US2811268A

US2811268A - Mobile concrete batcher

Info

Publication number: US2811268A
Application number: US589286A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan J Kayser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-06-04
Filing date: 1956-06-04
Publication date: 1957-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 A. J. KAYSER 2,811,258

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ot. 29, 1957 A. J. KAYsER 2,811,268

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4. 1956 5 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. zM/y /f/xf Oct. 29, 1957 A. J. KAYsER 2,811,268

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Allan J. Kayser, Denver, Colo.

lApplication June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,286

Claims. (Cl. 214-512) This invention relates to fa vconcrete batcher, that is, to -a `device for receiving the proportioned ingredients for a concrete mixture and delivering the said ingredients as a completely proportioned batch to va mobile concrete mixer. Concrete batc'hers 'are usually rather large, heavy, fixed structures located at central points from which the tmobile v'mixers receive, mix and distribute the'concrete. Jobs are often encountered vwhich are not -of suicient lmagnitude -to Warrant the Vexpenditure of the time Vand money required in erection of the usual xed type of batcher, yet transportation of the concrete from the nearest fixed batcher would `be impractical due todistances involved.

The principal -object of the present invention is to provide a highly ethcient, portable concrete batcher `which can be quickly, 1easily and economically taken to widely separated jobs which -can Abe placed into imme- `vdiate use Yupon varrival at the job Vand which will rapidly and efficientlydeliverproportionedibatches -to the mixers 'in closevproxirnity to the job.

Another object of the invention is to provide -'a port- -able batcher which can be trailed behind fany towing vehicle, and which, upon arrivalatthe job, can'be easily and safely lowered to the ground for lirm, substantial Isupport.

A further object is `to provide Va unitary batcher'with -the'use of which sand, gravel, cement, and any other Vdry ingredients can be faccurately weighed to properly proportion the batch and which will elevate `the pro,

.portioned batch sufficiently high for rapid delivery into Vthe receiving chute of a conventional mobile concrete mixer and to provide means for deliveringfthe exact necessary water to Athe mixer 'simultaneously with the delivery ofthe batch.

Other objects and advantagesreside in the detail construction of `the invention, which 's designed for simplicity, economy, and eciency. These `will become 'more apparent :from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had t'o the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts inall vviews of the drawing'and throughoutfth'e description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side'elevationlview of the improved-concrete batch'er, illustrating it insolidlline'in the-lowered,

vportable position, and in broken line inthe elevated,

view, taken on the line 4--4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged, fragmentary, detail, sec- Fig. f 6 is fa schematic piping *diagram illustrating'the Iflow off-hydrauliclluid inthe-improved batcher.

The `i'mprc'sved batcher iis mounted `on 1a #substantially ICC `side of the frame 10.

A retractable ground-engaging wheel 15 is Npositioned lbetween Yeach Ylongitudinal frame member 11 Aand 'the adjacentside ofthe frame 10. Each wheel 15 is mounted in a suitable axle fitting "secured to the mid-portion of a leaf spring 16 by means of suitable spring shackles A17. The rear extremity of v'each leaf spring 16 is hingedly mounted on 'a spring hinge'shaft 18 aiiixed to and extending between Aa Alongitudinal frame member 11and one side Vof the frame 10. The forward extremity of each spring v16 Yis detachably mounted upon `a removable spring pin 19 extending through spring ears 20 welded or otherwise secured 'to the adjacent platform -plate V14.

It can be seen that when the `spring pins 19 are in place, the wheels will be in the traveling position of Fig. l and 'the `supporting frame vwill `be resiliently vsupported on the springs v16. If the Ipins 19 are withdrawn,

however, the frame Acan descend, `due to the .hinge mountin'gs fof the springs 16 'upon `the hinge shafts "18 until it rests fflat upon the ground.

