Grouting machine

• US 4,781,556 A
• Filed: 03/09/1987
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jesse D. Paul
• Original Assignee: Jesse D. Paul
• Inventors: Paul, Jesse D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoag, Willard
• Application Number:
  US07/023,770
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 425/62, 425/87, 425/215, 425/216, 425/218, 425/219, 425/110, 425/90, 425/94, 425/103, 425/458, 425/456, 264/261, 264/261 X, 401/13, 404/83, 404/85, 404/87, 404/91, 404/96, 404/97, 404/101, 404/103, 404/105, 404/107, 404/108, 404/112, 404/117, 404/118, 404/129
• US Class Current: 425/62
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/098 and working the surface of the filling or applying particulate material thereto, e.g. smoothing, gritting
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/165 for finishing joints, e.g. implements for raking or filling joints, jointers bricklayers' tools E04G21/16; repairing, e.g. filling cracks, E04G23/02 ; wallpaper scrapers or the like B44C7/02; implements for cleaning joints A47L13/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/1652 for smoothing and shaping joint compound to a desired contour
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/20 for laying flooring made of similar material to roads or pavements E01C ; arrangements for removing of previously fixed floor covering E04G23/00

Abstract

A grouting machine which has a grout dispensing means for depositing grout between prepositioned floor tiles and on the upper surfaces of the tiles and which contains a grout removal means for removing excess grout from the upper surfaces of the tiles. The remaining grout fills the spaces between the sides of the tiles. The grout removal means includes at least one pick-up assembly. An air conducting system is used for moving the remaining grout slurry to a storage tank by operation of a vacuum source. A diluent addition means is provided for use in the slurry formation means when needed.

An application means is provided to assure the uniform deposit of grout into the cracks between the prepositioned tiles. A drive motor, vacuum pump and diluent pump are provided on the grouting machine for operation of the various means. The grouting machine and method for operating the same are disclosed.

Claims

1. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

a. support means,

b. grout dispensing means operatively connected to said support means and adapted for depositing grout into spaces between the tiles and on the tile upper surfaces,

c. slurry formation means operatively connected to said support means contiguously with respect to said dispensing means, said slurry formation means including a diluent addition means adapted for supplying a grout diluent to the grout remaining on the tile upper surfaces to form a slurry therewith,

d. slurry pick-up means operatively connected to said support means contiguously with respect to said formation means and adapted for removing slurry from the tile upper surfaces.

2. A grouting machine according to claim 1 wherein said slurry pick-up means comprises at least one slurry take up roller and a perforated slurry intake tube positioned contiguous to said take-up roller.

3. A grouting machine according to claim 2, wherein a driven roller is positioned within said machine for contacting and driving said take-up roller.

4. A grouting machine according to claim 3, wherein said take-up roller is driven in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of said machine relative to the tiles being grouted.

5. A grouting machine according to claim 2, wherein said slurry intake tube is connected to an air evacuating means,

6. A grouting machine according to claim 5, wherein a slurry separator system is provided within said machine for separating excess diluent from the slurry taken up by said slurry intake tube.

7. A grouting machine according to claim 6, wherein said slurry separator system is adapted to supply grout diluent to said slurry formation means.

8. A grouting machine according to claim 1, wherein wiper means is associated with said grout dispensing means for wiping excess grout from the upper surface of the tiles.

9. A grouting machine according to claim 1, wherein a vibrator means is connected to said grout dispensing means and is adapted to impart vibrating motion to said dispensing means.

10. A grouting machine according to claim 2, wherein said perforated slurry intake tube of said pick-up means is positioned in frictional contact with said take-up roller and wherein a drive roller is positioned in frictional driving contact with said slurry take-up roller.

11. a grouting machine according to claim 10, wherein said perforated slurry intake tube of said pick-up means is journaled for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof.

12. A grouting machine according to claim 2, wherein an air evacuating means is connected to the two ends of said slurry intake tube.

13. A grouting machine according to claim 12, wherein an airtight rotary connections are coupled to the two ends of said slurry intake tube and to said air evacuating means.

14. A grouting machine according to claim 10, wherein said slurry pick-up means is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis on the underside of said machine and wherein said slurry take-up roller is adapted for contacting the upper surfaces of the floor tiles and for wiping the grout slurry upward therefrom.

15. A grouting machine according to claim 10, wherein said pick-up means is spring biased with respect to said machine about said pivot axis in the direction of movement of said machine during grouting.

