US1841100A - Charging device for concrete mixers - Google Patents

Description

Jan.l2,1932. P A R CHARGING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed Sept. 15, 1928 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 nmrso STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P. EABER, OF DUNELL NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T RANSOME CONCRETE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY Application filed September 13, 1928.

' V The present improvements relate primarily to charging devices to concrete mixers, but are not limited to such appllcation, and may be. used for charging any mixer or other device in which solids are to be elevated and dischar ed, and liquids supplied thereto to be mingled therewith. I

In devices adapted for preparing freshly mixed concrete for placement, it has become of increasing importance that a definite proportion of water and dry aggregates, etc. be maintained for each given batch. F urthermore, the setting of the freshly mixed concrete is accelerated by the addition of a predetermined amount of calcium chloride solution which should be in proportion to the measured volume of water for each batch. Inspection requirements as well as State specifications frequently and almost universally call for the addition of an accelerator of the type aforementioned. As the proportions for each batchto be mixed, may vary, it is essential that a measuring means for the water, and calcium chloride be provided, which not only will accurately measure the volumes to bedischarged into the mixer but also will be rugged and durable, simple to operate and have a minimum of parts.

; The primary object among others, is to provide a more efiicient, dependable and certain means for measuring the quantity of liquid, discharging it at the proper time and in the proper manner and refilling the liquid receptacle, and one in which the operation of elevating and charging solids, in the present case fconcrete aggregates, and lowering the loader for another charge automatically discharges, refills and measures the charge of liquid. 1

.A further object is to provide a simple, accurate and automatic primary as well as auxiliary liquid supply means for a mixer, op-

erable under the influence of the loading skip movements.

A further ObJQCt is to provide a simple, ac-- curate and automatic means whereby a measured quantity of calcium chloride solution maybe added to a concrete mixture, operable under the influence of the m xing mechanlsm.

Other ob ects and advantages of the pres- CHARGING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Serial No. 305,629.

out improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art, upon reference to the ac companying drawings in which The figure illustrates a mixing apparatus embodying one form of the present improvements.

The mixing drum or mixer 1 is of the rotary non-tiltable type, but the present improvements may be used in connection with tilting drums or drums of other description. The mixer 1, having the charging end 2 and discharging end 3 is suitably mounted on frame 1 which in turn is disposed on a suitable frame 5, which latter may have traction means (not shown) as well as power means (not shown) for operating the elements of the apparatus as is well. known.

Mounted in slightly elevated position on the frame 5, is a mixing receptacle 6, having agitator or mixing blades 7, which may be manually actuated by handle 8, or automatically operable by rod 9, gears 10, 11' and shaft 12 which latter is operatively connected, with or without a clutch as desired, to the mixer 1, or power means therefor. A

storage tank 13 is preferably, although not necessarily, disposed 011 frame 5, at a lower level than receptacle 6, whereby liquid from the latter may pass under its own head into tank 13 through pipe 14: having a control valve 15.

Disposed intermediate the mixer 1 and tank 13, is a reservoir 16 defining a pump cylinder, which communicates with said tank through pipe section 17 and with the charging mouth 2 ofthe mixer by pipe 18. As illustrated, these pipes are equipped with suitably disposed check valves 19 and 20 respectively. A plunger 21, mounted in reservoir 16, is adapted to reciprocate therein and is disposed in air tight relation to the inner wall thereof, whereby the arrangement functions as a single action pump as hereinafter described. In the present illustration the left hand face of reservoir 16 is axially pcrforated at 22 to accommodate actuating rod 23, one end of which is fixed to plunger 21 and the other end pivotally connected to link 24, said link in turn being pivotally connected to actuating lever 25.

fill

The lever 25 is vertically disposed for transmitting horizontal sliding movement to the plunger 21. The lower end of said lever is pivotally connected at 26 to an adjustable block 2"? while the upper end 25 thereof is free and located in the path of travel of dog 28 suitably mounted on loading skip 38. The block 27 is axially bored and internally threaded forv travel on screw rod 29, which is mounted in bearings 30 and 31 for rotary but not lon 'itudinal movement. Upon turn ing knobs 32 or 33 it is obvious that the block 27 may be caused to travel to the right or left as desired, carrying with it the lever fulcrum 26. A tension spring 34 is secured at one. end to any fixed point, for example,

frame 5, while its other end is secured'to lever 25 at 35 as illustrated. Although the foregoing lever arrangement and ad ust ng means therefor is preferably used and i'sreliable it is obvious that other modified forms will occur to those familiar with the art.

