Construction machine

• US 4,566,822 A
• Filed: 02/21/1984
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Miller Formless Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Miller Formless Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/580,290
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 404/105, 404/108, 404/98, 404/96, 404/84, 404/101, 404/100, 405/268
• US Class Current: 404/84.8
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/185 for both depositing and spreading-out or striking-off the deposited mixture laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface, E01C19/48
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/024 with laterally or vertically adjustable wheels or tracks for vehicles in general B60B35/10; B62D55/084

Abstract

A construction machine is provided for use in the controlled distribution of formable concrete along a base surface of predetermined configuration. The machine includes a self-propelled main frame movable along the base surface. The main frame is provided with a front section and an elongated trailing section extending rearwardly therefrom. A first hopper is mounted forwardly of the frame front section for receiving a load of formable concrete. An elongated mule is mounted transversely on the frame trailing section. The mule is spaced a substantial distance rearwardly of the frame front section and includes an elongated second hopper having the underside thereof conforming substantially to the predetermined configuration of the base surface. A conveying means is carried on the main frame and effects controlled transfer of the formable concrete from the first hopper to opposite end portions of the second hopper. Vibrating means is carried on the mule. Control means is mounted on the main frame for controlling relative moving and steering of the machine along a prescribed path on the base surface.

Claims

1. A construction machine for use in the controlled distribution of formable concrete along an elongated transversely limited site having a base surface of a predetermined configuration and a predetermined lateral dimension, said machine comprising:

a main frame for movement longitudinally along the base surface, said main frame including a front section and an elongated trailing section extending substantially rearwardly therefrom, said sections overlying the base surface on which the formable concrete is to be distributed;

propelling means mounted beneath said main frame and adapted to be supportingly engaged by the base surface as said frame moves thereacross;

a first hopper means mounted on said frame front section and overlying such base surface to receive a load of formable concrete from a source independent of and positioned forwardly of said machine on the base surface on which said concrete is to be distributed;

an elongated mule mounted on said frame trailing section and extending laterally therefrom and being spaced a substantial distance rearwardly of said first hopper means and rearwardly of said propelling means, said mule overlying such base surface and including a second hopper means having an undersurface conforming substantially to the predetermined configuration of the base surface in supporting engagement with said propelling means;

conveying means carried on said main frame and extending from said first hopper means to said second hopper means in a direction generally longitudinally of said construction machine for controlled rearward transfer of formable concrete from said first hopper means to said second hopper means;

vibrating means operatively mounted on said second hopper means; and

control means mounted on said main frame and operatively connected to said propelling means for controlling relative movement and steering of said machine along the base surface, whereby concrete delivered to such machine from a source on such base surface forward of said machine is placed on said base surface by said mule at the rear of said machine.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the base surface has a substantially concave configuration and the undersurface of said mule has a complementary convex configuration.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said second hopper means is provided with an elongated arcuate cavity the curvature of which is complemental to the curvature of the base surface.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the conveying means is adapted to transfer formable concrete from said first hopper means to opposite elevated ends of the elongated arcuate cavity of said second hopper means.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the arcuate cavity of the second hopper means is provided with means for controlling the downward flow of the formable concrete within said cavity.

6. The machine of claim 2 wherein the undersurface of said mule second hopper means defines an arc of substantially 120°

.

7. The machine of claim 1 wherein said control means includes sensing means extending from said main frame and coacting with an elongated external guide extending in a predetermined direction relative to the base surface to effect movement of said machine along the base surface in substantially the direction of said guide.

8. The machine of claim 1 wherein the propelling means includes a pair of laterally spaced power driven tracks disposed beneath said main frame, each track being independently adjustable relative to said main frame to conform substantially to the configuration of the portion of the base surface engaged thereby, the movement of each track being controlled by said control means.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein each of said tracks is substantially self-adjusting to the contour of the base surface engaged thereby.

10. The machine of claim 1 wherein an elevated walkway extends between said first and second hopper means.

11. The machine of claim 1 wherein the trailing section is disposed in substantially cantilever relation with respect to the front section of the main frame, and the mule substantially subtends the free end of said trailing section and is supported thereby.

12. The machine of claim 1, 6, or 11 wherein said mule is spaced from said frame front section and said propelling means to provide workspace therebetween for placement adjacent said base surface, rearwardly of said propelling means and forwardly of said mule, of components to be embedded in the concrete placed by said mule.

13. The machine of claim 1 wherein said first hopper means includes an auxiliary conveyor unit for directing the concrete accumulated therein towards an adjacent end of the conveying means.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said first hopper means is provided with a downwardly tapered bottom surface;

the interior of said first hopper means being formed into a pair of contiguous compartments, each compartment being provided with an auxiliary conveyor means.

15. The machine of claim 1 wherein the width dimension of the undersurface of the second hopper means is greater than the lateral dimension of the propelling means, both of said dimensions being measured transversely of the direction of movement of the machine along the base surface.

16. An apparatus for placing formable concrete on an elongated base surface, said apparatus comprising:

a movable main frame for movement along such a surface in overlying relation thereto;

propelling means mounted beneath said main frame and adapted to be supportingly engaged by the base surface as the said frame moves over said base surface;

a mule spaced a substantial distance rearward of the rear distal end of said main frame for overlying said base surface and having a hopper with an undersurface conforming substantially to the predetermined configuration of the base surface;

support means spaced laterally of said main frame and fixed to said main frame for cantilevered support of said mule in such substantially rearwardly spaced position, and for providing substantial workspace for placement of reinforcing materials on the base surface between said main frame and said mule, said mule subtending said support member; and

conveying means carried on said support member for controlled rearward transfer of concrete from said main frame to the hopper of said mule.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16 further comprising vibrating means operatively mounted on said hopper of said mule for compacting the concrete.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the base surface has a substantially concave configuration and the undersurface of said mule has a complementary convex configuration.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said hopper of said mule is provided with an elongated arcuate cavity the curvature of which is complemental to the curvature of the base surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the conveying means is adapted to transfer formable concrete from said main frame to opposite elevated ends of the elongated arcuate cavity of said hopper.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the arcuate cavity of the hopper is provided with adjustable means for controlling the downward flow of the formable concrete within said cavity.