Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/30—Conveying materials in bulk through pipes or tubes by liquid pressure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/34—Details
  • B65G53/36—Arrangements of containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/34—Details
  • B65G53/40—Feeding or discharging devices
  • B65G53/46—Gates or sluices, e.g. rotary wheels
  • B65G53/4691—Gates or sluices, e.g. rotary wheels of air-lock type, i.e. at least two valves opening asynchronously
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/34—Details
  • B65G53/40—Feeding or discharging devices
  • B65G53/48—Screws or like rotary conveyors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/34—Details
  • B65G53/60—Devices for separating the materials from propellant gas
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D3/00—Improving or preserving soil or rock, e.g. preserving permafrost soil
  • E02D3/02—Improving by compacting
  • E02D3/08—Improving by compacting by inserting stones or lost bodies, e.g. compaction piles
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D3/00—Improving or preserving soil or rock, e.g. preserving permafrost soil
  • E02D3/12—Consolidating by placing solidifying or pore-filling substances in the soil

Definitions

• the present invention relates to construction industry, in particular to underground construction.
• the present invention is aimed at transporting construction aggregate material such as gravel to a specific location effectively and inexpensively, while reducing or avoiding damage to the area of the construction site.
• a first aspect relates to a double lock aggregate mixer that includes: an upper tank including an inlet opening for receiving a construction aggregate; a lower tank arranged below the upper tank and including an inlet port for receiving a fluid (i.e. a liquid, e.g. water, or a gas, e.g. air) and an outlet port for releasing a mixture of the construction aggregate and the fluid; an upper lock configured to open and close the inlet opening of the upper tank; and a lower lock arranged between the upper tank and the lower tank and configured to open and close a passage between the upper tank and the lower tank.
• a fluid i.e. a liquid, e.g. water, or a gas, e.g. air
• an upper lock configured to open and close the inlet opening of the upper tank
• a lower lock arranged between the upper tank and the lower tank and configured to open and close a passage between the upper tank and the lower tank.
• a second aspect relates to an aggregate transport system that includes a double lock aggregate mixer according to the first aspect, and a fluid pump coupled to the inlet port of the lower tank.
• the fluid pump e.g. a fluid pump or a gas pump; the latter may also be referred to as “compressor”
• compressor is configured to pump a fluid via the inlet port of the lower tank into the lower tank.
• a third aspect relates to a method for operating a double lock aggregate mixer according to the first aspect.
• the method includes: continuously pumping a fluid via the inlet port of the lower tank into the lower tank; cyclically opening and closing the upper lock and the lower lock such that each time the upper lock is open, a construction aggregate enters the upper tank via the open upper lock and the inlet opening of the upper tank; each time the lower lock is open, at least a part of the construction aggregate contained in the upper tank enters the lower tank via the open lower lock and mixes with the fluid in the lower tank such that an aggregate-fluid-mixture is formed; wherein the aggregate-fluid-mixture formed in the lower tank is pressed out of the lower tank through the outlet port due to a pressure generated in the lower tank by the fluid pumped by the fluid pump fluid into the lower tank.
• a fourth aspect relates to a method for operating an aggregate transport system according to the second aspect.
• the method includes: providing an aggregate transport system according to the second aspect and operating the double lock aggregate mixer according to the method of the third aspect.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a construction site with a plant for the production of stone columns.
• FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer that may be used in the plant for the production of stone columns shown in FIG. 1, with two locks of the double lock aggregate mixer being in a first state.
• FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the double lock aggregate mixer of FIG. 2A with the two locks being in a second state different from the first state.
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer that may be used in the plant for the production of stone columns shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer that may be used in the plant for the production of stone columns shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer that may be used in the plant for the production of stone columns shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 6A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of a rig used in the plant for the production of stone columns shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 6B schematically illustrates a more detailed cross-sectional view of a hopper shown in FIG. 6A.
• FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a two-stage system for conveying a construction aggregate.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a construction site with a plant for the production of construction aggregate columns 13 like stone columns made from a suitable construction aggregate using a construction aggregate column rig 16.
