Rapid protection system for freshly-placed concrete and a method of practicing the system

Abstract

A system and method for the rapid protection of freshly placed concrete. The system includes a mat which extends the full width of the freshly placed concrete and is mounted to be displaced and positioned so that it is located at approximately 4 inches above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete for a set period of time and then placed on the top surface of the freshly placed concrete for a further set period of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete, comprising: 
 a pair of elongated parallel extending support tracks extending along the elongated, parallel edges of the freshly placed concrete;    a mat extending the full width of the freshly placed concrete and between the elongated parallel edges thereof; and    means for displacing and positioning said mat along said elongated parallel extending tracks such that said mat is positioned above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete at a distance approximately 4 inches above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         2 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a platform which extends between the elongated, parallel edges of the freshly placed concrete and is displaced along said elongated parallel extending tracks in conjunction with the displacement and positioning of said mat such that the freshly placed concrete can be treated in advance of the positioned mat above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         3 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pair of elongated parallel extending forms adjacent to said support tracks for defining the outer width limit of the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         4 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said support tracks are formed as part of said forms, and are located as the top edge of said forms respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said mat forms a roller supported on said support tracks.  
     
     
         6 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said means for displacing and positioning said mat comprises a pair of frame members situated on opposed ones of said support tracks with said roller extending between and supported by said frame members.  
     
     
         7 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said means for displacing and positioning said mat comprises a feed bar which extends from said frame members outwardly from said roller, the engagement of said mat with said feed bar effecting the positioning of said mat relative to the top surface of the freshly placed concrete.  
     
     
         8 . A rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete in conjunction with a screed machine, the screed machine producing the freshly placed concrete, comprising: 
 a pair of elongated parallel extending support tracks extending along the elongated, parallel edges of the freshly placed concrete for supporting the screed machine for displacement along said support tracks;    a mat extending the full width of the freshly placed concrete and between the elongated parallel edges thereof; and    means for displacing and positioning said mat along said elongated parallel extending tracks such that said mat is positioned upstream of the screed machine and above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete at a distance approximately 4 inches above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         9 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a platform which extends between the elongated, parallel edges of the freshly placed concrete and is displaced along said elongated parallel extending tracks in conjunction with the displacement of the screed machine and the displacement and positioning of said mat such that the freshly placed concrete can be treated in advance of the positioned mat above the top surface pf the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         10 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a pair of elongated parallel extending forms adjacent to said support tracks for defining the outer width limit of the freshly placed concrete.    
     
     
         11 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said support tracks are formed as part of said forms, and are located as the top edge of said forms, respectively.  
     
     
         12 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said mat forms a roller supported on said support tracks.  
     
     
         13 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said means for displacing and positioning said mat comprises a pair of frame members situated on opposed ones of said support tracks with said roller extending between and supported by said frame members.  
     
     
         14 . The rapid protection system for freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said means for displacing and positioning said mat comprises a feed bar which extends from said frame members outwardly from said roller, the engagement of said mat with said feed bar effecting the positioning of said mat relative to the top surface of the freshly placed concrete.  
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting freshly placed concrete using a mat, comprising the steps of placing the mat above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete such that said mat is approximately 4 inches above the top surface; 
 maintaining the mat suspended above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete for a set period of time; and    placing the mat on the top surface of the freshly placed concrete after sid set period of time for a further set period of time.    
     
     
         16 . The method for protecting freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: 
 forming the mat into a roller;    supporting the roller above the top surface of the freshly placed concrete such that it extends along the fill width of the freshly placed concrete; and    dispensing the mat to achieve said suspension.    
     
     
         17 . The method for protecting freshly placed concrete as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 releasing the mat after said suspension to effect said placement.