APPLICATION CROSS-REFERENCES

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/256,904, filed Feb. 24, 1999, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for screeding concrete, cement, mud, sand, dirt, grain or other similar dry or semi-fluid materials (hereinafter “concrete”) and more particularly to a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus for screeding concrete.

It is envisaged that the invention will find application in the field of finished concrete work, more particularly in the field of leveling, smoothing or spreading placed concrete before solidification of same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

To complete small concrete jobs at home, such as a new driveway, sidewalk or deck, a hand-held screed board is used to level, smooth or spread recently poured or deposited concrete. Heavier particles are forced downward during this process. The user holds the screed board in his hands and pushes and pulls the board across the top of the concrete to level, smooth or spread same. It is also known that by setting up forms, the user is able to obtain a more level and smooth surface. The user extends the hand-held screed board across the forms so that the board is above and across the concrete. The user then moves the board transverse along the forms in a back and forth movement along the forms to level, smooth or spread the concrete. The problem with using a hand-held screed board is that it is labor intensive, difficult to use and requires the user to be in a bending, squatting or kneeling position, which can be uncomfortable.

To level, smooth or spread concrete in larger areas that are beyond the reach of the user, screeding the concrete becomes problematic. Either multiple persons are required to perform the job or the person is required to stand in the concrete while leveling, smoothing or spreading the concrete, which is very messy and difficult. As an alternative, most homeowners hire contractors to complete small concrete jobs, which can be very expensive.

There are machines which have been developed to level, smooth and spread concrete; however, these machines are large, difficult to transport and expensive. Furthermore, using these large machines for small jobs would not be practical. These machines are usually only practical for larger jobs because of the purchase price. These large machines require multiple operators to operate them. In short, these machines are not suitable for small jobs such as driveways, sidewalks and decks. As such, municipalities, street builders and construction companies are usually the only purchasers of these machines.

There are vibrating screed machines and tamping machines available to level, smooth and spread concrete; however, these machines only work well on flat surfaces. If these machines are utilized on a sloping surface, the concrete tends to flow down the slope due to the vibration which results in an undesirable condition.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention is providing a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus for screeding concrete.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus suitable for many different sized jobs.

Yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that utilizes inertia to screed concrete.

Still another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacturer.

Another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that allows one person to screed concrete without much effort.

Yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that is efficient in screeding concrete.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that is easily controlled and operated.

It is an aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus for reducing the amount of time to screed concrete.

It is another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that is compact and easily transportable from job to job.

Yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that is easily modified to fit the particular size of the area that requires screeding.

Still another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that can be manufactured with different size power sources depending on the application.

Another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that can be fitted with different sized screeds depending on the application.

Yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus that can be used on non-flat or sloped surfaces producing excellent results.

The above aspects are merely illustrative and should not be construed as all-inclusive. The aspects should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention rather the scope of the invention is detailed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1

illustrates a perspective back side view of a powered inertia propelled screed apparatus without control arms attached thereto;

FIG. 1A

illustrates a side view of the arm and the left and right V-shaped stationary brackets;

FIG. 2

illustrates a perspective front side view of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus without control arms attached thereto;

FIG. 3

illustrates an enlarged front side view of an irregular shaped pulley in a first position that produces the oscillating movement of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus;

FIG. 4

illustrates an enlarged front side end of the irregular shaped pulley in a second position that produces the oscillating movement of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus;

FIG. 5

illustrates a side view of a left control arm of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus;

FIG. 6

illustrates a side view of a right control arm of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus; and

FIG. 7

illustrates a left side view of the powered inertia propelled screed apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

With reference to

FIG. 1

, a powered inertia propelled screed is illustrated and designated as numeral

10

. The powered inertia propelled screed

10

has a screed

11

used to level, smooth and spread concrete. The screed

11

rests on top of forms

12

. The screed

11

is transverse to the forms

12

and during operation of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

, the screed

11

moves from a first position to a second position or back and forth across the forms

12

transverse with respect to the forms

12

. The screed

11

can be made of a wide variety of materials such as metals (e.g., aluminum, steel), plastics, composites, wood or the like; however, in the preferred embodiment, the screed

11

is made of wood because it is less expensive and light weight with respect to other materials. The specific application and size of the work area in which the screed

11

is to be used will dictate the physical characteristics of the screed

11

. For most jobs, the screed

11

could be 14 feet in length, 2 inches in width and 6 inches in height. These physical dimensions are not meant to be limiting and may vary tremendously depending on the specific concrete job.

