Allen Engineering Corporation

Michael W McKean

J Dewayne Allen

Timmy D Guinn

Hugh L Adams

Mike Woodside

Jack C Wilson

A concrete bridge deck finishing machine for bridge deck construction and repairs comprises an elongated, horizontally extending box frame in the general form of a parallelepiped, which is elevated above a deck or roadway to be finished by a plurality of vertically upright, adjustable jack stands that are propelled hydraulically to traverse roadway surfaces, travel rails or forms. A reciprocating carriage suspended from the frame controls a downwardly suspended finishing head apparatus that contacts the concrete surface below for striking off, densifying and/or finishing. The carriage transversely moves back and forth in response to hydraulic circuitry actuated by a plunger driven ramp that separately controls the rate of machine propulsion, carriage traversing speed, carriage deceleration, and the direction of carriage travel. Carriage travel and reversing is synchronized with proper roadway travel commands from mechanically triggered hydraulic valves.

Bridge deck paver with enhanced hydraulic shifting

A high performance, multiple rotor, hydraulically driven riding trowel for finishing concrete includes a rigid trowel frame with two or more downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface. The rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. Hydraulic pressure to the rotors is monitored and controlled by an unloader valve system that monitors drive pump pressure with a shuttle valve to derive an unloader pilot signal. A sequence valve responds to the unloader pilot signal to control a pressure valve that bypasses the normal foot control valve in an overpressure situation. The pressure control head signal normally applied to the hydraulic drive motor control heads is modified with a feedback signal to automatically control the associated pump swash plates.

Hydraulic riding trowel with automatic load sensing system

High performance, multiple rotor riding trowels for finishing concrete comprise hydraulic circuitry enabling complete joystick control to the operator. The rigid trowel frame mounts separate spaced-apart, downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface. The rotor assembly blades finish the surface while supporting the trowel. The rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting, hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. Separate gimbaled, hydraulic motors revolve each rotor assembly. A joystick system enables operator hand control with minimal physical exertion. The joystick system activates electrical circuitry that fires solenoid control valves to energize various hydraulic cylinders that tilt the rotors and alter blade pitch. The hydraulic steering control circuit driven by a motor driven pump pressures a flow divider circuit to control the solenoid tilt control valves. A bypass-valve in line before the flow divider enables an operator to customize the trowel steering speed. A motor drive control circuit responsive to a hydraulic pump controls each hydraulic drive motor, and provides for speed control and heat dissipation.

Hydraulically driven, multiple rotor riding trowel

A high performance, twin rotor riding trowel for finishing concrete and a joystick operated electro-hydraulic control circuit enabling complete joystick control to the operator. The rigid trowel frame mounts two spaced-apart, downwardly projecting, and bladed rotors that frictionally contact the concrete surface. The rotors are tilted with double acting, hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. A joystick system enables the operator to hand control the trowel with minimal physical exertion. The proportional joystick system directly controls electrical circuitry that outputs proportional control signals to electrically controlled, proportional, pressure-reducing valves in line with the tilting cylinders. The hydraulic circuitry comprises a motor driven pump delivering pressure to a flow divider circuit. A bypass-valve in line before the flow divider enables an operator to customize the trowel steering characteristics.

Dual rotor riding trowel with proportional electro-hydraulic steering

A high performance, twin rotor riding trowel for finishing concrete and hydraulic circuitry therefor, enabling complete joystick control to the operator. The rigid trowel frame mounts two spaced-apart, downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface. The rotor assembly blades finish the surface while supporting the trowel. The rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting, hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. A joystick system enables the operator to hand control the trowel with minimal physical exertion. The joystick system activates electrical circuitry that fires solenoid control valves that in turn energize the various hydraulic cylinders that tilt the rotors and alter blade pitch. The hydraulic control circuitry comprises a motor driven pump delivering pressure to a flow divider circuit. A bypass-valve in line before the flow divider enables an operator to customize the trowel steering characteristics.

Hydraulically controlled twin rotor riding trowel

A high performance, hydraulically-propelled, multiple rotor riding trowel for finishing concrete is controlled with hydraulic circuitry enabling steering wheel and foot pedal control. The rigid trowel frame preferably mounts three separate spaced-apart, downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface. The rear rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting, hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control in response to foot pedals. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. Separate gimbaled, hydraulic motors revolve each rotor assembly. A steering wheel controlling a front, hydraulic steering control valve controls the front tilting cylinder to facilitates steering with minimal physical exertion.

A vibration system that fits on top of a conventional truss with minimal alteration. The system comprises a propulsion assembly powering a vibration assembly. The propulsion assembly comprises two parallel rails forming a lateral path between truss ends and supporting a mobile carriage. Each rail comprises abutting segments coextensively surmounting the truss. Each segment attaches at respective truss cross-beams to define a continuous runway for carriage movement. Each segment also defines a channel for a chain rack anchored at opposite truss ends. The carriage comprises an undercarriage supporting an offset platform. The undercarriage comprises a rail-spanning frame with supporting runway tracking wheels. A motor propels the carriage by turning an axle with terminal pinions entrained about the rack. The offset counterbalances the vibration assembly to reduce torsion. A coupling hitch protrudes from the platform opposite the offset to support the vibration assembly. The vibration assembly comprises an elevator that vertically displaces a gang of vibrators between deployed and retracted positions. The elevator comprises a hydraulic cylinder coaxially centered between two sleeves with sliding arms that couple the gang to the elevator. The gang comprises a plurality of quick-coupling pendulous vibrators across the truss front. A motor drives multiple vibrators via a split axle connected to several gearboxes in series. When deployed, the vibrator tip thrusts into the concrete and undulates rapidly for a selected time. Afterwards, the vibrators retract and the carriage moves to an adjacent vibrated sector of concrete until completely traversing the truss. They system may operate automatically or manually.

Universal bridge deck vibrating system

A high performance, multiple rotor riding trowel for finishing concrete and hydraulic controls therefor, enabling complete hand control to the operator of steering, propulsion, and blade pitch. A rigid trowel frame mounts two or more downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that frictionally engage the concrete surface. The rotor assemblies are tilted with double acting hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. A joystick system enables the operator to hand control the trowel with minimal physical exertion. The joystick system activates solenoid control valves that in turn energize the various hydraulic cylinders that tilt the rotors and alter blade pitch. The rotor gearboxes are mounted to tiltable, pivot steering boxes secured to the frame within suitable mounting regions bounded by rigid frame elements. The rotor assembly blades contact plastic concrete to finish the surface while supporting the trowel.

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Arlington, TN, United States of America

Michael W McKean