Patents by Inventor Carl B. Kieranen
Carl B. Kieranen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20080131205Abstract: A wheeled screeding apparatus includes a vibrating member adjustably mounted at an end of a frame portion of a wheeled support, with the vibrating member at least partially supporting the end of the frame portion. The vibrating member is generally vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion to adjust a level of the vibrating member relative to the wheeled support. A level control is operable to automatically adjust the vibrating member relative to the frame portion in response to an output of a level sensor, with the level control automatically adjusting the vibrating member relative to the frame portion to substantially maintain the frame portion at a desired orientation relative to horizontal as the screeding device is moved over and through the uncured concrete in a screeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann
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Patent number: 7320558Abstract: A screeding apparatus and method for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating member. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating member and/or the grade setting device. The grade setting device may be vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The level of the screeding apparatus may be automatically adjustable to maintain a desired level and angle of attack of the vibrating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J Quenzi, Russ E Stein, Mark A Pietila, Carl B Kieranen, Philip D Halonen, Howard E Hohmann, Jr.
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Patent number: 7195423Abstract: 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 wheeled support may have a front frame portion and a pair of front wheels rotatably mounted at the front frame portion, and may have a rear frame portion and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted at the rear frame portion. The plow assembly may be adjustably mounted to the front frame portion and may be vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion via an actuator. The plow assembly includes at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip D Halonen, Russ E Stein, Mark A Pietila, Michael R Keranen, Carl B Kieranen
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Patent number: 7175363Abstract: A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member of a screed head assembly into engagement with a concrete surface at a time and place where the vibrating member is not positioned over an overlap area of already screeded concrete. The vibrating member is automatically lowered onto newly placed concrete at or near the junction or cold-joint between the already screeded concrete and the area of newly placed concrete, so as to avoid depressions in the already placed concrete. Optionally, the soft landing control system may include a timing device and may lower the vibrating member after a period of time following an activating event. Optionally, the control system may detect when the vibrating device is positioned at or near the newly placed concrete and may lower the vibrating member in response to such detection.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J Quenzi, Carl B Kieranen, Frank E Anderson, Jeffrey W Torvinen, Mark A Pietila
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Patent number: 7144191Abstract: A contouring machine control system, contouring/smoothing method, and kit for enabling a contouring machine to automatically contour three-dimensional surfaces includes a contouring member, such as a screed or dirt grading blade, a target either attached to the contouring member or located at a remote location, a tracking device at the other of the contouring member or remote location that tracks the target and measures the position of the target in three dimensions, a proximity sensor adjacent one end of the contouring member to detect its height above a physical reference, and a controller/computer for controlling the height of the two ends of the contouring member. One of the ends is controlled as a function of a stored profile of the desired surface to be contoured and the target or tracking device position, while the second end is controlled as a function of the current height of the proximity sensor above the reference.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Carl B Kieranen, Charles A Hallstrom, Glen R Simula, Nils P Ruonavaara, James D Waineo
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Patent number: 7121762Abstract: A screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating member. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating member and/or the grade setting device. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable, such as via a laser plane responsive control system, to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The level of the screeding apparatus may be automatically adjustable to maintain a desired level and angle of attack of the vibrating member. The vibrating member may be activated only when the screeding apparatus is moved in a screeding direction so as to reduce depressions that otherwise may occur if the vibrating member vibrates on the uncured concrete when not moving.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann, Jr.
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Patent number: 7044681Abstract: A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member of a screed head assembly into engagement with a concrete surface at a time and place where the vibrating member is not positioned over an overlap area of already screeded concrete. The vibrating member is automatically lowered onto newly placed concrete at or near the junction or cold-joint between the already screeded concrete and the area of newly placed concrete, so as to avoid depressions in the already placed concrete. Optionally, the soft landing control system may include a timing device and may lower the vibrating member after a period of time following an activating event. Optionally, the control system may detect when the vibrating device is positioned at or near the newly placed concrete and may lower the vibrating member in response to such detection.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J Quenzi, Carl B Kieranen, Frank E Anderson, Jeffrey W Torvinen, Mark A Pietila
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Patent number: 6976805Abstract: A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen
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Patent number: 6953304Abstract: A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2003Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen
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Patent number: 6929420Abstract: A device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at opposite ends by height adjustment mechanisms. The height adjustment mechanisms raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of at least one end of the contouring assembly is based on a comparison of its measured position with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. A pivot or tilting controller may control the tilting of the contouring assembly to follow the slope of the profile stored in computer memory.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignees: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc., Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, James D. Waineo
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Publication number: 20040190991Abstract: A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member of a screed head assembly into engagement with a concrete surface at a time and place where the vibrating member is not positioned over an overlap area of already screeded concrete. The vibrating member is automatically lowered onto newly placed concrete at or near the junction or cold-joint between the already screeded concrete and the area of newly placed concrete, so as to avoid depressions in the already placed concrete. Optionally, the soft landing control system may include a timing device and may lower the vibrating member after a period of time following an activating event. Optionally, the control system may detect when the vibrating device is positioned at or near the newly placed concrete and may lower the vibrating member in response to such detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Frank E. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Mark A. Pietila