16. A grouting machine according to claim 2, wherein two slurry pick-up means are provided for said machine.

17. A grouting machine according to claim 16, wherein both of said pick-up means are pivotally mounted about two separated pivot axes and are spring biased in the direction of movement of said machine during grouting.

18. A grouting machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of caster wheels are connected to the underside of said machine in spaced relation to each other.

19. A grouting machine according to claim 1, wherein a pivotal set of caster wheels are attached to the front portion of said machine and are adapted for contact with a floor surface for moving said machine into grouting position.

20. A grouting machine according to claim 9, wherein a suspension frame is connected to said grout dispensing means and wherein said vibrator means is mounted to said suspension frame.

21. A grouting machine according to claim 9, wherein a drive motor is provided for supplying mechanical energy to said vibrator means and wherein energy to said vibrator means and wherein said vibrator means includes a sheave and eccentric weight vibrator element.

22. A grouting machine according to claim 20, wherein a frame system is provided for said machine and wherein said suspension frame is suspended from said frame system by motion absorbing elements arranged in first and second planes.

23. A grouting machine according to claim 22, wherein said first and second planes are arranged perpendicularly with respect to each other.

24. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

support means,

grout dispensing means operatively connected to said support means at a first position and adapted for depositing grout between the tiles and on the tile upper surfaces, and

removal means operatively connected to said support means at a second position and, said removal means including a power driven wiping element adapted to move across the tile upper surfaces in a manner different from the movement of said machine for removing excess grout from the tile upper surfaces

25. A grouting machine according to claim 24, wherein grout is composed of particulate material suspended in a diluent and wherein a slurry formation means is provided for adding a diluent to the deposited grout to form a slurry on the tile upper surfaces.

26. A grouting machine according to claim 24, wherein said removal means comprises:

a slurry take-up roller adapted for rotary motion about its longitudinal action and adapted for wiping grout slurry away from the upper surfaces of the tiles,

a perforated slurry intake tube positioned in frictional contact with said take-up roller and adapted to be rotated thereby, and

an air evacuating means connected to said slurry intake tube and adapted for conducting air and grout slurry through the perforation of said intake tube and through said intake tube.

27. A grouting machine according to claim 26, wherein said removal means comprises a driven roller positioned in frictional contact with said slurry take-up roller and adapted to rotate said take-up roller.

28. A grouting machine according to claim 27, wherein a drive motor is provided on said machine and is adapted for providing mechanical power to rotate said drive roller.

29. A grouting machine according to claim 26, wherein a slurry storage tank is provided for deposit of slurry conducted through said air evacuating means and wherein a vacuum pump is operably connected to the head space within said storage tank and is adapted for removing air therefrom.

30. A grouting machine according to claim 25, wherein said removal means comprises at least two slurry pick-up means each having a slurry take-up roller, and a perforated slurry intake tube.

31. A grouting machine according to claim 29, wherein a drive motor is provided on said machine and is adapted for providing mechanical power to rotate said drive roller and wherein the air exhaust line from said vacuum pump is operatively connected to supply cooling air to said drive motor.

32. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

support means,

grout dispensing means operatively connected to said support means at a first position and adapted for depositing grout between the tiles and on the upper surfaces of the tiles, said dispensing means having front and rear wipers and side positioned runners adapted for confining the application of grout to a defined pathway, and

removal means operatively connected to said support means at a second position and, said removal means including a power driven wiping element adapted to move across the tile upper surfaces in a manner different from the movement of said machine for removing excess grout from the upper surfaces.

33. A grouting machine according to claim 32, wherein side wiper shoes are positioned and inwardly directed angle immediately to the rear of said dispensing means and are adapted to wipe any grout which oozed beyond said defined pathway back into the pathway.

34. A grouting machine according to claim 32, wherein said rear wiper is adapted for feeding downwardly as it is worn away by abrasion against the grout and tiles.

35. A grouting machine according to claim 32, wherein a front wheel set is pivotally mounted on the front portion of said machine and is adapted to be pivoted out of contact with a floor during grouting to provide intimate contact of said front and rear wipers and said side runners with the upper surfaces of the tiles.

36. A grouting machine according to claim 32, wherein said removal means comprises a slurry formation means for adding a diluent to the grout dispensed from said dispensing means and a slurry separator means for removing excess diluent from the said slurry.

37. A grouting machine according to claim 36, wherein said slurry separator means comprises a slurry storage tank and a filter means for retaining the particulate matter in the slurry and passing through the diluent.

38. A grouting machine according to claim 36, wherein diluent removed from the slurry is recycled for use through said slurry formation means.

