EP0721393B1 - Transporter-mixer for bulk-material/liquid mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE94/01094 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 26, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 26, 1996 PCT Filed Sep. 15, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/09074 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 6, 1995A transporter-mixer for bulk-material/liquid mixtures has a cylindrical transport container mounted on a support frame with its longitudinal axis approximately horizontal and a controllable container-drive unit whose direction is reversible as a function of the angle of rotation. Fitted on the transport container periphery is a closable loading hatch which opens into the transport container. Mounted on the transport container's inside wall is a mixing screw and at a rear end of the container is an annular discharge channel with an inwards-facing discharge port. The mean height of the mixing screw is, at the most, 15% of the container diameter and a curved, enclosed guide channel of essentially constant cross-section connects the annular discharge channel and a central discharge port.

Description

The invention relates to a transport mixer for bulk liquid / liquid mixtures, consisting of a cylindrical transport container mounted on a frame with an approximately horizontal axis and a reversible, controllable drive for the transport container depending on the angle of rotation, the transport container being provided with a closable filling opening on its circumference is on the inside of its cylinder wall has a conveyor spiral and in the area of its rear end wall has an annular discharge channel with an inward discharge opening.

Transport mixers of the type mentioned have become known, inter alia, from US Pat. No. 2,038,158.
The transport mixer described there has a cylindrical transport container, the longitudinal axis of which is arranged horizontally on the frame of a vehicle.
A drive motor is assigned to the transport container and can rotate the cylindrical transport container - guided by corresponding bearings on the frame - about its axis.
The transport container has a closable fill opening on its cylinder wall approximately in the middle of its length, which can be opened when it is located on the top of the transport container.

A mixing spiral is arranged on the cylindrical inner wall of the transport container, through which the viscous concrete in the transport container is axially conveyed and mixed in the process.

At the rear end of the transport container there is an opening on the face near the circumference of the transport container through which the mixture is passed into an annular discharge channel.
This discharge channel extends approximately over an angle of 240 °. A second channel is assigned to it inside.
If the rear end of the discharge channel reaches below the surface of the viscous mixture, the mixture located in the discharge channel is first led into this second channel.
A spiral wall is arranged downstream of both channels, which leads the mixture that flows out of these channels as it rotates further back to the central discharge opening. This discharge opening is open to the rear of the transport container.

• daß die Einfüllöffnung am Außenumfang des Zylinders nicht mit ausreichender Sicherheit verschlossen werden konnte,
• daß die durch das Fahrzeug aufzubringende Energie nicht ausreichte, um mindestens die Aufrechterhaltung der Mischung während des Transportes zu gewährleisten und
• daß es nicht gelang, ein schnelles und kontinuierliches Entleeren des Transportbehälters bei gleichzeitigem Vermeiden des Überlaufens während des Transportes zu gewährleisten.

This arrangement has a number of decisive disadvantages, which ultimately have led to the fact that this basic concept has not been pursued for over 60 years and instead the pear-shaped transport containers with an inclined axis of rotation have been used in general.
The particulars of the deficiencies in the design according to US-A-2038158 are:

• that the filling opening on the outer circumference of the cylinder could not be closed with sufficient security,
• that the energy to be applied by the vehicle was not sufficient to at least ensure the maintenance of the mixture during transport and
• that it was not possible to ensure rapid and continuous emptying of the transport container while avoiding overflow during transport.

The cleaning of the transport container still poses considerable problems to this day. The amount of water that is necessary in the horizontal arrangement of the axis of the cylindrical transport container in the known embodiment exceeds the economically acceptable level.
For these reasons, as already mentioned, the transport containers with an inclined arrangement of the axis have been used.

With the increasing need for the rapid transport of large quantities of lightweight concrete, screed or other curable thick matter, there is a need to increase the transportable volume of the transport mixer.

Here the inclined transport containers have reached their application limit. The load of the transport container cannot be distributed evenly over the axles of the transport vehicle, so that individual axles would far exceed the load capacity of the roads.