FIG. 7

illustrates the screed

11

connected to a plurality of angle irons

13

. The angle irons

13

are mounted to the screed

11

with bolts

14

and nuts

15

; however, most fastening means would be acceptable. For example, rivets (not shown), nails (not shown) or clamps (not shown) could be substituted for the bolts

14

and nuts

15

. The screed

11

has a bottom

16

which rests on the forms

12

. The screed

11

has sides

17

that are mounted to the angle irons

13

. The angle irons

13

have first lengths

19

, which are, parallel and connected to the sides

17

of the screed

11

and second lengths

18

, which are transverse to the sides

17

of the screed

11

. The first and second lengths

19

,

18

are at substantially right angles with respect to each other. The second lengths

18

are connected to track brackets

20

. The track brackets

20

are connected to tracks

21

. The tracks

21

are utilized for controlling the movement of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

parallel to the screed

11

and transverse to the forms

12

. The tracks

21

are shown as C brackets; however, there are many types of runners or tracks that could be utilized with the powered inertia propelled screed

10

.

The powered inertia propelled screed

10

has a platform

30

. A spacer

31

is connected to the bottom of the platform

30

. Axles

32

are attached to the spacer

31

by spacer bolts

34

. The axles

32

have a plurality of wheels

33

attached transverse to the axles

32

. The wheels

33

are assembled into or onto the tracks

21

. During operation of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

, the wheels

33

travel along the tracks

21

in a back and forth motion along the tracks

21

.

Referring to

FIG. 1

, a power source

40

is mounted onto the platform

30

opposite the side connected to the spacer

31

. In the preferred embodiment, a motor is utilized. The specifications for the motor can be adapted to the particular job. For example, if a large area is being worked and the screed

11

is required to be longer, the motor's size and horsepower may need to be increased. In the preferred embodiment, the motor has a ⅓

rd

horsepower, 120 voltage alternating current (A.C.) and 1725 revolutions per minute specification when used in conjunction with a 14 feet long, 2 inches wide and 6 inches high screed

11

. The power source

40

and screed

11

specifications can be modified according to the particular application. Furthermore, direct current (D.C.) voltage such as a car or truck battery could power a direct current (D.C.) motor. Also, internal combustion engines could be used with the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. The power source

40

powers a motor pulley

41

or first pulley. The motor pulley

41

is approximately 2½ inches in diameter. The power source

40

rotates the motor pulley

41

when power is applied to the power source

40

. The motor pulley

41

drives a motor belt

42

. In the preferred embodiment, the motor belt

42

is a V-belt that is ¾

th

on an inch wide by 10 inches long. The motor belt

42

is connected to a speed reduction pulley

43

or second pulley. The speed reduction pulley

43

is generally 3½ inches in diameter and accepts the motor belt

42

. The speed reduction pulley

43

is rotated by the motor belt

42

. Located between the motor pulley

41

and the speed reduction pulley

43

is an idler pulley

44

or fifth pulley, which acts on the motor belt

42

. The idler pulley

44

functions as a clutch and is known in the art and no further explanation is required.

A transfer axle

45

is attached at one end to the speed reduction pulley

43

. A second speed reduction pulley

46

, or third pulley, is connected to the opposite end of the transfer axle

45

. The second speed reduction pulley

46

is generally 2¼ inches in diameter and accepts a continuous belt

49

that is typically, but not necessarily, taut. The speed reduction pulley

43

rotates and transfers rotation through the transfer axle

45

to the second speed reduction pulley

46

. The transfer axle

45

is connected to a plurality of pillow block bearings

47

and is mounted to an elevation block

48

. The elevation block

48

is connected to the platform

30

on the side opposite the side of the platform connected to the elevation block

48

.

The speed reduction pulley

43

rotates and transfer rotation to the second speed reduction pulley

46

. The second speed reduction pulley

46

rotates the continuous belt

49

. It is obvious to those in the art that a transmission (not shown) or other means for reducing speed could be utilized instead of the preferred embodiment which includes the speed reduction pulley

43

, the transfer axle

45

, and the second speed reduction pulley

46

. The continuous belt

49

transfers rotation to an irregular shaped pulley

50

or fourth pulley. The irregular shaped pulley

50

is non-circular and is approximately a 9¾ of an inch mean diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the irregular shaped pulley

50

is egg-shaped or somewhat triangular. The shape of the irregular shaped pulley

50

can be varied and is crucial to the operation of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. The shape of the irregular shaped pulley

50

is necessary to generate a slight inertia imbalance when the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates. The irregular shaped pulley

50

is mounted on an axle

51

. The axle

51

is approximately ⅞

th

of an inch internal diameter and is stationary, and the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates around the axle

51

.

