NL2004637C2 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A CONCRETE MIXER. - Google Patents

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A CONCRETE MIXER

The present invention relates to a device and a method for cleaning a concrete mixer.

Concrete supplied by a concrete mixer is poured into the work at most of the construction sites. After a concrete mixer has poured the concrete transported to the construction site, parts of the concrete mixer, including the funnel and the chute, must be rinsed clean.

Rinsing is required to prevent the concrete still present in the gutter from curing there. In addition to blockage, curing concrete during a ride on the public road can lead to concrete pieces falling off the concrete mixer, which can damage or injure fellow road users. This includes, for example, damage claims due to car damage.

In addition, concrete mixers, which are located on the public road during the transport of concrete, also form the concrete calling card of the concrete transporter. Many concrete transporters therefore have an interest in rinsing the concrete mixers after delivery of concrete.

The concrete mixer often has a reservoir of several hundred liters of water for the rinsing operations, and the rinsing water is usually discharged to the bottom with residual residue. A drawback of rinsing concrete mixers at a construction site is thus that contamination of the soil at the construction site can occur via the used rinsing water. The associated environmental impact 30 is undesirable. In addition, blockage of the sewer system may possibly occur if rinsing water with residual concrete is discharged.

2

The rinsing is usually carried out by the driver of the concrete mixer, and usually takes around five to ten minutes. The concrete mixer cannot be used for transport during these rinsing operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for cleaning concrete mixers, in which one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages is at least partially overcome, and which in particular reduces the environmental impact.

Said object has been achieved with the device for cleaning concrete mixers according to the invention, comprising: - a movable housing; - a flushing circuit, comprising: - a cleaning fluid reservoir arranged in the housing; spraying means with one or more downwardly directed nozzles; - a collecting tray arranged under the spraying means, on the bottom of the housing, for collecting cleaning fluid flowing out of the spraying nozzles of the spraying means; and - at least one pump for pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir to the spraying means; and - wherein the housing is at least partially open, so that a rear side of a concrete mixer with its pouring funnel and / or pouring gutter can be placed at least partially between the spraying means and collection tray.

The cleaning device according to the invention has the advantage that there is a time saving for cleaning the concrete mixer, as a result of which the concrete mixer can be used again more quickly for transporting concrete. Cleaning with the device according to the invention takes approximately 3 minutes, a few minutes less than is necessary for manual cleaning.

In addition, the operation of filling the rinsing water reservoir on the concrete mixer is saved, which has to be done every other day and takes around fifteen minutes.

An additional advantage is that the building site of the contractor is left clean, and that used cleaning fluid does not disappear into the soil, where it can lead to environmental pollution.

According to a preferred embodiment, the flushing circuit comprises a closed circuit, which makes it possible to reuse cleaning fluid. In addition, a closed circuit is advantageous for the environment, since on the one hand less cleaning fluid is required, and on the other hand no cleaning fluid with contaminants disappears into the soil.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device further comprises a second pump for pumping used cleaning liquid from the collecting bin to the cleaning liquid reservoir. Because two pumps are used, cleaning fluid 25 can be pumped simultaneously from the collection vessel to the cleaning fluid reservoir and vice versa.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the movable housing of the cleaning device comprises a maximum length of 6 meters, a maximum width of 2.5 meters, and a maximum height of 2.5 m. Because of these dimensions, the cleaning device can be moved on a conventional trailer of a truck that is suitable for '20-foot 'sea containers.

4

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the movable housing of the device comprises a 20-foot sea container.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, partitions are provided in the cleaning fluid reservoir. These baffles, which are preferably arranged alternately high and low, promote the settling of heavy impurities in the cleaning fluid. The high and low partitions form a labyrinth through which the cleaning fluid meanders.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the spraying means are accommodated in a frame that is slidable between a retracted transport position and an extended operating position. A compact transport height can hereby be combined with sufficient height during operation.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the movable housing is provided near its opening with a stop for receiving the rear side of the concrete mixer against it. Such a stop prevents damage, and guarantees correct placement of the parts to be cleaned under the nozzles of the spray means.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device is further provided with at least one sensor for signaling the presence of a concrete mixer under the spraying means. The cleaning device can therefore be started and stopped automatically, so that it is only in operation when a concrete mixer is detected by the sensor. Unnecessary operation is prevented, which is favorable for the energy consumption of the device.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device further comprises signaling means for communicating to the driver of the concrete mixer with the aid of acoustic and / or visual signals how the concrete mixer is situated relative to the spraying means of the cleaning device. With the help of such signaling means, placing the rear of the concrete mixer correctly under the spraying means is considerably simplified.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device is further provided with one or more buffer vessels which are in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir and are adapted to keep the fluid level in the cleaning fluid reservoir within a predetermined bandwidth. Because the level of the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid reservoir is maintained within the desired bandwidth, correct operation of the system is guaranteed.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device is further provided with a neutralizing agent storage vessel for storing a neutralizing agent therein, and a pump for pumping the neutralizing agent from the neutralizing agent storage vessel therewith. The neutralizing agent ensures that active forces between the cement particles are neutralized.

