What Is Reversible Plate Compactor

A machine that has a vibrating flat base, or plate which is used to compact the soil beneath is called a plate compactor. It is also known as a vibratory plate compactor. Usually the regular plate compactors that can be found on the markets have one speed and move only in one direction, they are driven only forward. But however there are some plate compactors on the market that can be driven and moved in reverse. These compactors are known as reversible plate compactors. The ability of the reversible plate compactors to move in reverse is very useful for many reasons.

The reversible plate compactors are much heavier when compared to the regular one direction plate compactors. They are heavier simply because they are designed to apply more vibration energy on the ground, or written in other words the reversible plate compactors are more powerful machines. They have ability to provide greater productivity and higher performance, and this results in more efficient ground compaction. But the extra weight and the higher performance means less maneuverability on the ground. The light weight plate compactors that move only in one direction can be dragged around the ground much easier when compared with the reversible model. This means that these plate compactors can be dragged against the force that is moving the machine forward.

Dragging a plate compactor around the ground requires some extra muscle power. Also the radius of the turn needs to be corrected every time in order the plate compactor to get back on the right track. This results in productivity loss. A sharp turn in either direction can cause the ground beneath the machine to be ripped off as the compactor moves around. An efficient reversible plate compactor can be set to be in a neutral position. In this position the vibrating mode is still running but the motive force is off. In such neutral position it is very easy to spin the reversible plate compactor around the ground. For a trench compaction, the single direction plate compactors are very difficult for moving and changing direction. For greater and wider trenches, the reversible plate compactor is the ideal choice because it can change directions easily and this results in higher performance and productivity levels.

Generally the reversible plate compactor use two different actions in order to provide great compaction results : vibratory action for compaction, and compressive action for compacting the ground.

The force of the vibrations is the main action that enables the reversible plate compactor to successfully perform compaction on the ground. The vibration that is created in the plate is being transferred to the ground for higher compaction. The particles in granular materials take up the vibration force and in this way the friction force between them is being reduced. The vibration force enables the smaller particles from the ground to fall under the force of the gravity between the much larger ones. The reversible plate compactor also uses a hammering action. The reversible plate compactor smashes the ground beneath with enormous force, usually ninety times per second. The plate compactor accelerates on the ground by using vibrating force of approx 20kN-for smaller compactors, and 30kN- for larger compactors. This force is equivalent to2000- 3000kg of static force.

The main reason why the reversible plate compactor is so widely used is because it provides the highest productivity and performance level when compared with the regular single direction compactors. It is also very efficient machine to be used for edges and corners.

The main advantages provided by the reversible plate compactor are the following ones:

• Powerful machine providing higher performance
• Only several passes are needed for full compaction
• It enables deeper ground penetration so that thick layer can be compacted efficiently
• Big and wide trenches can be compacted easily with no need to turn the reversible plate compactor
• The neutral position gives the reversible plate compactor greater maneuverability on the ground.