Vibrating Tray Concrete Finishing Tool for Precise Void Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete finishing tools struggle to efficiently fill and smooth voids in large concrete slabs, as manual application of wet cement is imprecise and messy, often missing voids and creating additional disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A concrete finishing tool equipped with electrically operated cylinders or actuators to raise and lower trays holding wet concrete, combined with vibration elements to deposit cement precisely onto the slab, allowing for efficient filling and smoothing of voids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual application of wet cement is used to fill voids, then the process is simple and requires minimal equipment, but the precision and cleanliness of the application deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical throwing motion with an automated mechanical delivery system. The tray holding wet concrete is mechanically positioned and tilted by a motorized actuator, eliminating the imprecise manual throwing motion while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a tray as an intermediary between the operator and the concrete slab. The tray serves as a controlled delivery mechanism that holds the wet concrete and allows for precise positioning and deposition, acting as a mediator that transforms manual operation into controlled material delivery.
2Device complexity
If manual throwing of wet cement is used to fill voids, then no additional equipment is needed, but mess and additional voids are created
Solution Approach 1:
The tray acts as an intermediary device that contains the wet concrete during transport and positioning. This containment prevents the concrete from spilling or creating mess during handling, and the controlled tilting mechanism ensures precise deposition only at the intended void location, preventing creation of additional voids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the uncontrolled manual throwing motion with a controlled mechanical actuation system. The motorized actuator provides controlled tilting of the tray, ensuring that concrete is deposited only where intended, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of missed throws and additional voids while managing equipment complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If trays are used to hold wet concrete, then precise deposition is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the concrete finishing tool into distinct functional modules: a float for smoothing, a tray for holding concrete, and an actuator for positioning the tray. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a motorized actuator that dynamically adjusts the tray's position and orientation. This dynamic control system allows the tray to be tilted and positioned precisely as needed for depositing concrete at different void locations, achieving high deposition precision while keeping the overall device design adaptable and manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool effectively fills and smooths voids on the surface of concrete slabs, providing a precise and efficient method for finishing larger areas without the mess and imprecision of manual application.
Implementation Method 1
The forming tool may also include one or more vibration elements attached to or embedded within the float and/or the trays to urge wet cement from the trays and to assist with smoothing the slab.
Data Source
AI summary
A concrete finishing tool that more effectively fills and smooths voids on the surface of a slab of wet concrete includes a float; one or more wet concrete holding trays positioned on top of the float; electrically operated cylinders or other actuators for raising the trays to dump the wet concrete onto a concrete slab; and a mechanical vibrator for vibrating the trays to urge concrete from the trays onto the slab.