Screeding apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for pivoting a screed assembly during screeding of placed and/or poured, uncured concrete or like loose, spreadable materials to maintain proper screeding contact by the screeding assembly with the concrete or like material by maintaining the predetermined levels of concrete or other like material acting against the screed assembly as it is moved along the concrete. The apparatus requires a support preferably of the self-propelled type, having a boom and a boom mount. The axis of the pivot extends generally perpendicularly to the screeding direction in which the screed assembly is moved. A power source, such as a fluid cylinder rotates the screed about the pivot axis, preferably in response to a leveling sensor mounted on the screed. The lateral incline of the screed perpendicular to the screeding direction may also be separately controlled. A power operated elevation control is preferably responsive to a fixed laser beam reference plane positioned externally of the screed assembly. The screed preferably includes a novel lightweight and is vibrated electrically rather than mechanically vibration assembly is vibrationally isolated from the remainder of the screed for smoothing the concrete.

1 . An improved screed apparatus for loose or plastic materials for mounting on a separate moveable power support means, said screed apparatus including means for mounting said screed assembly on a boom of said power support means the improvement comprising 
 a. The screed assembly being rigid and elongated and including power means, a striker fur engaging and spreading the material, on a pre-selected plane, rotatable auger means for moving any material above the plane along the direction of the elongation of said screed assembly, sensing and power means for determining deviation from the grade elevation of the screed assembly, and vibration means for engaging, vibrating and smoothing said material;    b. The rigid screed assembly is pivotally mounted about a single axis extending parallel to direction of elongation whereby the screed contact with the material may be set and sensed and maintained on predetermined plane.    
   
   
       2 . The screed apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power means for rotating said screed assembly maintains the a pre-selected plane through the operative extremities of said striker, said auger and said vibrator at a pre-determined slope/angle and elevation with relation to said material.  
   
   
       3 . The screed apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said striker and said vibratory units are elements of said screed apparatus made of aluminum.  
   
   
       4 . The screeding apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said screed includes elevation means for vertically raising and lowering said screed assembly with respect to said materials.  
   
   
       5 . The screed apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said elevation means includes a pair of elevation tubes secured to said screed assembly at opposite ends of said screeding apparatus, power means for raising and lowering said elevation tubes with respect to said material.  
   
   
       6 . The screed apparatus of  claim 4 , including desired elevation and slope control means responsive to variation from said settings to return and maintain said settings of level and/or slope values.  
   
   
       7 . The screeding apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said vibration means includes a u-shaped channel member integral with said rigid screed.  
   
   
       8 . The screed apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said vibration means includes electric vibrators for vibrating said channel member of  claim 7 , said channel is vibrationally isolated from remainder of said screed.  
   
   
       9 . The screed apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said control means includes power means to rotate said screed assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The screed apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said elevation means raising and lowering includes a laser beam responsive control means on said screed assembly responsive to a fixed laser reference plane beam.