Concrete screeding machine with improved auger

Abstract

A screeding machine for screeding a concrete surface having a partially cured concrete area and a newly placed concrete area includes a wheeled unit and a screeding head attached at the wheeled unit. The wheeled unit has a plurality of wheels for moving the wheeled unit over a support surface. The screeding head assembly includes a grade setting device and a vibrating member and is movable over the concrete area via the wheeled unit. The grade setting device includes an auger device having a longitudinal body and at least one flighting helically disposed around and along the body. The spacings between respective longitudinally adjacent vane portions of the at least one flighting vary longitudinally along the auger device.

1 . A screeding machine for screeding a concrete surface having a partially cured concrete area and a newly placed concrete area, said screeding machine comprising:
 a wheeled unit having a plurality of wheels for moving said wheeled unit over a support surface;   a screeding head assembly having a grade setting device and a vibrating member, wherein said screeding head assembly is movable over the concrete area via said wheeled unit;   wherein said grade setting device comprises an auger device having a longitudinal body and at least one flighting helically disposed around and along said body; and   wherein the spacings between respective longitudinally adjacent vane portions of said at least one flighting vary longitudinally along said auger device.   
     
     
         2 . The screeding machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flighting comprises first and second flightings. 
     
     
         3 . The screeding machine of  claim 2 , wherein said first flighting is helically disposed along a first portion of said body and said second flighting is helically disposed along a second portion of said body, and wherein said second portion of said body is a smaller portion of said first portion and wherein said first portion of said body encompasses said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         4 . The screeding machine of  claim 3 , wherein said second flighting is centrally disposed between vane portions of said first flighting so that said first and second flightings are uniformly spaced apart along said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         5 . The screeding machine of  claim 3 , wherein said second flighting is disposed between vane portions of said first flighting so that said first and second flightings are non-uniformly spaced apart along said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         6 . The screeding machine of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one flighting comprises a third flighting helically disposed along a third portion of said body, and wherein said third portion of said body is a smaller portion of said second portion and wherein said second portion of said body encompasses said third portion of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The screeding machine of  claim 6 , wherein said first, second and third flightings are uniformly spaced apart along said third portion of said body. 
     
     
         8 . The screeding machine of  claim 7 , wherein said second flighting comprises a continuous flighting having a constant pitch along said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         9 . The screeding machine of  claim 7 , wherein said second flighting comprises a central flighting portion at a central portion of said body and an end flighting portion at said third portion of said body, and wherein said central flighting portion of said second flighting and said first flighting are uniformly spaced apart along said central portion of said body, and wherein said end flighting portion of said second flighting, said third flighting and said first flighting are uniformly spaced apart along said third portion of said body. 
     
     
         10 . The screeding machine of  claim 9 , comprising a transition flighting element disposed between said central flighting portion of said second flighting and said end flighting portion of said second flighting, wherein said transition flighting element has a different pitch than said central flighting portion and said end flighting portion and joins said central flighting portion to said end flighting portion to provide a substantially continuous second flighting along said second body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The screeding machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flighting comprises a continuous flighting having a varying pitch, with a greater pitch at an upstream region of said auger device and a reduced pitch at a downstream region of said auger device. 
     
     
         12 . The screeding machine of  claim 1 , wherein said auger device is mounted at said screeding head via an internal bearing mounting assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The screeding machine of  claim 1 , wherein said screeding head assembly is movable over the concrete area via an extendable and retractable boom assembly extending from said wheeled unit. 
     
     
         14 . The screeding machine of  claim 1 , wherein said screeding head assembly is movable via a wheeled unit that moves through the uncured concrete with said screeding head assembly following said wheeled unit. 
     
     
         15 . A screeding head assembly for a screeding machine for screeding a concrete surface having a partially cured concrete area and a newly placed concrete area, said screeding head assembly comprising:
 a grade setting device;   a vibrating member;   wherein said screeding head assembly is configured to be movable over the concrete area via said screeding machine to establish the grade and screed uncured concrete at the concrete area;   wherein said grade setting device comprises an auger device having a longitudinal body and at least one flighting helically disposed around and along said body; and   wherein the spacings between respective longitudinally adjacent vane portions of said at least one flighting vary longitudinally along said auger device.   
     
     
         16 . The screeding head assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one flighting comprises a first flighting and a second flighting helically disposed around and along said body, and wherein said first flighting is helically disposed along a first portion of said body and said second flighting is helically disposed along a second portion of said body, and wherein said second portion of said body is a smaller portion of said first portion and wherein said first portion of said body encompasses said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         17 . The screeding head assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said second flighting is centrally disposed between vane portions of said first flighting so that said first and second flightings are uniformly spaced apart along said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         18 . The screeding head assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said second flighting is disposed between vane portions of said first flighting so that said first and second flightings are non-uniformly spaced apart along said second portion of said body. 
     
     
         19 . The screeding head assembly of  claim 16 , comprising a third flighting helically disposed along a third portion of said body, and wherein said third portion of said body is a smaller portion of said second portion and wherein said second portion of said body encompasses said third portion of said body. 
     
     
         20 . The screeding head assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one flighting comprises a continuous flighting having a varying pitch, with a greater pitch at an upstream region of said auger device and a reduced pitch at a downstream region of said auger device.