Abstract: A high performance twin engine riding trowel for finishing concrete. A rigid frame mounts two downwardly projecting rotors that counter-rotate simultaneously. A guard cage mounted to the frame prevents inadvertent contact between the rotors and foreign objects. An operator sits in a seat mounted to the frame and steers the rotors with a pair of primary control levers that tilt the rotors to generate steering forces. The longitudinal pitch of the blades on each rotor is adjustable. Throttle controls are interconnected to synchronize the engines at low throttle and higher speeds. Illumination may be provided by lights mounted on the frame. Each engine slidably mounts a generally parallelepiped block attached to the frame. The engines counter-rotate while establishing generally coaxial, horizontal axes of rotation. Each engine drives a rotor through a belt system attached to a driveshaft.

Abstract: A laser controlled automatic grade control system for finishing plastic concrete mounts the finishing tool behind the support towers to resist furrowing. The system functions with a variety of elongated, multi-section concrete finishing tools such as triangular truss screeds or the like, all of which can be quick connected or disconnected from the tower system. Skis that support the device facilitate sliding, winch-driven movement over and through plastic concrete. Spaced apart, vertically upwardly extending towers support the device along the length of the finishing tool. The towers are cylinder-adjustable in length. Cylinder extension and retraction are governed by a sensor-controlled system that is laser operated. The sensors respond to a preestablished laser beacon to control finishing tool elevation as the device traverses the pour in response to its winches.

Abstract: A triple roller tube concrete finisher that uses rotating tubes to strike-off, screed and finish concrete. The machine rides upon concrete forms and comprises a box-like, generally parallelepiped, frame supported by a plurality of rotary rollers. The frame houses an engine, cleaning system and a hydraulic system. The engine powers the hydraulic system that rotates the rollers. Two of the rollers provide locomotion to the machine while simultaneously screeding and finishing concrete the machine moves over. Preferably, these drive rollers are bidirectional to facilitate forward and rearward movement of the finishing machine. One of the rollers functions like a strike-off to prevent ride up. This roller rotates counter to the drive rollers to grade and displace excess unlevel concrete away from the leading edge of the machine. Preferably, the vertical height of the strike-off roller and its axis of rotation may be adjusted to vary the resulting depth of the concrete passing thereunder.

Abstract: A concrete finishing tool that quickly changes in length to selectively bypass columns, curbs and other obstacles during concrete finishing includes a unique foldable bypass system at an extremity that can be folded between extended and retracted positions. When actively deployed the bypass is aligned for finishing concrete. In the retracted position it assumes a clearance orientation out of contact with the concrete. The bypass comprises a finishing wing for contacting concrete, a linkage system and a vibrator. The wing may comprise a forward strike-off and a trailing float. The linkage system comprises a pair of abutting links interconnected at an axially offset intermediate pivot point. One of the links is pivotally attached to the tool and the other link is pivotally attached to the wing. When the linkage system folds the links are moved between length additive and length subtractive orientations.

Abstract: A guard clearance system for motorized riding trowels adapted to allow finishing of a slab surface immediately adjacent an obstacle. The system comprises a movable arc of trowel guard cage displaceably coupled to an end of the trowel guard cage and spaced apart buffer wheels mounted to the cage. The arc is displaceable between a deployed position generally aligned with a lower ring of the cage and a retracted position. When retracted an unguarded segment of the trowel rotor sweep is established, allowing the finishing blades to be deployed immediately adjacent a wall or other obstacle. A displaceable coupling for moving the arc between the deployed position and the retracted position extends from the cage to the arc. In a mechanical embodiment the displaceable coupling is a pair of slidably adjustable brackets extending from the arc to the cage. The displaceable coupling may comprise electromechanical elements for displacing the arc between deployed and retracted positions.

