AU2015325371B2

AU2015325371B2 - Mixer drum cooling device

Info

Publication number: AU2015325371B2
Application number: AU2015325371A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kazunori Tanaka
Original assignee: KYB Corp
Current assignee: KYB Corp
Priority date: 2014-10-01
Filing date: 2015-09-30
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-30
Also published as: JP6462299B2; WO2016052614A1; JP2016068909A; AU2015325371A1; AU2018200180A1

Abstract

This mixer drum cooling device 100 for cooling a mixer drum 2 mounted on a mixer truck 10 is provided with a spray unit 20 which is disposed below the mixer drum 2 and which sprays water at the mixer drum 2 from below, a reservoir unit 30 which is disposed below the mixer drum 2 and which stores the water sprayed at the mixer drum 2 by the spray unit 20, and a pump 40 which guides the water stored in the reservoir unit 30 into the spray unit 20.

Description

DESCRIPTION

MIXER-DRUM COOLING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a mixer drum cooling device for cooling a mixer drum mounted on a mixer vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] A mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum capable of loading so-called uncured concrete such as ready-mixed concrete and the like as contents and transports the uncured concrete to a casting site.

[0003] During transportation of the uncured concrete by the mixer vehicle, a temperature of the mixer drum can rise due to an outside air or sunlight. As means for preventing such temperature rise of the mixer drum, a mixer vehicle including a mixer-drum cooling device for cooling the mixer drum is known (JP2006- 111 150A, for example) .

[0004] JP2006- 111 150A discloses a mixer-drum cooling device including a cooling pan storing a cooling medium in which a lower part of the mixer drum is immersed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] In the mixer-drum cooling device disclosed in JP2006-111150A, a large quantity of the cooling medium needs to be stored so that the lower part of the mixer drum is immersed.

[0006] The vehicle may shake by running on a curve or braking during running of the mixer vehicle. Thus, in the mixer-drum cooling device disclosed in JP2006-111150A, there is a concern that the stored cooling

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-2medium is spilled from the cooling pan due to the shaking of the vehicle and is scattered to an outside of the mixer vehicle.

[0007] According to one aspect, the invention provides a mixer-drum cooling device configured to cool a mixer drum mounted on a mixer vehicle, comprising: an injection unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to inject a cooling medium from below toward the mixer drum; a storing unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to store the cooling medium injected by the injection unit toward the mixer drum; and a pump configured to lead the cooling medium stored in the storing unit to the injection unit, and the storing unit further comprises, a first side portion formed in a forward side in a rotation direction of the mixer drum, the first side portion extending upward on an outer side in the mixer vehicle and a second side portion formed in a backward side in the rotation direction of the mixer drum, the second side portion extending upward on an outer side in the mixer vehicle, wherein the second side portion is longer than the first side portion to an upper part on the outer side.

[0008] In one embodiment, wherein the storing unit has a front portion and a rear portion formed by extending upward as each goes toward a front and a rear of the mixer vehicle, respectively, and wherein the first side portion, the second side portion, the front portion and the rear portion cover a lower part of the mixer drum.

[0008a] In one embodiment, wherein the storing unit has a foldedback portion formed protruding inward from an upper end.

[0008b] In one embodiment, wherein when shaking of the mixer vehicle is detected, injection of the cooling medium from the injection unit is stopped.

[0008c] In another aspect, there is provided a mixer-drum cooling device configured to cool a mixer drum mounted on a mixer vehicle, comprising: an injection unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to inject a cooling medium from below toward the mixer drum;

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-2Aa storing unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to store the cooking medium injected by the injection unit toward the mixer drum; and a pump configured to lead the cooling medium stored in the storing unit to the injection unit, wherein when shaking of the mixer vehicle is detected, injection of the cooling medium from the injection unit is stopped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a mixer vehicle on which a mixer-drum cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the mixer-drum cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention and is a sectional view along a longitudinal direction passing through a center in a rightand-left direction of the mixer vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mixer-drum cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention and is a sectional view along an A-A line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a variation of an injection unit in the mixer-drum cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a variation of a storing unit in the mixer-drum cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0010] A mixer-drum cooling device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below by referring to the attached drawings. In Figs. 1 to 3, a cooling medium stored or injected is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0011] First, by referring to Fig. 1, entire constitution of a mixer vehicle 10 on which the mixer-drum cooling device 100 is mounted will be described. [0012] The mixer vehicle 10 is to transport so-called uncured concrete (hereinafter referred to as “uncured concrete”) such as ready-mixed concrete and the like by a mixer drum 2 mounted on a base 1.

