GB2309654A

GB2309654A - Tube discharge from truck-mounted concrete mixer

Info

Publication number: GB2309654A
Application number: GB9701982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Michael Humpish
Original assignee: Hymix Ltd
Current assignee: Hymix Ltd
Priority date: 1996-01-31
Filing date: 1997-01-31
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-31
Also published as: GB2309654B; GB9701982D0

Abstract

A flexible discharge tube 20 enables material dispensed from a truck-mounted concrete mixer to be conveyed to a chosen discharge point. Upper end portions of the tube are supported by a metal discharge chute, the tube extending either into a discharge hopper 12 (Fig 3) or a pan chute (14, Fig 7) beneath the hopper. The hopper may be plugged to enable a reservoir of material to form using an orificed tray 22. Alternatively an orificed plate (52, Fig 7) can be used to plug the pan chute. In either case, a pump may be used to assist with discharging material through the tube.

Description

DISCHARGING CONCRETE ETC. FROM TRUCK-MOUNTED MIXERS Truck-mounted drum-type concrete mixers are ordinarily arranged to discharge their loads (which might on occasion be mortar or other substances rather than concrete) through an orifice into an open discharge hopper. From the discharge hopper, the concrete is directed down an open metal chute in the form of channel. The chute is arranged to be movable, to alter either or both of the elevation of its bottom end and the direction in which it extends; the chute is commonly swingable through an arc of at least 1800, from one side of the vehicle to the other.

Whilst the chute is so movable, situations arise in which there is insufficient flexibility in the arrangement to enable the concrete to be deposited at the right point. For example, in back-filling television cable trenches in urban areas it is highly desirable that the trench be filled directly from a truck-mounted mixer which has delivered the filling material to the site, yet parked vehicles and other obstacles commonly render this impractical. As a consequence, the filling material has to be discharged for transport in barrows or by other means to the trench.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for discharging loads from truck-mounted mixers, enabling the load to be delivered directly from the mixer with greater flexibility as to the point of discharge.

The invention provides, in one of its aspects, a truck-mounted concrete mixer in which material is arranged to be dispensed into a flexible discharge tube for conveyance to a chosen discharge point.

The material may simply be gravity fed down the tube. However, a pump may be introduced to force the material along the tube; such a pump provision could enable higher rates of discharge and/or discharging at points at elevated positions and/or the use of longer discharge tubes.

Whilst a truck-mounted mixer might have such a discharge tube as a permanent fixture (either instead of or in addition to a conventional chute, with means for selecting between the use of the two) an attachment may be provided enabling a conventional chute-type discharge facility to be converted to a tube-type discharge. At least upper portions of the chute may be utilised to support upper portions of the tube.

In one arrangement, plugging means is introduced into a discharge hopper of the mixer to plug the hopper outlet. An orifice in the plugging means enables material being discharged from a mixer drum into the hopper to be fed into the discharge tube. An upper end portion of the discharge tube may be secured directly to the plugging means. It may itself be inflexible but lead to a flexible section of the tube. Likewise the flexible section of the tube might be fitted with an inflexible exit portion for final discharge of the material.

The plugging means, in a preferred construction, takes the form of an orificed tray which fits into a bottom portion of a convergent discharge hopper. The tray may have upturned edge portions which are arranged to lie against inner surfaces of the hopper both to locate the tray and to seal against the hopper. Whilst the edge portions may be permanently upturned (being, for example, of metal) they may instead be of a flexible material (e.g. a plastics or rubber material) which becomes upturned by engagement with the hopper surfaces.

The invention provides, in another of its aspects, a discharge tube accessory for a truck-mounted concrete mixer, the accessory comprising means arranged to be applied to a discharge hopper of the mixer to plug the hopper outlet, the plugging means having an orifice which enables material dispensed into the hopper to be fed into a flexible discharge tube.

As an alternative to plugging a discharge hopper, a pan chute (ordinarily forming an upper end portion of the discharge chute, beneath a discharge hopper) may be plugged similarly. That is to say, plugging means of suitable form may be introduced to plug the pan chute outlet and deliver material from the pan chute into the discharge tube. This can be advantageous, over plugging a discharge hopper, where a greater reservoir of material can be held by the pan chute than by the hopper.

The plugging means may in this case comprise a cover member, which is arranged to extend over at least part of the length of the pan chute from the outlet end of the chute, and an orificed end plate introduced into the chute outlet and to which the discharge tube may be (directly or indirectly) attached. A pump could conveniently be incorporated into the plugging means if required.

