MXPA96004764A - Concrete mixer with alternate discharge channel - Google Patents

Abstract

A horizontal drum intermittent mixer 10 comprising a cylindrical mixer drum 12, which can be rotated in a mixing direction or in a discharge direction. The interior of the drum has mixing blades 62 provided thereon for mixing the concrete, when the drum is rotated in its mixing direction. The interior of the drum is also provided with the transfer blades 60, which transfer the mixed concrete from the inlet end 18 of the drum to the discharge end 20 of the drum, when the drum is rotated in its discharge direction. A discharge channel 30 is movably placed in the discharge opening 28 formed in the discharge end of the drum and is movable from a discharge position to a mixing position. A plurality of separate discharge blades 64 are secured to the interior of the drum adjacent the discharge end thereof, to supply the mixed material within the discharge channel, when the discharge channel is in its discharge position and the drum is rotated. in your decarcation direction

Description

CONCRETE MIXER WITH ALTERNATING DISCHARGE CHANNEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a concrete mixer and more particularly to an intermittent mixer with a horizontal drum. 2. Description of Related Art Historically, concrete has been mixed in many types of rotating drum mixers. Such mixers are driven either with gasoline engines or electric motors. The drums are usually rotated in a single direction at a constant speed. The mixer discharge is sometimes done by tilting a channel inside the drum. Such concrete mixers usually use a rotationally mounted and horizontally placed mixing cylinder. Such horizontal cylinder mixers are limited in production capacity due to the excessive time required for the discharge of the concrete mixed in them. REF: 23349 As production capacity and mixing requirements have been constantly increasing, the trend in the industry has been to resort to an oscillating type mixer configuration. High capacity oscillating mixers have accepted the design in the concrete industry for many years with the main advantage that of a high production capacity, due to the fast discharge speed since the body of the mixer is tilted towards its end of discharge in cone form. Such oscillating mixers, however, are less portable and require substantial bases to prevent tumbling of the mixer as the mixer tilts past the support structure during discharge. In portable applications, oscillating mixers are another disadvantage due to their physical size. For example, in some oscillating mixers, the discharge cone must be removed for transport so that it will be within the width limits of the road. In addition, the weight, power requirements and cost of the oscillating mixers is greatly increased by the necessary addition of the driven oscillating mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An intermittent, concrete mixer is described which includes a hollow, horizontally placed mixing drum, which includes a cylindrical cover having first and second end walls at their opposite ends. The first end wall of the mixing drum has an inlet opening formed therein, for introducing concrete materials into the mixing drum. An exhaust pipe is operatively connected to the inlet to prevent the escape of dust into the atmosphere. The second end wall of the mixing drum has a discharge opening formed therein to discharge the mixed concrete therefrom. An electric motor is operatively connected to the drum to rotate the mixing drum in a first mixing direction and a second discharge direction. The mixing drum also has a plurality of separate transfer blades, placed therein to transfer the mixed concrete to the second end wall, when the mixing drum is rotated in its discharge direction. The mixing drum also has a plurality of separate mixing blades, secured to the transfer blade for mixing the concrete materials, when the mixing drum is rotated in its mixing direction. A discharge channel is movably placed in the discharge opening and is movable from a first unloaded position to a second discharge position. The discharge channel includes an internal plate positioned vertically, a channel member extending outward from the inner plate and a vertically placed outer end plate. The channel member of the discharge channel extends outwardly through the outer end plate to facilitate the discharge of the concrete. The inner end plate of the discharge channel closes and seals the discharge opening, when the channel is in its position without discharge. The outer end plate of the discharge channel is positioned adjacent to the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its discharge position. The open upper end of the channel member of the discharge channel is positioned inwardly of the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is placed in its discharge position. A plurality of separate cubes or blades are secured to the inner surface of the mixing drum adjacent the discharge opening, to supply the mixed concrete within the open upper end of the channel member, when the mixing drum is rotated in its direction of discharge, in such a way that the mixed concrete is discharged from the mixing drum outwards, through the discharge channel. The drum mixer can be mounted on a trailer for transport to the job site. Therefore as a main object of the invention is to provide an intermittent mixer of concrete, horizontal drum that includes a discharge channel, which is movable with respect to the discharge opening of the drum. Still another object of the invention is to provide an intermittent concrete, horizontal drum mixer which includes a new means for supplying the mixed concrete in a movable channel member, which can be moved between the discharge positions and without discharge. Still another object of the invention is to provide an intermittent concrete, horizontal drum mixer which has high discharge capacities. Still another object of the invention is to provide an intermittent mixer of concrete, horizontal drum having high mixing capacity and high discharge capacity, whereby the need to tilt the drum for unloading is avoided. Still another object of the invention is to provide a more economical and mechanically simple concrete mixer, which is more easily transported and which requires less in the form of installation and support base in the work place. Still another object of the invention is to provide a system that is simpler to manufacture and assemble due to its cylindrical shape, with flat end plates when compared to oscillating mixers, which require cone ends and the structure of Additional support, necessary to allow oscillation for download. Still another object of the invention is to provide a system which more efficiently contains and removes the dust particles by the end seals, which remain coupled although those in the oscillating mixers must be broken during discharge, exposing the interior to the atmosphere. These and other objects will be apparent to those with skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the intermittent concrete, horizontal drum mixer of this invention; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the mixer; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the mixer; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, except that the portions have been cut away to further illustrate the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective, partial view illustrating the internal transfer blades, the mixing blades and the discharge hubs; and Figure 6 is a side view illustrating the mixer mounted on a mobile chassis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The horizontal drum, intermittent concrete mixer of this invention is generally mentioned by reference numeral 10 and includes a horizontally mounted drum 12, rotatably mounted on a structural means 14. For purposes of description, the drum 12 will be described including a cylindrical portion 16 having an inlet end wall 18 and a discharge end wall 20. A plurality of horizontally placed impeller rollers 22 support the drum 12 and are operatively connected to a suitable power source for rotating the drum in a first mixing direction and an opposite discharge direction as will be described in greater detail in the following. The inlet end wall 18 is provided with an inlet channel 24, which communicates with the interior of the drum 12 to allow concrete materials to be supplied to the interior of the drum. A flexible, elongated retaining tube 26 is in operative communication with the inlet channel 24 to retain the powder, to prevent its escape into the atmosphere. The discharge end wall 20 is provided with a centrally placed circular opening 28 formed therein, in which a discharge channel 30 is movably mounted. As seen in Figure 1, the discharge channel 30 is movably mounted on a support structure 32, which extends upwardly from the structure means 14. The cane? 30 of discharge includes a lower end plate 34 which is disc-shaped and which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening 28. The inner end plate 34 is provided with a peripheral seal 36 extending around of its outer surface, which is adapted to couple in seal form the inner surface of the discharge end wall 20, when the discharge channel 30 is in the mixing position illustrated by solid lines in Figure 4.