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Publication number: 20040086338Abstract: A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen
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Patent number: 6695532Abstract: A concrete finishing apparatus and method for smoothing and flattening partially cured concrete to a close-tolerance surface includes a movable unit which is movable and entirely supported on or over a partially cured concrete surface and at least one rotatable finishing member, such as a cylindrical tube, roller or the like, mounted to the movable unit. The rotatable finishing member is positioned at the partially cured concrete surface and rotatable to engage and finish the surface of the partially cured concrete to a high quality, close-tolerance flat and level concrete floor surface. The rotatable finishing member is preferably rotatable in a direction generally opposite to the direction of travel of the movable unit to enhance the finishing process and to carry any cement paste or residue forward with the finishing member to fill in any low areas as the concrete finishing apparatus moves over the partially cured concrete.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: David W. Somero, David M. Somero, Philip J. Quenzi, Philip D. Halonen, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Paul H. Poyhonen, Robert A. Peterson
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Patent number: 6623208Abstract: A concrete placing apparatus is provided for placing uncured concrete on a support surface, such as an elevated deck of a building. The apparatus comprises a base unit and a movable support, with a conduit assembly extending therebetween. A supply end of the conduit assembly is positioned at the base unit and is connected to a supply line for uncured concrete or other material, while a dispensing end of the conduit assembly is supported by the movable support and extends outwardly therefrom to dispense uncured concrete or other material through a discharge outlet. The movable support is movable arcuately and/or radially relative to the base unit to dispense the concrete in a generally uniform manner over a targeted area. The apparatus may further include a screeding device at the discharge outlet to grade, level, compact and smooth the concrete as it is placed.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Mark A. Pietila
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Patent number: 6588976Abstract: A concrete placing apparatus is provided for placing uncured concrete on a support surface, such as an elevated deck of a building. The apparatus comprises a movable base unit and a movable support unit, with a conduit assembly extending therebetween. A supply end of the conduit assembly is positioned at the base unit and is connected to a supply line for uncured concrete or other material, while a dispensing end of the conduit assembly is supported by the movable support and extends outwardly therefrom to dispense uncured concrete or other material through a discharge outlet. The movable support is movable arcuately and/or radially relative to the base unit to dispense the concrete in a generally uniform manner over a targeted area. The apparatus may further include a plowing and/or screeding device at the discharge outlet to grade, level, compact and smooth the concrete as it is placed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Mark A. Pietila
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Publication number: 20030089050Abstract: A device and method for measuring an initial camber of a beam includes a support member positionable at a beam of a structure. The support member includes a laser receiver for receiving a laser reference plane at a first location when the support member is positioned at an end of the beam and at a second location when the support member is positioned at a central region of the beam. The initial camber of the beam is then derived by determining a difference between the first and second locations on the laser receiver. A loose shoring system provides an adjustable length support section and a positive stop for limiting deflection of the beam at a desired amount generally equal to the measured initial camber of the beam. The stop is adjustable to set a gap approximately equal to the expected deflection or initial camber of the beam as desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventors: Eldon Tipping, Philip J. Quenzi, Russ Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen
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Publication number: 20030068200Abstract: A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen
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Publication number: 20020192026Abstract: A concrete finishing apparatus and method for smoothing and flattening partially cured concrete to a close-tolerance surface includes a movable unit which is movable and entirely supported on or over a partially cured concrete surface and at least one rotatable finishing member, such as a cylindrical tube, roller or the like, mounted to the movable unit. The rotatable finishing member is positioned at the partially cured concrete surface and rotatable to engage and finish the surface of the partially cured concrete to a high quality, close-tolerance flat and level concrete floor surface. The rotatable finishing member is preferably rotatable in a direction generally opposite to the direction of travel of the movable unit to enhance the finishing process and to carry any cement paste or residue forward with the finishing member to fill in any low areas as the concrete finishing apparatus moves over the partially cured concrete.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: David W. Somero, David M. Somero, Philip J. Quenzi, Philip D. Halonen, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Paul H. Poyhonen, Robert A. Peterson
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Publication number: 20020098039Abstract: A contouring device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at opposite ends by a pair of fluid cylinders. The fluid cylinders are controlled to raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of one of the fluid cylinders is based on a comparison of the measured position of a first end of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. The measurement of the position of the first end of the contouring assembly is achieved by a tracking device which tracks the position of a target positioned on the first end of the contouring assembly and which determines the three dimensional position of the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, James D. Waineo
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Patent number: RE39834Abstract: A contouring device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at opposite ends by a pair of fluid cylinders. The fluid cylinders are controlled to raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of one of the fluid cylinders is based on a comparison of the measured position of a first end of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. The measurement of the position of the first end of the contouring assembly is achieved by a tracking device which tracks the position of a target positioned on the first end of the contouring assembly and which determines the three dimensional position of the target.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignees: Michigan Technological University, Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, James D. Waineo