Apparatus for screeding uncured concrete surfaces

Abstract

A wheeled screeding device is movable over a surface of uncured concrete and is operable to level and smooth the uncured concrete surface. The wheeled screeding device includes a wheeled support having a frame portion supported by at least one wheel, with the wheel defining an axis of rotation. A screed head is mounted to the frame portion and is at least partially supportable on an uncured concrete surface. The screed head is pivotable about a pivot axis generally normal to the axis of rotation and relative to the wheel to adjust an angle of the screed head relative to the axis of rotation. The wheeled screeding device is movable in a direction of travel during screeding of the concrete surface and the pivot axis may be generally parallel to the direction of travel of the wheeled screeding device during screeding of the concrete surface.

1 . A wheeled screeding device movable over a surface of uncured concrete and operable to level and smooth the uncured concrete surface, said wheeled screeding device comprising:
 a wheeled support having a frame portion supported by at least one wheel, said at least one wheel defining at least one axis of rotation; and   a screed head mounted to said frame portion, wherein said screed head is at least partially supportable on an uncured concrete surface, and wherein said screed head is pivotable about a pivot axis generally normal to said axis of rotation and relative to said at least one wheel to adjust an angle of said screed head relative to said axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 1 , wherein said frame portion is pivotable about said pivot axis, and wherein said screed head is pivotable with said frame portion about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         3 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 2 , wherein said frame portion includes at least one oscillation damper to limit pivotal movement of said frame portion about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         4 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 2 , wherein said frame portion includes a locking device to substantially fix said frame portion relative to said pivot axis at a desired angle. 
     
     
         5 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 1 , wherein said screed head is pivotable about said pivot axis relative to said frame portion. 
     
     
         6 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 1 , wherein said screed head comprises a vibratable member. 
     
     
         7 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 6 , wherein said screed head includes a grade setting device which is adjustably mounted to the vibratable member, and wherein said grade setting device is adjustable relative to said vibratable member to at least one of establish and indicate a desired grade of the concrete surface. 
     
     
         8 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 6 , wherein said screed head includes means for moving excess concrete from in front of said vibratable member. 
     
     
         9 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 1 , wherein said wheeled screeding device is movable in a screeding direction of travel during screeding of the concrete surface, and wherein said pivot axis is generally parallel to the direction of travel of said wheeled screeding device during screeding of the concrete surface. 
     
     
         10 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 9 , wherein said screed head is pivotable relative to said frame portion and about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         11 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 10 , wherein said screed head is pivotable about another pivot axis relative to said frame portion to adjust a pitch or angle of attack of said screed head relative to said frame portion, and wherein said another pivot axis is generally normal to the screeding direction of travel of said wheeled screeding device during screeding of the concrete surface. 
     
     
         12 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one dampening element to control and dampen pivotal movement of said screed head about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         13 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 9 , wherein said frame portion comprises first and second frame portions, and wherein said screed head is mounted at said first frame portion and said first frame portion is pivotable about said pivot axis relative to said second frame portion. 
     
     
         14 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 13 , further comprising a locking device to selectively lock said first frame portion relative to said second frame portion. 
     
     
         15 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 14 , wherein said locking device locks said first frame portion relative to said second frame portion and automatically unlocks said first frame portion relative to said second frame portion when said wheeled screeding device is performing a screeding pass. 
     
     
         16 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 15 , wherein said locking device unlocks said first frame portion relative to said second frame portion responsive to at least one of (a) a propel switch being set to move said wheeled screeding device in the screeding direction, (b) an operator presence switch being actuated and (c) an indication of movement of said wheeled screeding device in the screeding direction. 
     
     
         17 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 16 , wherein said locking device automatically locks said first frame portion relative to said second frame portion upon completion of a screed pass of said wheeled screeding device. 
     
     
         18 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 9 , wherein said screed head pivots about said pivot axis to remain substantially horizontal when said at least one wheel encounters uneven terrain as said wheeled screeding device moves in the screeding direction of travel during screeding of the concrete surface. 
     
     
         19 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels and wherein said screed head pivots about said pivot axis to remain substantially horizontal when one of said wheels encounters a change in elevation relative to the other of said wheels as said wheeled screeding device moves in the screeding direction of travel during screeding of the concrete surface. 
     
     
         20 . The wheeled screeding device of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one dampening element to control and dampen pivotal movement of said screed head about said pivot axis.