During transportation, the Aforward extremity of .the iframe v101is `supported Efrom the towing-vehicle lby means of -a suitable A-shaped tongue structure 2,1 which is re- Amovably mounted-on -withdrawabletongue pins, 22extend- .ing `through tongue clips Y23 welded to Ithe :frontof the frame 10. VA 'forward hydraulic jack 24 vand Aa rear hyforce fplungers 26 downwardly intok contact with .the

.ground surface.

The supporting frame `'is transferred from the .portable `position to the xed position by firstjactuating the forward jack T24 to cause its plunger 426 `to engage the Vgroundiso as 'to relieve the load onthetonguestructure 21. The ltongue pins 22- are then Withdrawn and the tongue structure '21 isrrernoved. The forward extremity of the frame 10 is now lowered tothe ground lby reverse actuation ofthe jack 24. The rearjac`k25 is now actuated to cause its plunger v26 to engage the ground so as to relieve the load on the wheels 15. The spring pins 19 are now withdrawn and the rearjack 25 is reversely actuated-tolowerthe rear extremity of `the frame 1'0 to the ground.

A vertical hydrauliccylinder 27 is l'supportedn each platform plate 1'4. Each'hydraulic 'cylinder is :provided with. an upper anged'collar -28 which is welded or otherwise secured thereto adjacent the top thereof. Four elongated tie .bolts '29 provided'with 'the-usual nuts 30 extend between `the'flange of each-collar '28'and1theplatform plate therebelowjby'means-of which the hydraulic cylinders are ixedly clamped against Vthe .platform plates 14.

Eachl of the collars `28is provided with'two ,oppositelyprojecting stay rod ears 31 and an inclined vturnbuckletype -stayrod 32 ismountedon eachear 31lby means of a mounting "bolt 33. The inclined stayrods 32 `extend `downwardlytoattachment Vears 34 formed on the for- 'ward-andfrear extremitiesof leach side m'emberof the frame lltland actto rigidly maintain the hydraulic cylin- 'ders 27 inifxedvertical'positions.

A tubular'hydraulic plunger'BS is sli'dably mountedin each hydraulic cylinder 27 and extends thereabove to receive a removable, inverted, cup-shaped cap 36. A cross beam 37, preferably T-shaped in cross-section, extends between the two caps 36 and is welded to the latter at its extremities. The cross beam 37 is rigidly braced at each of its extremities and at an angle of 90 to the axis of the caps 36 by means of a first pair of gusset plates 38 which are welded to both sides of the cross beam 37 and to the adjacent cap 36.

An inclined hanger bar 39 is welded at its upper extremity to each gusset plate 38 andextends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. Each hanger bar 39 is rigidly fixed at an angle of substantially 45 with the plane of the plates 38 by means of a second pair of gusset plates 40 welded to both sides of the hanger bar and 'to the adjacent gusset plate 38, and the beam 37. lt can be seen that the above structure provides two hanger bars extending oppositely outward in A-shaped relation from each extremity of the cross beam 37.

The lower extremities of the four hanger bars are welded or otherwise fxedly secured to a rectangular, horizontal hopper frame 41. A triangular hopper plate is secured to and extends downwardly and inwardly from each side of the hopper frame 41 to form an inverted, pyramidal hopper 42. The rear hopper plate is cut back to form a four-sided throat opening 43 in the bottom of the hopper 42, from the two sides and front of which skirt plates 44 depend to direct and confine discharging material.

The material discharging through the throat opening 43 piles upon an inclined conveyor belt 45 positioned therebelow. The conveyor belt is trained between terminal conveyor rollers 46 mounted in the extremities of an inclined conveyor frame 47. The midportion of the upper reach of the conveyor belt 45 is supported upon suitable idler rollers 48 journalled in the conveyor frame 47.

The conveyor frame is xedly supported and suspended from the hopper frame 41 and its hopper 42 at an angle of substantially in any desired manner. As illustrated, the forward extremity of the conveyor frame 47 is'supported from the hopper 42 upon suitable hanger struts 49, and the rear extremity of the conveyor frame 47 is supported from the hopper frame 41 through the medium of suitable turnbuckle rods 50.

