Concrete screeding machine for tilt-up panels

A screeding machine for screeding uncured concrete placed within framework to form a concrete structure, the screeding machine comprising:

• a base unit positionable at framework that defines the concrete structure to be formed;
• a screed head assembly movably mounted at the base unit via an extendable and retractable mechanism, wherein the screed head assembly comprises (i) a grade establishing member, (ii) a vibrating member, and (iii) adjustable wings disposed at and in front of the grade establishing member in a screeding direction, and wherein the adjustable wings are movable along the grade establishing member via respective actuators;
• elevation actuators operable to adjust elevation of the screed head assembly responsive at least in part to elevation sensors that sense elevation of respective ends of the screed head assembly;
• a control system, wherein the control system, responsive to signals from the elevation sensors, controls the elevation actuators to set the grade of the uncured concrete;
• wherein the screed head assembly is positionable at a screeding location within the framework via extension of the extendable and retractable mechanism and is movable over the uncured concrete in the screeding direction from the screeding location via retraction of the extendable and retractable mechanism;
• wherein, when one of the ends of the screed head assembly is positioned at a frame portion that defines part of the concrete structure being formed, the wing at that end of the screed head assembly is moved via actuation of the respective actuator to position the wing at the frame portion to limit excess concrete in front of the grade establishing member in the screeding direction from flowing over the frame portion when the screed head assembly is moved in the screeding direction;
• and
• wherein the actuators of the wings are actuated responsive to the control system determining presence of the frame portion at the screed head assembly.

A method of screeding uncured concrete placed within framework to form a concrete structure, the method comprising:

• providing a screeding machine having (i) a base unit, (ii) a screed head assembly movably mounted at the base unit via an extendable and retractable mechanism, and (iii) elevation actuators operable to adjust elevation of the screed head assembly responsive at least in part to elevation sensors at respective ends of the screed head assembly, and wherein the screed head assembly comprises (i) a grade establishing member, (ii) a vibrating member, and (iii) adjustable wings disposed at and in front of the grade establishing member in a screeding direction, wherein the adjustable wings are movable along the grade establishing member via respective actuators;
• arranging framework at a support surface to define the concrete structure to be formed;
• placing uncured concrete within the framework;
• positioning the base unit at a location at and outside of the framework;
• extending the screed head assembly to a screeding location via extension of the extendable and retractable mechanism and lowering the screed head assembly to position the grade establishing member and vibrating member at the uncured concrete placed within the framework;
• moving the screed head assembly over the uncured concrete in the screeding direction from the screeding location via retraction of the extendable and retractable mechanism;
• operating via a control system the elevation actuators in a sensor control mode, where the elevation actuators adjust elevation of the screed head assembly responsive to the elevation sensors sensing an elevation of respective ends of the screed head assembly;
• when one of the ends of the screed head assembly is positioned at a frame portion of the framework, moving the wing at that end of the grade establishing member via actuation of the respective actuator to position the wing at the frame portion to limit excess concrete in front of the grade establishing member in the screeding direction from flowing over the frame portion when the screed head assembly is moved in the screeding direction;
• and
• switching control of the screeding machine from the sensor control mode to a float mode when the screed head assembly is positioned at the frame portion.

A method of screeding uncured concrete placed within framework to form a concrete structure, the method comprising:

• providing a screeding machine having (i) a base unit, (ii) a screed head assembly movably mounted at the base unit via an extendable and retractable mechanism, and (iii) elevation actuators operable to adjust elevation of the screed head assembly responsive at least in part to elevation sensors at respective ends of the screed head assembly, and wherein the screed head assembly comprises (i) a grade establishing member, (ii) a vibrating member, and (iii) adjustable wings disposed at and in front of the grade establishing member in a screeding direction, wherein the adjustable wings are movable along the grade establishing member via respective actuators;
• arranging framework at a support surface to define the concrete structure to be formed;
• placing uncured concrete within the framework;
• positioning the base unit at a location at and outside of the framework;
• extending the screed head assembly to a screeding location via extension of the extendable and retractable mechanism and lowering the screed head assembly to position the grade establishing member and vibrating member at the uncured concrete placed within the framework;
• moving the screed head assembly over the uncured concrete in the screeding direction from the screeding location via retraction of the extendable and retractable mechanism;
• operating via a control system the elevation actuators in a sensor control mode, where the elevation actuators adjust elevation of the screed head assembly responsive to the elevation sensors sensing an elevation of respective ends of the screed head assembly;
• when one of the ends of the screed head assembly is positioned at a frame portion of the framework, moving the wing at that end of the grade establishing member via actuation of the respective actuator to position the wing at the frame portion to limit excess concrete in front of the grade establishing member in the screeding direction from flowing over the frame portion when the screed head assembly is moved in the screeding direction;
• and
• wherein actuation of the actuators of the wings comprises actuation of the actuators responsive to the control system determining presence of the frame portion at the screed head assembly.