A dosing pump is preferably used so that the neutralizing agent can be dosed to the cleaning fluid reservoir.

The invention further relates to a method for cleaning a concrete mixer, using a cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: - placing a rear side of a concrete mixer in an opening in the displaceable housing that with its funnel and / or chute it is at least partially located between the spraying means and collection tray 5; - spraying cleaning fluid from the nozzles of the spraying means on at least a part of the funnel and / or pouring chute; and - collecting the cleaning fluid sprayed from the spraying means onto at least a part of the hopper and / or chute in a collecting bin, which is arranged on the bottom of the housing under the spraying means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: - pumping the cleaning liquid collected in the collecting bin from the collecting bin to a cleaning fluid reservoir; separating at least a part of the contaminants from the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir, which is provided with baffles for this purpose; and pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir to the spraying means from which at least a part of the contaminants has been separated.

In the following description, preferred embodiments of the present invention are further explained with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a cleaning device according to the invention, wherein a concrete mixer stands at some distance in front of the device; 7

Figure 2: a side view of the cleaning device of figure 1, wherein the concrete mixer is partially located in the cleaning device with its rear side; Figure 3: a top view of the situation shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4: a cut-away perspective view of the cleaning device shown in figures 1-3.

In the side view shown in figure 1, a concrete mixer 2 is situated at some distance for a cleaning device 1. At the rear of the concrete mixer 2 there is a funnel 6 and a chute 8, through which concrete transported with the concrete mixer 2 can be carried at a desired location be deposited.

When the concrete mixer 2 is located with its rear side 4, with the funnel 6 and pouring chute 8 located there, at least largely under the nozzles 16 of the spraying means 14, a sensor 32 detects this presence, and the driver of the concrete mixer 2 becomes 20 signaled with (not shown) acoustic and / or visual means.

If desired, a stop 36 is optionally provided for receiving the rear side 4 of the concrete mixer 2 against it, should the driver accidentally drive a little too far. It is otherwise also conceivable that an alternative stop is provided by placing a beam (not shown) on the ground at some distance in front of the cleaning device 1.

In the embodiment shown, the spraying means comprise a frame 34 formed from pipes.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame 34 is slidable between a retracted transport position and an extended operating position. As a result, a compact transport height 8 can be combined with sufficient height during operation, that is to say when a concrete mixer 2 is placed under the spraying means for cleaning thereof, as shown in figure 2. In the embodiment shown, the pipes comprise a telescopic connection 17 .

Figure 3 shows a top view of the situation shown in Figure 2, wherein it is clearly visible that the hopper 6 and chute 8 are placed under the spraying means 14 in such a way that cleaning fluid flowing from the nozzles 16 of the spraying means 14 onto the hopper 6 and pouring chute 8 spray for cleaning thereof.

The cleaning liquid sprayed on the funnel 6 and pouring trough 8 will become contaminated, and will be collected as contaminated cleaning liquid 38 in a collecting bin 20 which is located on the bottom 18 of the housing 10 of the cleaning device 1. The contaminated cleaning fluid generally comprises water with cement, sand and gravel therein.

There is a submersible pump 23 in the collecting tray 2, which pump is arranged in a pump tray 21 in the embodiment shown. The pump tray 21 is provided on the top with a screen 22, which prevents large parts from coming into contact with the pump 23 and damaging it.

Because the pump trough 21 is provided with a screen 22 at the top, large parts, such as gravel and (partially) cured concrete debris, are already separated from the cleaning liquid in the collecting trough 2.

After all, these heavy parts will settle, and only cleaning liquid that is at the height level of the screen 22 flows into the pump trough 21. From here, the submersible pump 23 pumps the cleaning liquid through a (not shown) line to the cleaning liquid reservoir 12.

In the cleaning fluid reservoir 12, baffles 28, 30 are arranged alternately low and high. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, these are alternately a low-positioned partition 28, a high-positioned partition 30, and again a low-positioned partition 28, forming a labyrinth. Because the cement and the sand, which is present as contaminants, settle in the contaminated cleaning fluid 38, and the cleaning fluid has to flow over the layer 28 of each layer and successively placed partitions 28, 30 during the passage of the labyrinth , heavy contaminants are gradually separated.