• construction aggregate refers to any or any combination of medium- to coarse-grained particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates.
• the construction aggregate is briefly also referred to as “aggregate”.
• the plant further includes a crane 1 located at a safe distance from of the reach of the possible slope failure 14, and the rig 16 is suspended from the crane 1 in a region of an aggregate column 13 to be produced.
• the aggregate is delivered to the rig 16 using a fluid pump 3 in combination with a double lock aggregate mixer (in the following simply referred to as “aggregate mixer”) 2 and an aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 that bridges the area of the possible slope failure 14.
• the aggregate mixer 2 is placed at a safe distance from the area of the possible slope failure 14.
• the (high-volume) fluid pump 3 is, via a fluid supply hose 4, in fluid connection with the aggregate mixer 2 and pumps a fluid, e.g. water, through the fluid supply hose 4 into the aggregate mixer 2.
• a fluid e.g. water
• the fluid is mixed with aggregate and flows, mixed with the aggregate, via the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 to a hopper 6 of the rig 16.
• the aggregate and the fluid are separated from one another.
• the fluid is a liquid
• the majority of the liquid that was needed to pump the aggregate from the aggregate mixer 2 to the hopper 6 is now discharged from the hopper 6 through a feedback hose 15 back to the fluid pump 3 which in this case is a liquid pump, so that the liquid can be used again to transport a further amount of aggregate from the aggregate mixer 2 to the rig 16.
• the fluid pump 3 which in this case is a liquid pump
• the majority of the liquid may be recycled.
• this saves costs, and on the other hand, the soil is softened less, thus avoiding an increase in the risk of landslides occurring.
• two or more feedback hoses 15 connected in parallel may also be used.
• the feedback hose(s) 15 may enter into a buffer tank (here not shown) before the liquid is fed back into the pumping cycle to the liquid pump 3.
• a buffer tank may also have the purpose of separating the returning water from any sand and mud that could harm the liquid pump 3.
• the feedback hose 15 is shown as in part hanging from the crane boom. However, this is not required.
• the feedback hose(s) 15 may also just lay on the ground.
• FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first one of several embodiments of a double lock aggregate mixer 2 that may be used as the double lock aggregate mixer 2 shown in FIG. 1.
• the double lock aggregate mixers described herein have the advantage that the aggregate mixing can be continuous and does not have to be interrupted to refill aggregate. Not interrupting such aggregate flow means a huge time saving of almost 50% of the process time required in connection with conventional aggregate mixers.
• the aggregate mixer 2 may include an optional hopper 28, an upper lock 26, an upper tank 23, a lower lock 27, a lower tank 22 and an optional throughput adjusting means 25.
• the hopper 28 is arranged above the upper tank 23 and the upper tank 23 is arranged above the lower tank 22.
• the upper lock 26 is configured to open and close an inlet opening 230 of the upper tank 23 and the lower lock 27 is configured to open and close a passage between the upper tank 23 and the lower tank 22.
• the inlet opening 230 may be arranged at the top side of the upper tank 23.
• the upper lock 26 is also configured to open and close a passage between the hopper 28 and the upper tank 23.
• the inlet opening 230 of the upper tank 23 serves to receive the aggregate 29, so that the upper container 23 is filled with the aggregate 29 provided that the upper lock 26 is open.
• the aggregate 29 is supplied to the inlet opening 230 via the hopper 28, which, optionally, may be part of the aggregate mixer 2. From time to time, the hopper 28 may be refilled with aggregate by a wheel loader so that, in ideal circumstances, there is always aggregate in the hopper 28.
• the aggregate 29 may be supplied to the inlet opening 230, and, therefore, to the upper tank 23 in any other manner.
• the aggregate 29 may be stored in a large storage tank (not illustrated) arranged above the inlet opening 230 and be released from the large storage tank into the upper tank 23 via the inlet opening 230.
• the volume of the large tank may be a multiple of the volume of the upper tank 23.
• the hopper 28 may be filled with aggregate 29.
