GB2372773A - A screeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

The screeding device, particularly for screeding freshly laid concrete, comprises a beam 2 that has a leading material engaging member 3 extending from a leading side of the beam and a trailing material engaging member 4 extending from the trailing side of the beam with the beam being at least partially hollow to define an interior housing space within the beam within which a plurality of vibrators 11 are located, spaced apart along the beam for vibrating the beam as it is moved over a region of material to screed the material. The beam preferably includes at least one access opening 13 to the interior housing space that may be provided on the trailing side of the beam and which may be selectively closed by a removable plastic cover. The device may also comprise a winching arrangement to draw the beam along and means to facilitate the releasable joining of one beam to another adjacent beam, comprising inter-engaging male 22 and female elements on the facing ends of adjacent beams. The beam may also include male/female elements to help initially align the beam relative to an adjacent beam and the end of the material engaging member may extend beyond the end of the beam so that it forms a screeding bridge between the beam and an adjacent beam. The beam may have a substantially trapezoidal shape in transverse cross-section with the leading and trailing sides of the beam diverging outwardly towards the base side of the beam. The leading material engaging member may be configured to divert material, which has accumulated on the member, forward in the direction of travel of the beam in a generally rotational movement. The beam may be formed of stainless steel.

Description

1 2372773

h, scow 5 This en acn rites to a He for speeding a region of material, in particular for screeding a r on of fleshly laid concrete Devices for screeding a reladvdy Urge region of concrete are kr owr. For example, US 4,316,715 (AJ1en) discloses a tria:ngalar support Frame snuchlre, A i; 10 hang front and fear screed blades. Vibrators spaced at intervals along the blades Hart vhnatonr motion to the blades as Me device is translated over a region of conned in a mnclling arrangement.

However, these devices suffer Bom a number of disadvantages, in particular 15 concrete tends to stick to and infiltrate parts of the device during speeding of a region of concrete. If concrete is allowed to set on the device, the device becomes very heavy and difficult to move. Thorough dleenmg of We concrete Rom all Farm of these complex devices can be a Fne-consu g "a tedious taslc. addinon, Me concrete could damage the vibrating components of Me 20 device.

This invention is awed at overcornmg at least some of Me problems associated avid known screeding devices.

:i According to Me invention Mere is provided a device for screeding a region of material, Me device comprm.

a beam hang a leading material engaging member extending from a leading side of the beam, and a trailing Satan e lgagmg member extendlug Tom a ha; - g side of Me beam; 5 the beam berg at least papally hollow to define art interior housing space Robin die beam; and a plurality of vibrators located In the beam interior housing space, and spaced apart along We beam for vibrating the beam as He beam is moved over a region 10 of mau:ria1 to screeds material; By locating Me nbra rs m He beam indoor housmg space, this ensures Mat connote and/or other material tbro vn up dunog Me vibrational screeds action hits the for of me beam only. The vibrators therefore be prevented Tom 15 becoming dirtied or clogged or dunged by concrete and/or other Serial dung screeding. C1 of Be screeding device after use is thus a relatively simple and quick task as only the bean exterior rteeds to be cleaned.

The plurality of vectors spaced-apart along tile beam ensure that the beam is 20 adequately vibrated along its entire length. Thus He screedmg device of the invendon is suitable for screeding large legioIls of concrete with a With of, for example, 5m or greater.

ID one embodiment of rise invention He beam has at least one access open to 25 tile beam interior housing space. Preferably He access operung is prodded the trailing side of He bean,. Ideally He dence comprises at least one closure for selective closure of He access opening.

The access opening in me beatn intenor housed space enables art operator to quicldy and easily gain access to the vibrators, for example for maintenance, or repair, or replacement of a Curator.

5 Ire one case the device comprises a removable corer for the beam. The cover mar be of a plastics Dial.

to a preferred erribodimene the device comprises means to draw Me beam over a -

region of material in a winching arrangement. - " The beam preferably composes means taco facilitate releasable job of the beam to an adjacent beam. The joint means may comprise at least one male mat protn g Bom one beam for engagement win at least one co operating female member of another beam.