• der bei geringstem Energieaufwand für das Verteilen großer Mengen des Gemisches innerhalb des Transportbehälters geeignet ist,
• der eine völlige Abdichtung des Transportbehälters während des Transportes gewährleistet,
• der mit geringem Energieaufwand während des Transportes die Mischung aufrechterhält,
• der ein schnelles, nahezu kontinuierliches Entleeren des Transportbehälters ermöglicht und
• der während der Rückfahrt zum Beschickungsort mit geringem Wasseraufwand gereinigt werden kann.

The object of the invention is to provide a transport mixer with a horizontal, cylindrical transport container,

• which is suitable for distributing large quantities of the mixture within the transport container with the least energy expenditure,
• which ensures a complete seal of the transport container during transport,
• who maintains the mixture with little energy during transport,
• which enables fast, almost continuous emptying of the transport container and
• which can be cleaned with little water during the return trip to the loading location.

This complex task is solved in a fundamentally new way by the features of claim 1.

The filling opening arranged in the middle of the transport container ensures that the mixture flows in and is distributed quickly in the transport container.
The conveyor spiral does not have to be involved in the distribution process.
The position and arrangement of the flap ensures that the transport container is sealed tightly during transport.
The height of the mixing spiral, which has been reduced to a minimum, enables the mixture to be maintained even at a very high level with little energy consumption.
The design of the discharge channel ensures that large quantities of the mixture can be applied almost continuously in a very short time.

The discharge channel is simple in its design, allows an undisturbed flow of mixture on the one hand and on the other hand of the cleaning water into the space of the transport container.

Even with a high fill level and extreme inclination of the transport container, it is almost impossible that mixture can get out through the discharge opening during transport.

The proposed combination enables the transport of large quantities of bulk material mixtures with short loading and unloading times.
A capacity of up to 15 m ³ can be achieved with such designs.
The capacity of the inclined, pear-shaped transport containers is limited to 12m ³ .

With the execution of the inlet opening according to claim 2, it is possible to control the flap with simple means where it must be during the opening process. Circulating control mechanisms are largely avoided.

The design of the opening mechanism according to claim 3 ensures the use of simple, proven and robust controls that guarantee high functionality.

The control of the opening mechanism in three positions - according to claim 4 - enables repeated opening and snapping of the flap and helps to remove residues of the mixture from the seal of the flap.

The stationary funnel above the inlet opening and the arrangement of its support arms according to claim 5 ensure a low-loss introduction of the bulk material. In addition, the support arms secure the transport container on the frame of the vehicle.

The design of the conveyor spiral enables the mixture to be maintained during transport. But it also ensures the low-residual transport of the mixture to the discharge side and cleaning when the water level is low.

Claim 7 defines the optimal results determined during the test.

The features of claim 8 bring advantages in maintaining the mixture without the energy required to rotate the transport container must be increased.

Placing the discharge channel on the outside of the front of the transport container enables the channel to be accessible from all sides for tapping off any remaining mixture that has become hard inside the channel.

The execution of the discharge channel according to claim 10 ensures consistently good sliding possibilities for the mixture.

Claim 11 optimizes the cleaning of the transport container.

The claim 12 uses the stabilizing effect of the end wall of the transport container for supporting the race.

With claim 13, the combination with a powerful vane thick matter pump is possible. With such a pump, the mixture can be pumped at low power requirements in a very short time over long distances - even at heights of 30 - 40 m.

Fig. 1:

eine Gesamtansicht des Transportmischers auf einem Fahrzeug, teilweise geschnitten,

Fig. 2:

vier Positionen des Austrags- und Führungskanales bei Drehung des Transportbehälters in Mischrichtung,

Fig. 3:

vier Positionen des Austrags- und Führungskanales bei Drehung des Transportbehälters in Austragsrichtung,

Fig. 4:

einen Querschnitt durch den Transportbehälter in der Ebene der Einfüllöffnung,

Fig. 5:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Einfüllöffnung mit ihrem Steuermechanismus und dem Einfülltrichter,

Fig. 6:

eine Ansicht von hinten auf das Fahrzeug mit dem Transportmischer gemäß Fig. 1 und

Fig. 7:

eine Teilansicht des Hecks eines Fahrzeuges mit Transportmischer und Flügelzellenpumpe.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1:

an overall view of the transport mixer on a vehicle, partially cut,

Fig. 2:

four positions of the discharge and guide channel when the transport container rotates in the mixing direction,

Fig. 3:

four positions of the discharge and guide channel when the transport container rotates in the discharge direction,

Fig. 4:

a cross section through the transport container in the plane of the filling opening,

Fig. 5:

an enlarged view of the filling opening with its control mechanism and the filling funnel,

Fig. 6:

a rear view of the vehicle with the transport mixer according to FIG. 1 and

Fig. 7:

a partial view of the rear of a vehicle with a transport mixer and vane pump.