The invention provides, in another of its aspects, a discharge tube accessory for a truck-mounted concrete mixer, the mixer comprising a mixing drum and delivering means arranged to convey material away from an outlet of the drum, the accessory comprising plugging means which is arranged to plug the delivering means to enable material dispensed from the drum outlet to be fed into a flexible discharge tube.

The delivering means may be plugged, for example, at a delivery hopper or a pan chute, either of which can enable a reservoir of material dispensed from the drum to collect above the plugging means.

There now follow detailed descriptions, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of accessories for a truck-mounted concrete mixer, and a mixer fitted with such an accessory, both the mixer and the accessories illustrating the invention by way of example in their different aspects.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a truck-mounted concrete mixer in discharging mode, the truck itself being omitted from the drawing; Figure 2 is a plan view of the mixer; Figure 3 illustrates, in rear elevation, a discharge hopper of the mixer fitted with a first plugging accessory including a discharge tube indicated in broken line; Figure 4 is a plan view of the hopper with the first accessory fitted; Figure 5 is a side view of the hopper and first accessory; Figure 6 shows an alternative construction of hopper plugging means; Figure 7 illustrates in perspective a second plugging accessory and a pan chute; and Figure 8 shows the second accessory fitted to the pan chute.

A drum-type truck-mounted concrete mixer comprises, in a conventional manner, a mixing drum 10 on an inclined rotational axis. At its rear (upper) end the drum has an orifice through which concrete (or other material) can be discharged into a discharge hopper 12. The hopper would be arranged ordinarily to feed gravitationally into an open pan chute 14 forming an upper end portion of a channel-form metal discharge chute 16. The discharge chute can be raised and lowered at its bottom end 18, and can also be swung through an arc of at least 1800, from one side of the vehicle to the other (as indicated in chain-dot line in Figure 2).

The mixer is fitted with an accessory which enables the material to be dispensed into a flexible tube 20 instead of into the chute 16. As best seen in Figures 3 to 5, the accessory comprises plugging means comprising a plugging tray 22 which is seated in a bottom portion of the discharge hopper 12. The tray comprises a flat rectangular sheet 24 having a central orifice 26. A pipe-coupling ring 28 is welded to the underside of the tray about the orifice 26 to enable the discharge tube 20 to be releasably secured in a known manner. Edging strips 30 project upwards from the four edges of the sheet 24 at angles corresponding to adjacent inner surfaces of the hopper, so to locate the tray and also to form a seal against the hopper surfaces. Two screw-threaded studs 32 are secured to the underside of the tray to project downwards beneath the sheet 24, enabling the tray to be pulled down (by nuts applied to the studs) against cross-members 34 which at their ends abut undersurfaces of the hopper.

The discharge tube 20 comprises an upper end portion 20' connected to the coupling ring 28 and a lower end portion 20" as an extension from the upper end portion.

An alternative construction of tray is shown in Figure 6. This tray is similar to the tray described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 except that edging strips 36 are formed of flexible sheet material, such as a suitable plastics or rubber material. Inner margins of the strips are secured to the underside of the tray, adjacent to its periphery, by means of clamping strips 38. The edging strips lie flat (generally in the plane of the tray sheet 24) before application to the discharge hopper, the strips becoming deflected upwards (as shown in the drawing) upon engagement with the downwardly-convergent hopper surfaces.

A pump (not shown) may be introduced to force material along the discharge tube. Such a pump may be introduced within the length of the tube, preferably adjacent to the plugging tray 22. Alternatively, instead of use of the plugging tray 22 a pumping device may be fitted into the pan chute 14 to receive material in the ordinary way from the hopper outlet and to feed the material into a flexible discharge tube.

An alternative plugging accessory is shown in Figures 7 and 8.

This accessory is arranged to be fitted to the pan chute 14 instead of to the discharge hopper 12. Figure 7 shows the accessory and pan chute 14 separately, and Figure 8 shows the accessory installed. The accessory comprises a cover plate 40 of a generally trapezoidal form having convergent side edges 42,44 to match longitudinally convergent side walls 46,48 of the pan. The pan tapers in its width towards an outlet opening 50 which is closed by a plugging plate 52 of the accessory. The plugging plate depends perpendicularly from a bottom end of the cover plate and provides an orifice 54 for the discharge of material from the pan chute into a flexible discharge tube 56.

