US4128359A — Self-propelled concrete vibrator apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 112 words

In combination, a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned on opposite sides of an area upon which concrete is to be poured, a concrete finisher machine movably mounted on said guide rails and extending therebetween for finishing the concrete poured on said area, and a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine movably mounted on said guide rails and being closely positioned adjacent said concrete finisher for vibrating the concrete in close proximity to said finishing machine, said concrete vibrator machine having a plurality of horizontally spaced and substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices extending between said guide rails and means for raising and lowering said substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 112 words

In combination, a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned on opposite sides of an area upon which concrete is to be poured, a concrete finisher machine movably mounted on said guide rails and extending therebetween for finishing the concrete poured on said area, and a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine movably mounted on said guide rails and being closely positioned adjacent said concrete finisher for vibrating the concrete in close proximity to said finishing machine, said concrete vibrator machine having a plurality of horizontally spaced and substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices extending between said guide rails and means for raising and lowering said substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein a first control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said vibrator devices at a predetermined rate whereby the period of vibrating time may be controlled.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vibrator machine includes a frame means having a plurality of horizontally spaced vibrator supports mounted thereon, said vibrator devices being mounted on said vibrator supports with freedom of relative upward substantially linear movement whereby said vibrator supports permit upward vertical movement of said vibrator devices, relative to said vibrator supports, as said vibrator devices are lowered into the concrete.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vibrator machine includes means for horizontally moving said vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein said means for horizontally moving said vibrator devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 207 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said vibrator machine comprises a first frame means movably mounted on one of said guide rails, a second frame means movably mounted on the other of said guide rails, and a truss assembly extending between said first and second frame means above the surface upon which the concrete is to be poured, said vibrator devices being mounted on and supported by said truss assembly, and first and second drive units on said first and second frame means respectively for selective movement of said frame means with respect to said guide rails, said truss assembly comprising a substantially horizontally disposed truss portion having rearward and forward ends, a substantially vertically disposed truss portion secured to and extending upwardly from the rearward end of said horizontally disposed truss portion; and an inclined truss portion secured to and extending between the upper end of said vertically disposed truss portion and the forward end of said horizontally disposed truss portion, said vibrator devices being positioned adjacent the rearward side of said vertically disposed truss portion, said first and second frame means each having rearward and forward ends with respect to the direction of travel thereof, said truss assembly extending therebetween at the rearward ends thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said truss assembly comprises a plurality of truss sections which are detachably secured together in an end-to-end relationship to permit said truss assembly to span various guide rail spacings.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said truss assembly is laterally adjustably mounted on said first and second frame means to permit said truss assembly to span various guide rail spacings.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein an operator's station is provided on said truss assembly.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said first and second drive units are supported on the forward ends of said first and second frame means respectively, each frame means including longitudinally spaced apart wheel assemblies movable on said guide rails for distributing the weight of said vibrator machine therealong.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The combination of claim 1 whereby means is provided for varying the vibrational speed of said vibrator devices.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein a control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for controlling the time that said vibrator devices are positioned within the concrete.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 96 words

A self-propelled concrete vibrator machine for movement along a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned on opposite sides of an area upon which conrete is to be poured, first and second drive frames for mounting on said guide rails and a truss assembly secured to said drive frames and extending therebetween above said area, a plurality of horizontally spaced vibrator devices mounted on said truss assembly, said vibrator devices secured in substantially vertically disposed relation to said truss assembly, and means for raising and lowering said substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices with respect to the concrete.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 96 words

