FR2759621A1 - Mixer bucket for handling vehicle for mixing, transport and distribution of product - Google Patents

Abstract

The bucket, which has fixings (6) for attaching to a vehicle, is in the shape of a trough (2) equipped with a motorised mixing screw (9). It has a grille door (14) pivoted on hinges (15). The door has a locking hook (23) which engages with a gripping part (24) fixed to the door. The hook is installed on an articulation spindle (26) and has a counterweight (27). A projecting rod (28), when in contact with the ground, causes the hook to pivot into the de-activated position and against the counterweight. An elastic traction cable (36) ensures automatic opening of the door when the lock is de-activated.

Description

MIXER BUCKET
The present invention relates to a mixing bucket which, coupled to a handling machine, allows the mixing, transport and distribution of products of all kinds.

 These kneader type buckets are well known, in particular, in the field of public works, for the manufacture and distribution of concrete in particular.

They consist of a trough provided with removable fixing means on the coupling of the handling machine (mast cart, telescopic cart, backhoe ... etc); this trough is equipped with a motorized mixing screw, an unloading hatch arranged at its bottom and a partitioning door which is adapted to close its front opening, in particular to prevent access to the screw mixing when it is in operation. As a general rule, this door is made up of a mesh panel which, even in the closed position, allows water or granular materials (sand, cement, etc.) entering the constitution to be inserted into the bucket. concrete.

On certain state-of-the-art mixing buckets, the shutter door is operated by hand, both during opening and closing. This requires a succession of trips to the driver of the handling machine, or it requires the presence of an additional operator on site.

On other types of buckets, the opening and closing operations of this door are carried out by hydraulic jacks maneuvered from the operating station of the handling machine. It is then necessary to provide an additional hydraulic supply to the bucket and these particular means significantly increase the cost of the equipment.

 The present invention aims to remedy at least in part these various drawbacks and it proposes for this purpose a mixing bucket provided with a door equipped with an original opening control system.

 This mixing bucket is of the type provided with fixing means on the coupling of a handling machine and it is in the form of a trough equipped with a motorized mixing screw and a door, preferably screened, articulated on hinges. According to the invention, this bucket comprises: - means for locking the door in the closed position, - means for deactivating said locking means, when the bucket is in the front digging position, for the nearby loading operation from the ground, and - means capable of ensuring the automatic opening of the door when said locking means are deactivated.

This combination of particular means constitutes a simple intermediate solution between fully automatic or all manual systems of the state of the art.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the mixing bucket comprises: - a hook for locking the door in the closed position, which cooperates with a gripping member integral with this door; this hook is mounted on a hinge pin and it is associated with return means in the active position.

- A projecting member which, when in contact with the ground, is adapted to rotate said hook in the direction of deactivation thereof, against said return means. And, - a permanent reminder system for the door in the open position.

 Preferably, the locking hook, its return means and the projecting deactivation member are arranged on one of the lateral sides of the bucket trough.

 Still according to the invention, the mixing bucket comprises a pivoting locking hook which is associated with return means in the form of a counterweight and a projecting deactivation rod, integral with said counterweight.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the projecting deactivation rod is secured to the counterweight by means of a flexible connecting member of the elastic stud type.

 According to another feature of the invention, the permanent return system of the door in the open position consists of an elastic traction cable, of the bungee cord type.

One end of this elastic traction cable is secured to the bucket trough and its other end is secured to the shutter door. In an advantageous solution, the elastic cable passes through a deflection pulley arranged at the end of an overhanging arm which is disposed near the articulation axis of said door; at its end, this cantilever arm is provided with a stop stop for said door, in the form of a damping pad.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the mixing bucket comprises means in the form of a hydraulic limit switch which are adapted to allow the rotation of the mixing screw only when the door is in the closed position.

 According to another particularity, the bottom of the bucket trough is equipped with a lateral emptying hatch maneuvered by a hydraulic cylinder, and the kneading screw is driven by a hydraulic motor capable of ensuring its rotation in both directions, I one for mixing, the other for emptying through said side hatch. This hydraulic motorization and the hydraulic cylinder are mounted in parallel on the same double-acting hydraulic power supply, and the limit switch device is positioned on the motor supply circuit so as to short-circuit said motorization when the door.

 According to another characteristic, the bucket comprises a coupling support provided with a plurality of connection points which allow adjustment of the inclination of the trough on the handling machine.