7 Referring now to the primary water supply means,'the present improvements preferably include a'measuring tank of the type described and claimed in thecopending application of George T. Allen, filed Aug. 27, 1926, Serial No. 131,822. Reference may be had to that application for details of construct-i-on. Broadly described this arrangeinent includes a water measuring tank 39 mounted on the loading skip 38, pivotally mounted at 32', having a water supply pipe l0 with a valve 41 controlling the inlet therefrom to the. tank 39. 'Said valve 41 is equipped with an adjustable float 42 on the stem thereof whereby as the water rises in tank 39, the float will function ,to close off the supply. This float 42 may be adjustably positioned along thevalve'stem so that only a predetermined measured amount of water may enter tank As the skip 38 18 elevated by power cable 43, the measured amount of water in the tank is automatically dissolution isobtaine'd. This solution may then betransferred to the storage tank 13 by opening valve, 15, and while the charging operation of the mixer is taking place, an addi-' tional calcium chloride solution may be pre pared in receptacle 6 wlthout interfering with the normal. functioning of the mixer. At this time, tl1e plunger2'l is in the position illustrated, i. e., the left hand portion of reservoir 7 16, and the calcium chloride solution from tank 13 may enter said reservoir under its own head, through check valve 1.9,until the reservoir 16 in advance of the plunger 21 is full and some solution may even enter pipe 18 until the level therein is the same as that in tank 13. j The system for supplying the auxiliary liquid to the mixer is now ready for its adjustments, although the latter may be made prior to the charging of the tank and reservoir, if desired. The adjustableblock 27 may now be set by actuating screw 29and a suitable scale may be provided ifde-sired. Movement of the block 27 will alter the position of the fulcrum 26 thereby correspondingly altering the position ofthe free end of lever 25; It is notable however, that the piston or plunger 21 does not partake of this movement but remains at the left hand limit of itstravel under the urge of spring 34. 'By locating block 27 to the left of its illustrated position the stroke of the plunger is shortened, while locating it totheright of its illustrated position will lengthen the plunger stroke. These adjustments obviously change the angle at which the operating lever 25 stands. I i

The primary liquid supply means, viz.

tank 39, is setto admit thereto the measured amount of water which isto go into the mixer 1 along'withthe dry-aggregates in the skip 38. -The movable pivot 26 is set accordingly, .asthe amount of calcium chloride solution to be added is in a fixed proportion to the measured amount of water in. tank 39. This ratio is usually three gallons ofthe sollltlOll to one cubic yard offconcrete. The amount of Watermeasured in tank 39 is in a fixed proportion to the dry aggregates. In iew of this, it is apparentthat the liquids must be carefully. and accurately measured, both with respect to each other aswell as to the dry ingredient. f I V Upon operation, the skip 38 is raised by cable43 until the dry aggregates in the skip 38 and the water in tank 39 discharge gravityinto the mixer 1. During thismovement, the dog 28. on skip 38 describes an arouate course and contacts the free'end of lever 25 forcing it to the right about fulcrum 26, and at substantially the same time thrusting plunger'2lto the right in opposition to spring 34, thereby positively forcing a quantity of the calcium chloride solutionin reservoir 16 out through pipe 18 into the mixer 1. At this time check'valve '19 closes and prevents rethe length of stroke of the plunger is varied.

' This arrangement thejrefore automatically measures the quantity of solution forcedinto the mixer at each advance stroke of the plungtioned Allen application.

movement of skip 38, withdraws dog 28 and er, one stroke being made each time the loading skip 1s ra1sed.'

Upon return of the skip 38 to lower position for receiving another charge of aggre-' gates, the tank 39 is again automatically charged, by reason of the positive opening of valve 41 as described in the aforemen- This lowering concurrently spring 34 functions to return specifications.

lever 25 and plunger 21 to normal position.

During this movement, the plunger 21 is traveling to the left in reservoir 16, which establishes a suction therein and positively with draws a new supply of solution from tank 13 through valve 19 into the reservoir to be ready for the subsequent discharge therefrom.

It is therefore notable that the volume of the primary water supply may be measured, and the volume of the auxiliary calcium chloride supply may be measured according to Furthermore, the adjustments may be set according to the specifica tions and need not thereafter be attended to, since the entire charging and discharging operations throughout are automatic and op-- erable, without the attention of any operator, under the influence of the movements of the skip 38.

Although the embodiment chosen for illus-- tration for carrying out the present improvements is preferable, it is apparent that other means may be employed. The adjustment of pivot 26 may be accomplished by mechanism other than that illustrated. Furthermore, the measuring of the calcium chloride solution may be accomplished by employing the tank 39 mounted on the skip 38 according to the aforementioned Allen application and the primary water supply means may comprise a measuring tank of known construction lo cated on the frame 4 or 5. The present improvements further contemplate the location of both the Water supply means and the calcium chloride solution supply means on the skip for movement therewith. Such an arrangement may be accomplished by having two tanks 39 on the skips, with the necessary structural details for measuring, included, or a single tank on the skip with a dividing partition therein, forming a water compartment and a calcium chloride compartment.

