Concrete screeding system with rotatable base and articulating boom

A concrete screeding device for screeding uncured concrete placed at a support surface, said concrete screeding device comprising:

• a base structure positionable at a support surface at or near a region to be screeded;
• a rotating base rotatably mounted at said base structure and rotatable relative to said base structure about a first axis of rotation via a first rotating device;
• an articulating boom comprising (i) a first boom section that is pivotally mounted at said rotating base and pivotable about a first pivot axis via a first actuator, (ii) at least one intermediate boom section having a proximal end pivotally mounted at a distal end of said first boom section and pivotable about a second pivot axis via a second actuator, and (iii) a screed head support pivotally mounted at a distal end of said at least one intermediate boom section and pivotable about a third pivot axis via a third actuator;
• wherein the first pivot axis is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first boom section, and wherein the third pivot axis is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the screed head support;
• a screed head rotatably mounted at said screed head support, wherein said screed head is rotatable about a second axis of rotation via a second rotating device;
• wherein said screed head includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device, and wherein grade setting actuators of said screed head adjust a position of said grade setting device relative to said vibrating member responsive to at least one sensor disposed at said screed head;
• a control that operates said first rotating device, said first actuator, said second actuator, and said second rotating device responsive to a control input;
• wherein, with said base structure positioned at the support surface at or near the region to be screeded, and with uncured concrete placed at the region, and responsive to the control input, said control cooperatively operates said first rotating device, said first actuator, said second actuator, said third actuator and said second rotating device to move said screed head through multiple screeding passes over and along the uncured concrete to screed the uncured concrete placed at the region;
• wherein, at a start of each screeding pass of the multiple screeding passes, said control, responsive to the control input, cooperatively operates at least some of said first rotating device, said first actuator, said second actuator, said third actuator and said second rotating device to position said screed head at a starting position for the respective screeding pass;
• wherein, during each screeding pass of the multiple screeding passes, said control cooperatively operates at least some of said first rotating device, said first actuator, said second actuator, said third actuator and said second rotating device to move said screed head along the respective screeding pass;
• and
• wherein, during each screeding pass of the multiple screeding passes, and responsive to said at least one sensor disposed at said screed head, said grade setting actuators adjust the position of said grade setting device relative to said vibrating member to establish a selected grade at the uncured concrete as said screed head is moved along the respective screeding pass to screed the uncured concrete placed at the region.

A method for screeding uncured concrete placed at a support surface, said method comprising:

• providing a concrete screeding device having a base structure, a rotating base, an articulating boom, and a screed head;
• wherein the rotating base is rotatably mounted at the base structure and rotatable relative to the base structure about a first axis of rotation via a first rotating device;
• wherein the articulating boom comprises (i) a first boom section that is pivotally mounted at the rotating base and pivotable about a first pivot axis via a first actuator, (ii) at least one intermediate boom section having a proximal end pivotally mounted at a distal end of the first boom section and pivotable about a second pivot axis via a second actuator, and (iii) a screed head support pivotally mounted at a distal end of the at least one intermediate boom section and pivotable about a third pivot axis via a third actuator;
• wherein the first pivot axis is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first boom section, and wherein the third pivot axis is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the screed head support;
• wherein the screed head is rotatably mounted at the screed head support and is rotatable about a second axis of rotation via a second rotating device;
• positioning the base structure at a support surface at or near a region to be screeded;
• placing uncured concrete at the region to be screeded;
• with the base structure positioned at the support surface at or near the region to be screeded, and with the uncured concrete placed at the region, providing a control input to the concrete screeding device;
• and
• responsive to the control input, screeding the uncured concrete placed at the region by cooperatively operating the first rotating device, the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator and the second rotating device to move the screed head through multiple screeding passes over and along the uncured concrete to screed the uncured concrete placed at the region.