The transport mixer 2, 3 is mounted in the usual way on the frame 2 of a vehicle 1.
The cylindrical transport container 3 is rotatably mounted on this frame 2. The axis of the transport container 3 is aligned essentially horizontally.

It is set in rotation by a drive motor 21 (not shown in detail) via corresponding gear elements 211, 321. The drive motor 21 can be controlled in such a way that the transport container 3 can perform drive functions as a function of its respective angle of rotation.
The speed of this drive 21 should be freely adjustable within normal limits.

The transport container 3 is usually mounted on a pin on its drive side (not shown).
In the area of the discharge elements there is an additional support bearing 23 which interacts with a race 34 on the circumference of the transport container 3.

In the middle of the transport container 3, pivotable support arms 24, 24 'are attached to the frame 2 on both sides, which grip around the transport container 3 on the outside and support the funnel 25 with their upper ends.
The support arms 24, 24 'are equipped with so-called catch rollers 241, which additionally fix the transport container 3 in its position relative to the frame 2.

On the inner cylinder wall 31 of the transport container 3, a conveyor spiral 311 is attached, the wing height H1 ... H5 of which increases continuously or step-wise from the end wall 32 on the drive side to the end wall 33 on the discharge side.
The leaf height H1 ... H5 is at least about 2% of the diameter of the transport container 3 and then rises to about 20% up to the end wall on the discharge side.

For better maintenance of the mixture during transport with the least energy expenditure, 3 mixing profiles 312 are arranged on the inner circumference of the transport container.

A filling opening 313 is provided on the cylinder wall 31 for filling the mixture of bulk material and liquid.
This filling opening 313 is located on the top of the transport container 3 during the filling process. It is arranged approximately in the middle, so that the introduced mixture 4 itself is evenly distributed in the interior of the transport container. This avoids the need to use the conveyor spiral 311 during the filling process by rotating the transport container 3.

A flap 315 is assigned to the filling opening for the purpose of tight sealing. This flap 315 has a swivel arm 3151, which around a bearing 3152, which is attached to the outer wall of the transport container 3, can swing.
The swivel arm 3151 also carries a roller 3153 which can be influenced by a controllable stop 262. The flap 315 is held in the closed position by a spring 316.

An opening mechanism 26 is arranged on the funnel 25. This opening mechanism 26 has an actuating piston 261 and a pivotable stop 262, which can assume three different positions with respect to the orbit of the roller 3153.
In a first position, the stop 262 never reaches the area of the roller 3153. The flap remains closed.
In a second position, the so-called Snap position, the role 3153 is only shifted by no amount. The flap 315 is opened only briefly in order to immediately return to the closed position under the action of the spring 316.
This method of operation is necessary in order to remove mixture residues from the seal 3131 on the frame 314 of the filling opening 313 before the flap 315 is finally closed by impact.

The third position of the stop 262 ensures that the filling opening 313 is completely opened. The flap 315 then assumes the vertical position shown in FIG. 5.
In this position, mixture residues slide off the flap 315 without resistance.

In the subsequent closing process, the transport container 3 can be sealed sufficiently tightly. The mass of the mixture 4 in the transport container 3 additionally supports the sealing.

At the rear end of the transport container 3, at the so-called. Discharge side, the transport container 3 is closed by the end wall 33. In the end wall 33 there is a discharge opening 331 through which the mixture 4 can flow into the discharge channel 332.

The discharge channel 332 is arranged in the peripheral region of the transport container and is placed on the outside of the end wall 33. This discharge channel 332 extends over an angle that is greater than 220 °, concentrically to the transport container 3.

At the end of this discharge channel 332 facing away from the discharge opening 331, it merges tangentially and in an arc into the guide channel 333, which guides the mixture 4 into the plane of the axis of rotation of the transport container 3.
This guide channel 333 has an opening 3331 on the inside, which opens into the wall of the discharge funnel 334.

