Topping spreader for dispensing shake-on aggregate composition onto a concrete surface

Abstract

A topping spreader machine for dispensing topping material onto a concrete surface includes a base unit and a topping spreading head assembly movably mounted at the base unit. The topping spreading head assembly includes (i) a bin that holds topping material, (ii) a distributing device that distributes the topping material along the length of the bin, (iii) a dispenser disposed along a lower portion of the bin for dispensing the topping material, and (iv) a sensor for sensing elevation of the topping spreading head assembly above the concrete surface. The topping spreading head assembly is positionable at a starting location and is movable over the concrete surface in a topping direction from the starting location to dispense the topping material onto the concrete surface, and a control system controls elevation actuators responsive to the sensor to maintain the height of the topping spreading head assembly above the concrete surface.

1 . A topping spreader machine for dispensing topping material onto a concrete surface, the topping spreader machine comprising:
 a base unit positionable at a support surface;   a topping spreading head assembly movably mounted at the base unit, wherein the topping spreading head assembly comprises (i) a bin that holds topping material, (ii) a distributing device that distributes the topping material along the length of the bin, (iii) a dispenser disposed along a lower portion of the bin for dispensing the topping material, and (iv) a sensor for sensing elevation of the topping spreading head assembly above the concrete surface;   elevation actuators operable to adjust elevation of the topping spreading head assembly responsive at least in part to the sensor;   a control system, wherein the control system, responsive to signals from the sensor, controls the elevation actuators to set the height of the topping spreading head assembly above the concrete surface;   wherein the topping spreading head assembly is positionable at a starting location and is movable over the concrete surface in a topping direction from the starting location to dispense the topping material onto the concrete surface; and   wherein, as the topping spreading head assembly is moved over the concrete surface in the topping direction, the control system controls the elevation actuators responsive to the sensor to maintain the height of the topping spreading head assembly above the concrete surface.   
     
     
         2 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a ranging sensor and the output is indicative of height of the ranging sensor above the concrete surface. 
     
     
         3 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 2 , wherein the ranging sensor comprises a plurality of ranging sensors disposed along the topping spreading head assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 2 , wherein the ranging sensor comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor and (ii) a lidar sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a display device for viewing by an operator of the topping spreader machine during the topping pass. 
     
     
         6 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 5 , wherein the display device displays operating aspects of the topping spreading head assembly during the topping pass. 
     
     
         7 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit comprises a wheeled base unit. 
     
     
         8 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , wherein the topping spreading head assembly is movably mounted at the base unit via an extendable and retractable mechanism, and wherein the topping spreading head assembly is positionable at the starting location via extension of the extendable and retractable mechanism and is movable over the concrete surface in the topping direction from the starting location via retraction of the extendable and retractable mechanism to dispense the topping material onto the concrete surface. 
     
     
         9 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 8 , wherein the extendable and retractable mechanism includes a mounting end that mounts at the base unit and a distal end opposite the mounting end, and wherein the topping spreading head assembly is disposed at the distal end of the extendable and retractable mechanism, and wherein the elevation actuators are operable to adjust position of the topping spreading head assembly relative to the distal end of the extendable and retractable mechanism responsive at least in part to the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit of the topping spreader machine includes a bulk holding bin, and wherein the topping material is loaded into the topping spreading head assembly via a conveying device when the topping spreading head assembly is in a fully retracted position relative to the base unit. 
     
     
         11 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 10 , wherein the conveying device comprises an auger that is partially within the bulk holding bin and that extends toward an opening of the topping spreading head assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bulk holding bin of the base unit includes an exhaust fan and filter assembly that operates to draw air out of the bulk holding bin and to filter the drawn air so dust and other airborne particles do not get exhausted out of the bulk holding bin. 
     
     
         13 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 12 , wherein, during loading of the bulk holding bin with the topping material, the exhaust fan operates to draw air and dust and airborne particles into the bulk holding bin to reduce the dust and airborne particles in the air around the topping spreader machine. 
     
     
         14 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 1 , wherein the distributing device comprises an auger that extends along the bin of the topping spreading head assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A topping spreader machine for dispensing topping material onto a concrete surface, the topping spreader machine comprising:
 a base unit positionable at a support surface;   wherein the base unit of the topping spreader machine includes a bulk holding bin for holding topping material;   wherein the bulk holding bin of the base unit includes an exhaust fan and filter assembly that operates to draw air out of the bulk holding bin and to filter the drawn air so dust and other airborne particles do not get exhausted out of the bulk holding bin;   wherein, during loading of the bulk holding bin with topping material, the exhaust fan operates to draw air and dust and airborne particles into the bulk holding bin to reduce the dust and airborne particles in the air around the topping spreader machine;   a topping spreading head assembly movably mounted at the base unit;   wherein the topping spreading head assembly comprises a dispenser disposed along a lower portion of topping spreading head assembly for dispensing the topping material; and   wherein the topping spreading head assembly is positionable at a starting location and is movable over the concrete surface in a topping direction from the starting location to dispense the topping material onto the concrete surface.   
     
     
         16 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 15 , wherein the topping spreading head assembly is movably mounted at the base unit via an extendable and retractable mechanism, and wherein the topping spreading head assembly is positionable at the starting location via extension of the extendable and retractable mechanism and is movable over the concrete surface in the topping direction from the starting location via retraction of the extendable and retractable mechanism to dispense the topping material onto the concrete surface. 
     
     
         17 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 16 , wherein the topping material present in the bulk holding bin is loaded into the topping spreading head assembly via a conveying device when the topping spreading head assembly is in a fully retracted position relative to the base unit. 
     
     
         18 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 15 , wherein the topping spreading head assembly comprises (i) a bin that receives the topping material from the bulk holding bin of the base unit and (ii) a distributing device that distributes the topping material along the length of the bin of the topping spreading head assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 15 , wherein the base unit comprises a wheeled base unit. 
     
     
         20 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 15 , further comprising a display device for viewing by an operator of the topping spreader machine during the topping pass. 
     
     
         21 . The topping spreader machine of  claim 20 , wherein the display device displays operating aspects of the topping spreading head assembly during the topping pass.