rear of the machine. [1]
Dynapac’s LP series of trench compactors are made for a variety of applications. The LG520 has a remote control operated by radio as well as a reversible plate compactor best suited for trenches in pipeline construction, cable trenches, or road construction. [2]
The LG160 and LG200 have a forward and reverse vibratory plate, making them ideal for concrete compaction and pipe trench backfills. The LG300, LG500, LG700 and LG800 are heavy-duty soil compactors for trench backfills that require a powerful diesel engine.
Dynapac also manufactures a radio remote-controlled trench compactor, known as the LP8500. [3]
Bomag’s BMP851 multi-purpose trench compactor has both radio and infrared technology, as well as with a standard umbilical cord and manual controls for operating the compaction and vibration on all types of soil.
Some manufacturers provide trench compaction attachment equipment, such as Bobcat. Bobcat’s trench compactor attachment consists of a large wheel that compacts soil with a vibratory apparatus that shakes the soil. The trench compactor attachment has 2,200 vibrations per minute is best used in trenches that are 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide and up to four feet (1.2 m) deep. Trenches that are deeper than two feet (0.61 m) require three layers of compaction. [4]
[edit] Features/How it Works
Radio or infrared, remote-controlled technology leaves the trench compactor without a driver, reducing operation hazards and allowing for deeper narrower trenches. Remote control technology also reduces the trench and vibration noise that could affect a driver.
Radio remote control is the preferred choice for most manufactures, having made it standard in some of their compactors. Radio operates on the same frequency as cell phones, which makes it safe to use in an environments not previously approved, such as airports. Remotes must be operated within the 100- to 500-foot (30.5- to 152-m) range. Radio remotes are also a lot smaller and compact than they were when first devised.
Some trench compactors also come with an umbilical cord or with manual controls on the machine. [5]
When a trench is dug using trenching machines such as ladder trenches or wheel trenches, it is usually excavated with the aim to install pipes, cables, or other materials. After the pipeline, for example, has been successfully laid in the trench, which can be as narrow as 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide and 20 feet (6.1 m) deep, the site is backfilled. The trench compactor is used to drive across the soil for compaction. Some types of compaction applications require several layers of soil to be compacted to achieve the desired level of compaction.[6]
Most trench compactors are made functional with diesel engines, hydraulics, and controls, whether manual or remote.
Soil compaction is among one of the more difficult challenges when digging and refilling trenches because there are a lot of safety hazards that can ensue if precision and care are not taken high into regard. Most jurisdictions carry regulations for applications that require an operator in the trench. One of the safety concerns with this type of job is that operators are unable to get out of the way of danger if a malfunction occurs with the machine or in the trench due to the nature of the restrictive confines of a trench. [7]
[edit] Types
Trench compactors fall into a class of compactors used specifically for backfill in trenches. Other types of compactors are used for embankment build-up, base course preparation, and surface treatment.
Some compaction jobs can be completed with a hand-held compaction tool known as a frog rammer, usually weighing under 1,102 pounds (500 kg). [8]
[edit] Common Manufacturers
[edit] Additional Photos
[edit] References
- ↑ TC-13 Trench Compactor. Ingersoll Rand.2008-09-25.
- ↑ LG520. Dynapac. 2008-09-25.
- ↑ Trench Roller Compactor. Dynapac. 2008-09-25.
- ↑ Trench Compactor. Bobcat. 2008-09-25.
- ↑ Trenching From a Distance. For Construction Pros. 2008-09-25.
- ↑ Day, David A. and Benjamin, Neal B.H. Construction Equipment Guide.IEEE:1991. 203.
- ↑ Trench Compaction at a Distance - Using Remote and Radio control. Government Buyer. 2008-09-25.
- ↑ Scott, John S. Dictionary of Civil Engineering. Springer, 1992. 183.
