US2257161A - Distributing chute for concrete mixers - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1941.

L. H. DRAEGER DISTRIBUTING 0mm: FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l I L/Uyd H Dru-@175 Sept. 30, 1941. L. H. DRAEGER 2,257,161

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 L/Uyd Sept. 30, 1941. L. H. DRAEGER 2 ,1

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed May 16, 1940 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 L/Uyd H. Brag Patented Sept. v30, 1941 DISTRIBUTING onu'rs FOR CONCRETE mxnns Lloyd H. Draeger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignmto The T. L. Smith Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,507

7 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete mixers, and refers particularly to the distributing chutes with which transit mixers are now generally equipped.

Transit type concrete mixers, as is well known, have mixing drums rotatably mounted on truck chasses. In the typeof transit mixer to which this invention pertains, the drum is emptied through a discharge opening located at the rear of the unit by reversing the direction of drum rotation as distinguished from tilting the drum.

It is always desirable to have the discharge opening as high as possible, as this permits chuting the concrete over a wider area. However, there are practical limits to the height of the drum and its discharge opening. Even in the specific type of transit mixer to which this invention is directly pertinent, wherein the drum axis is inclined upwardly toward the rear, the height of the discharge opening is a limiting factor in establishing the effective height of the distributing chute.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and novel manner of mounting a distributing chute at the rear end of a transit type concrete mixer by which a higher effective height is obtained for the distributing chute. This increased height naturally makes possible a wider range of adjustments for the chute inclination;

To fully utilize this wide range of adjustment, the present invention has, as another of its objects, the provision of a quickly adjustable supporting strut by which the lower end of the chute is firmly held at any one of a wide variety of elevations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting strut for the distributing chutes of truck mixers and the like, which is self-contained and has no removable parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strut for the purpose described which, in addition to the range of adjustment afforded by complementary telescoped elements, has an additional adjustment provided by hingedly connecting component sections of the strut.

Still another object of this invention is to provide simple latch means for holding the hingedly connected strut sections either in end to end relation or folded upon each other.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particcomplete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a truck mixer illustrating the application of this invention thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the distributing chute and its supporting structure;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the truck mixer illustrating the distributing chute in it's transit position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail, viewshowing the strut sections folded upon each other;

Figure 5 is a detail'view, partly in section, of the hinged connection between the strut'sections;

Figure 6 is a' view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the strut sections disposed in end to end relation;

-Figure 7 is a detail view showing the manner in which the chute may be lengthened by an additional end section;

Figure ,8 is a diagrammatic side view similar to Figure 2 butillustrating more particularly the relationship between the stationary discharge spout and the movable distributing chute at the limits of its vertical adjustment; and

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the upper end of the distributing chute and illustrating the relationship of the fixed spout thereto.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates a. concrete mixer of the type shown in Patent No. 2,029,126, issued January 28, 1936, to Adolph W. Rybeck for Mixing apparatus.

The mixer is mounted on the chassis of a truck I 6, with the discharge end I of 'its drum located at the rear of the truck to pour into a funnel-like spout'l' upon reversing the direction of drum rotation. The spout I is supported in fixed position from the frame of the mixer with its lower end at a substantial elevation above the ground.

Positioned beneath the spout I to receive the concrete discharged therefrom is a distributing chute 8. This chute consists of a main chute section 9 hingedly connected at its extreme upper end, as at ill, to a supporting link II. The supporting link II is swiveled in a bracket l2 carried by the frame of the mixer and is inclined as shown to bring the pivot Ill a substantial disularly defined by the appended claims, it being tance away from the vertical axis of the bracket 1: about'which the entire structure swivels. and which is substantially in line with the mouth of the spout I.

This arrangement, as will be readily apparent from Figures 8 and 9, utilizes the available space beneath the spout 'I' to the best advantage. One

bracket I2 is in line with the mouth of the spout 1' and a substantial part of the chute overhangs this axis, part of the chute is always in position to receive the concrete pouring from the spout; and by having the hinge III at the extreme upper end of the chute and spaced from the axis of the bracket l2, maximum effective discharge height for the chute is obtained.

