Patent Publication Number: US-11643827-B2

Title: Assembly for improving performance and lifespan of a concrete finishing pan

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/021,123, filed on May 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a powered concrete finishing apparatus and more specifically to a power trowel concrete finishing pan. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Known versions of powered concrete finishing equipment often comprise a plurality of generally rectangular trowel blades rotating about a common axis and being in contact with the concrete. 
     Producing high-quality concrete floors is generally a multistep-process and starts after fresh concrete has been poured on the floor. It is common to use a motorized power trowel with adaptable pans, floats, plates or a combination of plates attached thereto. All these attachments are adapted to be used at different times during the working process. 
     To reach a high level of flatness, concrete finisher operators often perform their first passes on powered, motorized riding trowels with a pan, which is also called plate or finishing disc. The pan helps finishing a broader zone relative to the trowel blades alone by having a greater surface contacting the concrete. Also, the pan helps finish the concrete faster, which can have a positive impact on the work, hence concrete finisher operators work while the concrete is drying. Moved by trowels attached to a power trowel ride-on or walk-behind machine, the pans will typically wear, particularly where the weight of the machine mainly presses, under the trowels. 
     In view of the above, there is a need in the field for improving the lifespan of concrete finishing pans. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to address the above and other drawbacks, there is provided a reinforcement assembly removably connectable to a pan of a troweling machine having a rotor assembly with corresponding troweling arms each supporting a trowel blade, said reinforcement assembly comprising: a reinforcement member; a first connector operationally connectable to the reinforcement member, the first connector being removably and operationally connectable to one of the troweling arms or one of the trowel blades; and a second connector connectable to the reinforcement member, the second connector being removably and operationally connectable to the pan, wherein, in operation, the reinforcement assembly maximizes a distribution of weight of the troweling machine onto a surface of the pan. 
     In embodiments, the reinforcement assembly is dimensioned such that said pan can removably connect to two to height reinforcement assemblies simultaneously. 
     Advantageously, the reinforcement assembly prolongs the lifespan of concrete finishing pans by providing a larger contact area during the finishing phase between the surface of the pan and troweling machine. This reinforcement assembly provides another advantage resulting in a flatter pan that covers a larger surface and helps to finish concrete faster and flatter. 
     Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of known concrete finishing troweling machine. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a partly disassembled rotor assembly of the troweling machine shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a bottom view of a pair of pans installed on the troweling machine of  FIG.  1   , according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of reinforcement assemblies installed on a pan of a troweling machine, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is perspective partial view of reinforcement assemblies installed on a pan of a troweling machine, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a reinforcement assembly, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  8    is a side section view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  7    taken along line C-C. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a pan with brackets, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  10    is a top view of the pan shown in  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a detailed view of the pan shown at  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  12    is a side elevation view of the pan shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a reinforcement assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  14    is a top view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  15    is a side section view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  14    taken along line A-A. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a pan with brackets comprising five of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  13   , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of a pan with brackets comprising six of a narrower version of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  13   , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  18    is a perspective view of a reinforcement assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  19    is a top view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  18   . 
         FIG.  20    is a side view of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  19   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , there is shown a known ride-on concrete finishing troweling machine  10 . When used, an operator sits on top of the frame of the troweling machine  10  and controls operation of two motor-power rotor assemblies located at the bottom thereof. Typically, when pans are installed on the troweling machine  10  the pans will wear, particularly at the location where the weight of the machine mainly presses: under the trowel blades. The increase of the wear of the middle of the pan relative to the rest of the pan diminishes its lifetime of the pan. Such non-uniform wear of the pan is not desirable as it lowers the concrete finishing quality. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , in addition to  FIG.  1   , there is shown a partly disassembled rotor assembly that may be used in the troweling machine  10 . The rotor assembly includes a rotor  12  with a series of six troweling arms  14  supporting six corresponding troweling blades  16  for contacting and finishing the surface of the concrete. Struts and  18  and bolts  19  are shown, but normally a single ring is used instead of struts. The ring is attached at the end of the troweling arms  14 . There is no need to remove the ring or struts to the install the reinforcement assemblies according to the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , in addition to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , there is shown the troweling machine  10  provided with two pans  20  that are each mounted under a corresponding rotor assembly. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4   , in addition to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , there is shown the underside of a pan  20  with six reinforcement members  22  removably connected thereto. Each reinforcement member  22  is preferably shaped as a flat truncated cone. Each reinforcement member  22  includes a central bar  24  extending in a radial direction with a series of threaded openings or screw holes  26  for receiving a bolt and allowing a connection to a corresponding troweling arm  14  of the troweling machine  10 . Each central bar  24  is preferably soldered on its corresponding reinforcement member  22  for establishing a solid connection thereto, but it could be also removably connected or attached in other ways to achieve the same results. Each reinforcement member  22  is preferably removably connected to the pan  20  by means of a pair of brackets  28  and pins  30 . Each bracket  28  is soldered near the outer edge of the pan  20  to establish a solid connection thereto, but it could also be removably connected or attached in other ways to achieve the same results. Each pin  30  is threaded through an aperture  32  on each bracket  28 . Each pin  30  is also threaded through an aperture  34  on a raised portion  36  on the lateral edge of the reinforcement member  22 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the reinforcement member  22  can be configured to be removably connectable to steel or plastic pans. In such embodiments, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro) can serve as a means of removably attaching the reinforcement member  22  to the steel or plastic pan, thereby rendering it unnecessary to put brackets on the pan that might weaken it. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  5   , in addition to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , there is shown the underside of the pan  20  with a reinforcement member  22  with a central bar  24  being removably connected to a troweling arm  14  of a troweling machine  10  via bolts  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  6  to  8   , in addition to  FIGS.  1  to  5   , there is shown more detailed views of reinforcement member  22  with central bar  24  connected thereto by means of rivets  40 . 
     The shape of the reinforcement member  22 , such as a flat truncated cone, allows for a more uniform distribution of the forces throughout the surface of the pan  20  instead of being concentrated toward the center thereof, under the trowel. The shape of each reinforcement member  22  is configured to cover of the largest area of the pan  20 . Each reinforcement member  22  may be made of a flat sheet of steel 3/16 inches thick. The sheet of steel is preferably bent (folded) on each side (preferably 1¼ to 1¾ inches at the largest) to strengthen the material by means of bends and to ensure that during operation of the pan  20  this minimizes distortion of the pan  20 . The reinforcement member  22  may have four other bends  42 ,  44  inside of its shape. For example, the narrowest bends  42  may measure between 5 to 8 inches, depending on the model and may be located at 2.77 inches from the narrower end of the reinforcement member  22 . The longest bends  44  may measure between 8 to 20 inches, dependant on the model, and may be located at 2.875 inches from the wider end of the reinforcement member  22 . These bends  42 ,  44  help to distribute the weight of the trowelling machine  10  on a maximal surface area. Each reinforcement member  22  may be also be provided with an opening  46  on each side of the center bar  24 , to help lighten the reinforcement member  22  and/or to make it easier to handle by operators. 
     In order to attach reinforcement member  22  to the trowelling machine  10 , one may use the same trowelling mounting bar  24  as those used in the fabrication of the trowel blades  16  specified for the trowelling machine  10 . However, to prevent having a slight fulcrum by welding the bar  24  directly on the reinforcement member  22 , the bar  24  is may be joined or soldered onto portions of the bends  42 ,  44  in order to optimise the weight distribution on the pan  20 . 
     In theory, to reach the same surface of a reinforcement member  22 , one could enlarge a normal trowel blade  16 , so that the point of contact would be wider. However, the typical shape of the trowel blades prevents them from covering all of the pan. There still would be a gap between the trowel blades, which would decrease the contact surface with the pan instead of maximizing it. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  9  to  12   , there is shown an embodiment of a pan  20  with brackets  28  that may be used with six reinforcement assemblies. The number of brackets and reinforcement assemblies, as well as their angular positions may vary as persons skilled in the art will understand. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  13 - 15   , there is shown another embodiment of the reinforcement assembly. In said embodiment, the reinforcement member  22  may have bends  42 ,  54 ,  56  inside of its shape. These bends  42 ,  54 ,  56  help to distribute the weight of the trowel blade on a maximal surface area. Also, the bends  42 ,  54 ,  56  can comprise flattened upper portions  58 ,  60 ,  62 , which further help to distribute the weight of the trowelling blade on a maximal surface area. The reinforcement assembly can also comprise tab  52 . In this embodiment, no central bar  24  is needed, as the reinforcement assembly  22  is slid on and secured to the trowel blades  16  using an aperture  61  defined by bend  54  and using tab  52 . Tab  52  should be dimensioned to securely and removably hold the trowel blade in place, while also still being flexible enough to allow the trowel blade to be snapped into place and to be removed. Naturally, the aperture  61  defined by bend  54  should be large enough to securely receive an end of the trowel blades. 
