GB2108002A

GB2108002A - A mixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2108002A
Application number: GB08130763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Doyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-12
Filing date: 1981-10-12
Publication date: 1983-05-11
Also published as: GB2108002B

Abstract

A mixing drum 20 having a spindle 23 is mounted by means of end bracket 31 and side brackets 32 (33, Fig. 2 not shown) on a wheelbarrow 10, the side brackets carrying wheels (34) or rollers to permit rotation of the drum. The drum is turned by means of depressions 26 and/or by a nut 24 on the spindle. The upper end of end bracket 31 is bifurcated to support spindle 23 and is bent away from the drum to engage nut 24 to prevent topping of the drum when the wheelbarrow is tipped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mixing device The present invention relates to a mixing device and more particularly to a mobile mixing device which comprises mixing means mounted on a conventional wheelbarrow. The mixing device is particularly suitable for small batches of concrete or cement.

At present small batches of concrete or other material are mixed by hand tools or by stationary mixing machines and then transferred to a wheelbarrow for transport to the point of use.

Hand mixing is relatively inefficient and the use of a stationary mixing machine involves considerable expense. Alternatively a small mobile mixing machine may be used to accomplish both mixing and transport but again these are rather costly and may be difficult to manoeuvre to the point of use.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixing device comprising a mixing drum which has a closed end and an open end, the closed end having axial bearing means, a wheelbarrow, and means for supporting the drum on the wheelbarrow, the supporting means comprising a first means for supporting the axial bearing means of the drum, and further means incorporating wheels and/or rollers for supporting the sides of the drum.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for converting a wheelbarrow into a mixing device comprising a mixing drum, which has a closed end and an open end, the closed end having axial bearing means, first support means which is arranged to be mounted on the wheelbarrow to support the axial bearing means of the drum, and further support means which is arranged to be mounted on the wheelbarrow and has wheels and/or rollers to support the sides of the drum.

The further support means preferably comprises two separate support elements each arranged to be mounted on a a respective side edge of the wheelbarrow.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a mixing device in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1 with the mixing drum removed.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a conventional wheelbarrow 10 having handles 11 and a wheel 12. Mounted in wheelbarrow 10 is a mixing drum 20 having an open end 21 and a closed end 22. Projecting from the centre of the closed end is an axial spindle 23 by means of which the drum may be rotated. The spindle has a hexagonal nut 24 or other shaped head so that the drum may be rotated by a conventional wheel brace or other tool (not shown). Spaced at suitable intervals around the periphery of the drum are depressions 26 by means of which the drum may be alternatively manually rotated.

The drum is mounted in the wheelbarrow by means of three brackets 31, 32, 33 which clip over the edge of the wheelbarrow. Bracket 31 is positioned at the end of the wheelbarrow adjacent handles 11 and is bifurcated at its upper end to receive and support spindle 23.

The upper end of r' e bracket is bent backwards away from the drum 20. Thus when the wheelbarrow is being tipped to pour cement or concrete from the open end 21 of the drum, any tendency for the drum to topple over is stopped by an enlargement or nut 24 engaging the bent over end of the bifurcated part. Nut 24 also restricts sliding of the drum 20 relative to the wheelbarrow.

Each of brackets 32, 33 clips over a respective side edge of the hopper of the wheelbarrow and comprises a wheel 34 the axis of which is parallel to the axis of drum 20. The bracl < ets 32, 33 are readily movable to any desired position along the length of the drum.

The drum 20 and brackets 31 to 33 are preferably moulded from polymeric plastics material.

To convert a wheelbarrow to a mixing device it is merely necessary to place brackets 31 to 33 in position and then to place drum 20 on the brackets. In use, the materials to be mixed are piaced in the open end of the drum, which is then rotated, by means of spindle 23 or depressions 26. Wheels 34 also rotate to permit smooth guided rotation of the periphery of the drum, without it fouling the structure of the wheelbarrow.

When mixing is completed the wheelbarrow is then wheeled to one or more desired points of use, and the contents of the drum are discharged by tipping the wheelbarrow forwards in the usual way. The bearing support 23, 31 is constructed in such a way that the drum will not fall from the wheelbarrow during discharge. In addition the drum 20 is shaped so that it fits into the hopper of wheelbarrow in such a way that the centre of gravity of the loaded drum is as low as practicable.