The outer or lower end of the chute section 9 is supported by an adjustable strut indicated generally by the numeral l3. One end of this strut is hingedly-connected, as at it, to the support ll beneath the bracket 12. The other end of the strut is hingedly connected, as at IE, to the underside of the chute section 9:

The strut consists essentially of an inner section It andvan outer section I! hingedly connected as at l8. The inner section It comprises telescoped parts I 8 and 20 adapted to be secured in different relative positions by means of a removable pin 2| positionable in any one of a plurality of holes 22 in the part l9. The pin 2| provides an adjustable stop against which the part It bears, as will be readily apparent.

The strut sections it and I! being hingedly connected, may be moved from a position of end to end relation, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, to a position folded upon each other, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Obviously, when the strut sections are in end to and relation, the strut is capable of maximum length; and when the strut sections are folded upon each other, minimum strut length may be obtained.

'I'o releasably hold the strut sections in either of their two relative positions, a latch, indicated generally by the numeral 23, is provided.v This latch consists of a bar 24 having one end portion slidably mounted in a guide 25 fixed to the end strut section l1 and having its opposite operative end secured in a lateral extension 28 of a collar 21 which is slidable on the strut section II.

A compression spring 28 yieldingly urges the collar 21 and the operative end of the bar to their outermost positions defined by a stop pin 29 carried by the bar and bearing against the guide 25. Handles 30 extending from the collar 21 provide means for compressing'the spring and releasing the latch.

When the strut sections are in end to end relation, the operative end of the latch bar projects over the adjacent end of the strut section It to releasably hold the sections in this position; and

when the strut sections arefolded upon each other, as shown in Figure 4,.the operative end of thelatchbarengagesakeeperil ilxedtothe underside of the chute section 9.

desired, an outer chute section I2 may be hinged to the section 9, as shown in Figure '1. If such meets these requirean outer chute section is provided, it is folded down over the main section 1 during transit.

The carryingor transit position of the chute I structure, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, is the lowered position with the chute section Q substantially on an angle of 45 with the horizontal and swung to one extreme position on its vertical axis so as to lie transversely of the truck. In this position, the chute does not project beyond the sides of the mixer unit, and may be secured against the back of the truck in any suitable manner to preclude outward swinging motion thereof during travel of the truck.

From the foregoing description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that thisinvention provides a distributing chute structur for transit truck mixers having many advantages, among which a high effective discharge height and freedom from loose parts are outstanding,

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a concrete mixer of the transit type: a distributing chute adapted to receive and distribute the material dischargedfrom the mixer; a support for the chute mounted from the supporting structure of the mixer; a hinge connection between said support and the chute so positioned that the outer end of the chute may be raised and lowered; an adjustable strut connecting the outer end portion of the chute with said support, said strut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted tobe disposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length and tobe folded upon each other for shorter strut length; and latch means for holding said sections in end to end relation.

2. In combination: a chute;. means hingedly supporting the chute near one end thereof; an

adjustable strut for supporting the opposite end thereof at various heights with relation to the first designated end of the chute, said strut comprising, hingedly connected sections, a hinge connection between the outer end of the outermost section and the chute enabling said strut sections to be swung from a position of substantially axial alignment to a position at which said end section overlies the adjacent wail of the chute and is folded upon the other strut section; and

releasable latch means for holding said strut sections in end to end' relation and/or holding said end strut section in its position overlying the chute. Y

3. In combination with a distributing chute mounted to have its discharge end raised and lowered: an adjustable strut for supporting the discharge end of the chute at tions adapted to be disposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length'and to be folded. 1

upon each other for shorter strut length; means hingedly connecting the outer end of the outer one of said sections with the chute so that said outer section may be moved to a. position lying other section when said sections are in end to end relation to releasably hold said sections in such end to end relation; and a keeper on the While the objects of the inventionare achieved chute to receive said end portion of the latch different elevations, said strut having hingedly connected secwhen said sections are folded upon each other. 4. In a concrete mixer2' a chute for distributing materials discharged by the mixer; a support for the distributing chute mounted from the supporting structure of the mixer, said support including pivot means oscillatabl on a vertical axis; a hinge connection between one end of said pivot means and one end portion of the chute so positioned that the other end portion of the chute may be raised and lowered; an adjustable strut connecting said other end portion of the chute with the opposite end of the pivot means, said strut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted to be disposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length and to be folded upon each other for shorter strut length; and latch means for holding said sections in end to end relation.