 However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'A possible embodiment of the mixing bucket according to the invention, shown in the front digging position for loading, with the door in the raised open position; - Figure 2 shows the same mixing bucket in a vertical station, for manufacturing and / or transporting concrete, for example, with the door in the closed position; - Figure 3 shows the hydraulic diagram of the mixing bucket according to the invention; this diagram shows the simplified supply device for the hydraulic cylinder which allows the operation of the drain flap and the hydraulic motorization of the mixing screw.

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mixing bucket 1 consists of an elongated trough 2 provided with a longitudinal leading edge 2 ′ and an opposite longitudinal edge 2 ″. The gauge 2 is closed laterally by parallel sides 3 and 4. The edges 2 'and 2 "of the trough 2 and those of the sides 3, 4 define an opening 5 of generally rectangular shape which allows the introduction of the materials into the bucket.

 The bucket 1 comprises a support 6 which allows its connection with the coupling of a handling machine, not shown. This coupling support 6 consists of two parallel flanges 7 welded to the body of the trough 2 and on which are arranged the various orifices 8 which allow the connection with the coupling system of the handling machine, by means locking pins.

In the embodiment shown, the support 6 is adapted to be secured to the coupling system at four connection points: two lower points with fixed positioning, by means of the orifices 8 'and two upper points with adjustable positioning, at by means of a set of orifices 8 ". The upper orifices 8", three in number in the example shown, are positioned on a circle centered on the lower orifices 8 '. This feature allows adjustment of the inclination of the bucket relative to the coupling head of the handling machine.

 The support 6 makes it possible to receive different connection systems to adapt to several types of handling equipment (mast cart, telescopic cart, backhoe ...).

 The bottom of the trough 2 is equipped with a longitudinal mixing screw 9 mounted on bearings 10 integral with the sides 3, 4 and driven in rotation by a hydraulic motorization 11. A drain flap 12 is also provided in the bottom of trough 2, at one of its lateral ends; its operation is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder which does not appear in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hydraulic motorization 11 is adapted to allow rotation of the kneading screw 9 in both directions. The structure of this screw 9 is adapted to ensure the mixing of the products, in one direction of rotation, and to direct the mixture obtained towards the drain flap 12, in the other direction of rotation.

 The bucket 1 is also equipped with a door 14 pivotally mounted on hinges 15 and which allows the opening 5 of the trough 2 to be closed.

The hinges 15 are positioned on the longitudinal edge 2 "of the trough, near the coupling support 6. When the bucket is in the loading position, as shown in FIG. 1, the articulation of the door 14 is located on the upper edge of the opening 5.

 The door 14 is in the form of a rectangular metal frame 17 covered by a mesh structure 18. The mesh of the mesh 18 allows the introduction of certain materials constituting the mixture which it is desired to manufacture (for example water, cement or sand), on the other hand, it prevents the passage of the operator's arms and hands to avoid direct access to the mixing screw.

On the external face of the door 14, we notice the presence of two serrated structures 20 which form claws intended to facilitate the opening of the bags of cement, for example.

On the other hand, a side handle 21 allows manual operation of the door 14 and two supports 22 arranged on the leading edge 2 'of the trough 2 form positioning members for said door 14 in the closed position.

 The door 14 is locked in the closed position by means of a hook 23 pivotally mounted on the side 3 of the bucket. The hook 23 cooperates with a projecting finger 24 integral with said door 14 and which forms the gripping member.

 The hook 23 is articulated on an axis 26 which is parallel to the projecting finger 24 and to the articulation axis of the door 14. On the other side of this axis 26, the hook 23 is extended by a counterweight 27 to 1 end of which is fixed a projecting rod 28 which will serve for the automatic unlocking of the hook 23.

The protruding rod 28 is integral with the counterweight 27 by means of an elastic stud 30, made of rubber for example, which forms a flexible connecting member.

 The counterweight 27 has a generally curved shape and it constantly tends to bring the hook 23 back into the active locking position. The angular movement of the hook 23 around the articulation axis 26 is limited by two fixed stops, one lower 32 and the other upper 33. The lower stop 32 is positioned so as to correctly place the hook 23 vis- opposite finger 24, to ensure locking during closing; the upper stop 33 makes it possible to limit the movement of said hook 23 during the unlocking maneuver. In the embodiment shown, the two stops 32 and 33 cooperate directly with the counterweight 27.

