A contouring (20) device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly (28) that is supported at opposite ends by a pair of fluid cylinders (52,54). The fluid cylinders are controlled to raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of one of the fluid cylinders (52) is based on a comparison of the measured position of a first end of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. The measurement of the position of the first end of the contouring assembly is achieved by a tracking device (58) which tracks the position of a target (56) positioned on the first end of the contouring assembly and which determines the three dimensional position of the target. A proximity sensor (78) measures the position of the second end of the contouring assembly from a surface and outputs a control signal that adjusts the height of the second end of the contouring assembly to follow the surface. Alternatively, a second target positioned on the second contouring assembly end is tracked by a second tracking device to determine the three-dimensional position of the second end. The contouring assembly preferably has a plow (32), rotating auger (36), and a vibratory screed (34) positioned adjacent and parallel to one another in an orientation transverse to the direction of motion of the contouring assembly. The plow, rotating auger, and vibratory screed are all pivotable about an axis parallel to their longitudinal direction. A pivot or tilting controller controls the tilting of the plow, rotating auger, and vibratory screed to follow the slope of the profile stored in computer memory.

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Apparatus and method for three-dimensional contouring

Disclosed is an apparatus for screeding or trowelling concrete or similar materials. The apparatus has a turret, mounted on a mobile frame. A telescopic boom is mounted in cantilevered fashion on the turret. A machine head, mounted on the distal end of the boom, is rotatable about a vertical axis. An attachment, such as a screed or a trowel, is attached to the machine head. The level and angle of the frame can be set to a selected elevation relative to a rotating laser beam by raising or lowering three hydraulic legs. The machine head can raise or lower the attachment to set the attachment at a selected elevation.

Apparatus for screening and trowelling concrete

A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.

Lightweight apparatus for screeding and vibrating uncured concrete surfaces

A combination asphalt/concrete surface repair machine. The machine is a direction-finding, wheeled, transportable vehicle, which is a self-regulating, repair machine, controlled by a complex central computer. The machine is capable of being attached to and hauled by another faster vehicle (i.e., truck) if necessary. This machine is guided by a positioning device, which uses advanced radar and laser technology to place the machine above every position of the road surface to be repaired. The machine uses data from seismic or radar analysis carried out in preparation for repairing the road surface by the use of robotic modules within the machine. This technology can also be used to build new roads, racetracks, airport runways, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc. Multiple construction or repair functions are provided within one machine.

Modular, robotic road repair machine

A guidance system and method for increasing the accuracy of laser guided machines such as screeds, graders, earth movers, floor saws and floor finishing machines. The system includes a laser beam receiver for sensing a laser reference beam provided off the machine. The laser receiver signals an electrical circuit when the laser beam is sensed in both centered and off-center regions. The electrical circuit operates a controller such as a solenoid operated fluid valve which controls a power source such as a fluid cylinder to move a machine element in one direction, such as raising a concrete screed, when the beam is sensed in the centered region, and in the other direction, such as lowering the screed, when the beam is sensed off-center. The method includes controlling the power source to continuously cycle the machine element between centered and off-centered regions to reduce the dead band, i.e., nonactive tolerance range, of the system.

Apparatus and method for controlling laser guided machines

An apparatus and method are disclosed for pivoting a screed assembly during screeding of placed and/or poured, uncured concrete or like loose, spreadable materials to maintain proper screeding contact by the screeding assembly with the concrete or like material by counteracting the force of concrete or other like material acting against the screed assembly as it is moved along the concrete The apparatus includes a support, preferably of the self-propelled type, a boom and boom mount, and a pivot between the boom and the screed assembly The axis of the pivot extends generally perpendicularly to the screeding direction in which the screed sassmblyis moved A power source, such as a pair of fluid cylinders, rotates the screed about the pivot axis, preferably in response to an electro-hydraulic leveling sensor mounted on the screed The lateral incline of the screed perpendicular to the screeding direction may be controlled about additional pivot axes orthogonal to the first A power operated elevation control is preferably responsive to a fixed laser beam reference plane positioned externally of the screed assembly The boom is telescoping and has multiple sections for extending and retracting the screeding assembly with respect to the support The screed preferably includes a vibration assembly vibrationally isolated from the remainder of the screed for smoothing the concrete

Screeding apparatus and method

A deflection indicating adjustable highway straight-edge. The highway straight-edge is designed to effectively level wet concrete by allowing the user to determine when the device is not straight and provides the user with a means of controlled adjustment for straightening. In the preferred embodiment, a laser light beam and electronic sensing device is used to detect deflection of the straight-edge. Undesirable deflection can be eliminated through the external adjustment of steel tension cables inside the straight-edge tube. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, deflection is detected by means of an electrically conducting wire having contact points to indicate that the straight-edge requires adjustment. In another embodiment, a steel wire or string line stretched tightly inside the straight-edge tube indicates deflection requiring adjustment.

