Remotely-controlled concrete tool assembly

Abstract

A concrete tool assembly ( 10 ) used on a concrete surface ( 16 ) includes a surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) including a frame ( 18 ) and one or more trowel assemblies ( 34 A, 34 B). Each trowel assembly ( 34 A, 34 B) includes one or more trowels ( 54 ). The concrete tool assembly ( 10 ) also includes a remote control unit ( 14 ) that controls movement of the trowel assemblies ( 34 A, 34 B) relative to the concrete surface ( 16 ). The remote control unit ( 14 ) can be mechanically and/or electrically isolated from the surfacing apparatus ( 12 ). The surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) can be radio-controlled by the remote control unit ( 14 ). The surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) can also include a plurality of shafts ( 74 A, 74 B) that are each coupled to a corresponding trowel assembly ( 34 B, 34 B). A portion of each shaft ( 74 A, 74 B) can pivot relative to the frame ( 18 ). Further, the surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) can include a controller ( 24 ) that receives commands from the remote control unit ( 14 ). The controller ( 24 ) can control movement of at least one of the trowel assemblies ( 34 A, 34 B) relative to the surface ( 16 ). Moreover, the surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) can include a feedback device ( 30 ) that monitors movement of the trowel assemblies ( 34 A, 34 B), and provides feedback to the controller ( 24 ). The surfacing apparatus ( 12 ) can also include a pitch adjuster ( 162 ) that simultaneously adjusts the pitch of each of the trowels ( 54 ) relative to the surface ( 16 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A concrete tool assembly used on a surface, the concrete tool assembly comprising: 
 a surfacing apparatus including a frame and a first trowel assembly that is movably coupled to the frame; and    a remote control unit that controls movement of at least a portion of the surfacing apparatus relative to the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the remote control unit is mechanically isolated from the surfacing apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the remote control unit is electrically isolated from the surfacing apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the surfacing apparatus is a radio-controlled device.  
     
     
         5 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the remote control unit emits radio waves that are received by the surfacing apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the surfacing apparatus includes a second trowel assembly that is movably coupled to the frame, and wherein each trowel assembly rotates in an opposite direction relative to the concrete surface.  
     
     
         7 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a first shaft that is coupled to the first trowel assembly and a second shaft that is coupled to the second trowel assembly, wherein at least a portion of one of the shafts pivots relative to the frame.  
     
     
         8 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 7  wherein pivoting of the portion of one of the shafts is remotely controlled by the remote control unit.  
     
     
         9 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a first shaft that is coupled to the first trowel assembly and a second shaft that is coupled to the second trowel assembly, wherein at least a portion of each of the shafts pivots relative to the frame.  
     
     
         10 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 9  wherein pivoting of the portion of each of the shafts is remotely controlled by the remote control unit.  
     
     
         11 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 6  wherein each trowel assembly includes a trowel having a contact surface that contacts the surface during operation, and wherein the contact surface is adjustably positioned at a trowel angle relative to the surface.  
     
     
         12 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 11  wherein the trowel angle of the contact surface is remotely adjusted with the remote control unit.  
     
     
         13 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a controller that receives commands from the remote control unit, the controller controlling movement of at least one of the trowel assemblies relative to the surface.  
     
     
         14 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a feedback device that monitors movement of the trowel assemblies.  
     
     
         15 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 14  wherein the feedback device transfers information regarding the movement of the trowel assemblies to the controller.  
     
     
         16 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 15  wherein the controller adjusts the movement of the trowel assemblies based at least partly on information from the feedback device.  
     
     
         17 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 15  wherein the controller adjusts the positioning of the trowel assemblies based at least party on information from the feedback device.  
     
     
         18 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the surfacing apparatus includes an actuator that causes movement of the finishing assembly relative to the surface.  
     
     
         19 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the surfacing apparatus includes a plurality of actuators that cause movement of the finishing assembly relative to the surface.  
     