 The projecting rod 28 extends in the direction of the wall 34 of the trough 2, which extends the leading edge 2 '. The length of this rod 28 is adapted so that its lower end extends beyond the size of the bucket, and in particular under the wall 34 thereof, when the hook 23 is in the active position of locking. In this way, during the downward movement of the bucket, the rod 28 comes into contact with the ground before the wall 34 and this contact allows the hook 23 to tilt around the articulation axis 26 to ensure its unlocking.

The upper stop 33 is positioned so that the rod 28 can fully retract in the size of the bucket when the wall 34 comes into contact with the ground.

 The shutter door 14 is also associated with means which ensure its permanent return to the open position. These permanent return means consist of an elastic traction cable 36 fixed on the body of the trough 2, at one of its ends, and on the door 14, at its other end.

Between the two, the elastic cable 36 passes through a deflection pulley 37 arranged at the end of a cantilever arm 38. This arm 38 is centered on the length of the trough 2; it is placed near the hinge pin of the door 14, just behind the longitudinal edge 2 "of the trough 2. The arm 38 and the deflection pulley 37 make it possible to limit the tensile force necessary for the opening the door 14.

At the end of the cantilever arm 38, the presence of a shock absorbing pad 39, made of rubber for example, is noted, which forms a stop for the door 14 in the open position.

 In FIG. 2, we also note the presence of a device 40 which is adapted to automatically stop the rotation of the kneading screw 9 as soon as the door 14 opens. This device 40 consists of a hydraulic limit switch or an electrical contactor controlling a hydraulic valve. It is interposed between the trough 2 and the door 14 and it is connected to the hydraulic motor supply circuit so as to short-circuit the hydraulic motorization 11 as soon as the opening movement of the door 14 is initiated. The hydraulic motorization 11 is replenished as soon as the door 14 is completely closed.

 The particular means which have just been described make it possible to obtain an original functioning of the bucket and in particular a semi-automatic maneuver of the door 14, the opening operation taking place itself when the operator of the machine handling equipment places the bucket in the front digging position for loading, and the closing operation is carried out manually.

 The operation of the mixing cup according to the invention will now be described in more detail.

 To load gravel, sand and / or other materials for the production of concrete in particular, the operator of the handling equipment places the bucket in the front digging position, FIG. 1. In the case where door 14 is closed and locked by the hook 23, the rod 28 extends projecting under the wall 34 which then defines the horizontal plate for receiving the materials. During the loading movement, the rod 28 comes into contact with the ground before the bucket 1 and this contact pivots the counterweight 27 and the hook 23 about the articulation axis 26. The finger 24 being released, the door 14 opens automatically under the effect of the traction cable 36 and it is positioned against the locking stop 39.

 The rubber pad 30 which forms a flexible and elastic connecting member between the rod 28 and the counterweight 27 allows the unlocking system to function correctly even if the downward movement of the bucket is not performed linearly.

 The material loading operation is carried out in a traditional manner at the level of the leading edge 2 ′ by movements of forward and backward movement of the bucket against the ground or slightly above the ground.

As the rod 28 is movable between the two stops 32 and 33, and also vis-à-vis the counterweight 27 by means of the elastic stud 30, the movements of the bucket are in no way hampered and they do not deteriorate said rod either 28.

During the loading operation, the door 14 being open, the device 40 prevents actuation of the kneading screw 9.

 After loading, the bucket 1 is placed in a vertical position, FIG. 2, and the door 14 is closed manually by means of the handle 21; the deactivation rod 28 then naturally departs from the ground.

At the end of the closing movement, the finger 24 comes to press on the end of the hook 23 positioned correctly by the stop 32. This pressing causes the hook 23 to retract then its locked positioning on the finger 24 by the action of the counterweight 27 .

 Also, at the end of the closing movement, the device 40 authorizes the operation of the kneading screw 9.

 Complementary materials such as cement and water can be introduced through the screen structure 18 for the production of concrete. When it is ready, it can be distributed by the hatch 12 operated by its hydraulic cylinder controlled from the driving position.

 This distribution maneuver is carried out by reversing the direction of rotation of the kneading screw 9. After complete evacuation of the material mixture, the distribution flap 12 is closed and the bucket is ready for another manufacturing cycle.