The present improvements have many advantages which will be apparent to those familiar with the construction and operation of devices of this character. An advantage not apparent resides in the fact that an engineer or inspector may fix the float 42 so as to limit the quantity of water used in each r batch of concrete, and may fix the adjustable block 27 so as to limit the quantity of calcium chloride used in each batch of concrete, and may apply thereto for use in connection therewith a locking device which will insure against the use of an inappropriate quantity of water or calcium chloride. operator also having fixed the position of the float, as well as the position of the adj ustable block, and consequently the quantity of water and calcium chloride solution used with each batch, need give the apparatus no further attention and can be assured that the proportionate quantities will be maintained and discharged automatically into the mixer with each load of solid aggregates.

I claim:

1. The combination with a mixer and a pivotally mounted skip movable from a re ceiving position to a discharging position where it discharges into the mixer, of a liquid measuring mechanism including flow induc- 'ing means for charging and discharging same, adjustable means for controlling said means, all so constructed and arranged to operate under the influence of said skip.

2. In a mixing device, the combination with a mixer, of a movable loading device movable from a receiving position to a discharging position where it discharges into the mixer, liquid supply means for said mixer including av mixing receptacle and a storage tank, common means for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of liquid from said tank and for forcing it to said mixer, said last mentioned means being responsive to raising and lowering movements of said loading device.

3. In a mixing device, the combination with a mixer, of a pivotally mounted skip movable from a receiving position to a discharging position where it discharges into the mixer, liquid supply means for said mixer including a mixing receptacle and a storage tank, adjustable means intermediate said skip and tank for positively incepting the flow of a predetermined quantity of liquid from said tank and positively discharging a measured quantity thereof to said mixer, said last mentioned means being responsive to pivotal movements of said skip.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a mixer, a movable loading device adapted. to receive and discharge dry aggregates into said mixer, a primary liquid supply means adapted to discharge into said mixer, a secondary liquid supply means adapted to discharge into said mixer, both of said means being responsive to movements of said loading device and one of said means comprising positive replenishing and discharging mechanism therefor.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mixer, a movable loading device adapted to receive and discharge dry aggregates into said mixer, a liquid supply means for said mixer including a storage The h tank and a communicating reservoir," a j' vplun'ger'inssaid reservoir and means for actu- ,ating said plunger, operated bysaid loading device. L v

6. In a device of the character described, the comblnation of a mixer, a movable loadingdevice adapted to'receive and discharge dry-aggregates into said mixer, a liquid supply means for said mixer including a storage, tank and a communicating reservoir, plunger: in said reservoir, means for actuating said plunger operated by said loading device and adjustable means for varying the stroke of the plunger. 1

l 7. In combination with a mixer andloading'device therefor, a calcium chloide attachment operable under the influence of one ofithe aforementioned elements and campusing atank for calcium chloride solution, a pump for withdrawing solution from saic tank and conveying same to themixer and adpistable means tor predeternnmng the vol- 1 'ume discharged by said pump.

- actuating means for said plunger, means for adjusting the travel of said plunger, sa1d actuating means being positioned and constructed formovement in response to movements of the loading skip of a concrete mixer. '93 Ina device of the character described he combinationot mixer, a movable loading device adapted to receive and discharge :dry aggregates into said mixer, a primary liquid supply means movable with said load- :ingdevice and adapted to discharge into said mixer, a secondary. liquid supply means adapted to discharge i-ntosaid mixer each of said means including a liquid measuring mechanismand each of said means being automatically operable n response to movements of sa1d loading device.

10. In a deviceof the character describee the combination of a mixer, a pivotally.

mounted skip adapted to receive and discharge dryaggr'egates into said mixer, a primary liquid supply means for said mixer "mounted onsaid skip and adapted to be charged and discharged under the influence of the skip movements, a secondary liquid supply means adapted to'discharge into said mixer, each of said means including a liquid measuring, mechanism and said secondary meansbeing operable in synchronism with said skip. I v V 11. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a mixer, a movable loading device adapted to receive and discharge dry' aggregates .-1nto sa1d mixer, a liquid supply mean'sfor sa1d mixer including a storage tank, a reservoir, a valve controlled conduit communicating between said tank and reservoir, a'valve controlled conduit communicating between said reservoirand mixer, com- ,mon 'mechanical members for alternately withdrawing liquid from said tank to said reservoir and for expelling said liquid-from 'said reservoir to said mixer and actuating means for said members responsive to movements of said loading devlce.

12. The-combination with a mixer, and a movable loading i device therefor, ofrpump means for conveying-liquid from a source, of

supply to said mixer opcrable'in response to raising and lowering movements of said dc? vice whereby movement in one direction-accomplishes a suction stroke and in another direction creates a force stroke.

Witness my hand this 11th day of Septem ber, 1928, County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey. 7 v

I JOHN'R'FABER.

Images