     
         20 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 19  wherein at least one of the actuators is remotely controlled by the remote control unit.  
     
     
         21 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 19  wherein each of the actuators is remotely controlled by the remote control unit.  
     
     
         22 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the finishing assembly includes a rotation adjuster, and wherein the rotation adjuster is remotely controlled by the remote control unit.  
     
     
         23 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pitch adjuster, and wherein the first trowel assembly includes a trowel, and wherein the pitch adjuster adjusts the pitch of the trowel relative to the surface.  
     
     
         24 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 23  wherein the pitch adjuster includes a pitch region that is coupled to one of the trowels, and a movable adjuster plate that urges rotation of the pitch region relative to the adjuster plate during movement of the adjuster plate, the rotation of the pitch region causing adjustment of the pitch of one of the trowels relative to the surface.  
     
     
         25 . A concrete tool assembly used on a surface, the concrete tool assembly comprising: 
 a surfacing apparatus including (i) a frame, (ii) a first trowel assembly, and a second trowel assembly that are movably coupled to the frame, (iii) a controller that controls movement of at least one of the trowel assemblies relative to the surface, and (iv) a feedback device that monitors movement of the trowel assemblies.    
     
     
         26 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 25  wherein the feedback device transfers information regarding the movement of the surfacing apparatus to the controller.  
     
     
         27 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 26  wherein the controller adjusts the movement of the trowel assemblies based at least partly on information from the feedback device.  
     
     
         28 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 26  wherein the controller adjusts the positioning of the trowel assemblies based at least partly on information from the feedback device.  
     
     
         29 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 25  further comprising a remote control unit that remotely sends signals to the surfacing apparatus to control movement of the surfacing apparatus relative to the surface.  
     
     
         30 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 25  wherein the feedback device includes a gyro.  
     
     
         31 . A concrete tool assembly used on a surface, the concrete tool assembly comprising: 
 a surfacing apparatus including (i) a frame, (ii) a first trowel assembly that is movably coupled to the frame, the first trowel assembly including a plurality of trowels, and (iii) a pitch adjuster including a plurality of pitch regions, each pitch region being coupled to a corresponding trowel, and a movable adjuster plate that urges rotation of the pitch regions relative to the adjuster plate during movement of the adjuster plate, the rotation of each pitch region causing adjustment of the pitch of the corresponding trowel relative to the surface.    
     
     
         32 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 31  wherein the pitch adjuster simultaneously adjusts the pitch of at least two of the trowels relative to the surface.  
     
     
         33 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 31  wherein the adjuster plate is substantially disk-shaped.  
     
     
         34 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 31  wherein the adjuster plate is substantially parallel to the concrete surface.  
     
     
         35 . The concrete tool assembly ster of  claim 31  wherein the movement of the adjuster plate is remotely controlled.  
     
     
         36 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 35  wherein the movement of the adjuster plate is radio-controlled.  
     
     
         37 . A concrete tool assembly used on a surface, the concrete tool assembly comprising: 
 a surfacing apparatus including a frame, a first trowel assembly that is movably coupled to the frame, a controller that controls movement of the first trowel assembly, and a signal receiver that receives a signal that is sent to the controller for controlling movement of the first trowel assembly relative to the surface.    
     
     
         38 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 37  further comprising a remote control unit that generates the signal.  
     
     
         39 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 38  wherein the signal is a radio-controlled signal.  
     
     
         40 . The concrete tool assembly of  claim 38  wherein the signal is an electrical signal.  
     
     
         41 . A method for finishing a concrete surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a surfacing apparatus having a trowel; and    remotely controlling movement of the trowel relative to the concrete surface.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of remotely controlling movement of the trowel includes using a remote control unit.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of remotely controlling movement of the trowel includes using a remote control unit that is electrically and mechanically isolated from the surfacing apparatus.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of remotely controlling movement of the trowel includes controlling the pitch of the trowel relative to the concrete surface.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of remotely controlling movement of the trowel includes controlling the velocity of the trowel relative to the concrete surface.