Powered strike-off plow

• US 7,407,339 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somero Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Somero Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Keranen, Michael R., Pietila, Mark A., Stein, Russ E., Halonen, Philip D., Kieranen, Carl B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie; Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US11/674,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 404 83- 848, 404/103, 404/114, 404/117, 404/118
• US Class Current: 404/118
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/006 by laser or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/15 for laying-down uncoated stone or similar materials, or for striking-off or spreading same without compacting, e.g. for crushed rock base courses, sand cushions for paving E01C19/466 , E01C19/52 take precedence; distributing E01C19/20; laying down and rolling E01C19/482
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/187 solely for spreading-out or striking-off deposited mixtures, e.g. spread-out screws, strike-off boards
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/402 the tools being hand-guided
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/405 with spreading-out, levelling or smoothing means other than the tamping or vibrating means for compacting or smoothing, e.g. with screws for spreading-out the previously dumped material, with non-vibratory lengthwise reciprocated smoothing beam E01C19/407 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A wheeled strike-off apparatus is movable over a surface of uncured concrete or subgrade materials and is operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface. The apparatus includes a wheeled support and a plow assembly. The plow assembly may be adjustably mounted to a front frame portion and may be vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion. The plow assembly may include a plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade and/or may include a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after the plow member establishes the desired grade. The apparatus may include a user input that is adjustable by an operator to adjust a down pressure of the plow assembly at the concrete when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction.

Claims

1. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete and a concrete surface working member for engaging and smoothing the concrete surface at the established grade when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member relative to said concrete surface working member to establish the desired grade of the concrete in the path of travel ahead of said concrete surface working member when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said concrete surface working member of said plow assembly at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, said user input being actuatable by the operator to actuate an actuator that urges said plow assembly downward relative to said wheeled support to increase the down pressure of said concrete surface working member of said plow assembly during rearward movement of said wheeled support.

2. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1 including a controller for automatically controlling the elevation of said plow member in response to said signal from said laser receiver.

3. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 2, wherein said controller is operable to automatically control the elevation of said plow member in response to a direction signal indicative of the direction of travel of said wheeled support.

4. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rear wheel comprises a pair of rear wheels and said at least one front wheel comprises a pair of front wheels.

8. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1, wherein said plow assembly is adjustably mounted at said forward frame portion and supported by said forward frame portion.

9. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1, wherein said plow assembly is attached to a support arm that is attached to said forward frame portion at a location rearward of said front wheels, said support arm extending from said location and forwardly of said front wheels.

11. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1, wherein said plow assembly is attached to said forward frame portion and is at least substantially supported by the concrete surface when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction.

12. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 11, wherein said concrete surface working comprises a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after said plow member establishes the desired grade.

13. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 1, wherein said wheels are rotatably driven to move said concrete working device over and through the uncured concrete surface.

5. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member to establish the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said plow assembly at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, wherein said wheeled support includes a sensor at said rear frame portion that is operable to detect a tilt of said rear frame portion about a longitudinal axis of said rear frame portion, the detected tilt being indicative of one of said at least one rear wheel engaging a surface irregularity at the subgrade upon which the wheels travel, said wheeled concrete working device being operable to reduce the rearward speed of said wheeled support in response to a detection of a surface irregularity by said sensor.

6. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 5, wherein said wheeled concrete working device substantially maintains said plow assembly at a desired orientation when at least one of said at least one front wheel engages the detected surface irregularity.

7. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 6, wherein said wheeled concrete working device increases the rearward speed of said wheeled support after said front wheels have passed the detected surface irregularity.

10. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member to establish the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction;

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said plow assembly at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

wherein said plow assembly is attached to a support arm that is attached to said forward frame portion at a location rearward of said front wheels, said support arm extending from said location and forwardly of said front wheels, and wherein said plow assembly and said support arm are pivotable relative to said forward frame portion about a generally vertical pivot axis and about a generally horizontal pivot axis, said generally horizontal pivot axis extending laterally and generally transverse to the direction of travel of said wheeled support.

14. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction;

said plow assembly including a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after said plow member establishes the desired grade when said wheeled support is moved in the rearward direction;

said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member to establish the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said vibrating member at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, said user input being actuatable by the operator to urge said vibrating member downward relative to said wheeled support to increase the down pressure of said vibrating member during rearward movement of said wheeled support.

15. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14 including a controller for automatically controlling the elevation of said plow member in response to said signal from said laser receiver.

16. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 15, wherein said controller is operable to control the elevation of said plow member in response to a direction signal indicative of the direction of travel of said wheeled support.

17. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14, wherein said at least one rear wheel comprises a pair of rear wheels and said at least one front wheel comprises a pair of front wheels.

21. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14, wherein said plow assembly is adjustably mounted at said forward frame portion and supported by said forward frame portion.

22. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14, wherein said plow assembly is attached to a support arm that is attached to said forward frame portion at a location rearward of said front wheels, said support arm extending from said location and forwardly of said front wheels.

24. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14, wherein said plow assembly is attached to said forward frame portion and is at least substantially supported by the concrete surface when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction.

25. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 14, wherein said wheels are rotatably driven to move said concrete working device over and through the uncured concrete surface.

18. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction;

said plow assembly including a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after said plow member establishes the desired grade when said wheeled support is moved in the rearward direction;

said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member to establish the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said vibrating member at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction, wherein said wheeled support includes a sensor at said rear frame portion that is operable to detect a tilt of said rear frame portion about a longitudinal axis of said rear frame portion, the detected tilt being indicative of one of said at least one rear wheel engaging a surface irregularity at the subgrade upon which the wheels travel, said wheeled concrete working device being operable to reduce the rearward speed of said wheeled support in response to a detection of a surface irregularity by said sensor.

19. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 18, wherein said wheeled concrete working device substantially maintains said plow assembly at a desired orientation when at least one of said at least one front wheel engages the detected surface irregularity.

20. The wheeled concrete working device of claim 19, wherein said wheeled concrete working device increases the rearward speed of said wheeled support after said front wheels have passed the detected surface irregularity.

23. A wheeled concrete working device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled concrete working device comprising:

a wheeled support selectively movable in a forward direction and a rearward direction, said wheeled support comprising a forward frame portion supported by at least one front wheel and a rearward frame portion pivotally attached to said forward frame portion and supported by at least one rear wheel;

a plow assembly mounted to said forward frame portion, said plow assembly including at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction;

said plow assembly including a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after said plow member establishes the desired grade when said wheeled support is moved in the rearward direction;

said wheeled concrete working device being operable in response to a signal from a laser receiver mounted at said plow assembly to adjust an elevation of said plow member to establish the desired grade of the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction;

a user input that is adjustable by an operator of said wheeled concrete working device to adjust a down pressure of said vibrating member at the concrete when said wheeled support is moved in said rearward direction; and

wherein said plow assembly is attached to a support arm that is attached to said forward frame portion at a location rearward of said front wheels, said support arm extending from said location and forwardly of said front wheels, and wherein said plow assembly and said support arm are pivotable relative to said forward frame portion about a generally vertical pivot axis and about a generally horizontal pivot axis, said generally horizontal pivot axis extending laterally and generally transverse to the direction of travel of said wheeled support.