Abstract: A self-propelled, dual motor, variable width riding trowel for finishing a concrete surface. The riding trowel comprises a frame mounting a seat for an operator and controls accessible by the operator for steering and controlling the trowel. Adjustable subframe blocks mount a pair of motors, each driving a bladed rotor for frictionally contacting the concrete surface and supporting the frame. Displaceable gearboxes, pivotally mounted to the subframe, transfer rotation from each motor to its rotor. The motors are interlinked by an extensible driveshaft extending between the gearboxes that synchronizes the rotors. Lever arms disposed beneath the frame tilt the gearboxes and rotors in response to the controls for steering the trowel. An extensible guard cage, mounted to the frame, prevents inadvertent contact between the rotors and foreign objects. The trowel may be expanded to receive finishing pans on the blades of the rotors. Expansion of the trowel requires displacement of several components.

Abstract: A concrete placing, screeding and finishing tool that bypasses columns, curbs and other obstacles during concrete finishing. An elongated finishing body comprises retractable bypass wings. The body comprises a front strike-off, a trailing float and a primary eccentrically weighted shaft extending through the body for vibrating it when vigorously rotated, The bypass is coupled to an outer end of the body and may be deployed either in an active position, aligned with the body for finishing concrete, or in a displaced clearance orientation out of contact with the concrete, The bypass comprises a finishing wing, a linkage system and a vibration mechanism, The wing comprises a forward strike-off, a trailing float and a reinforcing tread plate extending from the strike-off to the bull float, The linkage system comprises a bracket secured to an end of the body and a pair of locking, slidable struts extending from the bracket to the wing.

Abstract: An automatic, self locking clutch system effectuates blade pitch control on concrete finishing trowels. The clutch instantly releases upon the touch of the operator. A trowel has a downwardly projecting, motor-driven rotor comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart finishing blades directly contacting the concrete surface. A handle extends from a rigid frame and terminates in handlebars grasped by an operator. Control arms extend from the blades into contact with a plate to vary pitch by conventionally rotating the blades about their longitudinal axis. A clutch operatively interconnects a lever and a linkage extending to the swash plate. The clutch comprises a tubular housing coaxially receiving a drive shaft that rotatably controls an internal rotor. A set of spring biased, cylindrical rollers are confined within channels defined in the rotor between major and minor lobes thereof.

Abstract: A self-propelled paver that distributes, consolidates, places and finishes polymer concrete to rapidly resurface roadbeds. A mobile, wheeled chassis mounts an adjustable hopper that receives premixed polymer from a mixer truck that precedes the paver. A finishing assembly secured to the chassis has a distribution assembly for applying concrete transversely across the surface, and a trailing finishing screed that surfaces and densifies the concrete. An active, hydraulic suspension dynamically orients the chassis and the finishing assembly with the roadbed. Individual height adjusting cylinders can be extended or contracted by an automatic grade control that logically senses grade through an external string line. The distribution system comprises an open bottom exposing the surface to be paved, and an open top adapted to receive concrete from a trough extending from the hopper. A bidirectional auger is rotatably disposed within a distribution box for moving concrete upon the surface.

Abstract: A torsionally stabilized automatic grade control system for finishing plastic concrete is capable of controlling a variety of different elongated, multi-section concrete finishing tools such as a vibratory screed or the like, with or without forms. Skis that support the device facilitate sliding, winch driven movement over and through plastic concrete. Spaced apart, vertically upwardly extending towers support the device; they are disposed periodically along the length of the finishing tool. Each tower comprises a pair of extensible, spaced apart stanchions hinged to the skis and disposed on opposite sides of the tool. An upper strut extends between the stanchions. A sleeve coaxially fitted to each stanchion is synchronized with the opposite sleeve by a rigid transverse bridge. The bridge is adjustably coupled to the strut. The upper portion of the stanchions comprises a hydraulic cylinder. Each cylinder is controlled by an adjacent sensor secured to the strut to maintain the attached tool level.

Abstract: An automatic grading control device for finishing plastic concrete controls several different elongated, multi-section concrete finishing tools such as vibratory screeds or the like, with or without forms. Supporting skis facilitate sliding, winch driven movement of the device relative to the plastic concrete. Spaced apart and vertically upwardly extending towers are supported by the skis and disposed periodically along the length of the finishing tool. Each tower comprises a pair of elongated, spaced apart stanchions disposed on opposite sides of the tool that are braced with a rigid, adjustable upper strut. The strut extends between the stanchions and forms the top of the tower. Movable sleeves coaxially fitted to the stanchions are synchronized by rigid transverse bridges that extend between the sleeves above the tool. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders extending between the strut and the bridge raise and lower the tool thereby controlling level.

