Paving apparatus

Claim 2

In a concrete paving apparatus: a paving head comprising: a pair of laterally spaced upright slipforms; a troweling pan spanning the separation between the slipform; concrete delivery means for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of said troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head Along a graded surface; and a mobile supporting unit, comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging means at each side of the rigid frame for selectively propelling the rigid frame along a longitudinal path; mounting means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means about a common transverse axis; suspension means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means for selectively locating the rigid frame about said transverse axis relative to said ground-engaging means; auxiliary ground engaging means at each side of the paving head for partially supporting the weight of the paving head by moving engagement of the graded surface during longitudinal movement of the paving head.

Claim 3

An apparatus as wet out in claim 1 further comprising: movable support means operatively connected between the paving head and said auxiliary ground engaging means for maintaining engagement of the graded surface by said auxiliary ground-engaging means.

Claim 4

In a concrete paving apparatus: a paving head comprising: a pair of laterally spaced upright slipforms; a troweling pan spanning the separation between the slipforms; concrete delivery means for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of said troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head along a graded surface; and a mobile supporting unit located forward of the paving head in the direction of intended longitudinal movement, comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging means at each side of the rigid frame for selectively propelling the rigid frame along a longitudinal path, said paving head being pivotally joined to said rigid frame about an upright axis located centrally of the ground-engaging means; mounting means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means about a common transverse axis; suspension means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means for selectively locating the rigid frame about said transverse axis relative to said ground-engaging means.

Claim 5

In a concrete paving apparatus: a paving head comprising: a pair of laterally spaced upright slipforms; a troweling pan spanning the separation between the slipforms; concrete delivery means for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of said troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head along a graded surface; and a mobile supporting unit located forward of the paving head in the direction of intended longitudinal movement, comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging means at each side of the rigid frame for selectively propelling the rigid frame along a longitudinal path, said paving head being pivotally joined to said rigid frame about an upright axis located centrally of the ground-engaging means; mounting means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means about a common transverse axis; suspension means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means for selectively locating the rigid frame about said transverse axis relative to said ground-engaging means.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set out in claim 3 further comprising: means on said paving head for selectively varying the longitudinal inclination of the troweling pan relative to said upright axis.

Claim 7

In a concrete paving apparatus: a paving head comprising: a pair of laterally spaced upright slipforms; a troweling pan spanning the separation between the slipforms; concrete delivery means for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of said troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head along a graded surface; and a mobile supporting unit, comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging means at each side of the rigid frame for selectively propelling the rigid frame along a longitudinal path; mounting means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means about a common transverse axis and further permitting pivotal movement of the rigid frame about a central longitudinal axis relative to said ground-engaging means; suspension means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means for selectively locating the rigid frame about said transverse axis relative to said ground-engaging means.

Claim 8

In a concrete paving apparatus: a paving head comprising: a pair of laterally spaced upright slipforms; a troweling pan spanning the separation between the slipforms; concrete delivery means for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of said troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head along a graded surface; and a mobile supporting unit, comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging means at each side of the rigid frame for selectively propelling the rigid frame along a longitudinal path; mounting means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means about a common transverse axis and further permitting pivotal movement of the rigid frame about a central longitudinal axis relative to said ground-engaging means; suspension means operatively connecting the rigid frame and said ground-engaging means for selectively locating the rigid frame about said transverse axis relative to said ground-engaging means.

Claim 9

In a self-propelled paving apparatus for placement of a concrete slab along a graded longitudinal surface: a paving head comprising: a transverse troweling pan mounted to the paving head at an elevation above the graded surface; a pair of upright longitudinal slipforms mounted to the paving head at the respective sides of said troweling pan, the lower edges of said slipforms being engaged with the graded surface; and concrete delivery means on the paving head for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of the troweling paN during longitudinal movement of the paving head; and a mobile supporting unit comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging drive units located alongside the respective sides of said rigid frame; a rigid support mounted to said rigid frame and pivotally journaled by said ground engaging drive units about a common transverse axis, said rigid support being further pivotally mounted to the rigid frame about an axis extending longitudinally along the centerline between the ground-engaging drive units; and adjustable means connected between the rigid frame and said ground-engaging drive units for selectively positioning said rigid frame relative to said ground engaging drive units about said common transverse axis.

Claim 10

In a self-propelled paving apparatus for placement of a concrete slab along a graded longitudinal surface: a paving head comprising: a transverse troweling pan mounted to the paving head at an elevation above the graded surface; a pair of upright longitudinal slipforms mounted to the paving head at the respective sides of said troweling pan, the lower edges of said slipforms being engaged with the graded surface; and concrete delivery means on the paving head for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of the troweling paN during longitudinal movement of the paving head; and a mobile supporting unit comprising: a rigid frame operatively connected to the paving head; ground-engaging drive units located alongside the respective sides of said rigid frame; a rigid support mounted to said rigid frame and pivotally journaled by said ground engaging drive units about a common transverse axis, said rigid support being further pivotally mounted to the rigid frame about an axis extending longitudinally along the centerline between the ground-engaging drive units; and adjustable means connected between the rigid frame and said ground-engaging drive units for selectively positioning said rigid frame relative to said ground engaging drive units about said common transverse axis.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set out in claim 6 further comprising: ground-engaging means movably mounted at the respective sides of the paving head; and means operatively engaged between the paving head and said ground-engaging means for maintaining them in frictional supporting contact with the graded surface.

Claim 12

In a self-propelled paving apparatus for placement of a concrete slab along a graded longitudinal surface; a paving head comprising: a transverse troweling pan mounted to the paving head at an elevation above the graded surface; a pair of upright longitudinal slipforms mounted to the paving head at the respective sides of troweling pan, the lower edges of said slipforms being engaged with the graded surface; and concrete delivery means on the paving head for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of the troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head; and a mobile supporting unit comprising: a rigid frame pivotally connected to the paving head by an assembly comprising a rigid intermediate element oriented longitudinally and pivoted at its forward end to said rigid frame about a central upright axis on said frame, and means pivotally joining said paving head to the rear end of said element about an axis on said element parallel to said upright axis; ground-engaging drive units located alongside the respective sides of said rigid frame; a rigid support mounted to said rigid frame and pivotally journaled by said ground-engaging drive units about a common transverse axis; and adjustable means connected between the rigid frame and said ground-engaging drive units for selectively positioning said rigid frame relative to said ground engaging drive units about said common transverse axis.

Claim 13

In a self-propelled paving apparatus for placement of a concrete slab along a graded longitudinal surface; a paving head comprising: a transverse troweling pan mounted to the paving head at an elevation above the graded surface; a pair of upright longitudinal slipforms mounted to the paving head at the respective sides of troweling pan, the lower edges of said slipforms being engaged with the graded surface; and concrete delivery means on the paving head for directing incoming concrete between the slipforms and forward of the troweling pan during longitudinal movement of the paving head; and a mobile supporting unit comprising: a rigid frame pivotally connected to the paving head by an assembly comprising a rigid intermediate element oriented longitudinally and pivoted at its forward end to said rigid frame about a central upright axis on said frame, and means pivotally joining said paving head to the rear end of said element about an axis on said element parallel to said upright axis; ground-engaging drive units located alongside the respective sides of said rigid frame; a rigid support mounted to said rigid frame and pivotally journaled by said ground-engaging drive units about a common transverse axis; and adjustable means connected between the rigid frame and said ground-engaging drive units for selectively positioning said rigid frame relative to said ground engaging drive units about said common transverse axis.

Claim 14

An apparatus as set out in claim 8 wherein said paving head further comprises means for angularly adjusting the attitude of the troweling pan about a transverse axis.