GB2411133A

GB2411133A - Cement mixer drum cap

Info

Publication number: GB2411133A
Application number: GB0403482A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Felipe Rubio-Ruiz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-17
Filing date: 2004-02-17
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-17
Also published as: GB2411133B; GB0403482D0

Abstract

A closure 10 for a cement mixer drum allows cleaning thereof without spillage of the cleaning material within. The closure may have a lip 14 to engage the inside or outside of the mouth of the drum, and removable attachment means 24 such as a resilient cord.

Description

1 241 1 1 33 A Cement Mixer Drum Closure The present invention relates to

a cement mixer drum closure.

Builders often use a portable cement mixer to provide a convenient way of mixing mortar or concrete on a building site. After use the cement mixer must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent any residual mixture from setting on the cement mixer. In particular the drum of the cement mixer must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent the build up of hard accretions after repeated use of the cement mixer. Typically the drum is cleaned by partially filling it with water and gravel and then setting the drum in rotation. The water and gravel loosen any residual mixture in the drum, which results in the water becoming very dirty.

The dirty water may spill out of the drum as the drum rotates which is undesirable in terms of general building site tidiness. In particular if the cement mixer is operated on a driveway of a residential house the dirty water may discolour the driveway and is required to be cleaned thereby creating more work.

What is required is an inexpensive device for inhibiting spillage from a cement mixer drum.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cement mixer drum closure for attachment to a cement mixer drum during cleaning thereof, the closure having a body for substantially closing an open mouth of a cement mixer drum against spillage of the contents.

A closure so arranged can be used to inhibit the contents of a cement mixer drum from spilling which may be particularly useful when the drum is undergoing cleaning.

Prevention of such spilling may avoid further cleaning of a building site, which may save time and cost.

In one embodiment the body is provided with a through hole positioned to minimise spillage of the contents of the drum. The through hole may permit further gravel or water to be put into the drum without removal of the closure from the drum. The hole also permits the user to see inside the drum to determine when the drum is clean. s

The body may be substantially annular in shape. Such a shape advantageously provides for location of the closure about the periphery of the mouth of the drum wherefrom most spillage is likely to occur.

In an alternative embodiment the body is adapted to cover the open mouth of the drum, and is preferably substantially circular in shape. Such a shape conforms to the open mouth of a typical drum.

The closure may be a unitary item. Such a unitary item avoids a complex construction of the closure.

Preferably the body is substantially rigid.

In a preferred embodiment the closure is of rigid plastic. Such a material is easily formable to the required shape and provides resistance against corrosion.

The closure may be inherently adapted for direct attachment to the drum, by for example a friction fit either by an external lip or an internal press fit with the mouth of the drum. The external lip may be continuous or discontinuous and is adapted to locate over the edges of the mouth of the drum. The lip may have a width in the region of 5 - mm and more preferably substantially 30 mm. In the case of an internal press fit the body may be recessed and locatable inside the mouth of the drum, in use.

Alternatively the closure may be adapted to receive attachment means for securing the closure to a cement mixer drum in use. In this arrangement the body may include a recess, a securing hole or an upstanding portion of the body for engagement with the attachment means. The attachment means may comprise a cord, preferably a resilient cord.

In an alternative embodiment the attachment means is integrated with said body, and adapted to secure the closure to the drum. The attachment means may be a cord, preferably a resilient cord, and may be provided with a hook to attach the closure to the drum.

Advantageously the body is provided with a plurality of attachment means. In the case where the attachment means comprises a cord, each cord may have a respective hook.

The body may be provided with a handle such that the handle faces outwards when the closure is attached to the drum to provide a convenient way of holding and positioning the closure.

In the case of the body having an external lip, the body may further be provided with an upstanding inner rim, said rim and said lip may be substantially concentric with one another. Such an inner rim is useful to direct drips into the drum which may further inhibit the contents of the drum from spilling. The inner rim and lip may also co-operate to provide a snap fit for the closure on the rim of the mouth of a drum.

The closure may further comprise an annular pad to substantially seal the closure to the rim of a cement mixer drum, in use. Such a pad may further inhibit spillage from the drum. The pad may be on an inner rim or lip. Alternatively the pad may be on the body.

The pad may have a thickness in the range 0.5 - 10 mm and preferably in the range 4-6 mm.

Preferably the pad has a degree of compliance to inhibit leakage and in a preferred embodiment the pad is resilient. Typical materials which can provide the required properties are rubber or neoprene.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided in combination a closure as substantially described above and a cement mixer.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided in combination a closure as substantially described above and a cement mixer drum.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which; - Figure l is a diagrammatic perspective view of a device for closing a cement mixer drum according to the present invention.

- Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in situ on a cement mixer.

- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross section of the device together with the drum of Figure 2.

- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross section of the device of Figure 3 with an inner rim.

- Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross section of the device of Figure 3 with a seal.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a diagrammatic perspective view of a device for closing a cement mixer drum according to the present invention, generally designated 10. The device 10 has a substantially circular body 12 with an outer rim 14 at the circumference of the body 12 and perpendicularly depending therefrom. The body 12 has a handle 16 in the middle for easy handling of the device 10. The body 12 is further provided with four elasticated straps 18, 20, 22, 24. Each strap 18, 20, 22, 24 is connected to the body 12 at one respective end thereof. At the other respective end each strap 18, 20, 22, 24 has a respective hook 26, 28, 30 32.

Now turning to Figure 2 there is shown a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in situ on a cement mixer, generally designated 40. Like features with the Figure l are shown with like reference numerals. The device 10 is mounted on the cement mixer 40 so as to close the drum 42. The device 10 is held in place on the drum 42 by connecting the hooks 26, 28, 30, 32 of the straps 18, 20, 22, 24 to each other about the base of the drum 42.

In Figure 3 there is shown a cross section of the device 10 together with the drum 42 of Figure 2. In Figure 3 the drum 42 is shown partially filled with water 44 which has a water level 46. The water 44 is typically used to clean the drum 42 when the drum 42 is rotated. The device 10 is shown substantially closing the drum 42 so that the outer rim 14 is over the mouth of the drum 42.

Now referring to Figure 4 there is shown a diagrammatic cross section of the device 10 of Figure 3 with an inner rim 48. The inner rim 48 is concentric with the outer rim 14 and is adapted to locate inside the drum 42. The inner rim 48 acts to direct drips of water back into the drum 42.

In Figure 5 there is shown a diagrammatic cross section of the device of Figure 3 with a seal 50. The seal 50 is on the body 12 and adjacent the outer rim 14. The seal 50 acts to provide a more effective barrier to inhibit water 44 from exiting the drum 42.

The device 10 is used when cleaning the drum 42 with water 44. The device 10 inhibits water 44 spilling from the drum 42 when the drum 42 is rotating which may help to keep the vicinity around the cement mixer clean. The device 10 permits a higher water level 46 in the drum 42 as shown in Figure 3 which may help in cleaning the drum 62.

It will be appreciated that the device 10 may be sold on its own as an accessory item for a cement mixer, or as part of a kit comprising a cement mixer.

Claims

Claims 1. A cement mixer drum closure for attachment to a cement mixer

drum during cleaning thereof, the closure having a body for substantially closing an open mouth of a cement mixer drum against spillage of the contents.
2. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 1, wherein the body is provided with a through hole positioned to minimise spillage of the contents of the drum in use.
3. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 2, wherein the body is substantially annular.
4. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 1, wherein the body is adapted to cover the open mouth of the drum, and is substantially circular in shape.
5. A cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure is inherently adapted for direct attachment to the drum.
6. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 5, wherein the closure is adapted by way of internal friction fit with the mouth of a drum.
7. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the body is recessed, said recessed portion being locatable inside the mouth of a drum, in use.
8. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 5, wherein the closure includes an external lip adapted to fit with the mouth of a drum by way of external friction fit.
9. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 8, wherein the external lip is continuous.
10. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the lip has a width in the region of 5 - 70 mm.
11. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 10, wherein the lip has a width of about 30 mm.
12. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 8 - 11, wherein the body is further provided with an upstanding inner rim, said rim and said lip being substantially concentric.
13. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 12, wherein the inner rim and lip co-operate to provide a snap fit for the rim of the mouth of a drum.
14. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 12 - 13, wherein the closure further comprises an annular pad to substantially seal the closure to the rim of a drum, in use.
15. A cement mixer drum closure according to claims 14, wherein the pad is on one of the inner rim and the lip.
16. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 14, wherein the pad is on the body.
17. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 14 - 16, wherein the pad has a thickness in the range 0.5 - 10 mm.
18. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 17, wherein the pad has a thickness in the range 4-6 mm.
19. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 14 - 18, wherein the pad is compliant.
20. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 14-18, wherein the pad is resilient.
21. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the pad is of one of rubber and neoprene.
22. A cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure is adapted to receive an attachment means for securing the closure to a cement mixer drum in use.
23. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 22, wherein the body includes at least one of a recess, a securing hole and an upstanding portion of the body for engagement with attachment means.
24. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 22 or claim 23, and further including attachment means comprising a cord.
25. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 24, wherein the cord is resilient.
26. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 25, wherein the cord is provided with a hook to attach the closure to the drum.
27. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 24 - 26, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of attachment means.
28. A cement mixer drum closure according to any of claims 22 - 27, wherein the attachment means is integrated with said body.
29. A cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is provided with a handle on the external side thereof.
30. A cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure is a unitary item.
31. A cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is substantially rigid.
32. A cement mixer drum closure according to claim 35, wherein the body is of rigid plastic.
33. In combination a cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim and a cement mixer.
34. In combination a cement mixer drum closure according to any preceding claim and a cement mixer drum.
35. A closure as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 3, or Figures 4 or 5.