Concrete finishing trowel having an electronically actuated steering assembly
US6368016B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE04F21/247
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A self-propelled concrete finishing trowel has a power steering control system that steers the machine by tilting the driven shaft(s) of the rotor assembly or assemblies of the machine without requiring the imposition of fatiguing actuating forces by the machine's operator. The steering control system includes at least one electric actuator, such as a ball screw actuator, coupled to each rotor assembly of the machine and controlled by an operator-manipulated controller. The controller preferably includes at least one, and possibly two, joysticks that can be manipulated by the operator to steer the machine in the direction of joystick motion and preferably at a speed that is proportional to the magnitude of joystick movement. In the typical case in which the machine is steered by pivoting a gearbox of at least one rotor assembly about two axes, a separate actuator is provided for each axis of gearbox pivoting. The resultant machine is easy to operate, lightweight, and exhibits little risk of high-pressure fluid spills.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.