A substantially U-shaped channel member 38 extends outwardly from the inner end plate 34 and includes an inner wall 40 and opposite side walls 42 and 43. The channel member 38 extends downwardly and outwardly from the plate. Inner end 34 as illustrated in Figure 4. Number 44 refers to an outer end plate of the discharge channel, which is secured to channel member 38 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. channel 38 is open at its upper end between inner end plate 34 and outer end plate 44. As seen in Figure 1, the channel member 34 is enclosed by an upper portion 46 facing outwardly of the outer end plate 44. The outer end plate 44 is adapted to seally engage the outer surface of the end wall 20 of the drum 12 when the discharge channel 30 has been moved into the drum for discharge purposes, as will be described in more detail in the following. The discharge channel 30 includes a pair of slide members 48 and 50, which roll on the upper surfaces of the structure members 52 and 54 of the structure 32 as illustrated in Figure 1. A pair of hydraulic cylinders or the like they are operatively connected to the sliding members 48 and 50, respectively, as illustrated in Figure 1 and are generally mentioned by the reference numerals 56 and 58. The hydraulic cylinders 56 and 58 are adapted to move the discharge channel 30 from the mixing position illustrated by solid lines in the Figure 4 to the discharge position illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 4. The interior of the drum 12 is provided with a plurality of separate transfer blades 60 which extend around the interior of the cylindrical portion 16 as illustrated in the drawings. . As seen in the drawings, the transfer blades 60 are positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum 12, such that the blades will tend to keep them contained in the drum towards the inlet end of the drum during the operation of the drum. mixed, but which are designed to transfer the mixed concrete towards the discharge end of the drum, when the drum is rotated in its discharge direction. A plurality of separate mixing blades 62 are secured to the transfer blade 60 as illustrated in the drawings and are designed to mix the concrete in the drum as the drum is rotated in its mixing direction. A plurality of separate discharge blades or cubes 64 are secured to the inner surface of the drum 12 adjacent to the discharge end wall 20 as better illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The discharge blades or cubes 64 extend around the discharge opening 28 and are designed to discharge or drop the mixed concrete into the open upper end of the channel member 38, when the discharge channel 30 is in its discharge position and the drum 12 is rotated in its Download address Figure 6 illustrates the intermittent mixture of concrete, horizontal drum of this invention mounted on a mobile chassis for transportation to the job site. As seen in Figure 6, the mixer 10 is mounted on a platform 66 of a mobile chassis 68, which is in the form of a trailer. The chassis 68 includes a means 70 for engagement at its front end, which is screwed to the platform 68 and which includes a central pin 72 provided thereon, for connection to the fifth wheel of a truck or the like. The number 74 refers to a treadmill assembly which is screwed to the rear of the platform 66 as illustrated in Figure 6. In this way, the mixer 10 can be mounted on the mobile chassis or the trailer 68. and transported to the desired work site. When the mixer 10 has been transported to the work site, the latching means 60 and the rolling apparatus assembly 74 can be removed from the platform 66 with the platform 66 which is placed on a suitable supporting surface. During operation, the discharge channel 30 is normally in the position illustrated by the solid lines in Figure 4. The power medium for the mixer will normally be activated to rotate the drum 12 in its mixing direction. The materials for the concrete are then supplied to the interior of the drum 12 through the inlet channel 24. The rotation of the drum 12 by the power means causes the components of the concrete to be mixed by the action of the mixing blades 62. During the mixing operation, the transfer blades 60 tend to keep the concrete in the drum toward the inlet end of the mixing drum. During the mixing operation, the inner end plate 34 of the discharge channel 30 engages in seal form with the inner surface of the discharge end wall 20 around the discharge opening 28, to prevent the escape of materials through from them. The retaining tube 26 also prevents the escape of dust into the atmosphere. When the concrete has been mixed and it is desired to discharge the concrete from the drum 12, the rotation of the drum is inverted from its mixing direction to its discharge direction. The hydraulic cylinders 56 and 58 are then actuated to cause the discharge channel 30 to be moved inwardly relative to the drum 12 of the position illustrated by solid lines in Figure 4 to the position illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 4. The unloading position of the discharge channel 30 is also illustrated in Figure 1. As the drum 12 is rotated in its discharge direction, the transfer blades 60 transfer the concrete in the drum to its discharge end. The discharge blades or hubs 64 pick up the concrete in the drum and move it upwards as the drum is rotated. As each discharge blade or hub 64 moves into position vertically above the open upper end of the channel member 38, the concrete falls downwardly from the open upper end of the channel member 38. The mixed concrete, which falls into the channel member 38 then passes outwardly through the channel member 38. During the unloading operation, the outer end plate 44 engages the outer surface of the end wall in seal form. 20 of discharge of the drum 12, to prevent the escape of materials from the drum other than through the discharge channel 30. In this way, it can be seen that an intermittent mixer for concrete has been provided, with a new horizontal drum, which has a large capacity and which does not require tilting of the drum during unloading. The mixer of this invention not only has high mixing capacity but also has high discharge capacity. In this way, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (9)

