Concrete vibrator for use in a briefcase configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129673-B2
Application number	US-202217888659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2022
Priority date	Nov 20, 2019
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

A concrete vibrator includes a housing, a handle, an electric motor, a flexible shaft, a vibrator head, and a battery pack. The handle extends from the housing. The electric motor is coupled to the housing. The flexible shaft has a first end coupled to the motor and an opposite, second end. The vibrator head is coupled to the second end of the shaft. The vibrator head is configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate. The battery pack is coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing. The battery pack is configured to provide electric power to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft. The concrete vibrator is operable in a briefcase configuration in which the handle is used to carry the concrete vibrator with the housing supported in a horizontal orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete vibrator comprising:
a housing including a first end, an opposite second end, and a first surface extending between the first end and the second end;
a handle extending from the housing from the first surface of the housing;
an electric motor coupled to the housing;
a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and extending from the first end of the housing, and an opposite, second end;
a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate; and
a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery receptacle being defined on a second surface adjacent the first surface, the second surface extending between the first end and the second end, the battery pack configured to provide electric power to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft;
wherein the concrete vibrator is operable in a briefcase configuration in which the handle is used to carry the concrete vibrator with the housing supported in a horizontal orientation.

2. The concrete vibrator of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a longitudinal axis along a front-rear direction of the concrete vibrator, and wherein the handle is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The concrete vibrator of claim 1 , further comprising a remote control unit capable of adjusting the operation of the electric motor to adjust a vibration frequency of the vibrator head.

4. The concrete vibrator of claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a storage receptacle in which the remote control unit may be stored when not in use.

5. The concrete vibrator of claim 4 , wherein the storage receptacle includes access to power from the battery pack for charging the remote control unit when the remote control unit is attached to the housing.

6. The concrete vibrator of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor has a power output of at least about 2760 W and a nominal outer diameter of up to about 80 mm.

7. The concrete vibrator of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage of up to about 80 V.

8. The concrete vibrator of claim 1 , further comprising a hook extending from the housing, the hook being configured to support the weight of the concrete vibrator.

9. The concrete vibrator of claim 8 , wherein the hook is removable from the housing.

10. A concrete vibrator comprising:
a housing including a first end, an opposite second end, and a first surface extending between the first end and the second end;
a handle extending from the housing from the first surface;
an electric motor coupled to the housing;
a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and extending from the first end of the housing, and an opposite, second end;
a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate;
a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery receptacle being defined on a second surface adjacent the first surface, the second surface extending between the first end and the second end, the battery pack configured to provide electric power to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft; and
a remote control unit capable of adjusting the operation of the motor to adjust a vibration frequency of the vibrator head while the concrete vibrator is operated in a briefcase configuration in which the handle is used to carry the concrete vibrator with the housing supported in a horizontal orientation.

11. The concrete vibrator of claim 10 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the motor, wherein the remote control unit is operable to communicate with the controller via a communications link to adjust the vibration frequency of the vibrator head.

12. The concrete vibrator of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit is operable to receive a signal from the controller indicating a running state of the motor.

13. The concrete vibrator of claim 12 , wherein the remote control unit includes an indicator for communicating to a user of the concrete vibrator the running state of the motor.

14. The concrete vibrator of claim 13 , wherein the remote control unit is configured to receive user input and transmit the user input to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the user input and adjust the operation of the motor based on the user input.

15. The concrete vibrator of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit is wirelessly connected to the controller.

16. The concrete vibrator of claim 11 , further comprising a work light in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the work light is configured to be selectively activated with the remote control unit to illuminate an area of wet concrete in which the vibrator head is immersed.

17. The concrete vibrator of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor has a power output of at least about 2760 W and a nominal outer diameter of up to about 80 mm.

18. The concrete vibrator of claim 10 , wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage of up to about 80 V.

19. The concrete vibrator of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a storage receptacle in which the remote control unit may be stored when not in use.

20. A concrete vibrator comprising:
a housing including a first end, an opposite second end, and a first surface extending between the first end and the second end;
a handle extending from the housing from the first surface;
an electric motor coupled to the housing;
a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and extending from the first end of the housing, and an opposite, second end;
a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate;
a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery receptacle being defined on a second surface adjacent the first surface, the second surface extending between the first end and the second end, the battery pack configured to provide electric power to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft;
wherein the concrete vibrator is operable in a briefcase configuration in which the handle portion is used to carry the concrete vibrator in a horizontal orientation; and
wherein the electric motor has a power output of at least about 2760 W and a nominal outer diameter of up to about 80 mm, and wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage of up to about 80 V.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Gallagher Patrick D
• Dubnicka Travis J
• Carlson Mitchell
• Eiche Paul W
• Onsager Eric C

Classifications

• E04G21/08 Primary

  Internal vibrators {, e.g. needle vibrators (combined with vacuum E04G21/061)} · CPC title

• B01F31/44

  with stirrers performing an oscillatory, vibratory or shaking movement (B01F31/40, B01F31/42 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04G21/063 Primary

  making use of vibrating or jolting tools (E04G21/08 takes precedence) · CPC title