A self-propelled concrete vibrator machine for movement along a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned on opposite sides of an area upon which conrete is to be poured, first and second drive frames for mounting on said guide rails and a truss assembly secured to said drive frames and extending therebetween above said area, a plurality of horizontally spaced vibrator devices mounted on said truss assembly, said vibrator devices secured in substantially vertically disposed relation to said truss assembly, and means for raising and lowering said substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices with respect to the concrete.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The device of claim 15 wherein a first control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said vibrator devices at a predetermined rate whereby the period of vibrating time may be controlled.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said truss assembly includes a frame means having a plurality of horizontally spaced vibrator supports mounted thereon, said vibrator devices being mounted on said vibrator supports whereby said vibrator supports permit upward vertical movement of said vibrator devices, relative to said vibrator supports, as said vibrator devices are lowered into the concrete.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said vibrator machine includes means for horizontally moving said vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 18 wherein said means for horizontally moving said vibrator devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said first and second drive frames include means for selective movement of said frames with respect to said guide rails.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 86 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said truss assembly comprises a substantially horizontally disposed truss portion having rearward and forward ends, a substantially vertically disposed truss portion secured to and extending upwardly from the rearward end of said horizontally disposed truss portion; and an inclined truss portion secured to and extending between the upper end of said vertically disposed truss portion and the forward end of said horizontally disposed truss portion, said vibrator devices being positioned adjacent the rearward side of said vertically disposed truss portion.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 21 wherein said first and second drive frames each have rearward and forward ends with respect to the direction of travel thereof, said truss assembly extending therebetween at the rearward ends thereof.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 35 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said truss assembly comprises a plurality of truss sections which are detachably secured together in an end-to-end relationship to permit said truss assembly to span various guide rail spacings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said truss assembly is laterally adjustably mounted on said first and second drive frames to permit said truss assembly to span various guide rail spacings.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 14 wherein an operator's station is provided on said truss assembly.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 14 whereby means is provided for varying the vibrational speed of said vibrator devices.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 14 wherein a control means is provided for selectively moving either of said drive frames relative to said guide rails in forward and rearward directions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 46 words

The device of claim 14 wherein said means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices comprising a hydraulic cylinder means and a control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for controlling the time that said vibrator devices are positioned within the concrete.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 121 words

In combination, a bridge, bridge centering on said bridge including a pair of spaced-apart and longitudinally extending guide rails positioned on opposite sides of the area upon which conrete is to be poured, a concrete finisher machine movably mounted on said guide rails and extending therebetween for finishing the concrete poured on said area, and a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine movably mounted on said guide rails and being closely positioned adjacent said concrete finisher for vibrating the concrete in close proximity to said finishing machine, said concrete vibrator machine having a plurality of horizontally spaced and substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices extending between said guide rails, and means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 121 words

In combination, a bridge, bridge centering on said bridge including a pair of spaced-apart and longitudinally extending guide rails positioned on opposite sides of the area upon which conrete is to be poured, a concrete finisher machine movably mounted on said guide rails and extending therebetween for finishing the concrete poured on said area, and a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine movably mounted on said guide rails and being closely positioned adjacent said concrete finisher for vibrating the concrete in close proximity to said finishing machine, said concrete vibrator machine having a plurality of horizontally spaced and substantially vertically disposed vibrator devices extending between said guide rails, and means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices with respect to said concrete.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The combination of claim 29 wherein said means for vertically raising and lowering said vibrator devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 38 words

The combination of claim 30 wherein a first control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said vibrator devices at a predetermined rate whereby the period of vibrating time may be controlled.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 125 words

The method of creating a bridge deck upon a bridge, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a pair of spaced-apart guide rails on opposite sides of the area upon which concrete is to be poured; (b) pouring concrete on said area across the width thereof; (c) positioning a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine on said guide rails whereby said vibrator machine extends between said guide rails; (d) lowering a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced vibrator devices from said vibrator machine into said concrete; (e) raising said vibrator devices from said concrete; (f) moving said vibrator machine longitudinally along said guide rails; and (g) finishing said concrete with a concrete finishing machine which is movably positoned on said guide rails closely adjacent said vibrator devices.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 125 words

The method of creating a bridge deck upon a bridge, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a pair of spaced-apart guide rails on opposite sides of the area upon which concrete is to be poured; (b) pouring concrete on said area across the width thereof; (c) positioning a self-propelled concrete vibrator machine on said guide rails whereby said vibrator machine extends between said guide rails; (d) lowering a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced vibrator devices from said vibrator machine into said concrete; (e) raising said vibrator devices from said concrete; (f) moving said vibrator machine longitudinally along said guide rails; and (g) finishing said concrete with a concrete finishing machine which is movably positoned on said guide rails closely adjacent said vibrator devices.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said vibrator devices are moved laterally after being raised in step (e) and are then lowered into the concrete and raised therefrom prior to step (f).

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said vibrator devices vibrate said concrete at a predetermined vibrational rate for a predetermined length of time.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-12-04	1982-06-05	1982-12-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-12-04	1986-06-05	1986-12-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-12-04	1990-06-05	1990-12-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-propelled concrete vibrator apparatus

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