Modular isolation apparatus for power trowel

Abstract

Preventing slurry, dirt, and grime from being ejected from a safety cage of a power trowel, and infiltrating the motors, gears, electrical and electronic components of the power trowel is achieved by temporarily installing an isolation assembly comprising one or more plates and associated locking mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular isolation apparatus for a concrete finishing machine comprising a frame supporting at least one motor adapted to rotate a concrete finishing tool, the modular isolation apparatus comprising:
 a. at least one plate adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame above the tool and isolate the at least one motor from debris generated by rotation of the tool; and   b. at least one temporary fastener adapted to temporarily lock the at least one plate to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one plate is further adapted to slide into at least one channel formed in the frame and said at least one temporary fastener is further adapted to temporarily prevent the at least one plate from moving relative to the at least one channel. 
     
     
         3 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one temporary fastener comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition. 
     
     
         4 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition. 
     
     
         5 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein a handle is coupled to the pin. 
     
     
         6 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the at least one temporary fastener comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition. 
     
     
         7 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition. 
     
     
         8 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 7  wherein a handle is coupled to the pin. 
     
     
         9 . A modular isolation apparatus for a concrete finishing machine comprising a frame supporting at least one motor adapted to rotate a concrete finishing tool, the modular comprising:
 a. a plurality of plates, each adapted to be temporarily coupled to the frame above the tool and isolate the at least one motor from debris generated by rotation of the tool; and   b. a plurality of temporary fasteners, each adapted to temporarily lock a plate of said plurality of plates to the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the at least one plate of said plurality of plates is further adapted to slide into at least one channel formed in the frame and at least one temporary fastener of said plurality of temporary fasteners is further adapted to temporarily prevent said at least one plate of said plurality of plates from moving relative to the at least one channel. 
     
     
         11 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 9  wherein at least one temporary fastener of said plurality of temporary fasteners comprises a collar, a pin adapted to reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition. 
     
     
         12 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the collar is coupled to at least one plate of said plurality of plates and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition. 
     
     
         13 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a handle is coupled to the pin. 
     
     
         14 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least one temporary fastener of the plurality of temporary fasteners comprises a collar, a pin adapted to be reciprocated relative to the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a spring adapted to bias the pin toward the locked condition. 
     
     
         15 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the collar is coupled to the at least one plate is coupled to at least one plate of said plurality of plates and the pin has an end adapted to reside in a hole in the frame when the pin is in the locked condition. 
     
     
         16 . The modular isolation apparatus of  claim 14  wherein a handle is coupled to the pin.