     As can be seen in  FIG.  15   , the raised portion  36  can comprise a recessed portion  63  on a side thereof (the narrower end of the reinforcement member  22 ). This recessed portion  63  is dimensioned to receive a part of the trowel blade  16  when it is removably secured to the reinforcement member  22  using tab  52  and the aperture  61  defined by bend  54 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  16   , there is shown an embodiment of a pan  20  with brackets  28  that may be used with five of the reinforcement assemblies shown  FIG.  13   . As with the embodiments shown in  FIG.  6   , each reinforcement assembly is preferably removably connected to the pan  20  by means of a pair of brackets  28  and pins  30 . However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  13   , no aperture for receiving pins  30  is present on the reinforcement assembly. Rather, as shown in  FIG.  16   , by threading each pin  30  is through an aperture  32  on each bracket  28 , each pin  30  can secure the reinforcement member  22  to the pan by securely abutting the upper surface of the raised portion  36  on the lateral edge of the reinforcement member  22 . 
     As persons skilled in the art will understand, although five or six reinforcing assemblies have been illustrated in  FIG.  4    or  FIG.  16   , the reinforcement assemblies may dimensioned such that said pan  20  can removably and operationally connect to two to height reinforcement assemblies simultaneously. 
     Referring to  FIG.  17   , there is shown an embodiment of a pan  20  with brackets  28  that may be used with six of a narrower version of the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  13   . Specifically, the reinforcement assembly of  FIG.  17    functions in the same manner as the reinforcement assembly shown in  FIG.  16   , except it is slightly narrower in design, such that a pan  20  can fit six of said reinforcement assembly, and not five as shown in  FIG.  16   . In preferred embodiments, the reinforcement assembly is dimensioned and the pan  20  is configured such that four, five, or six reinforcement assemblies can be removably connected to the pan  20 , more preferably five or six. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  18 - 20   , there is shown another embodiment of the reinforcement assembly. In said embodiment, the reinforcement assembly comprises tab  52 , as well as tab  64 . Upper portions  66  are dimensioned so as to define a cavity  67  that can slidably receive the trowel blade. In such an embodiment, the trowel blade can be slid through the cavity  67  starting from a side of the reinforcement assembly comprising tab  52  (located at the narrower end of the reinforcement member  22 ) and towards a side of the reinforcement assembly comprising tab  64  (located at the wider end of the reinforcement member  22 ). The cavity should also be dimensioned such that the trowel blade is secured once it is clicked into place with tabs  52   64  (e.g. dimensioned so as to prevent the trowel blade from sliding side-to-side). 
     Tab  52  can be designed in such a manner so that it will bend slightly while the trowel is slidably inserted into the reinforcement assembly. Once the trowel blade is received by tab  64 , it can be clicked into place at tab  52 . Tab  52  should be dimensioned to securely hold the trowel blade in place, while also still being flexible enough to allow the trowel blade to be snapped into place and to be removed. Naturally, as mentioned, the cavity  67  defined by the upper portions should be dimensioned so as to securely receive the trowel blade. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  18 - 20   , apertures  68  are present so as to receive the ends of pins (not shown). Each pin can removably secure the reinforcement member  22  to a pan by securely abutting the upper portion  66  and by having aperture  68  receive the end of the pin. In preferred embodiments, the reinforcement member  22  shown in  FIGS.  18 - 20    is made using a plastic, such as UHMW or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weigh polyethylene), HDPE (High density polyethylene), Nylon, Acetal, Polyurethane, and other polymers, preferably UHMWPE. 
     In embodiments, the reinforcement member  22  is configured to have a suitable weight and rigidity that provides a greater flatness to the pan  20  than the typical trowel systems without such reinforcement member  22 , because the resulting pan would not be as stiff or rigid. 
     In embodiments, in operation the movement of the pan  20  with the reinforcement assembly and the weight of the trowelling machine  10 , affect the planeness of the pan  20  to reach its full potential which is preferably 80% flat. 
     In embodiments, the reinforcement member  22  is made of steel, but any other alloy that offers a sufficient firmness may be chosen. It is also possible to have the reinforcement member  22  be made of a hard and non bendable plastic for achieving similar results as with steel. The reinforcement member  22  is preferably intended to cover up to about 80% of the surface of the pan  20 . It is possible to have reinforcement members  22  covering between 50% to 100% of the surface of the pan. 
     The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.