39. A grouting machine according to claim 36, wherein said slurry formation means comprises a diluent spray tube located between said grout dispensing means and said removal means.

40. A grouting machine according to claim 32, wherein a pull handle is attached to the front portion thereof for manually moving said machine forward over the positioned floor tiles.

41. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

a. grout dispensing means adapted for depositing grout into spaces between the tiles and on the tile upper surfaces,

b. diluent addition means operatively connected to said grout dispensing means and adapted for supplying a grout diluent to the grout remaining on the tile upper surfaces to form a slurry therewith, and

c. grout pick-up means operatively connected to said grout dispensing means and adapted for removing slurry from the tile upper surfaces.

42. A grouting machine machine according to claim 41, wherein said grout pick-up means includes a continuous belt which is adapted in power driven contact with the said positioned floor tiles.

43. A grouting machine according to claim 42, wherein said continuous belt is driven in a forward direction with respect the motion of said grouting machine with respect to said positioned floor tiles.

44. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein said grout pick-up means comprises at least one slurry take-up roller.

45. A grouting machine according to claim 44, wherein said grout pick-up means comprises two slurry take-up rollers.

46. A grout machine according to claim 42, wherein said grouting pick-up means includes a belt centering means.

47. A grouting machine according to claim 42, wherein said grout pick-up means includes an adjustable belt removal means.

48. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein grout pick-up means comprises a rear roller drum frame which has at least two degrees of freedom of motion.

49. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein said grout dispensing means comprises a grout applying paddle wheel adapted for power driven rotation of a plurality of trowel blades.

50. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein said machine comprises a removable slurry tank adapted to contain grout slurry removed from the upper surfaces of said positioned floor tiles.

51. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein wiper means is associated with said grout dispensing means adapted for wiping excess grout from the upper surfaces of the tiles.

52. A grouting machine according to claim 41, wherein an air evacuating means is operatively connected to said grout pick-up means.

53. A grouting machine according to claim 52, wherein a grout intake means is connected to said air evacuating means.

54. A grouting machine according to claim 41 including a belt depressor means.

55. A grouting machine according to claim 54, wherein said belt depressor means is adapted for adjustments in depression pressure.

56. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

a. support means,

b. grout dispensing means operatively connected to said support means at a first position and adapted for depositing grout between the tiles and on the tile upper surfaces, and

c. removal means operatively connected to said support means at a second position and, said removal means including a power driven wiping element adapted to move across the tile upper surfaces in a manner different from the movement of said machine for removing excess grout from the tile upper surfaces.

57. A grouting machine machine according to claim 56, wherein said removal means includes a continuous belt which is adapted for power driven contact with said positioned floor tiles.

58. A grouting machine according to claim 57, wherein said grout pick-up means includes a belt centering means.

59. A grouting machine according to claim 56, wherein said removal means comprises a rear roller drum frame which has at least two degrees of freedom of motion.

60. A grouting machine according to claim 56, wherein said removal means comprises a grout applying paddle wheel adapted for power driven rotation of a plurality of trowel blades.

61. A grouting machine according to claim 56, wherein a wiper means is associated with said grout dispensing means and is adapted for wiping excess grout from the upper surfaces of the tiles.

62. A grouting machine according to claim 56, wherein an air evacuating means is operatively connected to said grout pick-up means.

63. A grouting machine according to claim 56 including a belt depressor means.

64. A grouting machine for applying grout to positioned floor tiles comprising:

grout dispensing means adapted for depositing grout between the tiles and on the upper surfaces of the tiles,

said dispensing means having rear wipers and side positioned runners adapted for confining the application of grout to a defined pathway, and

removal means operatively connected to said grout dispensing means and, said removal means including a power driven wiping element adapted to move across the tile upper surfaces in a manner different from the movement of said machine for removing excess grout from the tile upper surfaces.

65. A grouting machine machine according to claim 64, wherein said removal means includes a continuous belt which is adapted in power driven contact with said positioned floor tiles.

66. A grouting machine according to claim 65, wherein said grout pick-up means includes a belt centering means.

67. A grouting machine according to claim 64, wherein removal means comprises a rear roller drum frame which has at least two degrees of freedom of motion.

68. A grouting machine according to claim 64, wherein said removal means comprises a grout applying paddle wheel adapted for power driven rotation of a plurality of trowel blades.

69. A grouting machine according to claim 64, wherein an air evacuating means is operatively connected to said grout pick-up means.

70. A grouting machine according to claim 64 including a belt depressor means.