US 4,379,683 AGranted

Concrete forming apparatus

OwnerStuart N. Rodgers, Sidney J. Voycheshininventors

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Abstract

Apparatus for forming, compacting and finishing the top surface of concrete poured between a pair of removable longitudinally extending parallel opposed forms. The apparatus, which is self-propelled, travels along the tops of the forms. A heavy wooden vibrator member disposed at the forward end of the apparatus may be shaped so that concrete beneath the vibrator is formed and compacted to a depth which varies along transverse axes of the forms. The structural members of the apparatus may be interchanged or adjusted to adapt the apparatus for use with forms of arbitrary spacing. Simple adjustments may also be made to permit the apparatus to traverse forms of unequal height. Removable "skirts" enable use of the apparatus with relatively narrow forms supported above the grade on which the concrete segment is formed--the skirts serve as a "travelling form" to prevent poured concrete formed and compacted by the vibrator spilling beneath the forms.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Apparatus for forming, compacting and finishing the top surface of concrete poured between a pair of removable longitudinally extending parallel opposed forms, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame having forward and rearward ends which extend transversely between opposed first and second sides of said frame, said ends and said sides substantially defining a plane;
(b) a wooden concrete pre-finishing member disposed along the forward end of said frame, said member having a lower surface configured to vary in vertical distance from said plane along the transverse axes of the forms, and said member being relatively wide when measured in the direction of longitudinal extension of the forms;
(c) vibrator means affixed to said frame for causing vibration of said member;
(d) a finishing pan rigidly affixed beneath said frame to the rear of and adjacent said member and extending between said first and second sides of said frame and configured to vary in vertical distance from said plane along the transverse axes of the forms;
(e) transporting means on said first side of said frame and transporting means on said second side of said frame for engaging said frame on top of the forms and permitting movement of the apparatus along the forms with said ends extending transversely of the forms and with said member extending transversely between the forms;
and,
(f) propulsion means affixed to said frame for propelling the apparatus along the tops of forms whereby poured concrete beneath the apparatus is formed, compacted and finished to a depth which varies along transverse axes of the forms;
said member having a portion of said lower surface shaped to define a semi-conical recess in regions of relatively abrupt change in said vertical distance, the apex of said recess lying at the rearward edge of said lower surface and the base of said recess lying along the forward edge of said lower surface.

5 more elements

Apparatus for forming, compacting and finishing the top surface of concrete poured between a pair of removable longitudinally extending parallel opposed forms, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame having forward and rearward ends which extend transversely between opposed first and second sides of said frame, said ends and said sides substantially defining a plane, wherein said forward and rearward ends comprise members for selectably adjusting the spacing between said first and second sides;
(b) a wooden concrete pre-finishing member disposed along the forward end of said frame, said member having a relatively smooth lower surface configured to vary in vertical distance from said plane along the transverse axes of the forms, and said member being relatively wide when measured in the direction of longitudinal extension of the forms;
(c) vibrator means affixed to said frame for causing vibration of said member;
(d) a finishing pan rigidly affixed beneath said frame to the rear of and adjacent said member and extending between said first and second sides of said frame and configured to vary in vertical distance from said plane along the transverse axes of the forms;
(e) a first pair of rollers on said first side of said frame and a second pair of rollers on said second side of said frame for engaging said frame on top of the forms and permitting movement of the apparatus along the forms with said ends extending transversely of the forms and with said member extending transversely between the forms;
(f) extension means for adjustably fixing at least one pair of said first or second pairs of rollers at selected distances from said plane;
and,
(g) propulsion means affixed to said frame for propelling the apparatus along the tops of the forms whereby poured concrete beneath the apparatus is formed, compacted and finished to a depth which varies along transverse axes of the forms;
said member having a portion of said lower surface shaped to define a semi-conical recess in regions of relatively abrupt change in said vertical distance, the apex of said recess lying at the rearward edge of said lower surface and the base of said recess lying along the forward edge of said lower surface.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.