Abstract: A riding trowel used for concrete finishing includes a dolly wheel lifting system. The lifting system elevates the trowel out of contact with the concrete surface when transporting, adjusting, or maintenancing the trowel. The trowel comprises a rigid metallic frame normally offset from the concrete surface to be finished by a pair of downwardly projecting, bladed rotors. A pair of primary steering control levers is linked to the rotors beneath the frame for trowel operation. Each rotor assembly comprises a rotatable blade assembly depending downwardly into contact with the concrete surface. The wheel system comprises a cooperating pair of spaced apart, dolly wheel assemblies which are removably fitted to the front and back of the frame, so that the trowel may be pushed around for loading and unloading purposes in directions generally coincident with its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight riding trowel for finishing concrete of enhanced maneuverability. A rigid frame is supported above the concrete by a pair of downwardly projecting synchronized rotors, each of which revolves multiple blades frictionally contacting the surface. Lights attached to frame corners provide illumination. The operator manually steers with a pair of primary control levers which tilt the rotors to generate steering forces. The pitch of each rotor blade is controlled manually or electrically, and a cable-driven clutch fork system is activated to vary pitch between minimum and maximum. Each of the tiltable rotor assemblies is driven by gear boxes coupled to the motor through a flexible disk drive shaft. Each gear box is mounted to the frame underside by a pivot steering box. Parallel lever arms extending beneath the frame in a direction generally perpendicular to the biaxial plane defined by the rotors are deflected by the primary control levers.

Abstract: A vibrating screed for striking off, float finishing and vibrating plastic concrete in a single pass, without being supported upon forms. A rigid, buoyant pan which floats and supports the screed comprises a generally planar surface portion in contact with the plastic concrete and a terminal portion coupled to an associated blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a central L-bracket having a lower horizontal portion substantially parallel with the pan, which terminates in a leading edge adapted to first contact and strike-off unfinished concrete. An associated face plate includes a central portion adapted to be rigidly fastened to the pan terminal portion with the L-bracket substantially sandwiched therebetween. The face plate comprises a downwardly angled guard member which defines a flotation volume between itself and the lower L-bracket, and an upper, diverging wing portion which prevents the accumulation of stricken-off concrete interiorly of the pan.

Abstract: A concrete finishing apparatus includes a supporting frame having first and second spaced apart end sections engaging first and second guide tracks for advancing the apparatus along the length of an area of plastic concrete. A support element extends between the first and second end sections and includes vertically extending front and rear surfaces and an upper surface interconnecting the front and rear surfaces. A carriage is laterally translatable along the length of the support element and includes front and rear legs which straddle the support element. The carriage includes a concrete finishing device which is coupled to the front leg of the carriage for engaging and finishing the plastic concrete in front of the support element. A power source is coupled to the rear leg of the carriage and is interconnected with the concrete finishing device to energize the concrete finishing device.

Abstract: A material spreader system is designed to dispense a topping material through a widthwise slot onto the surface of a plastic substance such as concrete lying within an area having a length, width, and opposing sides. The material spreader system includes a spreader for storing a supply of topping material and for dispensing a layer of the topping material as the spreader is translated along a path. A drive system is coupled to the spreader to translate the spreader across the path formed by the bridge to thereby dispense a layer of topping material over the entire area. Sequential translations of the spreader across the bridge followed by sequential translations of the bridge along the length of the area covers the entire surface of the area with a layer of topping material.

Abstract: A rotating tube concrete finisher is controlled and driven by an end handle assembly including an internal combustion engine. An outrigger wheel unit is coupled to the end handle assembly to form a stable end support for the end handle assembly and to support the weight of the end handle assembly including the engine. A pair of end handle assemblies can be coupled to opposing ends of a cylindrical finishing roller and may be selectively operated to drive the finishing roller in either a first or a second direction of rotation. A winch system facilitates uphill and downhill translation of the concrete finisher on a sloping concrete surface and enables the system to be operated by one man without undue effort.