Deflection indicating adjustable highway straight-edge

UN APARATO (10) Y METODO PARA PIVOTAR UN CONJUNTO MAESTRO (450) DURANTE EL ENMAESTRADO DE HORMIGON INCURADO PARA MANTENER EL ADECUADO CONTACTO DE ENMAESTRADO MEDIANTE EL CONJUNTO DE ENMAESTRADO QUE CONTRARESTA LA FUERZA DEL HORMIGON QUE ACTUA CONTRA EL CONJUNTO DE MAESTRA COMO SI SE DESPLAZARA A LO LARGO DEL HORMIGON. EL APARATO INCLUYE UN SOPORTE AUTOIMPULSADO (12), UN AGUILON (170) Y HERRAJES DE AGUILON (172), Y UN PIVOTE ENTRE EL AGUILON Y EL CONJUNTO MAESTRA. EL EJE DEL PIVOTE SE EXTIENDE GENERALMENTE PERPENDICULAR A LA DIRECCION DE ENMAESTRADO EN EL QUE SE DESPLAZA EL CONJUNTO MAESTRA. UNA FUENTE DE POTENCIA, TAL COMO UN PAR DE CILINDROS FLUIDOS, GIRA LA MAESTRA (472) ALREDEDOR DEL EJE DEL PIVOTE, PREFERENTEMENTE EN RESPUESTA A UN SENSOR DE NIVELACION ELECTROHIDRAULICA MONTADO EN LA MAESTRA. LA INCLINACION LATERAL DE LA MAESTRA PERPENDICULAR A LA DIRECCION DE ENMAESTRADO PUEDE CONTROLARSE ALREDEDOR DE EJES DE PIVOTE ADICIONALES ORTOGONAL AL PRIMERO. UN CONTROL DE ELEVACION SERVOMANDADO ES SENSIBLE A UN PLANO DE REFERENCIA DE RAYO LASER FIJO COLOCADO EXTERIORMENTE AL CONJUNTO DE MAESTRA. EL AGUILON ES TELESCOPICO Y TIENE MULTIPLES SECCIONES (220, 250) PARA EXTENSION Y RETRACCION DEL CONJUNTO DE MAESTRA CON RESPECTO AL SOPORTE. LA MAESTRA PREFERENTEMENTE INCLUYE UN CONJUNTO DE VIBRACION (482,492) AISLADO VIBRACIONALMENTE (POR 478) DEL RESTO DE LA MAESTRA PARA ALISAR EL HORMIGON.

Aparato y metodo para enrasar perfeccionados.

An apparatus (10) and method for pivoting a screed assembly (450) during screeding of uncured concrete to maintain proper screeding contact by the screeding assembly by counteracting the force of concrete acting against the screed assembly as it is moved along the concrete. The apparatus includes a self-propelled support (12), a boom (170) and boom mount (172), and a pivot between the boom and the screed assembly. The axis of the pivot extends generally perpendicular to the screeding direction in which the screed assembly is moved. A power source, such as a pair of fluid cylinders, rotates the screed (472) about the pivot axis, preferably in response to an electro-hydraulic leveling sensor mounted on the screed. The lateral incline of the screed perpendicular to the screeding direction may be controlled about additional pivot axes orthogonal to the first. A power operated elevation control is responsive to a fixed laser beam reference plane positioned externally of the screed assembly. The boom is telescoping and has multiple sections (220,250) for extending and retracting the screeding assembly with respect to the support. The screed preferably includes a vibration assembly (484,492) vibrationally isolated (by 478) from the remainder of the screed for smoothing the concrete.

Paul J. Somero

Papers

Screeding apparatus and method

Deflection indicating adjustable highway straight-edge

Aparato y metodo para enrasar perfeccionados.

Improved screeding apparatus and method