By join dng the beam to an adjacent beam, the width of die region of coats] that be s:reeded in a singe pass is increased.

Lit another case the beam com es means to al the beam reladve to an 20 adjacent beam upon joint Preferably Me alignment means comprises at least one male member protruding from one beam for mating with at least one co aperadug female member of anod cr beam.

The alignment tenons is particularly advantageous when mown two or more 25 jointed beams over a long region of tnate ial bang screeded. By co ecdy aligning the adjacent beams, this helps to prevent skewing of the path of the beams over the rebox of mammal.

In another preferred embodiment Me material engaging member extends beyond an end of the beam to forest a screeding budge between We beatn and an adjacent beam 5 The screeding bridge arrangement helps to ensme dlat no region of material remains unscreeded between adjacent beams.

The material engaging member may extend Tom a base side of me beam to ,.-. .. i -. À..

support me base side above the material dig screeding.,, In one case the beam may have a substantially uapezaidal shape in transverse cross-secnon. Preferably we leading side and die mailing side of Me beam diverge o var y towards a base side of the beam.

15 The leading material end met may be configured deco divert material, which has accumulated on Me riveter, forward, m Me direction of travel of Me bean, in a generally rotational movement. Ideally the leading material engaged member is shaped to scoop accumulated mat:rial forward in a generally rotational movement.

The beaten may be of starless steel.

gL AS The in re ttion will be more clearly understood from Me following descr phon of some e nbod ts thereof, Even by way of example only, wide reference to Me accompanying d awmgs, in which:

r 5 À I. ' '..

Fin 1 is a pappy exploded, peeve view of a device according to the invention for sereeding a region of material; Fig. is partially cros secdonal, end view ofthe screeding device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away, perspective View of part of He screeding device of Fig. 1; '_.'1 ':

F 4 is an enlarged, perspecH re view of a vibrator of Me screeding device of 10 Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plaT vie v of We screeding dence of Fig. 1 in use, screeding a region of math 15 Fig. 6 is a side view of he screeding device of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an enlarged, side new of the screed ng device of Fig. 6 jointed to another screeding dedce similar he speeding device of Fig. 6; and 20 Fig. 8 is a pardaBy cutaway, pespech e Dew of another screeds device a ordingto the invendon.

D 1 9 Refiernug to she drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 7 hereof, Here is illustrated a device 1 according to He Venison for sereeding a region of matron. The device 1 comprises a beam 2 having a leading material engaging member and a trailing material engaging member, and a pluralin,r of vibrators 11. The Ice 30 Only be used to screed a region of material, such as a region of freshly laid

concrete 25, by. entrap Me beam 2 as Me bean 2 is moved over the region of concrete ZS with Me material engaged members in contact with the concrete 2$.

As iDus ated in Figs 1 and 2, Me beam 2 comprises an "inYe ted-U" shaped upper plate 7, a base plebe 8, and two "A" shaped end plates 9. Tne plates 7, 8, 9 of Me beam 2 are fixed together by means of rivets, and where assembled me beam Z is hollow and defines an interior housing space lO ndiir tile bum 2. As illustrated in Fig. 2, tile assembled beam 2 has a substantially trapezoids shape .... transverse cross-secdon. 1 r The 1; g and "sailing material ending members are provided in Is case by a leading blade 3 and a tog blade 4 respectively. As illustrated in Fin 2, Me leadmg blade 3 extends forvrardly from a leading side 5 of Me upper plate 7, and Me Ming blade 4 extends rearwardly from a mailing side 6 of Me upper plate 7.

15 Both of Me blades 3, 4 extend downwardly frond the base plate 8. Rivets are used to fix both the blades 3, 4 to the upper plate 7 and me base plate 8 Wig. 2).