1. An intermittent, concrete mixer characterized in that it comprises: a cylindrical, hollow, horizontally placed mixing drum having first and second end walls at their opposite ends; the first end wall having an inlet opening formed therein for introducing the concrete materials into the mixing cylinder; the second end wall having a discharge opening formed therein, for discharging the mixed concrete from the mixing drum; means for rotating the mixing drum to mix the concrete materials therein and to discharge the concrete materials therefrom; the mixing drum has mixing blades provided inside, to mix the concrete materials; the mixer drum includes means therein for transferring the mixed concrete materials to the second end wall; a selectively movable discharge channel, positioned in the discharge opening and including inner and outer ends; the discharge channel is selectively movable from a first position without discharge to a second discharge position; the discharge channel includes a vertically placed inner end plate, a channel member extending outwardly from the inner end plate, and a vertically placed outer end plate, a channel member extending outwardly from the plate of inner end and an outer end plate positioned vertically; the channel member extending outwardly through the outer end plate; the channel member having an open upper end between the inner and outer end plates for receiving mixed concrete materials therein, when the discharge channel is in its unloading position: the inner end plate closing the discharge opening , when the discharge channel is in its position without discharge; the outer end plate which is positioned adjacent to the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its discharge position; the open upper end of the channel member that has been placed inwardly of the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is placed in its discharge position; and means provided in the interior of the mixing drum adjacent the second end wall for supplying the mixed concrete within the open upper end of the channel member, such that the mixed concrete is discharged from the mixing drum outwardly through the channel. discharge.

