Wacker Corporation

M-b-w Incorporated

Robert M Motl

Alan D Bengtson

Gregory S Dombek

Steven E Jansen

Todd J Lutz

Ronald R Sartler

Darin Noyes

A power buggy is configured to be safe, stable, easy to control, and comfortable. Frequently-used controls such as dump controls, a speed control, and a directional control, arc located at or very near handgrips of the operator's handle so as to permit the operator to control the vehicle without releasing either of the handgrips. For instance, speed and direction arc both controlled by a bidirectional twist grip forming one of the handgrips. The twist grip must rotate through a neutral position before changing directional control from forward to reverse so that an operator cannot reverse the vehicle's direction of travel without first rather gradually reducing vehicle speed. Operator comfort is also enhanced by a fuel tank that shields the operator from the engine. The fuel tank also has a large capacity while simultaneously functioning as a support for side shrouds of the vehicle. A stowable operator's platform is lockable in both its stowed and operative positions so as to prevent injury to the operator from unintended platform movement.

Power buggy

A power buggy is configured to be safe, stable, easy to control, and comfortable. Frequently-used controls such as dump controls, a speed control, and a directional control, are located at or very near handgrips of the operator's handle so as to permit the operator to control the vehicle without releasing either of the handgrips. For instance, speed and direction are both controlled by a bidirectional twist grip forming one of the handgrips. The twist grip must rotate through a neutral position before changing directional control from forward to reverse so that an operator cannot reverse the vehicle's direction of travel without first rather gradually reducing vehicle speed. Operator comfort is also enhanced by a fuel tank that shields the operator from the engine. The fuel tank also has a large capacity while simultaneously functioning as a support for side shrouds of the vehicle. A stowable operator's platform is lockable in both its stowed and operative positions so as to prevent injury to the operator from unintended platform movement.

A power trowel incorporates a counterbalanced blade pitch adjust assembly that is relatively easy to manufacture and to install (and hence that can be retrofitted onto an existing power trowel machine) and that is easy to operate. The blade pitch adjust assembly includes 1) a blade pitch adjustment mechanism, 2) a pivotable control lever assembly that is coupled to the adjustment mechanism by a cable or other tension element, and 3) a counterbalancing mechanism such as a torsion spring. The counterbalancing mechanism imposes a force on the control lever assembly that is significantly lower than the resistive force imposed on the control lever assembly by the tension element to avoid potentially dangerous control lever snap-back and to provide the operator with a sense of feel as he or she adjusts blade pitch. A latch mechanism is incorporated into the system that releases automatically when the operator applies a pivotal force to the control lever assembly--thereby obviating the need to effect a secondary release operation. The orientation of the control lever assembly also can be adjusted to meet the needs of the operator.

Power trowel with counterbalanced trowel blade pitch adjust assembly

A pneumatically operated percussion apparatus for compacting soil, or other material. The apparatus includes a gear case that supports a percussion unit that is adapted to engage the soil to compact the same. A pneumatically operated motor is mounted on the gear case and air is supplied to the motor via a manually-operated 'deadman' valve unit. A centrifugal clutch connects the output shaft of the motor to the percussion unit. The air flow to the motor is controlled by a governor to obtain a substantially uniform rotational speed for the motor output shaft.

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West Bend, WI, United States of America

Robert M Motl