Abstract
A battery-powered electric polisher for treating concrete has the operational form of a self-propelled riding trowel. A rigid frame mounts a pair of rotors that descend into contact with the concrete surface. Hydraulic tilting circuits for polisher steering control are activated with joysticks. An electrically driven hydraulic pump powers the tilting circuits. Each rotor drives a lower, circular drive ring comprising a plurality of spokes. Drive ring spokes are nested within rigid channels defined in a lower a support plate so that the latter is removable. A plurality of radially spaced-apart abrasion devices descend from the support plate into contact with the concrete surface.
Claims
1. An electric polisher for treating concrete: a frame adapted to be supported over a concrete surface to be treated by at least one rotor; a seat upon which a trowel operator may be comfortably seated; at least one rotor assembly secured to the frame and descending into contact with the lower concrete surface below; hydraulic tilting circuits for controlling each rotor assembly; a pair of joysticks for controlling the hydraulic tilting circuits; a hydraulic pump for driving said tilting circuits; an electric motor for powering said hydraulic pump; an electric motor for revolving each rotor assembly; at least one battery for powering said electric motors; each rotor controlling a circular drive ring; a support plate coupled to said drive ring; and, a plurality of radially spaced-apart abrasion rotors secured to said support plate.
2. The polisher as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive ring comprises radially spaced apart spokes extending to an outer, peripheral reinforcement ring.
3. The polisher as defined in claim 2 wherein said support plate is removably coupled to said drive ring.
4. The polisher as defined in claim 3 wherein the support plate comprises a plurality of radially spaced apart channels adapted to receive at least a portion of said drive ring spokes for mounting said support plate to said drive ring.
5. The polisher as defined in claim 4 further comprising potentiometers for adjusting the speed of the rotors.
6. A ride-on electric polisher for treating a concrete surface: a frame adapted to be propelled over the concrete surface to be treated; a seat upon which a trowel operator may be comfortably seated; a pair least of rotor assemblies secured to the frame and descending into contact with the concrete surface; hydraulic tilting circuits for controlling each rotor assembly to effectuate polisher steering; a pair of joysticks for controlling the hydraulic tilting circuits; a hydraulic pump for driving said tilting circuits; an electric motor for powering said hydraulic pump; an electric motor for revolving each rotor assembly; at least one battery for powering said electric motors; each rotor controlling a circular drive ring; a support plate coupled to each of said drive rings; and, a plurality of radially spaced-apart abrasion rotors secured to said support plate.
7. The polisher as defined in claim 6 wherein each drive ring comprises radially spaced apart spokes extending to an integral, outer, peripheral reinforcement ring.
8. The polisher as defined in claim 7 wherein said each support plate is removably coupled to a drive ring.
9. The polisher as defined in claim 8 wherein each support plate comprises a plurality of radially spaced apart channels adapted to receive at least a portion of said drive ring spokes for mounting said support plate to said drive ring.
10. The polisher as defined in claim 9 further comprising potentiometers for adjusting the speed of the rotors.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification, and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a front, isometric view of our new polisher;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of our new polisher;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a left side view thereof;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
[0041] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary isometric view showing the preferred controller;
[0042] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, isometric assembly view detailing the preferred driver plate construction and the abrasive pucks;
[0043] FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the electric drive train;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the control electronics; and,
[0045] FIG. 10 is a hydraulic schematic showing steering components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] In the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 20 denotes an electric polisher constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention. The above discussed Allen Engineering Corporation patents, including specifically U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,864 issued Apr. 6, 2010 and entitled Hydraulic Riding Trowel With Automatic Load Sensing System, are hereby jointly incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth herein, for purposes of disclosure.
[0047] As is known in the art, surface preparation may begin with panning when the concrete is plastic. Typically, panning graduates to blading as concrete cures during the subsequent hardening stages, as is recognized in the art. However, as this technology has evolved over the years, it has become increasingly common to subject the concrete surface to further processing beyond mere blading by polishing it to a very fine, smooth surface.
[0048] The polisher 20 described herein is of the ride-on type, comprising at least a pair of rotors for surface treating that may be tilted as known in the art for steering. However, the teachings herein may be adapted for walk behind versions of the polisher comprising only one rotor. Jointly referencing FIGS. 1 and 2, an operator (not shown) comfortably seated within seat assembly 23 (FIG. 1) can operate polisher 20 with a pair of easy-to-use joysticks 26, 27 respectively disposed at the operator's left and right side. Details for the joystick controls are illustrated profusely in one or more of the above-referenced Allen patents. Throttle control, for actuating rotors, is effectuated by potentiometers 31 that are accessible from seat assembly 23 located atop the frame assembly 34 FIG. 2). A pair of spaced-apart rotor assemblies 36 (i.e., FIG. 8) dynamically coupled to the frame extend downwardly into contact with the concrete surface 22 (FIG. 1) as is well known in the art. Optional dolly wheel assemblies 33 (i.e., FIG. 2) can be quick connected or disconnected from the polisher for transporting it to a surface region to be treated at the job site.