[0013] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the mixer drum 2 is a container rotatably mounted on the base 1. The mixer drum 2 is mounted so that a rotating shaft is oriented to a longitudinal direction (right-and-left direction in Fig. 1) of the mixer vehicle 10. The mixer drum 2 is mounted with longitudinal inclination so that it becomes gradually higher toward a rear part (right direction in Fig. 1) of the base 1.

[0014] The mixer drum 2 has an opening portion formed on a rear end thereof, and input and discharge of the uncured concrete is performed through the opening portion. Above the opening portion of the mixer drum 2, a hopper 3 for input of the uncured concrete is provided.

[0015] The mixer drum 2 is driven by using a running engine (not shown) mounted on the mixer vehicle 10 as a power source and performs forward/backward rotation and acceleration/deceleration by a drum driving

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation device 4 mounted on the base 1. The drum driving device 4 controls rotation of the mixer drum 2 in accordance with instructions from a controller (not shown). When the mixer drum 2 is operated to rotate forward by the drum driving device 4, the uncured concrete in the mixer drum 2 is agitated. When the mixer drum 2 is operated to rotate backward by the drum driving device 4, the uncured concrete in the mixer drum 2 is discharged to an outside.

[0016] Subsequently, the mixer-drum cooling device 100 for cooling the mixer drum 2 will be described.

[0017] As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the mixer-drum cooling device 100 includes an injection unit 20 provided below the mixer drum 2 and injecting water as a cooling medium from below toward the mixer drum 2, a storing unit 30 provided below the mixer drum 2 and storing water injected by the injection unit 20 toward the mixer drum 2, and a pump 40 for leading the water stored in the storing unit 30 to the injection unit 20.

[0018] The injection unit 20 has, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a hollow cylindrical tube 21 provided by extending in the longitudinal direction of the mixer vehicle 10 and a plurality of injection ports 23 formed in the cylindrical tube 21 so as to face the lower part of the mixer drum 2.

[0019] The cylindrical tube 21 is formed by extending in the longitudinal direction of the mixer vehicle 10 and by being bent so as to follow an outer shape of the mixer drum 2. The cylindrical tube 21 is, as illustrated in Fig. 3, provided so as to be located below a center in the right-and-left direction (right-and-left direction in Fig. 3) in the mixer drum 2. That is, the cylindrical tube 21 is provided below the lowermost part of the mixer drum 2. In the cylindrical tube 21, a supply port 24 for leading the water discharged from the pump 40 to a hollow portion 22 inside is provided.

[0020] The injection ports 23 are formed in plural at a predetermined

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation interval along the longitudinal direction of the mixer vehicle 10. Moreover, the injection ports 23 are formed so as to communicate with the hollow portion 22 of the cylindrical tube 21. Thus, the water led through the hollow portion 22 of the cylindrical tube 21 is injected toward the lower part of the mixer drum 2 from the injection ports 23.

[0021] As described above, since the cylindrical tube 21 is provided below the lowermost part in the mixer drum 2, and the injection ports 23 are formed in the cylindrical tube 21 so as to face the lower part of the mixer drum 2, the water can be injected substantially from just below the mixer drum 2. Thus, as compared with the injection of the water from a side of the mixer drum 2, scattering of the water injected toward the mixer drum 2 in the right-and-left direction can be reduced.