• aggregate 29 can fall from the hopper 28 into the upper tank 23, and by opening the lower lock 27, aggregate 29 can get from the upper tank 23 into the lower tank 22.
• the lower lock 27 is closed.
• the aggregate 29 in the lower tank 22 mixes with the fluid, e.g. water or air, flowing into the lower tank 22 from the fluid supply hose 4 and, together with the fluid, is introduced through the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 into a hopper 6 located at the rig 16 (FIG. 1).
• the upper tank 23 may be refilled with aggregate 29 falling down from the hopper 28 through the upper lock 26, if the upper lock 26 is open.
• the locks 26, 27 are in the opposite positions, i.e., the upper lock 26 is closed and the lower lock 27 is open. Since the lower lock 27 is open, aggregate 29 can get from the upper tank 23 into the lower tank 22. Also in this state, the aggregate 29 in the lower tank 22 mixes with the fluid flowing into the lower tank 22 from the fluid supply hose 4 and, together with the fluid, is introduced through the aggregate- fluid-mixture transport hose 5 into the hopper 6 (FIG. 1). Since the upper lock 26 is closed, also in this state there is pressure in the lower tank 22 sufficient to convey the aggregate-fluid-mixture contained in the lower tank 22 through the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 to the hopper 6.
• the plant may be configured such that when at least one of the upper lock 26 and the lower lock 27 is closed, a fluid supplied to the lower tank 22 via the inlet port 221 may cause a pressure to build up in the lower tank 22 which at any time during operation of the plant may be, without being restricted to, at least 3 bar, e.g. in a range from 3 bar to 6 bar.
• the flow of the aggregate- fluid-mixture in the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 can be maintained uninterrupted.
• Operating the upper lock 26 and the lower lock 27 in the described manner may take place using a controller 7 that is electrically coupled to both the upper lock 26 and the lower lock 27.
• the controller 7 may be part of the aggregate mixer 2 or be separate therefrom.
• the flow of aggregate from the upper tank 23 to the lower tank 22 and thereby the ratio of water to aggregate in the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5 may be controlled (e.g. limited) by adjusting a throughput adjusting means 25 configured to adjust the throughput rate of aggregate 29 getting from the upper tank 23 down to the lower tank 22.
• the throughput adjusting means 25 may include a screw conveyor 251 and a variable speed motor 252 coupled to the screw conveyor 251 and configured to rotate the screw conveyor 251 at a desired, adjustable rotational speed such that aggregate 29 is conveyed from the upper tank 23 via the rotating screw conveyor 251 into the lower tank 23 at an adjustable rate that depends on the rotational speed of the screw conveyor 251.
• such throughput adjusting means 25 is not a necessary component of the double lock aggregate mixer 2 and, therefore, may be omitted. However, it may be advantageous to prevent clogging of the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5.
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer 2 that may be used as the double lock aggregate mixer 2 shown in FIG. 1.
• the upper tank 23 is formed like a pressurized channel, and the screw conveyor 251 is much longer and/or much larger in diameter. Due to the channel-shape of the upper tank 23, the mixer can be manufactured more easily.
• the operating principle of the aggregate mixer 2 may be the same as described with reference to FIGS. 2 A and 2B.
• FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer 2 that may be used in lieu of the double lock aggregate mixer 2 shown in FIG. 1.
• the throughput adjusting means 25 may include a cone valve 32 or any other flow restrictor that can be more or less closed depending on the desired throughput rate of aggregate 29 from the upper tank 23 to the lower tank 22.
• the shape of the upper tank 23 can be freely selected.
• the upper tank 23 can have a bulbous shape, as shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B, or a channel shape, as shown in FIG. 3.
• the operating principle of the aggregate mixer 2 may be the same as described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
• FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a double lock aggregate mixer 2 that may be used in lieu of the double lock aggregate mixer 2 shown in FIG. 1.