The conveyor belt 45 can be driven in any desired manner. It is preferred, however, to employ a conventional hydraulic motor the position of which is indicated at 51 in Fig. 2, provided with a conventional speed re ducer positioned at 52, to deliver power to the lower conveyor roller 46. The hydraulic motor 51 and the speed reducer 52 are conventional and are iixedly mounted on the conveyor frame 47 in any desired manner so as to move integrally therewith. Hydraulic fluid for operating the motor S1 is conducted thereto by means of exible hoses, such as illustrated diagrammatically at 73 in Fig. 6, to allow freedom of movement.

Hydraulic pressure for actuating the plungers in the hydraulic cylinders 27, the

jacks

24 and 25, and the hydraulic motor 51 can be supplied from any suitable source. For convenience in portability, the hydraulic fluid is preferably supplied from a hydraulic fluid reservoir 53 mounted in the frame 10, and the pumping power is supplied from a portable gas engine, as indicated at 54, secured on an engine platform plate y55 mounted on the frame 10. The engine 54 drives two hydraulic pumps 56 and a water pump 57 through the medium of conventional V-belts 5S.

For clarity of illustration the various hydraulic and water pipes, tubes and hoses have been omitted from the illustrations and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. The ilow` of hydraulic huid is controlled by means of suitable conventional hydraulic valves positioned conveniently for the operator. As illustrated, a hydraulic valve 59 controls the ilow to and from the forward jack 24; a

'plies water from any suitable source of supply through a water valve 63 and a water meter 64 to a discharge nozzle 65 supported at the upper rearward extremity of the conveyor frame 47.

It can be seen that if concrete-forming ingredients are dumped into the hopper 42, they will pile upon and will be prevented from llowing through the throat opening 43 by the conveyor belt 45 positioned therebelow. if, however, hydraulic lluid be admitted to the hydraulic motor 51, the upper reach of the conveyor belt 45 will travel from below the throat opening 43 to carry the material upwardly and rearwardly on the conveyor belt 45, from which it will be discharged over the upper conveyor roller 46.

The weight of the ingredients in the hopper is indicated at all times upon a conventional dial-type weighing scale 67 mounted upon a scale plate 71 at the rear of the frame 1i) within easy view of an operator stationed at the hydraulic control valves. The scale 67 indicates weight placed upon a scale platform 68 which is mounted within the platform scale opening 13. The operating connections between the scale platform 68 and the scale 67 are any of the conventional platform scale mechanisms presently in use and need not be described in detail here.

The weight of the hopper 42 and its contents is transferred to the scale platform 68 by means of hoppersupporting legs 69 which extend downwardly to a rectangular base frame 70 below the hopper. Thus, when Ythe hopper is in its fully lowered position, the base frame 70 will rest on the scale platform 68 so that the weight of the ingredients being placed in the hopper will be indicated upon the dial scale 67.

It will be understood that for charging the hopper with its properly proportioned ingredients the valve 61 is operated to release the pressure in hydraulic cylinders 27 to permit the plungers 55 to descend so that the base plate of the hopper rests on scale platform 68. In this position the hopper is free from support by plungers 35 by reason of the loose mounting of caps 36 over the tops V of the plungers.

In use, the improved batcher is positioned below any suitable ramp or loading platform which will enable the delivery vehicles to deliver the sand, gravel, cement, and any other ingredients into the hopper. As each ingredient is being supplied to the hopper, the operator watches the dial scale 67 and stops the supply in the proper proportion. When all of the ingredients have been placed in the hopper, the valve 61 is operated to admit hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders 27 to force the plungers 35 upwardly therein to elevate the hopper and its connected conveyor mechanism to the broken line position of Fig. l.

