Concrete-finishing apparatus

Abstract

A concrete-finishing apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a relatively quickly rotating, powered roller ( 18 ) adapted to be moved relatively slowly across a bed, slab or layer of newly-laid concrete ( 11 ), while the latter is still fluid, with opposite ends ( 14, 15 ) of the roller maintained at the required level of the concrete surface, in order to produce a smoothed finish to the surface of the concrete, said roller ( 18 ): a) containing internal stressing means ( 44 ) for applying longitudinal compression to the roller, between the ends ( 14, 15 ) of the roller, so as to reduce the tendency of the roller to sag or become permanently bowed, and/or b) being adapted to be removed from the remainder of the apparatus ( 10 ) and dismantled, when not in use, into constituent, smaller, parts.

1 . A fluid finishing apparatus such as a concrete finishing apparatus or the like, comprising a rotatable, powered roller adapted to be moved over a surface of newly laid fluid which is adapted to set, cure or otherwise solidify, with the roller surface in slipping contact with the fluid surface and with opposite ends of the roller maintained at the required level of the fluid surface, in order to produce a smooth finish to the surface of the fluid, said roller comprising means to maintain the roller at the required level of the concrete surface along the entire length thereof, thereby to reduce the tendency of the roller to sag or become permanently bowed, characterised in that the means comprise internal stressing means for applying longitudinal compression to the roller, between the ends of the roller.  
     
     
         2 . A concrete-finishing apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a relatively quickly rotating, powered roller adapted to be moved relatively slowly across a bed, slab or layer of newly-laid concrete, while the latter is still fluid, with opposite ends of the roller maintained at the required level of the concrete surface, in order to produce a smoothed finish to the surface of the concrete, said roller being adapted to be removed from the remainder of the apparatus and dismantled, when not in use, into constituent, smaller parts.  
     
     
         3 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in claims  1  or  2 , wherein the internal stressing means preferably comprises one or more longitudinal tensioning members each extending between and interconnecting two end-plates, one at either end of the roller.  
     
     
         4 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the or each tensioning member comprises a cable, or a rigid rod, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the rod is wholly or partly screw-threaded for tightening the tensioning member so as to prestress the roller.  
     
     
         6 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 3  to  5 , wherein the tensioning member may be removed from the roller and both member and roller may be dismantled into respectively constituent smaller lengths and parts and may be reassembled with use of only some of their constituent lengths and parts, or with use of all of said lengths and parts together with additional lengths and parts, whereby the length of the member and of the roller may be adapted in convenient manner.  
     
     
         7 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 2  to  6 , wherein the aforesaid smaller parts comprise rigid cylindrical roller sections, with the axial ends of their cylindrical surfaces tightly held together in axial end-to-end abutment.  
     
     
         8 . A concrete-finishing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the surfaces themselves form the surface of the roller, or wherein one or more sleeves are fitted over the roller sections.  
     
     
         9 . A concrete finishing apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 2  to  8  wherein one or more of the smaller parts may comprise dedicated end plates and/or dedicated coupling members, i.e. providing essentially end and/or coupling portions, and substantially no roller surface portion.  
     
     
         10 . A concrete finishing apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 2  to  9  wherein the smaller parts may be of any number and individual length as required to enable the construction of a roller of desired length and to maintain the integrity thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A concrete finishing apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 2  to  10  wherein the smaller parts comprise an integral or a removable coupling portion at each end thereof, which coupling portions are male and female respectively, the male coupling portion providing an end handle, thereby enabling the assembly of a complete roller with use of any one or more roller sections and a single dedicated end plate.  
     
     
         12 . A concrete finishing apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 2  to  11 , wherein the roller comprises a kit of parts comprising a plurality of roller sections of different lengths and one or more dedicated end plates, in addition comprising an internal tensioning member or its constituent parts, in particular in addition comprising a plurality of dedicated coupling members.  
     
     
         13 . A process for fluid, such as concrete, surface finishing comprising drawing the apparatus of claims  1 - 11  across the fluid in the opposite direction to that in which the rotation of the roller is tending to move the apparatus.  
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 13  wherein the roller is supported at its ends and the central deflection is measured, enabling deflection to be reduced to an acceptable level by adjustment of internal stressing means.  
     
     
         15 . A process of assembly or dismantling an apparatus according to any of claims  1 - 12 .