 The motorization 11 which drives the kneading screw 9 and the control cylinder of the distribution hatch 12 are advantageously arranged on a common hydraulic circuit shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. In this diagram, it can be seen that the hydraulic cylinder 42 which controls the hatch 12 is connected to the double-acting hydraulic outlet 43 by means of a first pipe 44 connected to the rod-side chamber and by a second pipe 45 connected to the other chamber. The hydraulic motor 11 is supplied in parallel by a first pipe 46 connected to the pipe 44 and by a second pipe 47 connected to the pipe 45.

 In FIG. 3, the presence of the hydraulic end-of-travel device 40 positioned on the motor supply circuit 46, 47 is also noted, so as to short-circuit the motorization II when the bucket door opens. We also note the presence of sequence valves 48 on each pipe 46, 47 supplying the motorization 11, associated with non-return valves 49.

The hydraulic outlet 43 comes from the hydraulic pump of the handling machine.

 In this way, in a feeding direction, the motorization It drives the kneading screw 9 to stir the products introduced into the bucket. For its part, the jack 42 closes the distribution hatch 12.

In the other feeding direction, the jack 42 opens the hatch 12 and the motorization 11 actuates the screw 9 to ensure the lateral distribution of the concrete.

 The sequence valves 48 allow actuation of the jack 42 independently of the operating configuration of the motorization 11.

In particular, they provide the possibility of operating the jack 42 even if the bucket is empty. The valves 48 can for example be adjusted to 70 bars.

Claims (10)

- CLAIMS  1.- Mixing bucket provided with fixing means (6) on the coupling of a handling machine, which bucket is in the form of a trough (2) equipped with a motorized mixing screw (9) and a door (14) preferably screened, articulated on hinges (15), characterized in that it comprises - means (23, 24) for locking the door (14) in the closed position, - means (28) for deactivation of said locking means (23, 24), when the bucket is in the front digging position, for the loading operation close to the ground, and - means (36) capable of ensuring the automatic opening of said door ( 14) when said locking means (23, 24) are deactivated.  2.- mixing bucket according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: - a hook (23) for locking the door (14) in the closed position which cooperates with a gripping member (24) integral with said door (14), which hook (23) is mounted on a hinge pin (26) and is associated with return means in the active position (27), - a projecting member (28) which, when in contact with the floor, is adapted to pivot said hook (23) in the direction of deactivation thereof, against said return means (27), and - a permanent return system (36) of the door (14) in the open position.  3.- mixing bucket according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking hook (23), its return means (27) and the projecting deactivation member (28) are arranged on one of the lateral sides ( 3) from the trough (2).  4.- mixing bucket according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a pivoting locking hook (23) associated with return means in the form of counterweight (27) and a projecting rod ( 28) deactivation integral with said counterweight (27).  5.- mixing bucket according to claim 4, characterized in that the projecting rod (28) is integral with the counterweight (27) via a flexible connecting member of the elastic stud type (30).  6.- mixing bucket according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the permanent return system of the door (14) in the open position consists of an elastic traction cable (36).  7.- mixing bucket according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an elastic traction cable (36), one of the ends of which is secured to the trough (2) and the other end of which is secured to the door (14), which elastic cable (36) passes through a deflection pulley (37) arranged at the end of a cantilever arm (38) which is disposed near the axis of articulation of said door (14), which arm (38) is provided, at its end also, with a stop stop for said door (14), in the form of a damping pad (39).  8.- mixing bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises means (40) adapted to authorize the rotation of the mixing screw (9) only when the door (14) is in closed position.  9.- mixing bucket according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottom of the trough (2) is equipped with a lateral distribution hatch (12) operated by a hydraulic cylinder (42) and in that the screw mixing (9) is driven by a hydraulic motor (11) able to rotate in both directions, one for mixing, the other for emptying by the side flap (12), said motor ( 11) and said hydraulic cylinder (42) being mounted in parallel on the same double-acting hydraulic supply (43), and the means (40) in the form of a hydraulic limit switch being positioned on the motor supply circuit (46, 47 ) so as to short-circuit said motorization (11) when the door (14) is opened.  10.- mixing bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a coupling support (6) provided with a plurality of connection points (8 ") allowing adjustment of the inclination of the trough (2) on the handling machine.