Concrete-chute strike-off device

Abstract

A concrete chute strike-off machine or device includes a frame portion adapted to mount to a discharge end of a chute of a concrete delivery truck, a strike-off member adjustably mounted to the frame portion, a sensing device for sensing at least one of a position and orientation of the strike-off member, and a control operable to automatically adjust the strike-off member relative to the frame portion in response to a signal from the sensing device. The device is thus operable to strike-off uncured concrete as the uncured concrete is delivered to a subgrade surface by a chute of a concrete delivery truck. The control is operable to adjust the strike-off member relative to the frame portion while the strike-off member strikes off the uncured concrete at the subgrade surface.

1 . A concrete chute strike-off device operable to strike-off uncured concrete as the uncured concrete is delivered to a subgrade surface by a chute of a concrete delivery truck, said concrete chute strike-off device comprising: 
 a frame portion adapted to mount to a discharge end of a chute of a concrete delivery truck;    a strike-off member adjustably mounted to said frame portion;    a sensing device for sensing at least one of an elevation, position and orientation of said strike-off member; and    a control operable to automatically adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion in response to a signal from said sensing device, said control being operable to adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion while said strike-off member strikes off the uncured concrete at the subgrade surface.    
   
   
       2 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 1 , wherein said strike-off member is adjustable about a pair of generally orthogonal pivot axes relative to said frame.  
   
   
       3 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 2 , wherein said sensing device comprises a level sensing device adapted to determine a degree of tilt of said strike-off member about said pair of generally orthogonal pivot axes.  
   
   
       4 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 3 , wherein said control is operable to adjust the orientation or tilt of said strike-off member about said pair of pivot axes in response to a signal from said level sensing device.  
   
   
       5 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 2 , wherein said pair of generally orthogonal pivot axes are within a generally horizontal plane.  
   
   
       6 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 5 , wherein a first pivot axis of said pair of pivot axes comprises a longitudinal axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable side-to-side about said first axis, and wherein a second pivot axis of said pair of pivot axes comprises a lateral axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable forward and backward about said second axis.  
   
   
       7 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 6 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotable about said first and second axes via respective first and second actuators.  
   
   
       8 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 2 , wherein said strike-off member is vertically adjustable relative to said frame.  
   
   
       9 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 1 , wherein said strike-off member is vertically adjustable relative to said frame.  
   
   
       10 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 9 , wherein said sensing device comprises a laser receiver positioned on a support member extending upward from said strike-off member, said laser receiver sensing a laser reference plane generated by a laser transmitter, said control being operable to vertically adjust said strike-off member in response to a signal from said laser receiver.  
   
   
       11 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 1 , wherein said strike-off member is formed to define a receiving area in front of said strike-off member, the uncured concrete being placed at said receiving area such that movement of said strike-off member over the subgrade surface strikes off the placed uncured concrete in said receiving area.  
   
   
       12 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 11 , wherein said strike-off member comprises one of a V-shaped member, a U-shaped member and an arcuately curved member.  
   
   
       13 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 1 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotally mounted to said frame portion and pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis.  
   
   
       14 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 13 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotable about said generally vertical pivot axis within a specified range of pivotal movement, said pivotable movement being limited by a pivot limiting device.  
   
   
       15 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 1  including a vibratable member positioned at said strike-off member and operable to vibrate and smooth and compact the concrete surface that is struck off by said strike-off member.  
   
   
       16 . A method for striking off uncured concrete as it is discharged onto a targeted subgrade surface by a chute of a concrete delivery truck, said method comprising: 
 providing a concrete strike-off device having a frame portion and a strike-off member adjustably mounted to said frame portion;    attaching said frame portion to an end of a chute of a concrete delivery truck, said chute providing a channel for uncured concrete to flow from said concrete delivery truck to the targeted surface;    discharging uncured concrete onto the subgrade surface via said chute;    striking off the uncured concrete with said strike-off member as the uncured concrete is discharged to the targeted subgrade surface by said chute; and    adjusting said strike-off member to a desired grade while striking off the uncured concrete.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting said strike-off member comprises vertically adjusting said strike-off member relative to said frame.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein vertically adjusting said strike-off member comprises vertically adjusting said strike-off member in response to a signal from a laser receiver positioned on a support member extending upward from said strike-off member.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting said strike-off member comprises pivoting said strike-off member about first and second pivot axes relative to said frame portion, said first and second pivot axes being generally orthogonal relative to one another.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein pivoting or tilting said strike-off member comprises pivoting or tilting said strike-off member in response to a signal from a level sensing device, said level sensing device being adapted to determine a degree of tilt of said strike-off member about said first and second pivot axes.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said first pivot axis comprises a longitudinal axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable side-to-side about said first pivot axis, said second pivot axis comprising a lateral axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable forward and backward about said second pivot axis.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said strike-off member is formed to define a receiving area in front of said strike-off member, wherein discharging uncured concrete comprises discharging uncured concrete at said receiving area, and wherein striking off the uncured concrete comprises striking off the uncured concrete via movement of said strike-off member over the subgrade surface.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting said strike-off member comprises pivoting said strike-off member relative to said frame portion about a generally vertical pivot axis.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein pivoting said strike-off member comprises pivoting said strike-off member within a specified range of pivotal movement and limiting pivotal movement of said strike-off member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing a concrete strike-off device comprises providing a concrete strike-off device having a vibratable member positioned at said strike-off member, said method including vibrating said vibratable member to vibrate and smooth and compact the concrete surface that is struck off by said strike-off member.  
   