In this case, three air perated vibrators 11 are provided located in *ye beam interim housing space 10, and spaced-apart along lbe beam 2 with a distance of 20 appro mawly Own between each vibrator 11, as illustrated in Figs and 6. A plurality of corresponding access openings 13 to Me beam interior 10 are provided in the mailing side 6 of the upper plate 7. The openings 13 enable an operator of the seceding device 1 to gain access to any vibrator 1 I within the beam interior 10, for example for repair or rnamt tnance or replacement of a 25 vibrator 11, Without hang to dismantle Me beam 2.

The v braWrs 11 are held in place on the base plate 8 by sneaks of two cross bars 12, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The cross bars 12' which are Ln contact tenth Me vibrator 11, assist m distributing die vibrational forces to the upper plate 7 30 and the blades 3, 4.

The sc:reeding device 1 fi - er contpmes metric to draw me beam 2 over me region of concrete 25 in a wining arrangement. this case, Me Ming meam is provided by two connecting lines IS, md hooks 17 at ends 18 of We lines 15.

Each cod line 15 is normally wound amend a reel 16, however We line 15 may be unwound Tom me reel 16 and rewound aroumd Me red 16 by rotadug a havoc 19. As illustrated in Fig 2, braces 20 support We handles 19 and i! 10 reels 16 at a suitable heir aboire the concrete 25. Each brace 20 nay be fixed to die md plate 9 by any suitable means, such as bolting or welding.

As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, me beam comprises means to facilitate releasable Jointing of We beam to a beam 2' of another similar screeding device 15 It (Fig. 7). The joinnug means is provided, in this case, by a male meter, such as a threaded Screw 21, protruding from the end plate 9' of one beam 2l for engagement wifft a cmoperat g female member, suth as a dreaded tube 22, on me end plam 9 of the over bean 2.

20 The le g blades 3, at and We trailing blades 4, 4' extend beyond the ends of me beams 2, 2t, typically by appro tely 75mm, to form a speeding bridge between adjacentbea 2, 2 when jointed together (Fig. 7).

A loci nut 23 is also provided for releasably long the pro beams 2, 2t together 25 in the position illustrated m Fig. 7 m which We blades 3, 3, 4, 4t of adjacent beams 2, 2 abut one another end-to d.

Preferably the screw 2l, tile tube 22 and tile nut 23 are all right hand threaded

This simple threaded, nut and bolt jamtung arrangement enables two or more screedmg devices 1, I to be quinsy and easily jointed together end-t end to Id Me width of die rebox of concrete that can be screeded using me speeding device of We in rennon.

Splice plates may be used in addition for a more secure jointing arrangement.

The beam 2 is consumed of stemless steel, which enables tie beam 2 to be . ,.. spray cleaned and drowned without msdng, while also pFOVI g for a 1:: 10 s ciendy rid begin 2.

In use, the screeding device 1 is located resting upon Me region of freshly laid concrete 25 to be speeded, And the blades 3, 4 in contact m the concrete IS, and the base plate 8 supported slid above We concrete 25 (big. 2).

In this case, tile beam 2 extends over the entire width of the concrete 25 Tom one side 30 of Me concrete ne rork to the over side 31 of Me concrete evrork (Fig. 5).

20 The handles lo are rotated to u wmd Me connect lines 15 Tom Me feels I6.

The unwound connecting lines 15 are then lead around pulleys 27, and the hooks 17 are engaged tenth an extemal support, such as the end of die concrete newor3r 32 (blip. 2 and 5).

25 By rotating Me handles 19 in Tic opposite direction, the connecting lines 15 are rewound around the reels 16. Ins Aching action draws the beam 2 over the concrete 25 towards Me hooked ends 18 of the connecting lmes 15, as illustrated in Fin 5.

As the beam 2 moves over the concrete 25, the Orators 11 cause the blades 37 4, whim are in contact wittt the concrete, to vibrate. In this mmmer, dle blades 3, 4 screed the concrete 2 into a smooth, leveled layer as Me beam 2 moves over the concrete 25.

is After use, We hooks 17 ate disengaged Font die framework 32, and the connecting lines 15 are rewo md around Me reels 16.

_,:, At 2.