• the throughput is not limited by reducing the downward flow by means as per FIGS. 3 and 4 but in this fourth embodiment a piston 301 controlled by a stick 300 may be pressed with force downward in the upper tank 23 (which in the present embodiment, without being restricted to, is cylindrically shaped) to force more of the aggregate downward into the lower tank 22 as otherwise would flow down by gravity alone.
• the piston 301 may have small holes in driving direction of the piston 301 to let fluid pass through but no aggregate.
• FIGS. 6A and 6B the principle of separating liquid used as the fluid from the aggregate-fluid-mixture (which in this case is an aggregate-liquid-mixture) at the rig 16 and feeding back the separated fluid to the fluid pump 3 (which in this case is a liquid pump) will be explained in more detail.
• FIG. 6A shows an upper section of the rig 16 illustrated in FIG. 1, and
• FIG. 6B shows the hopper 6 in more detail.
• the aggregate-liquid-mixture flowing through the aggregate-liquid-mixture transport hose 5 is fed into the hopper 6 through the inlet opening 63 (FIG. 6B) of the hopper 6.
• the inlet opening 63 FIG. 6B
• the hopper 6 may have a double wall 61, 62 formed from an outer wall 61 and an inner wall 62.
• the inner wall 62 is formed as a screen 31 with screen openings 30.
• the openings 30 of the screen 31 are shaped so that the aggregate 29 contained in the aggregate-liquid mixture does not substantially pass through the openings 30, but is retained by the screen 31 and exits through the outlet opening 64 of the hopper 6 so that it may be used in the further construction process like, but without being restricted to, the production of aggregate columns 13.
• each feedback hose 15 may be in fluid connection with both the gap 60 and, directly or (e.g. via a buffer tank as described with reference to FIG. 1) indirectly, the liquid pump 3.
• the design of the screen 31 is basically arbitrary.
• it can be formed as a mesh 31 known from sieves (e.g. woven wires, woven metal stripes, etc.), or just metal plates with holes drilled or stamped into it which have a size smaller than the aggregate to be retained by the screen 31.
• such a hopper 6 configured to separate a liquid contained in a mixture of construction aggregate and a liquid from the construction aggregate contained in the mixture is not restricted to the production of construction aggregate columns but may be used in any other construction technique. Particularly, there is no requirement to operate such a hopper 6 in connection with a double lock aggregate mixer.
• the aggregate-fluid-mixture may be desirable to convey to great heights, such as in the manufacture of deep aggregate columns 13, which requires the hopper 6 to be at a great height above the ground level 100. If the great height exceeds the height achievable with commercially viable fluid pumps or exceeds the height for the capacity of a conventional aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose (it is sensible to limit the aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose pressure to some value around a maximum of 8 bar), then a further double action aggregate mixer, possibly together with a further fluid pump, may be suspended, e.g. approximately half way up the crane boom, e.g. from a second crane wire rope. An example for such an installation will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. In order to simplify the drawing, only the most essential elements are shown. Other elements, such as the crane, the fastening ropes for the pumps and aggregate mixers, etc., are omitted.
• the plant illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a first conveying stage and a second conveying stage which is, relative to the first conveying stage, placed at an elevated position.
• the first conveying stage conveys a construction aggregate to the second conveying stage which is, relative to the first conveying stage, located at an elevated position.
• the second conveying stage conveys the construction aggregate to an elevated position (in the present example, but without being restricted to, a hopper 6) relative to the second conveying stage.
• the first conveying stage includes a (first) fluid pump 3, a (first) aggregate mixer 2, a (first) fluid supply hose 4, and at least one (first) feedback hose 15, and the second conveying stage includes a further (second) fluid pump 3’, a further (second) aggregate mixer 2’, a further (second) fluid supply hose 4’, and at least one further (second) feedback hose 15’.
• the (first) aggregate mixer 2 includes a (first) upper tank 23, a (first) lower tank 22, a (first) upper lock 26, a (first) lower lock 27 and a (first) hopper 28.
• the further (second) aggregate mixer 2’ includes a further (second) upper tank 23’, a further (second) lower tank 22’, a further (second) upper lock 26’, a further (second) lower lock 27’ and a further (second) hopper 28’.