2. The intermittent mixer for concrete according to claim 1, characterized in that means are provided inside the mixing drum, to supply the mixed concrete within the channel member, which comprises a plurality of separate discharge cubes, secured to the inner surface of the mixing drum adjacent to the second end wall.

3. The intermittent concrete mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner end plate seals the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its position without discharge.

4. The intermittent mixer for concrete according to claim 3, characterized in that the discharge opening is circular and in which the inner end plate is disk-shaped and is received in the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its position without discharge.

5. The intermittent concrete mixer according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer end plate is disk-shaped and has a larger diameter than the discharge opening to seal the discharge opening, except for the discharge member. channel extending through the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its discharge position.

6. The intermittent concrete mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet channel is in communication with the inlet opening and in which a dust separation tube is in communication with the inlet channel.

7. The intermittent mixer for concrete according to claim 1, characterized in that a power means is secured to the discharge channel to move the discharge channel between its discharge and non-discharge positions.

8. The intermittent mixer for concrete according to claim 7, characterized in that the power means comprises a power cylinder.

9. In combination: a wheeled trailer including a platform portion, a tread portion and a hook portion; the platform portion, the engaging portion and the engaging portion are removably connected together to allow the platform portion to be placed on a supporting surface; and an intermittent concrete mixer mounted on the platform portion; the intermittent mixer for concrete characterized in that it comprises: a hollow cylindrical, horizontally placed mixing drum having first and second end walls at their opposite ends; the first end wall having an inlet opening formed therein for introducing the concrete materials into the mixing cylinder; the second end wall having a discharge opening formed therein, for discharging the mixed concrete from the mixing drum; means for rotating the mixing drum to mix the concrete materials therein and to discharge the concrete materials therefrom; the mixing drum has mixing blades provided therein, for mixing the concrete materials therein; the mixer drum includes means therein for transferring the mixed concrete materials to the second end wall; a selectively movable discharge channel, positioned in the discharge opening and including inner and outer ends; the discharge channel is selectively movable from a first position without discharge to a second discharge position; the discharge channel includes a vertically placed inner end plate, a channel member extending outwardly from the inner end plate, and a vertically placed outer end plate, a channel member extending outwardly from the plate of inner end and an outer end plate positioned vertically; the channel member extending outwardly through the outer end plate; the channel member having an open upper end between the inner and outer end plates for receiving mixed concrete materials therein, when the discharge channel is in its unloading position: the inner end plate closing the discharge opening , when the discharge channel is in its position without discharge; the outer end plate which is positioned adjacent to the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is in its discharge position; the open upper end of the channel member that has been placed inwardly of the discharge opening, when the discharge channel is placed in its discharge position; and means provided in the interior of the mixing drum adjacent the second end wall for supplying the mixed concrete within the open upper end of the channel member, such that the mixed concrete can be discharged from the mixing drum out through the channel of download.