The mixture 4 conveyed by the conveying spiral 311 with a corresponding direction of rotation B into the region of the discharge opening 331 will first reach the discharge channel 332 and via the guide channel 333 and the funnel 334 in this direction of rotation.

Using a slide or other suitable aids, the concrete can be taken to where it is to be processed.

The mode of operation of the discharge device is again shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in different positions - with reference to a direction of rotation of the transport container.

FIG. 2 shows the mode of operation in the direction of rotation A, which is used to mix the mixture 4 in the transport container 3. In this direction of rotation A, the conveyor spiral 331 conveys the mixture 4 in the direction of the end wall 32 on the drive side.
The filling process takes place in the position at 0 ° (FIG. 2). The discharge opening 331 is located in the upper region of the transport container 3.
Upon further rotation in direction A (90 °), this opening 331 dips into the mixture 4. The liquid mixture 4 can thereby collect in the discharge channel.

Viscous mixtures 4 will only penetrate slowly into the discharge channel during this process. If the discharge opening 331 lifts out of the mixture 4 (180 ° to approximately 300 °), the discharge channel 332 is empty again. An overflow of the transport container 3 via the discharge channel 332 is practically impossible.

If you extend the discharge channel by 360 ° by arranging it in a spiral, you can further increase the security against leakage.

When the transport mixer has reached its destination, the direction of rotation is changed for the purpose of unloading.

The discharge process is shown in Fig. 3 in four different angular positions. The discharge channel is initially empty (0 °). As soon as the discharge opening 331 dips into the mixture 4 with the direction of rotation B, the discharge channel 332 fills (180 °).
The mixture 4 in the discharge channel reaches the same filling level 41 as the mixture 4 in the transport container.

However, if the guide channel 333 now sinks into the mixture 4 (360 ... 600 °), it runs under the effect of the The mixture 4 gravitates into this guide channel 333 and via its opening 3331 into the discharge funnel 334.

This discharge of the mixture takes place at a high fill level 41 over an angular range that is significantly greater than 180 °.
If this discharge has ended with the first rotation, the discharge channel 332 has already taken up mixture 4 again via its opening 331 and, after only a short pause, feeds it to the discharge funnel 334.

Under practical conditions, the mixture can be discharged continuously and the discharge speed can be regulated as desired by regulating the drive speed.

The transport process for mixtures 4 takes place - in summary - with the transport mixer described in the following way.

At a central mixing station, the bulk material is first mixed dry and shortly before the loading process with water.

The finished mixture 4 is introduced into the stationary transport container 3 at high speed through the opened filling opening.
It distributes itself instantly without the need for further aids for the distribution in the transport container.
The flap 315 is finally closed after repeated slamming (overlapping). The seal 3131 is freed of mixture residues. The flap 315 closes tightly.

The transport container 3 is now rotated in direction A. The transport can begin.

The mixture can be maintained during transport by the low wing height H1 ... H5 and by the mixing profiles 312 with low energy consumption at low speed A.
At the construction site, the direction of rotation of the transport container 3 is changed to direction B for the purpose of emptying.
The discharge speed can be determined by regulating the discharge speed B.

When emptying large quantities, it is important to bring these large quantities into the prepared formwork before the curing process begins, ie in a very short time.
Today, this is conveniently achieved through the use of vane pumps, which can be used to pump thick matter - such as lightweight concrete or screed - quickly and reliably over long distances, even at great heights.

For this purpose, such a pump 6 - which has a relatively small mass - is directly attached to the transport mixer 3.
A corresponding, necessary drive movement can be derived from the engine of the vehicle or from another engine.
A collecting container 61 for the discharged mixture on the suction channel of the pump may compensate for different delivery rates and serves as a known buffer.
The hose 62 can be attached to the transport vehicle 1 and carried along. At the construction site, he is manipulated with the crane there.