5. In a concrete mixer of the transit type: a distributing chute adapted to receive and distribute the material dischargedfrom the mixer; a support for the chute mounted from the supporting structure of the mixer; a hinge connection between said support and the chute so positioned that the outer end of the chute may be raised and lowered; an adjustable strut connecting the outer end portion of the chute with said support, said strut comprising hingedly connected sections adapted to be disposed in end to end relation for maximum strut length and to be folded upon each other for shorter strut length; and latch means for holding said sections in end to end relation, said latch means including a spring pressed latch bolt carried by one of the sections and having a portion projectible to a position preventing relative angular movement of said hingedly connected sections out of end to end relationship.

6. In a transit mixer: a mixing drum of the type wherein revolution in one direction effects mixture of its contents while revolution in the opposite direction effects discharge of its contents through an open end of the drum; means mounting the drum for revolution about an axis inclined rearwardly and upwardly with its open end'elevated so that the discharge of the drum contents is effected at a high elevation; a short spout arranged to receive material discharged from the drum and to direct the same downwardly in a defined stream, the bottom end of said spout determining the maximum height available 'for distribution of the mixed material; a swivel bearing disposed at an elevation substantially lower than that of the bottom of the spout and substantially in line with a stream of materials poured from the spout; an arm rotatably supported by the swivel bearing to revolve on a vertical axis in line with the stream of materials poured from the spout and having its upper extremity disposed above the swivel bearing and to one side of said vertical axis so that said extremity of the arm is rotatable in an orbit close to the bottom of the spout and circumscribing said vertical axis and a stream of materials poured from the spout; a distributing chute for receiving materials poured from the spout and conveying the same to a selected point; means hingedly connecting the extremity of the receivingend of the chute with said extremity of the arm and mounting the chute for vertical adjustment on a vertical plane passing through the swivel' bearing to dispose the chute under the spout to intercept materials poured from the spout, said location of the hinge connection giving the extremity of the receiving end of the chute the fixed elevation of said orbit which is close to the bottom of the spout to thus utilize the available discharge height to the fullest extent and enabling vertical adjustment of the chute from a position of steep downward inclination to a substantially horizontal position without interference from the spout, the drum and/or its supporting structure while the extremity of the receiving end of the chute is freely rotatable about the vertical axis of the swivel connection as defined by said orbit; and means for adjust ably supporting the discharge end of the chute.

7. In a transit mixer: a mixing drum revoluble on a rearwardly upward inclined axis, said drum having substantially a truncated cone shape with the truncated apex open and disposed at the rear and the angle of inclination of the drum axis so related to the taper of the drum side wall that the top of the drum is substantially horizontal so as to dispose the open rear end at the maximum height of the drum; said drum being of the type wherein revolution in one direction efiects discharge of its contents through the open rearend of the drum; a spout having a funnellike collecting portion at the open rear end of the drum to receive materials discharged therefrom and direct the same downwardly in a defined stream, the bottom of the spout being closely adjacent to the lower edge of the open end of the drum and defining the maximum height available for distribution of the material; a distributing chute; and means swiveled on a ver tical axis in line with a stream of material poured from the 'spout for movably mounting the receiving end of the distributing chute whereby the chute is adapted for vertical and horizontal adjustment with the extremity of its receiving end held at a fixed elevation closely adjacent to the bottom of the spout so as to utilize to the fullest extent the height available for distribution of the material and with the extremity of the receiving end of the chute rotatable in an orbit circumscribing said vertical axis and the chute intersecting said axis so as to be at all times in position to receive materials from the spout regardless of its position of vertical or horizontal ad- J'ustment.

LLOYD H. DRAEGER.

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