GB2357254A

GB2357254A - Cement product delivery unit and trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2357254A
Application number: GB9929583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Gerald Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-15
Filing date: 1999-12-15
Publication date: 2001-06-20
Also published as: GB9929583D0

Abstract

Cement-based products such as cement or mortar are transported and delivered by means 11 on a prime mover 10 (e.g. a lorry) which has a trailer 15 also having transport and delivery means 16. The transport and delivery means 11, 16 may be a cement mixer or multi-compartment mortar delivery unit. A pigment mixer may be provided.

Description

2357254 METHODS AND MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE AND/OR MORTAR

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to methods and means for transporting concrete andlor mortar.

A number of different kinds of vehicle are currently in use for the transportation of cement-based products.

One type of vehicle now being used is a 3 M3 truck which, because of its small load capacity, has only a limited market. It carries a maximum of 3 M3 of concrete or mortar and is suitable only for small loads or for supplying sites having restricted access.

The delivery of any substantial quantity of concrete will take a long time because of the number of loads which will be needed. Similar comments apply to a 4 M3 truck.

The most popular vehicle currently in use is a 6 M3 truck. It has the benefits of being able to carry a substantial volume of product, whilst still retaining manoeuvrability and also maintaining the ability to travel round building sites without losing traction.

2 8 M3 trucks are also used but, while they can carry a large volume, they become more inflexible as a result of the reduction in manoeuvrability and traction capabilities on building sites due to their sheer size and weight. They also incur exceptional additional vehicle road tax, which can seriously affect the profitability of operating such vehicles.

An articulated vehicle is also used and includes a trailer capable of carrying 1 0M3 of product. It is excellent for the transportation of very large volumes of cement or mortar but, because of its size, it has reduced manoeuvrability and reduced traction. It is also quite impractical for the transportation of small loads.

Mortar trucks designed specifically for carrying mortar are also in use. Some have a 4M3 capacity, while others have an 8M3 capacity. They can carry several specifications of mortar, but cannot carry concrete.

A further vehicle currently in use is a 6M3 truck mixer fitted, with a rear-mounted pigment mixer which can vary the colour of the:

mortar discharged from the mixer. It can deliver several different colours of mortar and has excellent manoeuvrability as well as being able to transport a substantial volume of mortar. However, the delivery is slowed down by the pigment mixer as the mortar has to pass from the main mixer into the slower pigment mixer to mix it! to the required colour, before it can be discharged on site. This 3 vehicle is also unsuitable for the transportation of concrete due to the addition of the pigment mixer on the back of the vehicle.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of transporting cement-based products, i.e.

concrete and/or mortar.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for transporting cement-based products, i.e.

concrete and/or mortar.

Summarv of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transporting cement-based products, which method includes providing a prime mover having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, providing towing means on the prime mover to enable it to tow a trailer, providing a trailer having means for the transport and delivery of a cement based product, and coupling the trailer to the prime mover when appropriate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided means for transporting cement-based products comprising a prime mover having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, towing means on the prime mover to enable it to tow a trailer, and a trailer having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, said trailer having coupling 4 means whereby it can be coupled to the prime mover when appropriate.

The means on the trailer for the transport and delivery of the cement-based product may comprise a cement mixer for the carriage of concrete or mortar, with the optional attachment of a pigment mixer to permit the delivery of more than one colour of mortar.

The means on the trailer for the transport and delivery of the cement-based product may alternatively comprise a multi compartment mortar delivery unit.

The prime mover may include either a cement mixer or a multi-compartment mortar delivery unit.

Brief Description of the Drawin-qs

Figures 1 and 2 show two alternative prime movers, and Figures 3 to 5 show three alternative trailers.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a prime mover in the form of a six-wheeled vehicle 10 having a flat bed on which is mounted a cement mixer 11 for the carriage of either concrete or mortar. The vehicle 10 has a towing hitch 12 for the attachment of any one of the trailers shown in Figures 3 to 5. The vehicle 10 is typically designed for the transport of a 6 m 3 load of concrete or mortar.

The prime mover shown in Figure 2 is a six-wheel multi- compartment vehicle 13 designed for the carriage of various specifications of mortar in one load, typically a total of 6 M3 Of mortar in three compartments. The vehicle 13 is provided with a towing hitch 14 for the attachment of any one of the trailers shown in Figures 3 to 5.

Figure 3 shows a three-axle close-coupled trailer 15 having a flat bed on which a cement mixer 16 is mounted for the carriage of additional concrete or mortar. The trailer 15 is provided at its front end with a coupling 17 for attachment to the towing hitch 12, 14 of either of the prime movers 10, 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a vehicle 18 which is similar to that shown in Figure 3 but additional includes a pigment mixer 19 which enables mortar of more than one colour to be delivered in the one load.

Vehicle 18 is provided at its front end with a coupling 20 for attachment to the towing hitch 12, 14 of either of the prime movers 10, 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The vehicle 21 shown in Figure 5 is a multi-compartment trailer having three axles with the capacity to carry several different types of mortar in one load. Vehicle 21 is provided at its front end with a coupling 22 for attachment to the towing hitch 12, 14 of either of the prime movers 10, 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

6 The prime movers shown in Figures 1 and 2 are all six-wheel, three-axle figures, but it will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to, for example, four-wheel, two-axle vehicles.

A 6 m 3 mixer truck towing a 4 m 3 trailer is accordingly now capable of delivering 10 n13 of concrete at one time, therefore requiring less individual loads to be carried. When used to deliver mortar, a capacity of 12 M3 is achievable due to the lighter weight of mortar.

The combination of a prime mover and a trailer gives one vehicle the ability to do the work of two mixer vehicles, whether it is for delivering large amounts of concrete or mortar or for delivering two different colours of concrete or mortar. When a smaller amount is required, the trailer 15, 18 or 21 is simply unhitched and the truck 10, 13 reverts to its original useful 6 m 3 size.

Each truck 10) 13 maintains good traction and manoeuvrability and full utilisation of the vehicle is achieved at all, times through its adaptability. The majority of mixer trucks currently in use are operated by owner drivers whose pay is directly related to the amount which they deliver. An increase in the volume transported by a vehicle without substantially increasing delivery costs is thus extremely beneficial to the operators.

The adaptability of the vehicles is beneficial to the concretelmortar company as, with less vehicles, they are able to 7 meet increase demands during busy periods without the expense of increasing fleet size.

There are environment benefits due to less use of fuel and tyres and less pollution, in addition to a reduction of wear on the roads and in road congestion due to the need for less vehicles.

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Claims

Claims.-

1. A method of transporting cement-based products, which method includes providing a prime mover having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, providing towing means on the prime mover to enable it to tow a trailer, providing a trailer having means for the transport and delivery of a cement based product, and coupling the trailer to the prime mover when appropriate.

2. Means for transporting cement-based products comprising a prime mover having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, towing means on the prime mover to enable it to tow a trailer, and a trailer having means for the transport and delivery of a cement-based product, said trailer having coupling means whereby it can be coupled to the prime mover when required.

3. Transporting means as claimed in Claim 2, in which the:

means on the trailer for the transport and delivery of the cement based product comprises a cement mixer.

4. Transporting means as claimed in Claim 3, in which the means on the trailer for transport and delivery of the cement-based product also includes a pigment mixer.

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5. Transporting means as claimed in Claim 2, in which the means on the trailer for the transport and delivery of the cement based product comprises a multi-compartment mortar delivery unit.

6. A method of transporting cement-based products substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. Means for transporting cement-based products substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.