Edge guarded power riding trowel

A power riding trowel for finishing concrete surfaces, said trowel comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart, downwardly projecting rotors, each rotor comprising a plurality of blades for frictionally contacting the concrete surface(s);
• motors for rotating said rotors;
• a gimbal mounting system for controlling each rotor;
• a guard for shrouding each rotor, each guard comprising:
• a guard frame secured to said gimbal mounting system and coaxially aligned with respect to said rotor, said guard frame comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart arms terminating in rollers;
• and,
• a rotatable ring guard substantially coaxial with said rotor and disposed vertically above said surface to be finished, the ring guard comprising an outermost ring comprising a diameter sufficient for it to circumscribe the outermost portions of
• said rotor blades and an inner, concentric ring entrained upon said rollers;
• a link extending to said gimbal mounting system for tilting the rotors;
• a clearance region for clearing said link defined by said guard frame;
• a cover mounted on at least one of said guard frame arms for shrouding said rollers;
• wherein said rollers register with and captivate said inner concentric ring to support said ring guard;
• and,
• said guard frame comprises partially circular reinforcement struts extending between at least a plurality of said arms, on a side of said rotor opposite said clearance region.

A riding trowel for finishing concrete, said trowel comprising:

• downwardly projecting rotor means for finishing said concrete, the rotor means comprising blade means for frictionally contacting said concrete;
• means for powering said rotor means;
• guard means for shrouding said rotor means, said guard means comprising:
• a guard frame secured to said rotor means;
• and coaxially aligned with respect to said rotor means, said guard frame comprising a plural of radially spaced apart arms terminating in rollers;
• and,
• a ring guard rotatably supported by said guard frame coaxially with respect to said rotor means, the ring guard comprising an outer ring substantially coaxial with said rotor means and disposed above said concrete to be finished, the outer ring comprising a diameter sufficient for it to circumscribe the outermost portions of said blade means and an inner concentric ring that is coaxial with and elevated above said outer ring, the inner ring comprising a diameter less than the diameter of said outer ring;
• and entrained and captivated by and upon said rollers;
• a link for tilting the rotor;
• a clearance region for said clearing link defined by said guard frame;
• cover means mounted on said guard frame arms for shrouding said rollers;
• and,
• wherein said rollers comprise a pair of spaced apart flanges that prevent vertical guard movements and a rolling surface between said flanges that supports and contacts said ring guard inner ring.