The feed hopper of a conventional mobile concrete mixer is positioned below the discharge extremity of the conveyor belt 45, and the valve 62 is actuated to admit hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor 51 to initiate operation of the conveyor belt 45 to deliver the batch to the concrete mixer in a continuous stream. The water valve 63 is then opened and a predetermined amount of water, metered by the Water meter 64 is delivered to the mixer through the discharge nozzle 65. The mobile concrete mixer is then driven away and the

valves

61 and 62 are operated to stop the conveyor and to lower the hopper onto the scale platform 68 to receive the next succeeding batch.

Itis desired to call attention to the fact that the hopper land conveyor structure are notattached to the plungers 35, and a hoist can be attached tothe crossbeam 37 to lift the caps 36 from the plungers 35 so that the entire hopper and its attached structure may be set aside, supported on the base frame 70, or it may be handled and transported separately from the frame and its superstructure. With the hopper removed, the platform scale can be used for any desired weighing purposes independently of the batching mechanism.

It is preferred to provide side boards 66 for the conveyor belt 45 to prevent materials from over-owing the sides of the conveyor.

For convenience, it has been found advisable to support the hydraulic pump 56 above the water pump 57 upon a pump supporting bracket 72.

While a specic form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A concrete batching device comprising: a horizontally positioned supporting frame; means for connecting the forward extremity of said frame to a towing vehicle; wheels supporting the rear extremity of said frame; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each side of said frame; a hydraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; a batch hopper positioned between said cylinders; means supporting said hopper from said two plungers; means yfor admitting hydraulic fluid into said cylinders to cause said plungers to elevate said hopper; means for delivering material from said hopper when the latter is in the elevated position; two hydraulic jacks mounted respectively centrally fore and aft on said frame, means for adjusting the forward jack to lower the forward side of the frame to the lground, means for admitting hydraulic fluid to the rear jack to raise the rear side of the frame so as to lift the wheels free from the ground, and means for releasing said wheels to move upwardly freely relative to said frame so that the latter may rest upon the ground when the hydraulic pressure is released from the rear jack.

2. A concrete hatching device comprising: a horizontally positioned supporting frame; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each side of said frame; a hydraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; a batch hopper positioned between said cylinders; means supporting said hopper freely from said two plungers; means for admitting hydraulic tluid simultaneously into said cylinders to cause said plungers to elevate said hopper; means for delivering material from said hopper when the latter is in the elevated position; a weighing scale platform supported in said supporting frame; and means for transmitting the weight of said hopper to said scale platform free from supporting engagement by said plungers when said hopper is in the lowered position to weigh the ingredients within said hopper.

3. A concrete hatching device as described in claim 2 having an inclined belt conveyor device; and means suspending said conveyor device from and below said hopper so as to move as a unit therewith, said hopper having a discharge throat positioned to deliver material to the lower extremity of said conveyor.

4. A concrete batching device comprising: a horizontally positioned supporting frame; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each side of said frame; a hyldraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; a batch hopper positioned Ibetween said cylinders; means supporting said hopper from said two plungers; means for admitting hydraulic duid simultaneously into said cylinders to cause said plungers to elevate said hopper; means for delivering material from said hopper when the latter is in the elevated position; a base frame mounted on said hopper and extending downwandly therefrom; a weighing scale supported in said supporting frame upon which said hopper base frame rests free from supporting engagement by said plungers when said hopper is in its lowered position; and weight-indicating means actuated in consequence of said weight-supporting means.

' 5. A concrete `batcher as defined in claim l, in which said batch hopper is removable from said device by lifting said cross beam olf said plungers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,771 Young May 24, 1927 2,204,053 Fivecoate et al. July 9, 1940 2,312,806 Ellen Mar. 2, 1943 2,325,445 Wagner July 27, 1943 2,348,880 Berg et al. May 16, 1944 2,547,403 Madsen Apr. 3, 1951 2,739,804 Funderburk Mar. 27, 1956