• the components of the first conveying stage may operate in the same way as the corresponding elements described with reference to the previous figures.
• the aggregate-fluid-mixture generated in the first aggregate mixer 2 is conveyed through the first aggregate- fluid mixture transport hose 5 into the second hopper 28’.
• the second hopper 28’ may be designed according to the principle described with reference to the hopper 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6A and 6B, so that the majority of the liquid contained in the aggregate-liquid mixture can be separated from the aggregate contained in the aggregate-liquid mixture and fed back to the first pump 3 via the at least one first feedback hose 15.
• the second conveying stage may operate in the same way as the corresponding elements described with reference to the previous figures with the difference that the second conveying stage is at an elevated position and, if the fluid is a liquid, that the aggregate received by the second hopper 28’ may include some liquid.
• the elements of the second conveying stage are designated by the same reference numerals but with an added single prime (‘).
• the first conveying stage (including the first fluid pump 3 and the first aggregate mixer 2) standing on the ground 100 may convey an aggregate-fluid mixture into the second hopper 28’ of the second aggregate mixer 2’ (being in an elevated position above the ground 100, e.g. in mid-air suspended from the boom of the crane 1 (FIG. 1)) of the second conveying stage.
• the second aggregate-fluid-mixture transport hose 5’ conveys the aggregate- fluid-mixture generated in the second aggregate mixer 2’ into the hopper 6 at the rig 16, where, if the fluid is a liquid, the majority of the liquid contained in the aggregate-liquid- mixture is separated from the aggregate contained in the aggregate-liquid-mixture and fed back to the second pump 3’ via the at least one second feedback hose 15’.
• the liquid fed back to the second pump 3’ may be recycled, i.e. supplied to the second aggregate mixer 2’ via the second liquid supply hose 4’.
• the first feedback hose(s) 15 may be omitted and if the fluid of the second stage is a gas, the second feedback hose(s) 15’ may be omitted.
• the second fluid pump 3’ has been described to be located at an elevated position relative to the first conveyer.
• the position is arbitrary.
• the second fluid pump 3’ may also be placed on or close to the ground 100 since pumping just a fluid (i.e. without aggregate) to great heights is unproblematic.
• hoses are used in order to convey the fluid, the aggregate or the aggregate-fluid-mixture.
• these hoses are only an example. Instead, any suitable type of conduit such as rigid pipes or rigid pipes in combination with flexible hoses may be used.
• a double lock aggregate mixer including: an upper tank including an inlet opening for receiving a construction aggregate; a lower tank arranged below the upper tank and comprising an inlet port for receiving a fluid and an outlet port for releasing a mixture of the construction aggregate and the fluid; an upper lock configured to open and close the inlet opening of the upper tank; and a lower lock arranged between the upper tank and the lower tank and configured to open and close a passage between the upper tank and the lower tank.
• Example 2 The double lock aggregate mixer according to example 1 configured to operate the upper lock and the lower lock such that, at any time during the operation of the double lock aggregate mixer, at least one of the upper lock and the lower lock is closed.
• Example 3 The double lock aggregate mixer according to example 2 including a controller configured to operate the upper lock and the lower lock such that, at any time during the operation of the double lock aggregate mixer, at least one of the upper lock and the lower lock is closed.
• Example 4 The double lock aggregate mixer according to any one of the preceding examples including a throughput adjusting means configured to adjust a throughput rate of the construction aggregate fed from the upper tank down to the lower tank.
• Example 5 The double lock aggregate mixer according to example 4, wherein the throughput adjusting means includes a screw conveyor or a cone valve.
• Example 6 An aggregate transport system including a double lock aggregate mixer according to any one of the preceding examples; and a fluid pump coupled to the inlet port of the lower tank and configured to pump a fluid via the inlet port of the lower tank into the lower tank.
• Example 7 The aggregate transport system according to example 6, wherein the fluid pump is configured to produce in a state, in which at least one of the upper lock and the lower lock is closed, a pressure 3 bar.