The cover plate comprises downturned side margins 58 arranged to rest against the side walls 46,48 of the pan, the side walls being convergent downwardly. The accessory is introduced into the pan from the upper (inlet) end of the pan and the cover plate introduced under two tags 60,62 which project oppositely inwardly from the side walls 46,48.

Retaining lugs 64,66 lying above the upper surface of the cover plate hook over the tags 60,62, as the accessory is introduced, in order to secure the accessory.

A pumping device (e.g. a reciprocating pump or screw auger) may be incorporated into the accessory to feed the material forcibly into the discharge tube 56. If not, gravitational feed of a reservoir of material collected in the pan chute (and received from the discharge hopper) is relied upon, the pan chute being suitably inclined.

Claims

1. A truck-mounted mixer comprising a flexible discharge tube into which mixed material can be dispensed for conveyance to a chosen discharge point.

2. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 1 in which in use the material is gravity fed down the tube without the assistance of a pump.

3. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 1 comprising a pump arranged to force the material along the tube.

4. A truck-mounted mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the discharge tube is part of a permanent fixture of the mixer.

5. A truck-mounted mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the discharge tube is part of a removable accessory of the mixer.

6. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 5 in which the discharge tube is arranged to be supported by a discharge chute of the mixer when the accessory is secured for use.

7. A truck-mounted mixer according to either of claims 5 and 6 in which the accessory comprises plugging means which is adapted to be introduced into a discharge hopper of the mixer to plug the hopper outlet, an orifice in the plugging means enabling material to be discharged from the hopper into the discharge tube.

8. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 7 in which an upper end portion of the discharge tube is secured to the plugging means adjacent to the hopper outlet.

9. A truck-mounted mixer according to either of claims 7 and 8 in which the plugging means comprises an orificed tray which fits into a bottom portion of a convergent discharge hopper of the mixer.

10. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 9 in which the tray has edge portions which are arranged to lie upturned against inner surfaces of the hopper to locate the tray and to seal against the hopper.

11. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 10 in which the edge portions are of a flexible material which becomes upturned by engagement with the hopper surfaces.

12. A truck-mounted mixer according to any one of claims 5 to 11 in which the accessory comprises plugging means which is adapted to be introduced into a pan chute of the mixer to deliver material from the pan chute into the discharge tube.

13. A truck-mounted mixer according to claim 12 in which the plugging means comprises a cover member which is arranged to extend over at least part of the length of the pan chute from an outlet end of the chute and an orificed end plate which is arranged to be introduced into an outlet portion of the chute and to which the discharge tube may be attached.

14. A truck-mounted mixer according to either of claims 12 and 13 in which a pump is incorporated into the plugging means.

15. A discharge tube accessory for a truck-mounted mixer, the mixer comprising a mixing drum and delivering means arranged to convey material away from an outlet of the drum, the accessory comprising plugging means which is arranged to plug the delivering means to enable material dispensed from the drum outlet to be fed into a flexible discharge tube.

16. An accessory according to claim 15 in which the plugging means is arranged to be applied to a discharge hopper of the mixer to plug the hopper outlet, the plugging means having an orifice which enables material dispensed into the hopper to be fed into a flexible discharge tube.

17. An accessory according to claim 16 comprising a flexible discharge tube secured to the plugging means to receive material through the orifice.

18. An accessory according to claim 17 in which the plugging means comprises an orificed tray which is adapted to fit into a bottom portion of the discharge hopper.

19. An accessory according to claim 18 in which the tray has edge portions which are arranged to lie upturned against inner surfaces of the hopper to locate the tray and to seal against the hopper.

20. An accessory according to claim 19-in which the edge portions are of a flexible material which becomes upturned by engagement with the hopper surfaces.

21. An accessory according to claim 15 in which the plugging means is adapted to be introduced into a pan chute of the mixer to deliver material from the pan chute into the discharge tube.

22. An accessory according to claim 21 in which the plugging means comprises a cover member which is arranged to extend over part at least of the length of the pan chute from an outlet end of the chute and an orificed end plate which is arranged to be introduced into an outlet portion of the chute and to which the discharge tube is attached.

23. An accessory according to any one of claims 15 to 22 in which a pump is incorporated into the plugging means.

24. A truck-mounted mixer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference either to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8.

25. A discharge tube accessory for a truck-mounted mixer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference either to Figures 3 to 6 or to Figures 7 and 8.