초록 ▼

A portable vibratory screed machine is provided with a vibration restraint operable to reduce undesirable vibration of the engine and to extend the life of the engine. The portable vibratory screed machine includes a machine frame having a reference structure. The machine further includes an engine

A portable vibratory screed machine is provided with a vibration restraint operable to reduce undesirable vibration of the engine and to extend the life of the engine. The portable vibratory screed machine includes a machine frame having a reference structure. The machine further includes an engine mounted on the reference structure via a mount that surrounds a drive shaft that is driven by the engine's output. A vibratory assembly remotely located from the engine is powered by the engine to vibrate a screed plate. The vibration restraint directly couples the engine housing to the reference structure at a location that is spaced apart from the mount.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A portable vibratory screed machine, comprising: (A) a screed blade; (B) a machine frame mounted on the screed blade; (C) an engine including a rotational output and an engine housing; (D) a vibratory assembly which is mounted on the machine frame, which is located remote from the engin

I claim: 1. A portable vibratory screed machine, comprising: (A) a screed blade; (B) a machine frame mounted on the screed blade; (C) an engine including a rotational output and an engine housing; (D) a vibratory assembly which is mounted on the machine frame, which is located remote from the engine, and which impacts vibrations to the screed blade; (E) a drive shaft that transmits torque from the engine output to the vibratory assembly (F) an engine mount which surrounds the drive shaft and which supports the engine on the machine frame; and (G) a vibration restraint which is attached to the engine housing and which is attached to the machine frame at a location that is transversely spaced from a bottom of the engine mount thereby to restrain the engine from vibrating in a direction that is at least generally parallel to a central axis of the drive shaft. 2. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein the engine mount is supported on a mount plate of the machine frame, and wherein the restraint has a first end attached to the engine housing and a second end terminating in a flange that is configured to receive fasteners coupling the flange to the mount plate. 3. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 2, wherein the restraint comprises a plate having first and second ends, the first end being directly coupled to the engine housing and the second end being directly coupled to the mount plate by the fasteners. 4. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 3, wherein a portion of the plate is shaped to generally conform to a contour of a mating portion of the engine housing. 5. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 4, wherein the restraint is configured to restrain vibration in a direction generally parallel to the central axis of the drive shaft independent of the engine mount. 6. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein, when the engine operates at a speed of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, the vibration restraint is operable to at least double an operational life of the engine relative to an engine of the same portable vibratory screed machine without a vibration restraint. 7. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 6, wherein the vibration restraint is operable to quadruple a life of the engine. 8. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein, when the engine operates in a range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, the vibration restraint is operable to reduce engine vibration by at least forty percent. 9. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein, when the engine operates in a range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, the vibration restraint is operable to reduce engine vibration by at least twenty-five percent. 10. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein, when the engine operates in a range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, the vibration restraint is operable to extend a life of the engine to at least 200 operating hours. 11. The portable vibratory screed machine of claim 1, wherein the vibrating restraint comprises a metal plate having first portion and a second portion, the first portion being inclined relative to the second portion, and a flange coupled to the second portion and having openings configured to receive fasteners coupling the flange to the reference structure. 12. A method of operating an engine of a vibratory plate machine, the vibratory plate machine having a screed blade, a machine frame mounted on the screed blade, a vibratory assembly, a drive shaft that couples the engine to the vibratory assembly, and an engine mount that surrounds the drive shaft and that supports the engine on the machine frame the method comprising: providing a restraint having a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the restraint to the engine, and coupling the second end of the restraint to the machine frame, operating the engine to drive the vibratory assembly to generate vibrations that are imparted to the screed blade; and, during engine operation, restraining the engine relative to the vibratory assembly in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the drive shaft using said restraint that couples the engine to the machine frame at a location that is transversely spaced from the engine mount. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of restraining includes reducing vibrational movement of the engine by at least 40 percent relative to operating the same portable vibratory machine without performing the act of restraining. 14. A portable vibratory screed machine, comprising: (A) a screed blade; (B) a machine frame mounted on the screed blade; (C) an engine including a rotational output and an engine housing; (D) a vibratory assembly which is mounted on the machine frame, which is located remote from the engine, and which impacts vibrations to the screed blade; (E) a drive shaft which transmits torque from the engine output to the vibratory assembly (F) an engine mount which surrounds the drive shaft and which supports the engine on the machine frame; (H) a vibration restraint which is attached to the engine housing and which is attached to the machine frame at a location that is transversely spaced from a bottom of the engine mount thereby to restrain the engine from vibrating in a direction that is at least generally parallel to a central axis of the drive shaft; and a handle assembly which is mounted on the machine frame. 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising guiding the portable screed assembly using a handle assembly mounted on the machine frame. 16. A portable vibratory screed machine, comprising: (A) a screed blade; (B) a machine frame mounted on the screed blade; (C) an engine including a rotational output and an engine housing; (D) a vibratory assembly located remote from the engine and mounted on the machine frame; (E) an at least generally vertically extending drive shaft that transmits torque from the engine output to the vibratory assembly; (F) an at least generally vertically extending engine mount that surrounds the drive shaft, that extends upwardly from the machine frame, and to which the engine is clamped; (G) a vibration restraint that is attached to the engine housing and to the machine frame at a location that is transversely spaced from a bottom of the engine mount thereby to restrain the engine from vibrating in a direction that is at least generally parallel to a central axis of the drive shaft.