[0022] The storing unit 30 is provided below the mixer drum 2 and substantially at the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10 so that the water injected by the injection unit 20 toward the mixer drum 2 can be stored. The storing unit 30 is formed of a resin material having a recessed shape so that an upper part is opened. The storing unit 30 does not have to be formed of the resin material but can be formed of an arbitrary material.

[0023] More specifically, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the storing unit 30 has a base portion 30A fixed to the base 1, a front portion 31 formed so as to extend upward as it goes from the base portion 30A toward the front of the mixer vehicle 10, and a rear portion 32 formed so as to extend upward as it goes from the base portion 30A toward the rear of the mixer vehicle 10. Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the storing unit 30 has side portions 33 formed so as to extend upward on an outer side in the right-and-left direction in the mixer vehicle 10 from the base portion 30A. As described above, the

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation storing unit 30 has the front portion 31, the rear portion 32, and the side portions 33 and is formed so as to cover the lower part of the mixer drum 2. [0024] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the injection unit 20 is provided in an inner space of the storing unit 30 formed having the recessed shape covering the lower part of the mixer drum 2. The injection unit 20 is provided at the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10 in the inner space of the storing unit 30. Therefore, the water injected by the injection unit 20 toward the mixer drum 2 is led to a bottom part of the storing unit 30 along inner wall surfaces of the front portion 31, the rear portion 32, and the side portions 33 covering the lower part of the mixer drum 2. As described above, the storing unit 30 functions also as a cover for preventing the water injected by the injection unit 20 toward the mixer drum 2 from scattering to the outside of the mixer vehicle 10.

[0025] The storing unit 30 further has, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, folded-back portions 34 formed by protruding inward from upper ends. The folded-back portion 34 is formed by protruding inward from the upper end of the storing unit 30, that is, an opening edge portion. Since the storing unit 30 has the folded-back portion 34, even if the water in the bottom part of the storing unit 30 shakes due to shaking of the mixer vehicle 10, the water is prevented from flowing across the opening edge portion of the storing unit 30 and being spilled to the outside.

[0026] Moreover, in the storing unit 30, a suction port 35 for leading the stored water to the pump 40 is formed at the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10 (see Fig. 2).

[0027] The pump 40 is driven by an instruction from the controller. The pump 40 suctions the water in the storing unit 30 through a first piping 41 connected to the suction port 35 of the storing unit 30 and discharges the

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation water to the injection unit 20 through a second piping 42 connected to the supply port 24 of the cylindrical tube 21 in the injection unit 20. It is only necessary that the pump 40 can lead the water in the storing unit 30 to the injection unit 20, and a small-sized one can be used.

[0028] Subsequently, a cooling method of the mixer drum 2 by the mixer-drum cooling device 100 will be described.

[0029] In the storing unit 30 of the mixer-drum cooling device 100, the water in such a predetermined amount that the injection port 23 of the injection unit 20 is not closed is stored in advance.

[0030] When a surface temperature of the mixer drum 2 rises, the pump 40 is driven by the instruction from the controller. When the pump 40 is driven, the water in the storing unit 30 is suctioned by the pump 40 through the suction port 35 and is discharged to the hollow portion 22 through the supply port 24 of the cylindrical tube 21 in the injection unit 20. The mixer-drum cooling device 100 may be started manually by providing a start switch or the like without using the instruction from the controller.

[0031] The water led into the hollow portion 22 of the injection unit 20 is injected from the injection port 23 toward the mixer drum 2. As a result, the mixer drum 2 is cooled. During running of the mixer vehicle 10, the mixer drum 2 is rotating and thus, by continuously injecting the water from below, the entire mixer drum 2 can be cooled.

[0032] Since the lower part of the mixer drum 2 is covered by the storing unit 30, the water injected toward the mixer drum 2 is not scattered to the outside of the mixer vehicle 10 but is led to the bottom part of the storing unit 30 along the inner wall surfaces of the front portion 31, the rear portion 32, and the side portions 33.

[0033] As described above, the water injected from below the mixer drum 2

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation

- 8 is stored in the storing unit 30 and is led to the injection unit 20 again by the pump 40. By circulating the water as above, the mixer drum 2 can be cooled with a small quantity of water.

[0034] Moreover, the injection unit 20 for injecting the water and the suction port 35 for leading the stored water to the pump 40 are provided at the center in the right-and-left direction in the mixer vehicle 10. As described above, by performing suction and discharge of the water at the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10, scattering of the water toward the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10 can be prevented more reliably.

[0035] Moreover, during running of the mixer vehicle 10, shaking can occur due to running on a curve or braking. There is also a concern that the water injected by the injection unit 20 is scattered to the outside due to such shaking of the mixer vehicle 10. In order to prevent such scattering of the water caused by shaking of the mixer vehicle 10, the mixer-drum cooling device 100 only needs to be controlled so that the injection of the water from the injection unit 20 is stopped when shaking occurs in the mixer vehicle 10.

[0036] Specifically, if an operation of a brake in the mixer vehicle 10 is detected or if a steering angle of a steering wheel larger than a predetermined angle is detected, for example, the pump 40 only needs to be controlled to be stopped by the controller. As described above, if the mixer vehicle 10 shakes, by stopping the injection of the water from the injection unit 20, scattering of the water to the outside of the mixer vehicle 10 can be prevented. Stopping of the injection of the water from the injection unit 20 may be accomplished not by stopping the pump 40. That may be accomplished by other methods such that a valve is provided in either of the first piping 41 and the second piping 42 of the pump 40 and passage of the water through the first piping 41 or the

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation second piping 42 is regulated by closing the valve.

[0037] Moreover, it may also be controlled so that, by providing an acceleration sensor in the mixer vehicle 10, if predetermined acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor, the pump 40 is stopped by the controller. In this case, if the acceleration of the mixer vehicle 10 is at a predetermined amount or less, the shaking of the mixer vehicle 10 is small, and there is no need to stop the injection of the water from the injection unit 20.

[0038] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects are exerted.

[0039] According to the mixer-drum cooling device 100, by injecting the water from below the mixer drum 2 by the injection unit 20, the mixer drum 2 can be cooled. Moreover, there is no need to store a large quantity of water such that the mixer drum 2 is immersed therein in the storing unit 30 for storing the injected water in order to cool the mixer drum 2 by injecting the water. Thus, scattering of the water stored in the storing unit 30 due to the shaking during running is suppressed. Moreover, by injecting the water from below the mixer drum 2, scattering of the water hitting the mixer drum 2 is also suppressed. Therefore, the scattering of the water during running of the mixer vehicle 10 to the outside can suppressed.

[0040] Moreover, the cylindrical tube 21 of the injection unit 20 is provided below the lowermost part in the mixer drum 2, and the injection ports 23 are formed in the cylindrical tube 21 so as to face the lower part of the mixer drum

2. As described above, by injecting the water from substantially immediately below the mixer drum 2, scattering of the injected water can be reduced as compared with the case of injection of the water from the sides toward the mixer drum 2.

[0041] Moreover, the cylindrical tube 21 of the injection unit 20 is formed

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation by being bent along the outer shape of the mixer drum 2. Thus, since the water can be injected over the entire longitudinal direction of the mixer drum 2, the entire mixer drum 2 can be cooled.

[0042] Moreover, since the storing unit 30 is formed so as to cover the lower part of the mixer drum 2, the water injected to the mixer drum 2 can be prevented from scattering to the outside of the storing unit 30.

[0043] Moreover, the storing unit 30 has the folded-back portion 34 formed protruding inward from the upper end. Thus, even if the water stored in the storing unit 30 shakes due to the shaking of the mixer vehicle 10 during running, the water is prevented from flowing across the opening edge portion of the storing unit 30 and being spilled over.

[0044] Moreover, if shaking occurs in the mixer vehicle 10 during braking or during running on a curve, by controlling the mixer-drum cooling device 100 so that the injection of the water from the injection unit 20 is stopped, the scattering of the injected water to the outside due to the shaking of the mixer vehicle 10 can be prevented.

[0045] Subsequently, a variation of this embodiment will be described. [0046] In the aforementioned embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the injection unit 20 is provided at the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10 in the inner space of the storing unit 30. Instead of this, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the injection unit 20 may be provided on a front side (left side in Fig. 4) in a rotating direction (an arrow direction in Fig. 4) in the mixer drum 2 rather than the center in the right-and-left direction of the mixer vehicle 10. As a result, a distance that the part of the mixer drum 2 to which water droplets adhere by injection of the water by the injection unit 20 moves facing inner space of the storing unit 30 becomes longer, whereby the water droplets adhering to the mixer drum 2 can be stored by the storing unit 30

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation more easily. Therefore, scattering of the injected water to the outside can be further prevented.

[0047] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the side portions 33 of the storing unit 30 is formed symmetrically. Instead of this, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a side portion 33A on the right side in Fig. 5 which is a forward side in the rotating direction of the mixer drum 2 in the inner space of the storing unit 30 may be formed longer to an upper part on the outer side from the side portion 33B on the left side in Fig. 5 which is a backward side in the rotating direction in the mixer drum 2. As a result, the distance that the part of the mixer drum 2 to which the water is injected by the injection unit 20 and the water droplets adhere moves facing the storing unit 30 becomes longer, whereby the water droplets adhering to the mixer drum 2 can be stored in the storing unit 30 more easily. Therefore, scattering of the injected water to the outside can be further prevented.

[0048] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, water is used as the cooling medium. Instead of this, other liquids such as aqueous solutions or the like having excellent cooling performances, for example, may be used for the cooling medium.

[0049] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, the pump 40 directly suctions the water stored in the storing unit 30 through the suction port 35 and discharges it to the injection unit 20. Instead of this, a tank through which the water injected by the injection unit 20 is circulated is provided separately from the storing unit 30, and the pump 40 may be constituted to suction the water from the tank and to discharge it to the injection unit 20. Specifically, the storing unit 30 includes a receiving portion provided below the mixer drum 2 and receiving the water injected by the injection unit 20 toward the mixer drum 2 and a tank to which the water received by the receiving

GS11506(PCT-1827) English Translation portion is led, and the pump 40 may be constituted to lead the water from the tank to the injection unit 20. In this case, the tank can use a water tank or the like for washing of the mixer drum 2 provided in the mixer vehicle 10 in general. That is, the pump 40 only needs to lead the water stored in the storing unit 30 directly or indirectly to the injection unit 20.

[0050] The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely illustration of some application examples of the present invention and not of the nature to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific constructions of the above embodiments.

[0051] The present application claims a priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-203473 filed with the Japan Patent Office on October 1, 2014, all the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

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Claims

1. A mixer-drum cooling device configured to cool a mixer drum mounted on a mixer vehicle, comprising:

an injection unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to inject a cooling medium from below toward the mixer drum;

a storing unit provided below the mixer drum and configured to store the cooling medium injected by the injection unit toward the mixer drum; and a pump configured to lead the cooling medium stored in the storing unit to the injection unit, and the storing unit further comprises, a first side portion formed in a forward side in a rotation direction of the mixer drum, the first side portion extending upward on an outer side in the mixer vehicle and a second side portion formed in a backward side in the rotation direction of the mixer drum, the second side portion extending upward on an outer side in the mixer vehicle, wherein the second side portion is longer than the first side portion to an upper part on the outer side.

2. The mixer-drum cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the storing unit has a front portion and a rear portion formed by extending upward as each goes toward a front and a rear of the mixer vehicle, respectively, and wherein the first side portion, the second side portion, the front portion and the rear portion cover a lower part of the mixer drum.

3. The mixer-drum cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the storing unit has a folded-back portion formed protruding inward from an upper end.

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- 144. The mixer-drum cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when shaking of the mixer vehicle is detected, injection of the cooling medium from the injection unit is stopped.

GS11506/PCT-1827 ο

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FIG. 1

GS11506/PCT-1827

FIG. 2

GS11506/PCT-1827

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

GS11506/PCT-1827

30A

FIG. 5