FIG. 2

illustrates the axle

51

mounted to a bracket

52

. The bracket

52

is mounted to the platform

30

. The axle

51

extends transverse from the bracket

52

through the irregular shaped pulley

50

. The axle

51

allows the irregular shaped pulley

50

to rotate. The end of the axle

51

not fixed to the bracket

52

has a cotter pin

60

attached to the axle

51

to prevent the irregular shaped pulley

50

from rotating off of the axle

51

.

A spacer

53

is connected to the irregular shaped pulley

50

opposite the side of the irregular shaped pulley

50

that is nearest the bracket

52

. The spacer

53

is horizontal and is not through the center of the irregular shaped pulley

50

rather the spacer

53

is located toward the outside perimeter of the irregular shaped pulley

50

. The spacer

53

is rotatably connected to an arm

54

with a ¾

th

of an inch stop nut

90

. The spacer

53

holds the arm

54

away from the irregular shaped pulley

50

so that when the arm

54

rotates, the arm

54

clears the axle

51

and cotter pin

60

. The arm

54

can be a pipe, bar or rod. The arm

54

is one inch in diameter, preferably aluminum and transverse to the spacer

53

. As the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates, the spacer

53

and arm

54

move along with the irregular shaped pulley

50

. Strap irons

80

are attached to both sides of the irregular shaped pulley

50

for strength, stability and a bearing surface for the irregular shaped pulley

50

.

The end of the arm

54

opposite the end indirectly connected to the spacer

53

is connected to a left v-shaped stationary bracket

55

and right v-shaped stationary bracket

56

, each of which can be two separate brackets. The arm

54

is rotatably mounted between the left and right v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

with a small axle

57

as shown in FIG.

1

A. The small axle

57

is transverse with the left and right stationary brackets

55

,

56

and stationary; however, a hole in the arm

54

allows the arm

54

to rotate when mounted between the left and right v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

. The end of the arm

54

attached to the small axle

57

is free to rotate around the axle

57

axis. The ends of the left and right v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

opposite the ends attached to the small axle

57

are permanently attached to the screed

11

. The rotation of the irregular shaped pulley

50

will result in the powered inertia propelled screed

10

being moved back and forth along the tracks

21

. The arm

54

attached to the left and right v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

is not free to move towards or away from the irregular shaped pulley

50

thus the powered inertia propelled screed

10

moves back and forth.

FIGS. 5 and 6

illustrate a left and right control arm

61

,

62

, respectively. The control arms

61

,

62

have first ends

63

that are connected to the screed

11

. Second ends

64

of the control arms

61

,

62

are transverse to the first ends

63

and extend upwardly with respect to the ground. Park props

65

are attached transverse to the second ends

64

of the control arms

61

,

62

for supporting the control arms

61

,

62

when the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is not in use. The park props

65

attached to the second ends

54

are rotatably connected to the control arms

61

,

62

so that the park props

65

can be moved parallel to the control arms

61

,

62

when the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is in use. Fasteners

66

are used to hold the park props

65

parallel to the control arms

61

,

62

when the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is in use. When not in use, the park props

65

are unfastened from the fasteners

66

so that the ends of the park props

65

not connected to the control arms

61

,

62

are put into contact with the ground to support the powered inertia propelled screed

10

in a park position. Paths of travel

67

of the park props

65

are illustrated. A stabilizer

70

is removably connected to the left control arm

61

and the right control arm

62

when it is desirable for one person to operate the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. The stabilizer

70

can be removed when two people are available to run the powered inertia propelled screed

10

.

A power switch

68

is attached to either the left or right control arm

61

,

62

. The power switch

68

is connected to a power cable

71

. The power cable

71

is connected to the power source

40

. The power switch

68

is used to turn the power to the power source

40

on and off. A throttle control

69

is attached to either the left or right control arm

61

,

62

. The throttle control

69

is connected to a throttle cable

72

. The throttle cable

72

is connected to the idler pulley

44

and is used to control the speed of the back and forth movement of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

in or on the tracks

21

. The throttle control

69

is a choke or throttle control such as the throttle controls used for a power motor.