[0049] Each rotor assembly is independently, pivotally suspended from the polisher 20 with pivot brackets 40 (FIG. 8) that tiltably suspend the rotors. This structure is detailed in several of the above-mentioned patents. Preferably, each rotor assembly is driven by a separate electric drive motor 42 (FIGS. 7, 8) driven via a controller 152, 154 (FIG. 9) at least one of which is protectively caged within shroud 52 that is side mounted at an acute angle. Power is supplied by a forty-eight-volt battery pack preferably disposed beneath seat 23 in compartment 53 (i.e., FIGS. 3, 6), The self-propelled ride-on polisher 20 is designed to quickly and reliably finish extremely large areas of concrete surface 22 powered by batteries, electric power from which is routed through suitable controller circuits described below.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 10, a suitable half-horsepower electric drive motor 182 powers hydraulic motor 189 for powering the rotor tilting circuitry 179 (FIG. 10). Details of the rotor pivoting function and mounting assemblies are illustrated in the previously referenced Allen patents. Rotor pivoting may be mechanically enabled by twin pivot rods 51, 54 (FIG. 7). As described repeatedly in the aforementioned riding trowel patents, steering is effectuated by tilting the rotors with hydraulic cylinders 55 (FIG. 6). In FIG. 10 the tilting circuit 179 receives hydraulic pressure hydraulic pump 189 that powers the left hand steering control circuit 181 and the right hand steering control circuit 183. A pair of hydraulic tilting cylinders 184 and 185 effectively tilt the rotors to provide forward-reverse steering. Hydraulic cylinder 188 tilts a single rotor to provide left-right polisher steering.
[0051] A plurality of radially spaced-apart abrasion rotors in the form of puck-wheels 60 (FIGS. 7, 8) riding on the concrete surface below are driven by and rotated with each rotor. Electric motors 42 operate the rotors. The motors are mounted to a generally circular drive ring 70 that comprises several spokes 73 integrally extending to an outer, peripheral reinforcement ring 72. Fasteners 76 (FIG. 7) secure a puck-wheel support plate 80 to drive ring 70. Details of various hydraulic circuits, circuitry interconnections, and control apparatus are disclosed below.
[0052] In FIG. 8 it is seen that a tilt bracket 82 is fastened to motor 42, and mounted within pivot bracket 40. Motor 42 is secured to inner ring 86 of drive ring 70 through concentric spacer 84. Each of the spokes 73 may include an elongated, rigid reinforcement arm 88 adapted to flushly seat within and be nested by the radially spaced apart support channels 89 defined upon support plate 80 and secured by the fasteners 76. Thus, removal of fasteners 76 frees the support plate 80 for removal. Through this quick-connect construction a different abrasion apparatus such as a pan may be quick connected to drive ring 70 if the pan were provided with radially spaced apart channels resembling channels 89. Alternatively, after removal of support plate 70 and installation of an alternative support plate carrying different abraders, different abrasion tools may be employed.
[0053] A plurality of radially spaced apart abrasion rotors 60 (FIGS. 7, 8) are rotatably attached to the polygonal support plate 80 and support friction pucks that contact the lower concrete surface. There are preferably four radially spaced apart abrasion rotors 60 secured beneath plate 80. A plurality of radially spaced apart mounting channels 89 can receive and seat spokes 73 of the drive ring 70. Each abrasion rotor 60 has a rigid frame portion 102 (FIG. 8) to which a bearing mount 103 is secured. Bearing housing assembly 104 receives the mount 103 to secure the abrasion rotors 60. The bottom surface 106 may contain and mount a plurality of abrasive pucks 107 known in the art, or other frictional processing apparatus for polishing concrete, and a variety of commercially available grinding and polishing pucks art may be employed. For example, a variety of abrasion and surface treatment tools, including pads and pucks, are available from the Runyon Surface Prep Company, www.runyonsurfaceprep.com, and these are adapted for surface removal, grinding, honing, polishing and burnishing. As used herein the term puck means any of the latter surface-contacting abrasive elements.
[0054] FIG. 9 shows the electronic control circuitry that delivers three-phase A/C power to twin electric motors for driving the rotors. Circuit 150 comprises a pair of solid state controllers 152 and 154, both of which comprise a Curtis-brand model 1232SE-5371. Forty-eight volt power is supplied by a plurality of batteries connected in parallel, designated collectively by the reference numeral 156. Power is delivered via line 157 through an emergency stop safety switch 158, a fuse 159 and a key switch 160 to the key switch inputs of both controllers 152 and 154. Line 162 connects to the key switch input of controller 154. Three phase A/C power is delivered through the three outputs U, V, and W from both controllers 152, 154 to the respective motor assemblies designated schematically by the reference numerals 170, 172. Speed is selected with a potentiometer 163 (FIG. 9) that connects to controller 152.
[0055] The steering arrangement 180 (FIG. 10) is similar to that described in numerous of the previously cited Allen patents. However, in this electric polisher, the necessary hydraulic pressure for steering is generated by an electric motor 182 that is activated in response to circuit 150 (FIG. 9). The hydraulic cylinders, designated by the reference numerals 184, 185 and 188 (FIG. 10) tilt the rotors for steering as described in detail in the aforementioned Allen patents and others.
[0056] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure.
[0057] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.
[0058] As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