This facilitates easy movement of the mixing device from place to place.

If desired the mixing device may be constructed so that the drum may be hoisted away from the wheelbarrow without difficulty. This is advantageous when a crane is used to convey mixed materials from ground level to an upper storey. In this case nut 24, if provided, is arranged so as not to foul the bifurcated end of bracket 31 as the drum rises.

The above-described arrangement provides a device capable of the efficient mixing and transport small batches of material without the need for expensive mixing equipment. An ordinary wheelbarrow is simply adapted to perform both functions, and the drum and support brackets are easily removed so that the barrow may return to its original function. Furthermore the drum of the device is so mounted that it does not fall from the wheelbarrow when its contents are being discharged. Moreover, such discharge is achieved without spillage of the contents into the hopper of the wheelbarrow.

Numerous modifications may be made to the mixing device described above. For example although the brackets have been disclosed as resting on the edges of the hopper of the wheelbarrow it is possible for bracket 31 to be supported by one of the handles 11 or by a crossmember (not shown) extending between the handles. Furthermore brackets 32, 33 could be replaced by a supporting cradle or other framework resting on the bottom of the hopper of the wheelbarrow and having wheels 34 for engaging the sides of the drum.

The brackets 31, 32, 33 or other support means may be adjustable in height to cater for a range of sizes of drums 20 and wheelbarrow 10.

Also the wheels 34 may be adjustable in a horizontal direction towards and away from the longitudinal axis of the wheelbarrow to cater for drums of differing sizes. The axes of the wheels may also be rotatable to permit the circumferences of the wheels to firmly engage the sloping side surfaces of each of a plurality of different drums. In addition there may be a plurality of wheels along each side of the wheelbarrow, the wheels being mounted on a common support or on separate supports.

Furthermore the wheels may be replaced or supplemented by rollers or ball-bearing supports.

Instead of being bifurcated the bracket 31 may have an aperture spaced from its end, through which the spindle 23 passes.

For ease of location and removal, the brackets 31, 32, 33 may be clipped to the wheelbarrow 10.

To withstand violent movement of the mixing device it may be desirable to render the attachment of the bracket more secure, e.g. by screw clamps etc.

Since either nut 24 or depression 26 may be used to rotate the drum, one of these features may be omitted. The depressions 26 may be replaced or supplemented by other manual grips such as protruding handles, or vanes or plates (not shown). The formations moulded in as hand-grips may additionally within the drum aet as vanes for assisting the mixing process. Such formations may therefore be directed helically. If desired a motor drive may be connected to nut 24.

Claims

1. A mixing device comprising a mixing drum which has a closed end and an open end, the closed end having axial bearing means, a wheelbarrow, and means for supporting the drum on the wheelbarrow, the supporting means comprising a first means for supporting the axial bearing means of the drum, and further meons for supporting the sides of the drum, the drum being rotatable relative to the further supporting means.

2. A mixing device according to claim 1 wherein said further supporting means comprises wheels and/or rollers.

3. A mixing device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said further supporting means comprises two separate support elements, each mounted on a respective side edge of the wheelbarrow.

4. A mixing device according to any preceding claim wherein the first supporting means comprises a bracket having a bifurcated end for supporting the axial bearing means of the drum.

5. A mixing device according to claim 4 wherein the bifurcated end of the bracket is bent away from the drum.

6. A mixing device according to any preceding claim wherein the axial bearing means of the drum is a spindle with a nut at its end remote from the drum.

7. A mixing device according to any preceding claim wherein the periphery of the drum is provided with manual engagement means.

8. A mixing device according to claim 7 wherein the manual engagement means comprises a plurality of depressions.

9. A mixing device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A kit of parts for converting a wheelbarrow into a mixing device comprising a mixing drum, which has a closed end and an open end, the closed end having axial bearing means, first support means which is arranged to be mounted on the wheelbarrow to support the axial bearing means of the drum, and further support means which is arranged to be mounted on the wheelbarrow and has wheels and/or rollers to support the sides of the drum.