List of the reference symbols used

1

vehicle

2nd

frame

21

Drive motor

211

Gear (gear element)

22

camp

23

Support bearing

24.24 '

Support arms

241

Capture rollers

25th

hopper

(26)

Opening mechanism

261

Adjusting piston

262

Stop (lever, adjustable)

3rd

Shipping container

31

Cylinder wall

311

Conveyor spiral

312

Mixed profiles

313

Filling opening

3131

poetry

314

frame

315

flap

3151

Swivel arm

3152

camp

3153

role

316

feather

32

End wall (drive side)

321

gear

33

End wall (discharge side)

331

Discharge opening

332

Discharge channel

333

Guide channel

3331

opening

334

Discharge hopper

34

Race

4th

mixture

41

Level

5

Container (cleaning water)

51

Water pipe

6

Vane pump

61

Collection container

62

pressure hose

H1 ... H5

Elevation of the conveyor spiral

A

Mixing direction of rotation

B

Direction of discharge

Claims (13)

1. Transport mixer for bulk solid/liquid mixtures comprising

   - a cylindrical transport silo (3) mounted on a frame (2) with an almost horizontal axis and

   - a controllable drive for the transport silo, which may be reversed in dependence on the angle of rotation,
   whereby the transport silo

   - is provided with a locking feed opening (313) on its periphery,

   - has a conveyor spiral (311) on the inside of its cylinder wall (31), and

   - has a ring-shaped discharge channel with an inwardly directed discharge opening in the region of its rear end wall (33),

   characterised in that
   the feed opening (313) is provided with an inwardly pivoting lid (315);
   that the mixing spiral (311) has a mean vane height of a maximum of 15 percent of the transport silo diameter, and
   that an arc-shaped, closed guide channel (333) with approximately constant cross-section is disposed between the ring-shaped discharge channel (332) on the periphery of the transport silo (3) and the central discharge opening (334).
2. Transport mixer according to Claim 1, characterised in that
   the inwardly pivoting lid (15) of the feed opening (313) is resiliently held in the closed position, and that the lid (15) is provided with a controllable opening mechanism (26) above the transport silo (3) on a charging hopper (25) fixedly positioned there.
3. Transport mixer according to Claim 1 and 2,
   characterised in that
   the lid (15) is provided with an opening lever (3151) and
   that the opening mechanism (26) has a controllable pivoting stop (262), which may be adjusted via a hydraulic piston relative to the opening lever (3151) of the lid (315) in dependence on the angle of rotation of the transport silo (3).
4. Transport mixer according to Claim 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   the controllable stop (262) may be adjusted in three positions:

   - the closed position,

   - the tripping position, and

   - the open position.
5. Transport mixer according to Claim 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the fixed charging hopper (25) is detachably fastened to the frame (2) by means of support arms (24), and that the support arms (24) engage almost positively around the transport silo (3).
6. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the vane height (H1...H5) of the conveyor spiral (311) is constructed to ascend between the end wall (32) facing the drive and the end wall (33) with the discharge channel (332).
7. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the vane height (H1...H5) of the conveyor spiral (311) amounts to

   - a height of approximately 2% of the diameter of the transport silo (3) on the driving side, and

   - a maximum of 20% of this diameter on the discharge side.
8. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   in addition to the transport spiral (311), inwardly mixing profiles (312) are arranged on the inside of the cylinder wall (31) of the transport silo (3).
9. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that
   the discharge channel (332) is placed on the outside of the end wall (33) of the transport silo (3); that on this end wall (33) close to its periphery, the transport silo (3) has a discharge opening (331) to the discharge channel (332), and
   that the conveyor spiral (311) is connected to the end wall (33) of the transport silo (3) at the rear end of the discharge opening (331).
10. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the guide channel (333)

    - has a spiral shape,

    - is connected tangentially to the discharge channel (332), and

    - opens into the side wall of a discharge hopper (334) aligned coaxially to the axis of the transport silo (3).
11. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the end of the water pipe (51) for the cleaning water may be inserted into the discharge hopper (334) from the outside and may be fixed in front of the opening of the guide channel (333).
12. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that
    in the area of the connection between the transport silo (3) and the outer wall of the discharge channel (332), the transport silo (3) is provided with a drive ring (34), to which guide rollers (23) on the frame (2) of the transport mixer are allocated.
13. Transport mixer according to one of Claims 1 to 12,
    characterised in that
    a collecting container (61) is arranged below the discharge hopper (344) at the suction opening of a vane pump (6) for thick material.

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