Ventilated high capacity hydraulic riding trowel

• US 10,100,537 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2018
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allen Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Allen Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Guinn, Timmy Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US15/982,764
• Time in Patent Office: 152 Days
• Field of Search: 404112
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/42 Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating for distributing only E01C19/12; hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/247 used by an operator sitting on the trowel, i.e. ride-on power trowels

Abstract

A high performance, multiple rotor, hydraulically driven riding trowel for finishing concrete includes a rigid trowel frame with two or more downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface while supporting the trowel. The rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. A seating arrangement supports an operator. A special ventilation path is provided to prevent overheating of the operator area. cooling compartment adjacent the seating region, Pathways are established by a cooling compartment enclosed by a shroud having at least one side ventilation orifice, a cooler assembly disposed within the cooling compartment; the cooler assembly comprising a grill, a plenum with a heat exchanger adjacent said grill and a fan adjacent said heat exchanger, the plenum having open sides and a closed bottom to prevent air pathways through the seating region.

Claims

1. A motorized, ventilated high performance riding trowel for finishing concrete, said riding trowel comprising:

a rigid frame;

hydraulic pump means for supplying hydraulic pressure;

internal combustion motor means secured to said frame for powering said pump means;

rotor means pivotally suspended from said frame for supporting said riding trowel and finishing said concrete, said rotor means comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart blades for frictionally contacting the concrete;

hydraulic drive motor means for rotating said rotor means;

hydraulic circuit means connected to said hydraulic pump means for controlling said hydraulic drive motor means;

joysticks accessible to a trowel operator for selectively activating said steering circuit means, whereby the operator of the trowel can steer and control the riding trowel hydraulically;

a seating region;

a ventilation system for cooling hydraulic fluid without directing air through said seating region, said ventilation system comprising;

a cooling compartment adjacent the seating region, said a cooling compartment having a shroud having at least one side ventilation orifice;

a cooler assembly disposed within the cooling compartment;

the cooler assembly comprising a grill, a plenum with a heat exchanger adjacent said grill and a fan adjacent said heat exchanger;

wherein said plenum comprises a top, a bottom, a rear and open sides through which incoming air is drawn;

wherein air is forced out of said grill.