   
       26 . A concrete chute strike-off device operable to strike-off uncured concrete as the uncured concrete is delivered by a chute of a concrete delivery truck, said concrete chute strike-off device comprising: 
 a frame portion adapted to mount to a discharge end of a chute of a concrete delivery truck;    a strike-off member adjustably mounted to said frame portion, said strike-off member being vertically adjustable relative to said frame portion, said strike-off member being pivotally adjustable about at least one generally horizontal pivot axis;    at least one sensing device for sensing a degree of tilt of said strike-off member about said at least one pivot axis; and    a control operable to automatically adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion about said at least one pivot axis in response to at least one signal from said at least one sensing device, said control being operable to adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion while said strike-off member strikes off the uncured concrete at the subgrade surface.    
   
   
       27 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one pivot axis comprises first and second pivot axes and said at least one sensing device comprises first and second sensing devices.  
   
   
       28 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 27 , wherein said first and second pivot axes are generally orthogonal relative to one another.  
   
   
       29 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 28 , wherein said first pivot axis comprises a longitudinal axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable side-to-side about said first pivot axis, and wherein said second pivot axis comprises a lateral axis such that said strike-off member is pivotable forward and backward about said second pivot axis.  
   
   
       30 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 26  including a laser receiver positioned on a support member extending upward from said strike-off member, said laser receiver sensing a laser reference plane generated by a laser system, said control being operable to vertically adjust said strike-off member in response to a signal from said laser receiver.  
   
   
       31 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 26 , wherein said strike-off member is formed to define a receiving area in front of said strike-off member, the uncured concrete being placed at said receiving area such that movement of said strike-off member relative to the subgrade surface strikes off the placed uncured concrete in said receiving area.  
   
   
       32 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 31 , wherein said strike-off member comprises one of a V-shaped member, a U-shaped member and an arcuately curved member.  
   
   
       33 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 26 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotally mounted to said frame portion and pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis relative to said frame portion.  
   
   
       34 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 33 , wherein said strike-off member comprises a substantially straight member.  
   
   
       35 . The concrete chute strike-off device of  claim 26  including a vibratable member positioned at said strike-off member and operable to vibrate and smooth and compact the concrete surface that is struck off by said strike-off member.  
   
   
       36 . A concrete delivery and spreading assembly, said concrete delivery and spreading assembly being attachable to a concrete delivery truck, said concrete delivery and spreading assembly comprising: 
 a chute section configured to attach to a discharge of the concrete delivery truck, said chute section comprising a conduit along which uncured concrete flows as the concrete is discharged from the delivery truck;    a concrete strike-off device attached at an end of said chute section for striking off uncured concrete discharged from said chute section, said concrete strike-off device comprising: 
 a frame portion attached to said end of said chute section; and  
 a strike-off member adjustably mounted to said frame portion; and  
   a control operable to automatically adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion to strike-off the placed concrete at a desired grade, said control being operable to adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion while said strike-off member strikes off the uncured concrete at the subgrade surface.    
   
   
       37 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said control is operable to vertically adjust said strike-off member relative to said frame portion in response to an elevation sensing device.  
   
   
       38 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotally adjustable about first and second pivot axes relative to said frame portion, said first and second axes being generally orthogonal.  
   
   
       39 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 38  including a level sensing device adapted to determine a degree of tilt of said strike-off member about said first and second pivot axes, said control being operable to adjust the orientation of said strike-off member about said first and second pivot axes in response to a signal from said level sensing device.  
   
   
       40 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said strike-off member is formed to define a receiving area in front of said strike-off member, the uncured concrete being placed at said receiving area such that movement of said strike-off member relative to the subgrade surface strikes off the placed uncured concrete in said receiving area.  
   
   
       41 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotally mounted to said frame portion and pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis.  
   
   
       42 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 41 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotable about said generally vertical pivot axis within a specified range of pivotal movement, said pivotable movement being limited by a pivot limiting device.  
   
   
       43 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 42 , wherein said strike-off member is pivotally adjustable about a generally horizontal pivot axis relative to said frame portion.  
   
   
       44 . The concrete delivery and spreading assembly of  claim 36  including a vibratable member positioned at said strike-off member and operable to vibrate and smooth and compact the concrete surface that is struck off by said strike-off member.