Allen Engineering Corporation

Moore & Sons, Inc.

Ralph C Luebke

J Dewayne Allen

Hugh L Adams

Thomas J Leyes

An automatic, self locking clutch system effectuates blade pitch control on concrete finishing trowels. The clutch instantly releases upon the touch of the operator. A trowel has a downwardly projecting, motor-driven rotor comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart finishing blades directly contacting the concrete surface. A handle extends from a rigid frame and terminates in handlebars grasped by an operator. Control arms extend from the blades into contact with a plate to vary pitch by conventionally rotating the blades about their longitudinal axis. A clutch operatively interconnects a lever and a linkage extending to the swash plate. The clutch comprises a tubular housing coaxially receiving a drive shaft that rotatably controls an internal rotor. A set of spring biased, cylindrical rollers are confined within channels defined in the rotor between major and minor lobes thereof. The rollers are contacted by locking ledge portions of the channels and jammed into frictional engagement with the inner walls of the housing. The rollers thus wedgably lock the shaft to prevent rotation. A clutch actuator is coaxially fitted within the housing and driven by the lever for selectively unlocking the rollers and rotating the shaft to displace the linkage and establish the desired blade pitch. The shaft mounts an eccentric sprocket that directly drives a roller chain portion of the linkage. The eccentric sprocket provides an initial mechanical advantage, so trowel blade pitch is first finely adjusted, and as blade angle increases, lever response is coarser.

Finishing trowel pitch control and clutch system

A self-propelled paver that distributes, consolidates, places and finishes polymer concrete to rapidly resurface roadbeds. A mobile, wheeled chassis mounts an adjustable hopper that receives premixed polymer from a mixer truck that precedes the paver. A finishing assembly secured to the chassis has a distribution assembly for applying concrete transversely across the surface, and a trailing finishing screed that surfaces and densifies the concrete. An active, hydraulic suspension dynamically orients the chassis and the finishing assembly with the roadbed. Individual height adjusting cylinders can be extended or contracted by an automatic grade control that logically senses grade through an external string line. The distribution system comprises an open bottom exposing the surface to be paved, and an open top adapted to receive concrete from a trough extending from the hopper. A bidirectional auger is rotatably disposed within a distribution box for moving concrete upon the surface. The finishing screed comprises a rigid strike off that initially contacts uncompacted concrete laid by the distribution system. An intermediate pan extending between the strike off and a trailing bull float mounts a plurality of vibrators that facilitate concrete densification. The vertically displaceable hopper can be adjusted to an appropriate operative orientation relative to the mixing truck. When tested in place with a nuclear densitometer, resultant concrete density will meet or exceed standards established for all modern paving jobs. Ride quality as measured by a profilograph according to known procedures will meet all established standards.

Polymer concrete paving machine

An automatic grading control device for finishing plastic concrete controls several different elongated, multi-section concrete finishing tools such as vibratory screeds or the like, with or without forms. Supporting skis facilitate sliding, winch driven movement of the device relative to the plastic concrete. Spaced apart and vertically upwardly extending towers are supported by the skis and disposed periodically along the length of the finishing tool. Each tower comprises a pair of elongated, spaced apart stanchions disposed on opposite sides of the tool that are braced with a rigid, adjustable upper strut. The strut extends between the stanchions and forms the top of the tower. Movable sleeves coaxially fitted to the stanchions are synchronized by rigid transverse bridges that extend between the sleeves above the tool. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders extending between the strut and the bridge raise and lower the tool thereby controlling level. The cylinders are controlled by a beacon laser and attendant sensors secured to the device. A control panel controls both the cylinders and winches. The winches move the device along the plastic concrete by spooling cables secured to a fixed point.

Laser operated automatic grade control system for concrete finishing

This disclosure relates to a truck for transporting concentrated loads, particularly chicks, requiring air circulation. The truck includes a body that forms a load space, and equipment for circulating and treating air in the load space. A floor cavity is formed at the bottom of the load space and a ceiling cavity is formed at the top of the load space. In an instance where chicks are transported, the chicks are placed in chick boxes which are stacked in rows in the load space. The stacks are separated and stabilized by spacers and support ducts. The support ducts are connected to the floor and form ducts which conduct air upwardly from the floor cavity. The ducts have air openings formed therein at spaced intervals, and the circulating air moves out of the ducts and directly into the boxes.

Truck for transporting boxes of poultry

This disclosure deals with a truck including a vertically movable van and a lift mechanism for raising or lowering the van. The lift mechanism includes two arms pivotally connected in a scissors configuration. The arms are also connected to the truck frame and to the frame of the van in a manner to raise or lower the van as the scissors arms are spread or closed. An extensible power unit is connected between the two arms and is operable to spread or close the arms in order to raise or lower the van. Improved reinforcements are placed on the truck frame to provide the necessary strength.

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

Ralph C Luebke