In Me case when it is desired to screed a wider region of concrete, two or more I; 10 sanding dewces 1 can be jomted together end-tmend using the joindng means, as descried above win reference to Figs. 6 and 7 In is Her any wade of concrete be screeded m a single pass using the screeding device 1, or an assembly of two or more of Be screeding devices of Be invennon.

15 lobe apprec:iatedt hat the screeding device 1 may comprise closures to enable selective closure of the access open s 13. The closures provide Other protection against concrete or our unwanted material Me beam intoner housmg space 10. Also the access openings 13 could be provided in Me leading side 5 of the upper plate 7.

removable cover may be provided for the beam, for example a heavy plastics tarpaulin. The cover acts as an external sheath to prevent concrete attaching tO the beam 2. lTo remove concrete from me cover, Me cover may be removed and washed as requited.

It will also be appte ted Mat any type of vibrator may be used Van the screeding dence according to Me invention.

A scoop 60 may be provided on Me leading blade 3 of the bean 2, as illustrated 30 Fig. 8. The scoop 60 is shaped to divert concrete, which has accumulated on

Me blade 3, forward, in the direction of travel of We beam 2, in a generally otadona1 movement In this way, the scoop 60 helps to Minnie clogging or excess accurnulanon of compete on the leading blade 3.

5 The invention is not limited to me embodiments hereinbefiore desired, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which may be varied in construction and detail.

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Claims (1)

1. CLANGS

   1. A device for screeding a region of material, Me device oomprising: s a beam having a leading matmal engaging member extending Morn a leading side of the beans, and a hailing material egg member extending Rom a tog side of the beam; ... À.........

   10 the bean bemg at least partially hollow to define an interior housmg space rennin me beam; and 1': a plu ralitr of Vibrators located m the beam interior houslog space, and spaced-apart along the beam for vibrating the beam as Me beam is moved 15 over a region of mated to succeed the material; 2 A device as clawed Aim 1 wherein the beam has at least one access Opel to the beam interior housing space.

   20 3. A device as clammed m ciaun 2 wherein the access operung is provided in the trail side oftihe beam.

   4, A device as claimed m c laim 2 or 3 wherein die dewce comprises at least one closure for selective closure of the access opening.

   5. A device as claimed any preceding clarion wherein the device comprises a removable cover for Me beam.

   6. device as claimed in claw 5 wherein Me cover is of a plastics material

   7 A device as claimed m any preceding claim wherein the device comprises means to draw the beam over a. region of material in a winching arrangement. 5 8. A dewce as claimed in my preceding claim wherein Me bean' composes means to facilitate releasable jointing of the beam to an adjacentbeam.

   9. A device as claimed in claim wherein the jolting means composes at least ore male member protruding Tom one bean for engagement with at 10 least one cooperating fete member of another beam 1Q. A dwice as claimed m claim 8 or g wherem tile beam comprises means to align We beam relative to an adjacent beam upon jointing 15 11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the alignment means comprises at least one male member protruding Mom one beam fox snaring with at least one co-operanog fume member of another beaxn.

   12. A device as claimed m any preceding clam wherein the material 20 engaging member extends beyond an end of the beam to fonn a screeding bridge between the beam and an adjacen beam.

   13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherem the material end - g member emends from a base side of the bean, to support Me 25 base side above the Lateral during screeding.

   14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim vrherem me beam has a substantially trapezoidal shape in transverse cross-section.

   15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the leading side and We trading side of Me beam diverge outwardly towards a base side of die beam.

   16. A device as Mimed m any preceding claim wherein the leading material 5 engaging mend is confided to divert matenal, whim has "cumulated on Me member, forward, in Me ditechon of Mayer of die beam, in a generally rotational movement.

   17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherem the leading mawria1 evading I; 10 member is shaped to scoop accumulated material forward in a generally totanonal moved 18. A device as Gained hi any preceding dlann wherein the beam is of stainless steel.

   19. A device for screed g a region of material substantially as herembefore described And reference to die accompanying drawings.