The cleaning fluid, from which a large part of the contaminants has now been separated, is suitable for re-use for cleaning a funnel 6 and / or chute 8 of a concrete mixer 2. To that end, the cleaning fluid is supplied by means of a pump. pumped from the cleaning fluid reservoir 12 via the (not shown) lines to the spraying means. A cleaning device 1 with a closed cycle is thus obtained, wherein contaminated cleaning liquid is prevented from falling on the soil and contaminating it.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the cleaning device (1) is further provided with one or more buffer vessels (38, 40) which are in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) and are arranged to hold the fluid level in the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) within a predetermined certain bandwidth.

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In the drawn preferred embodiment, two buffer vessels (38, 40) are used, wherein a first buffer vessel (38) is substantially filled with cleaning fluid during commissioning, while a second buffer vessel (40) is substantially empty during commissioning. When the liquid level falls below the predetermined desired bandwidth, cleaning liquid is pumped from the substantially filled buffer vessel (38) to the cleaning liquid reservoir (12). On the other hand, when the predetermined desired bandwidth is exceeded, cleaning fluid is pumped from the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) to the buffer tank (40).

It is noted that it is also conceivable that only one buffer vessel is used which, during commissioning, is only partially filled. Due to its partial filling, this buffer tank has the possibility to compensate both an underrun and an overrun.

Furthermore, a neutralizing agent storage vessel 42 is preferably provided for storing a neutralizing agent therein. The neutralizing agent ensures that active forces between the cement particles are neutralized, and is pumped in the desired dose from the neutralizing agent storage vessel 42 to the cleaning liquid reservoir 12 with the aid of a dosing pump 26.

Arranged in the cleaning device 1 is a switch box 23, in which, among other things, control means for the various pumps are not further described.

The embodiments described above, although showing preferred embodiments of the invention, are only intended to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the description of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention 11 is therefore solely determined by the following claims.

Claims (14)

Device (1) for cleaning a concrete mixer (2), comprising: 5. a movable housing (10); - a flushing circuit, comprising: - a cleaning fluid reservoir (12) arranged in the housing (10); - spraying means (14) with one or more downwardly directed nozzles (16); - a collecting tray (20) arranged under the spraying means (14) and on the bottom (18) of the housing (10) for collecting cleaning liquid flowing out of the spraying nozzles (16) of the spraying means (14); and 15. at least one pump for pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) to the spraying means (14); and - wherein the housing (10) is at least partially open so that a rear side (4) of a concrete mixer (2) with its pouring funnel (6) and / or pouring gutter (8) is at least partially between the spraying means (14) and collection tray (20) is placeable. 2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the flushing circuit comprises a closed circuit. 3. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second pump for pumping used cleaning liquid from the collection tray (20) to the cleaning liquid reservoir (12). Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable housing (10) has a maximum length (L) of 6 meters, a maximum width (B) of 2.5 meters, and a maximum height (H) of 2.5 m. The cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movable housing (10) of the device comprises a 20-foot sea container. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein baffles (28, 30) are provided in the cleaning liquid reservoir (12). 7. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the spraying means (14) are accommodated in a frame (34), wherein the frame (34) is slidable between a retracted transport position and an extended operating position. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable housing (10) is provided near its opening with a stop (36) for receiving the rear side (4) of the concrete mixer (2) against it. 25 Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, further provided with at least one sensor (32) for signaling the presence of a concrete mixer under the spraying means (14). 30 10. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising signaling means for communicating to the driver of the concrete mixer with the aid of acoustic and / or visual signals how the concrete mixer is positioned relative to the spraying means of the cleaning device. 11. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, further provided with one or more buffer vessels (38, 40) which are in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) and are arranged to control the fluid level in the cleaning fluid reservoir (12) within a predetermined bandwidth to keep. 10 12. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, furthermore comprises a neutralizing agent storage vessel (42) for storing a neutralizing agent therein, and a pump (26) for transferring it from the neutralizing agent storage vessel (42) to the cleaning fluid reservoir ( 12) pumping the neutralizing agent. A method for cleaning a concrete mixer 20 (2), using a movable cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: - placing an in such way in an opening in the movable housing (10) rear side (4) of a concrete mixer (2), that it is located at least partly between the spraying means (14) and collecting bin (20) with its pouring funnel (6) and / or pouring gutter (8); - spraying cleaning fluid from the nozzles (16) of the spraying means (14) onto at least a part of the hopper (6) and / or pouring chute (8); and - collecting the cleaning fluid from the spraying means (14) on at least a part of the cleaning liquid in a collecting bin (20), which is arranged on the bottom (18) of the housing (10) under the spraying means (14) pouring funnel (6) and / or pouring gutter (8) is sprayed. 14. Method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of: - pumping the cleaning liquid collected in the collecting bin from the collecting bin to a cleaning fluid reservoir; 10. separating at least a part of the contaminants from the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir, which is provided with baffles for this purpose; and pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir to the spraying means, from which at least a part of the contaminants has been separated.