To operate the powered inertia propelled screed

10

, the user fastens the park props

65

to the fasteners

66

while holding the stabilizer

70

. The user turns on the power source

40

by the power switch

68

. When power is supplied to the power source

40

, the motor pulley

41

will begin to rotate. The motor pulley

41

causes the motor belt

42

to rotate around the speed reduction pulley

43

. The speed reduction pulley

43

rotates and the transfer axle

45

transfers the rotation to the second speed reduction pulley

46

. The second speed reduction pulley

46

rotates and causes the continuous belt

49

to rotate around the irregular shaped pulley

50

.

The irregular shaped pulley

50

will start to rotate around the axle

51

. As the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates, the platform

30

mounted operatively to the wheels

33

and all the components which create the mass mounted on the platform

30

will be moved in a back and forth motion along the tracks

21

. As the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates, the end of the arm

54

attached operatively to the irregular shaped pulley

50

is moved in an irregular circular motion as defined by the shape of the irregular shaped pulley

50

. Because the arm

54

is mounted to the left and right v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

and cannot move towards or away from the irregular shaped pulley

50

during the rotation of the irregular shaped pulley

50

, the platform

30

mounted indirectly to the wheels

33

is forced to move along the tracks

21

in a back and forth or oscillating movement. Specifically, the back and forth movement is created by the location of the arm

54

with respect to the irregular shaped pulley

50

.

FIG. 3

illustrates the irregular shaped pulley

50

in a first position. In the first position, the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is moved closer to the v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

. The powered inertia propelled screed

10

is moved along the tracks

21

as the irregular shaped pulley

50

rotates because the arm

54

length is not varied or moved towards or away from the irregular shaped pulley

50

. As the powered inertia propelled screed

10

rotates from the first position to a second position as illustrated in

FIG. 4

, the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is moved away from the v-shaped stationary brackets

55

,

56

. When the irregular shaped pulley

50

is rotated, the powered inertia propelled screed

10

moves back and forth and causes the screed

11

to move back and forth across the concrete. The movement of the irregular shaped pulley

50

causes changes in direction of the mass of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

and inertia is generated in opposing directions. The weight of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is moved or jolted back and forth. The inertia causes the back and forth movement of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. Inertia in substantially equal and opposite direction is created by the rotation of the irregular shaped pulley

50

. The irregular shaped pulley

50

causes a slight inertia imbalance when the irregular shaped pulley

50

is rotated. The change in the irregular shaped pulley's

50

diameter causes a change in speed and forces acting on the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. This change in speed and forces causes inertia to act on the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. Once again, in one instance the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is in the first position as shown in

FIG. 3

which propels the screed

11

to the right. In another instance, the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is in the second position as shown in

FIG. 4

which propels the screed

11

to the left which is approximately 180 degrees from the first position. The movement of the irregular shaped pulley

50

from the first to the second position caused the weight of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

to be moved or jerked causing the screed

11

to the left when moving from the right to the left. Of course, there are more than two positions for the irregular shaped pulley

50

and the first and second positions are described for illustration purposes. The powered inertia propelled screed

10

moves back and forth along the tracks

21

because of the forces generated from the irregular shaped pulley

50

. The back and forth movement is abrupt and causes a jerking movement. As the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is moved back and forth, so moves the screed

11

. The screed

11

is moved back and forth when the irregular shaped pulley

50

is rotated. The screed's

11

back and forth movement is utilized to level, smooth or spread concrete. The back and forth movement helps to force large particles down into the concrete. As the powered inertia propelled screed

10

is operating, the user pulls or moves the powered inertia propelled screed

10

along the concrete so that the screed

11

contacts, levels and spreads the concrete.

The throttle control

69

is used to vary the speed of the power source

40

. The speed of the power source

40

will dictate the rotational speed of the irregular shaped pulley

50

. The rotational speed of the irregular shaped pulley

50

dictates the speed of the back and forth movement of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

. The speed of the back and forth movement of the powered inertia propelled screed

10

dictates the speed of the back and forth movement of the screed

11

. The user can control the screed

11

by varying the power source

40

speed.

Other objects, features, advantages and applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, this has been by way of illustration and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims.