CA2338117A1

CA2338117A1 - Grout hopper and dispenser

Info

Publication number: CA2338117A1
Application number: CA 2338117
Authority: CA
Inventors: Wayne Donald Carney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-26
Filing date: 2001-02-26
Publication date: 2002-08-26

Description

GROUT HOPPER AND DISPENSER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a device for dispensing flowable materials such as grout or concrete to remote locations such as block wall cavities, form work, bridge work, piers and block foundations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The problems associated with the manual delivery of grout to the cavities formed in a concrete block wall are well defined in US Patent 6,112,955 to Lang and are in part overcome by providing a grout hopper which may be mounted on the arms of a forklift truck for positioning at a desired location. The hopper is supported by a central post on a platform having rollers so that the hopper can swivel relative to the platform. Grout is delivered from the hopper into a tube positioned at the base of the hopper and housing an auger to transport material out of the tube into a flexible hose. The hose must be positioned manually to deliver grout to a selected cavity in a block wall.

[0003] An object of this invention is to address at least some of the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with this invention, there is provided an apparatus for receiving and dispensing a flowable material, such as grout or concrete, having a hopper with a receiving opening at one end for receiving grout or concrete and a delivery opening at a lower end remote from the receiving opening. The delivery opening is in fluid communication with an open chute extending longitudinally away from the hopper.

[0005] The apparatus includes positioning means to adjust the position of the chute relative to the hopper to thereby change its inclination and also its radial position.
Preferably, the chute is formed in at least two telescoping portions movable relative to each other so as to adjust the length of the chute.

[0006] A gate is provided in the delivery opening to the chute to open and close the opening and control the flow of material into the chute.

[0007] Most preferably, the apparatus includes hydraulically operated, battery powered, solenoids which operate to extend or retract respective hydraulic cylinders to lower or raise the chute, open and close the gate, and extend or retract the chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying photographs which are identified as follows:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grouting apparatus in accordance with the invention resting on cement blocks;
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the grouting apparatus being carried by the forks of a forklift truck and being positioned on a model block wall with a chute in a downwardly inclined position;
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the chute in an extended configuration with a flap valve closed;
Fig. 4 is an end view of the chute of Fig. 3 with the flap valve open;
Fig. 5 is a detail view of a rail on a hopper for the grouting apparatus for guiding the chute in a radial path around the hopper;
Fig. 6 is a detail view of a gate in a delivery opening at a lower end of the hopper and associated positioning hydraulics;
Fig. 7 is a detail view showing stop means for locating the chute;
Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 7 showing the stop means in a release position;
Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the chute in a parked position;
Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a logical push button pendant for operating the hydraulics;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view from the top showing lugs on the hopper for positioning the hopper with a crane; and Fig. 12 is a view of the bottom of a hopper having an agitator wand disposed in the delivery opening.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] A grouting apparatus in accordance with the invention is generally identified in Fig. 1 by reference numeral 20. The grouting apparatus 20 has a hopper 22 with cylindrical walls and a conical bottom 24. The hopper 22 is open at the top, as shown in Fig. 11, and has a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 26 which may be used to position the apparatus by means of a crane (not shown). A delivery opening 28 (shown in Fig. 12) at the bottom of the conical bottom 24 is in fluid communication with an open channel or chute 30 extending longitudinally away from the hopper 22. The chute 30 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figs. 2 to 4 and 9.

[0010] Flowable material (not shown) such as grout or concrete will be retained in the hopper 22 and is released through the delivery opening 28 to the chute 30 when a hydraulically operated slide gate 32 (Fig. 6) slides into and out of registration with the opening 28 as indicated by arrow 33.

[0011] The hopper 22 is fixed to a base 34 by two oppositely disposed by struts 36 of which only one is shown in Fig. 1 and are welded to the outer side of the hopper 22 at one end and to the base 34 at the other end. The base 34 has a pair of tubular members 38 extending horizontally and sized and spaced to receive forklift forks 40 (see Fig. 2).

[0012] Referring now more particularly to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the conical bottom 24 is coupled to a tubular extension 42 through which the slide gate 32 will slide in use. The tubular extension 42 is flanged for rotational movement relative to an elbow 44 which opens into a proximate end of the chute 30. The chute 30 is coupled to the elbow 44 with respective lugs 46 secured with a bolt 48.

[0013] The chute 30 can thus rotate relative to the hopper 22 in a radial path around the hopper.
Such movement is guided by a rail 50, shown more clearly in Fig. 5, which is outwardly spaced from the hopper 22 by a plurality of mounting lugs 52 spaced from each other along the length of the rail 50 and welded to the hopper. The rail 50 inscribes an arc around substantially half the circumference of the cylindrical hopper 22 and is generally horizontally disposed parallel to the tubular fork receiving members 38.

[0014] A hydraulically operated boom 54 couples the chute 30 to the rail 50 and has a pulley wheel 56 which has a groove to receive the rail 50. The lower end of the boom 54 is coupled to the chute 30 as shown in Fig. 9 by means of a shackle 58 secured to a loop 60 attached to the chute. The chute 30 can thereby be positioned in a desired radial position by moving the boom 54.

[0015] The chute 30 is comprised of two telescoping portions, including a proximate chute portion 30a and an extension chute portion 30b (Fig. 3) both having a U shaped cross-section, with the extension chute portion 30b slidable longitudinally relative to the proximate chute portion 30a. The extension chute portion 30b is of a slightly larger internal diameter than the outer diameter of the proximate chute portion 30a and has an inwardly directed top flange which slidably receives the proximate chute portion 30a. The movement of the extension chute portion 30 b is facilitated by associated hydraulically operated hydraulic cylinder 62.

[0016] A manually operated flap valve 64 is pivotally mounted to a remote end of the extension chute portion 30b and is movable by an operator 66 out of and into registration with the opening of chute 30 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4 to control and prevent over pouring of the grouting mixture.

[0017] An operating system for positioning the chute 30 indicated, generally by reference numeral 66 in Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted to the base 34 and includes a pair of batteries to power an electric motor for operating solenoids controlling a hydraulic system.
Conveniently, the apparatus is equipped with a built-in charger having a 120 volt AC outlet plug for easy re-charging.

[0018] The hydraulic system has three circuits, each circuit having a pair of solenoids and a pair of slaves. A first hydraulic circuit is connected to a first hydraulic cylinder that is removably and operationally connected to the extension chute 30 b at one end and to the proximate chute 30a at the other end. In operation, the first hydraulic circuit controls the relative position of the extension chute 30b. In the closed position, the extension chute 30b cradles the chute 30. In the extended position, the extension chute 30b overlaps the proximate chute portion 30a at one end and protrudes from the proximal chute portion 30a for much of its length, about four feet.

[0019] A second hydraulic circuit is attached to a second hydraulic cylinder that is operationally attached to the slide gate 32. In operation, this second circuit controls opening and closing of the slide gate 32.

[0020] A third hydraulic circuit is connected to a third hydraulic cylinder that is removably and operationally attached to the chute 30 on one end and to the pulley wheel 56 of the positioning system at the other end. In operation, this circuit increases and decreases the angle of the chute 30 relative to the hopper 22 over a range of 90 degrees.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulic system is operated remotely using a logical push button pendant 68 shown in Fig. 10 such that one person can operate the grouting apparatus 20.

[0022] A cover (not shown) is hingedly attached to the base 34 and is shaped to fit the side of the hopper 22 such that when in the closed position, it covers the operating system 66.

[0023] A bead (not shown) fixed to the hopper 22 above the cover deflects water from running down the side of the hopper and entering the operating system 66.

[0024] To safely move the apparatus 20 to a work site using a forklift, the chute 30 is normally parked as shown in Fig. 7 by moving it one side of the hopper 22 at one end of the rail 50.
The chute 30 is raised with the boom 54 to locate the chute 30 behind a pair of spaced stops 70 extending downwardly from a housing for the slide gate 32 so as to lie in the path of radial movement of the chute 30. An auxiliary pair of locating stops 72 is provided on the base 34, each stop 72 being associated with a respective strut 36 as can be seen in Fig. 2.

[0025] In use, the apparatus is brought to a work site in a parked position using a forklift or crane and raised to the height of a block wall 74 with the hopper 22 loaded with a grouting mixture. The chute 30 is lowered using the boom 54 to clear the stops 70, 72 and the chute is moved radially by an operator into the desired position. After the boom 30 is extended to the cavity to be grouted, the slide gate is opened and the grouting mixture is released for movement from the hopper 22 into the chute 30 by gravity and the flap valve 64 is opened to control delivery of the grouting material.

[0026] The flap valve 64 and the slide gate 32 are closed and opened, as required, as the apparatus is moved from cavity to cavity.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the delivery opening 28 has an exit agitator wand 76 (Fig. 12) for breaking the grouting mixture as it flows out of the conical bottom 24.

[0028] In another embodiment, a vibrator may be mounted to the outside of the hopper. This functions to vibrate the materials therein, thereby increasing the flow rate of high slump materials from the hopper.

[0029] It will be appreciated that other variations may be made to the above described embodiment of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.