GB2191526A

GB2191526A - Apparatus for distributing a hardener onto a wet concrete floor

Info

Publication number: GB2191526A
Application number: GB08620623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Fitzgerald; Patrick Fitzgerald
Original assignee: LACON FLOORS Ltd
Current assignee: LACON FLOORS Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-11
Filing date: 1986-08-26
Publication date: 1987-12-16
Also published as: GB2191526B; BE905238A; IE57364B1; GB8620623D0; IE861557L

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing a hardener onto a wet concrete floor comprises a wheeled chassis 10 having mounted thereon a power source 13 for driving the wheels 11 of the chassis, a hopper 17 for the hardener mounted on the chassis, and a discharge box 18 below the hopper containing an agitator member 26 and a spreader member 27. The apparatus is arranged such that in use, as the apparatus travels across a wet concrete floor, hardener contained in the hopper 17 is fed to the spreader member 27 in the discharge box 18 by the agitator member 26 and then distributed by the spreader member 27 over the wet concrete floor. The bearing pressure of the fully loaded apparatus on the wet concrete is no greater than 3.5 psi. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for distributing a hardener onto wet concrete in the construction of a concrete floor This invention relates to an apparatus for distributing a hardener-- essentially a mixture of cement and hard aggregates -- onto a wet concrete floor, in the construction of the concrete floor.

When concrete floors and in particular industrial concrete floors are piaced, a 'sprinkle' finish is often applied in dry form to the wet concrete. As the concrete hardens, the sprinkle or hardener obtains moisture from it and hardens also, becoming monolithic with the base concrete. This hardener consists mainly of a mixture of cement and special hard aggregates. The result is a very hard skin on the floor surface which is monolithic with or keyed fully to the base concrete slab. This hardened surface improves the performance of the various functions carried out on the floor surface. For example, it will provide a 'dust-free' surface and additionally, the hardener may be coloured so that a coloured surface is provided.

In the past the conventional method of applying this hardener was by sprinkling by hand or scattering by shovel. These methods are still widely used, but mechanical equipment is now also available. This mechanical equipment consists of a dispensing hopper which travels above the floor on a rail or gantry system, dispensing as it travels ystem, dispensing as it travels. The rail or gantry spans a strip of concrete on which the hardener is being applied and after each traverse pass of the dispensing hopper, the gantry is moved longitudinally forward, thus enabling the entire floor to be covered in strips approximately the width of the dispensing hopper and the length of the gantry.

The gantry, which is used in this known apparatus, is supported on wheels at each end to faciiitate movement.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for distributing a hardener onto a wet concrete floor, comprising a wheeled chassis having mounted thereon a power source for driving the wheels of the chassis, a hopper for the hardener mounted on the chassis, and a discharge box below the hopper containing an agitator member and a spreader member, the apparatus being arranged such that in use, as the apparatus travels across a wet concrete floor, hardener contained in the hopper is fed to the spreader member in the discharge box by the agitator member and then distributed by the spreader member over the wet concrete floor.

Preferably the power source is an internal combustion engine which drives at least one hydraulic pump which in turn powers a drive system for the wheels and operates the agitator member and the spreader member in the discharge box.

The present invention will be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus.

The apparatus of the present embodiment comprises a chassis 10 mounted on two sets of four driven wheels 11 at the front of the chassis 10 and two sets of three steering wheels 12 mounted at the rear of the chassis 10, all the wheels having pneumatic tyres. The driven wheels 11 are powered by an internal combustion engine 13 which is operatively associated in conventional manner, through a hydraulic pump 23 and associated control valves 14 and hydraulic lines 16, with a hydraulic drive system comprising a pair of hydraulic drive motors 24 each coupled via a respective chain and sprocket drive 15 to power the set of four wheels 11 on a respective side of the chassis.

The drive system 15 and 24 has both forward and reverse modes. Further the incorporation of a hydraulic differential system associated with the drive system for the wheels 11 allows the apparatus, when in use, to be turned right and/or left without any difficulty and without causing any damage of consequence to the concrete floor on which hardener is being distributed. In order to facilitate steering of the apparatus when in use by an operative, a handle 22 is provided mounted on the rear end of the chassis 10, the handle 22 turning the wheels 12 about a vertical axis.

In addition there is also mounted on the chassis 10 an open top hopper 17 for the hardener. Directly below the hopper 17 and mounted on the chassis 10 there is located a discharge box 18 which incorporates a powered agitator member 26 and, below the latter, a spreader member 27. The discharge box 18 extends transversely across the chassis 10, and the members 26 and 27 extend across the full width of the box 18 in the same direction. The members 26 and 27 are driven from a hydraulic motor 25 which has associated hydaulic lines 21 and a hydraulic discharge control vaive 20.

The hydraulic motor 25 is connected by chain and sprockets 28 to the agitator member 26 and discharge member 27. The hydraulic motor 25 is powered by the hydraulic pump 23 in turn powered by the engine 13.

In use of the apparatus as it travels across a wet concrete floor, the hardener - essentially a mixture of cement and hard aggregates-stored in the hopper 17 is fed in a controlled manner by the agitator member 26 to the spreader member 27 in the discharge box 18 from where the hardener is spread over the wet concrete floor underthe action of the power spreader member 27.

It will be readily appreciated that the bearing pressure of the fully loaded apparatus on the semiplastic concrete is such that the apparatus as it travels over the semi-plastic concrete causes only an acceptable degree of wheel indentation. The bearing pressure is approximately 2 psi. to 3.5 psi.

depending on such factors as the gross weight of the machine and the concrete hardness.

The use of the apparatus of the present invention gives the following advantages over the known prior methods of spreading a hardener over a wet concrete floor, namely: 1. One achieves a controlled and accurate distribution of hardener material over the wet concrete floor, resulting in achievement of greater quality control and giving a superior finished concrete floor.

2. A higher production rate is possible.

3. The apparatus of the present invention provides a far greater flexibility for work use than is possible using the aforementioned known gantry type system which requires one to distribute hardener over strips of wet concrete and which requires hard working surfaces for the gantry wheels. It will be fully appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention travels directly on the wet concrete and is not restricted to a predetermined hardener distribution path network.

4. The present invention provides an apparatus which is readily manufactured and maintained and which can be easily operated by relatively unskilled labour.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing a hardener onto a wet concrete floor, comprising a wheeled chassis having mounted thereon a power source for driving the wheels of the chassis, a hopper for the hardener mounted on the chassis, and a discharge box below the hopper containing an agitator member and a spreader member, the apparatus being arranged such that in use, as the apparatus travels across a wet concrete floor, hardener contained in the hopper is fed to the spreader member in the discharge box by the agitator member and then distributed by the spreader member over the wet concrete floor.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine which drives at least one hydraulic pump which in turn powers a drive system for the wheels and operates the agitator member and the spreader member in the discharge box.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheels are pneumatic wheels arranged at the front and the rear of the chassis, wherein the rear wheels are steerable by a handle, and wherein the front wheels comprise two sets each driven by a respective hydraulic motor to provide a differential drive system for the front wheels.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bearing pressure of the fully loaded apparatus on the wet concrete is no greater than 3.5 psi.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.