• Example 8 The aggregate transport system according to one of examples 7 or 8, further including: a further double lock aggregate mixer according to any one of examples 1 to 5 located in an elevated position with respect to the double lock aggregate mixer; and a further fluid pump coupled to the inlet port of the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer and configured to pump a fluid via the inlet port of the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer into the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer.
• Example 9 The aggregate transport system according to example 8 configured to: generate an aggregate-fluid-mixture in the lower tank of the double lock aggregate mixer and convey the aggregate-fluid-mixture via the outlet port of the lower tank of the double lock aggregate mixer to the further double lock aggregate mixer; generate an aggregate-fluid-mixture in the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer using the construction aggregate contained in the aggregate-fluid-mixture received by the further double lock aggregate mixer and convey the aggregate-fluid-mixture generated in the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer via the outlet port of the lower tank of the further double lock aggregate mixer to an elevated position with respect to the further double lock aggregate mixer.
• Example 10 A method for operating a double lock aggregate mixer according to one of examples 1 to 5. The method includes: continuously pumping a fluid via the inlet port of the lower tank into the lower tank; cyclically opening and closing the upper lock and the lower lock such that each time the upper lock is open, a construction aggregate enters the upper tank via the open upper lock and the inlet opening of the upper tank; each time the lower lock is open, at least a part of the construction aggregate contained in the upper tank enters the lower tank via the open lower lock and mixes with the fluid in the lower tank such that an aggregate-fluid-mixture is formed; wherein the aggregate-fluid-mixture formed in the lower tank is pressed out of the lower tank through the outlet port due to a pressure generated in the lower tank by the fluid pumped by the fluid pump into the lower tank.
• Example 11 A method for operating an aggregate transport system. The method includes: providing an aggregate transport system according to one of examples 6 to 9; operating the double lock aggregate mixer according to the method of example 10.
• a two-stage aggregate transport system including: a first aggregate mixer configured to: receive both a fluid from a first fluid pump and a construction aggregate; and produce a first mixture containing the construction aggregate and the fluid received from the first fluid pump; a second aggregate mixer located at an elevated position with respect to the first aggregate mixer, the second aggregate mixer configured to: receive both a fluid from a second fluid pump and the first mixture; and produce a second mixture containing the construction aggregate contained in the first mixture and the fluid received from the second fluid pump; and a conduit configured to receive the second mixture from the second aggregate mixer and to release the second mixture at an elevated position with respect to the first aggregate mixer.
• the first aggregate mixer and/or the second aggregate mixers may be double lock aggregate mixers, but are not required to.
• Example 13 A hopper including: an outer wall; an inner wall formed as a screen comprising screen openings; and a gap formed between the outer wall and the inner wall.
• the screen is configured to retain solid material contained in a mixture of solid material contained and a liquid.
• the hopper includes a first outlet coupled to the gap in order to allow for a part of the liquid entering the gap through the screen openings to exit the gap via the first outlet.
• the hopper further includes a second outlet configured to release the retained solid material.
• An aggregate transport system including: an aggregate mixer configured to receive both a liquid from a liquid pump and a construction aggregate and to produce an aggregate- liquid-mixture containing the construction aggregate and the liquid received from the liquid pump; and a hopper according to example 13 located at an elevated position with respect to the aggregate mixer.
• the aggregate transport system is configured to convey the aggregate-liquid- mixture into the hopper such that the majority of the construction aggregate contained in the aggregate-liquid-mixture is retained by the screen and that at least a part of the liquid contained in the aggregate-liquid-mixture enters the gap via the screen openings and is feedback to the liquid pump.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Paleontology (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Preparation Of Clay, And Manufacture Of Mixtures Containing Clay Or Cement (AREA)
• Road Paving Machines (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-22 WO PCT/EP2021/079350 patent/WO2022084510A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2021-10-22 EP EP21801045.2A patent/EP4232385A1/en active Pending
  • 2021-10-22 CN CN202180085549.3A patent/CN116648415A/zh active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-04-21 CL CL2023001152A patent/CL2023001152A1/es unknown

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