GB2239817A

GB2239817A - Mobile mixer

Info

Publication number: GB2239817A
Application number: GB9008679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Edward George Bookless
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-12
Filing date: 1990-04-18
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-18
Also published as: GB9008679D0; GB2239817B; GB9000762D0

Abstract

A mixer, particularly for cement, comprises a cylindrical drum 1 which may be rolled along the ground using a handle 6. Contents are removed through an opening closable by a flap 7. The interior of the drum is provided with vanes or fins 9. The drum may be provided with tyres. The mixer may also serve as a garden roller containing water and pesticide which can be pressurised and discharged through a spray line. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN MIXERS A mixer is known from patent specification No. GB 1 311 415 which comprises a mixing drum and a handle for pushing the drum along the ground. The drum has an open end and a closed end and is supported at its closed end on a wheeled support. The drum rests on the ground through the intermediary of a rubber tyre, so that the axis of the drum is inclined to the horizontal. As the drum is pushed to and fro along the ground it rotates. Ribs within the drum promote mixing of the contents. The known mixer is mainly intended for producing small quantities of cement, particularly for domestic use.

Although the known mixer is easily pushed along the ground, it is difficult to tilt the drum about the pivot point provided by the rubber tyre so as to discharge the contents and then return it to the mixing position.

To overcome this disadvantage, the mixer proposed herein includes a drum having a cylindrical outer wall which rests on the ground at two or more axially spaced locations. Part of the drum takes the form of a flap which may be swung into an open position or removed to enable the drum to be charged and discharged. The end walls of the drum may have stub shafts on which the handle is journalled or, alternatively, a shaft may pass through the drum and support the handle at both ends. In a further alternative, the handle may be provided with projections which engage in recesses in the end walls of the drum.

In addition to being easier to use, the proposed mixer is cleaner in operation because there is no risk of dust escaping or of spillage during mixing. The proposed mixer may therefore be used indoors. The proposed mixer may be used for mixing cement, various chemicals, or mixtures of earth and fertilisers, for example.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the proposed mixer, Figure 2 is an axial end view of the mixer shown in figure 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mixer shown in figure 1, Figures 4A and 4B illustrates the form of the mixer vanes in side and end elevation respectively, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of mixer.

Figure 6 is an axial end view, and Figure 7 is a front elevation of the mixer shown in figure 5.

Referring to figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the first embodiment of the proposed mixer comprises a plastic drum 1 having a cylindrical peripheral wall 2 and planar end walls 3. It will be appreciated that the end walls 3 may be domed so as to meet the wall 1 without an angled edge.

Stub shafts 4 project from the end walls 3 and are received within apertures in a stirrup 5 to which a handle 6 is articulated. Lock pins, not shown, hold the handle rigidly in the position illustrated but may be removed to allow the handle to fold down around the drum. The mixer may then be carried using the stirrup. A part of the drum is formed as a flap 7 which includes portions of the walls 2 and 3.

A hinge is provided along one axially extending edge of the flap and latching means along the other. The flap may therefore be lowered to form an opening for charging and discharging the drum using the flap as a hopper for this purpose if so desired.

The peripheral wall is provided with three depressions and the flap with one depression which form elongate vanes or fins 9 on the inner sides of this wall. Each depression is closed by a triangular plate 10 welded or otherwise secured in place so that the exterior of the drum presents a smooth cylindrical surface. The depressions may extend into the end walls of the drum and the cover plates may have end pieces to close the ends of the depressions.

A vane is shown in side and end elevation in figures 4A and 4B. Each vane is triangular in cross-section and decreases in height along its length. Alternate vanes extend in opposite directions. Suitable seals are provided along the edges of the flap and/or walls.

In use, the drum is charged with the ingredients of the mix (eg. sand, cement and water), the flap closed and latched in place, and the drum pushed to and fro to cause it to roll and promote mixing. The flap is unlatched and opened and the mix extracted.

It will be noted that the flap 7 occupies a substantial part of the periphery of the drum, so as to facilitate emptying.

In the embodiment shown in figures 5 to 7 the end walls 3 of the drum are unbroken and the flap 7 has side walls 71 so as to serve as a hopper. The side walls 71 slide within the end walls 3. The extended area of overlap which is achieved in this way increases the reliability of the seal between the flap and the drum. Four vanes or fins are also provided in this embodiment, one of the vanes being in the flap.

The mixer may also serve as a garden roller. Because the depressions are covered, the drum presents a continuous surface. Weight may be provided by filling the drum with water. Provided that the seals are pressure resistant, means may be provided to pressurise the drum, to which may be connected a spray line and nozzle. Water may be introduced into the drum through a suitable inlet, a pesticide added, and the drum sealed. Followed mixing, a pump may be fitted to the inlet and the drum pressurised and discharged through the spray line. The mixer may therefore serve as a multipurpose apparatus.

Although it is preferred for the drum to roll on the entire surface of its peripheral wall, it may be provided with tyres around its periphery so that contact with the ground takes place at axially spaced locations. In the case of the first embodiment the tyres must, of course, be segmented where they meet the flap. The stirrup may be provided with stub shafts engaging in recesses at the centres of the end walls 3.

The mixer vanes may be separate components which are secured in place.

Claims

1. A mixer comprising a drum having a peripheral wall and end walls and being provided with a handle for rolling the drum along the ground, the peripheral wall of the drum making contact with the ground at least at two axially spaced locations; the drum having a flap which may be opened to charge and discharge the drum, the flap occupying a substantial part of the periphery of the drum and being delineated by side walls so as to constitute a hopper; and elongate mixer vanes being formed or provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the drum.

2. A mixer as claimed in claim 1 in which the drum rests on the ground substantially throughout the axial length of its peripheral wall.

3. A mixer as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one mixer vane is formed or provided on the inner surface of the flap.

4. A mixer as claimed in claim 1 in which the side walls of the flap fit within the end walls of the drum.

5. A mixer as claimed in claim 1 in which the side walls of the flap form parts of the end walls of the drum.

6. A mixer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 4 or figures 5 to 7 of the drawings.

7. A mixer comprising a cylindrical drum rotatably supported at both ends in a handle, the drum being capable of resting on the ground substantially throughout the length of its peripheral surface, a flap closing a charging and discharging opening in the drum, and mixing vanes being provided within the drum.