US3008432A

US3008432A - Vehicle for transporting concrete

Info

Publication number: US3008432A
Application number: US344958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maxwell F Kemper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-03-27
Filing date: 1953-03-27
Publication date: 1961-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1961 M F. KEMPER 3,008,432

VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Filed March 27, 19,53 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

5 INVENTOR.

MAXWELL E EEMPEQ,

Ar roe/way.

Nov. 14, 1961 M. F. KEMPER 3,00

VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Filed March 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jy p 5.

' I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIII I 11 I'll! II'IIIIA mum mm Patented Nov. I4, 1961 3,008,432 VEHICLE FQR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE Maxwell F. Kemper, 3701 Overland Ave,

Los Angeles 34, Calif. Filed Mar. 27, H53, Ser. No. 344,953 13 Claims. ($1. 105180) This invention relates to vehicles for conveying concrete and more particularly to cars known as placers for transporting concrete into tunnels to be lined with concrete.

Placers for this purpose are shown in my United States Letters Patent Numbers 2,313,826, issued March 16, 1943; 2,534,270, issued December 19, 1950; and 2,565,029, issued August 21, 1951.

In the use of these placers a train thereofloaded with concrete is run on tracks into the tunnel Where the placers are unloaded by successively connecting them with a conduit through which the concrete is forced by compressed air to the lining forms.

The tracks on which the placers are moved, particularly the tracks in the tunnels, are temporary and in many places are not level. Consequently, the placers during transit over such tracks are subjected to tilting and vibratory movements causing agitation of the fluent concrete carried thereby. This agitation is objectionable as it tends to cause segregation of the components of the concrete.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle such as described, which may be advanced over uneven track without causing objectionable tilting of the vessel thereon containing the concrete and consequent segregation of the components of the concrete.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carrier or placer such as described which readily lends itself to being quickly and easily coupled to the concrete dis charge conduit and compressed air supply lines regardless of being tilted sidewise, forwardly or rearwardly, or the coupling unit thereon being disposed at difiierent levels as a result of variational loading of the placers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a placer such as described which has an exceptionally low center of gravity, thereby lessening the tilting and agitating moment and making it possible to provide thereon a large capacity concrete carrying vessel whereby the placer is adapted for efiicient use in small bore tunnels.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide in a placer such as described a novel spring suspension arrangement for a concrete carrying vessel, which minimizes tilting of the vessel and agitation of the concrete as well as contributes to the other advantages of this invention herein set forth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of the truck unit of a placer such as described which eliminates the use of axles extending across the carrier, makes possible a low disposition of the vessel and associated parts, and provides for independent vertical yielding movement of the wheels on the respective sides of the truck unit to compensate for uneven track and reduce objectionable tilting of the carrier.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel running gear for a placer such as described, wherein a pair of truck units each having a pair of wheels for engaging but one of the two rails of the track, are independently spring mounted, whereby each unit is subject to a fore and aft rocking movement as Well as a bodily movement vertically relative to the other pair, to compensate for irregularities in the track and prevent objectionable jolting and tilting of the concrete carrying vessel.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown one form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention;

but it is to be understood that this detailed descriptionis not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a placer embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substan tially on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, a concrete carrier or placer embodying the present invention generally comprises a frame 8 mounted on front and rear wheels 9 adapted to be run on the rails of a track 10, such for example as maybe laid in a tunnel to be lined with concrete. The frame 8 supports a vessel or container in the form of a hopper 11 adapted to contain concrete for delivery under air pres-sure through a conduit 12 to the point where the concrete is to be poured. The conduit 12 is adapted to be detachably coupled to the placers whereby successive placers of a train thereof may be coupled to the conduit.

It is desired that the carrier be capable of movement over uneven or irregular track without being jolted and tilted to the extent that the resultant agitation will cause segregation of the components of the concrete.

It is also desired that the carrier be constructed of low height but with a large capacity for carrying concrete whereby the carrier may be efficiently used in small bore tunnels.

Accordingly, the placer of this invention is constructed to minimize jolting, tilting and agitation of the concrete during conveyance thereof and to provide a larger than usual concrete capacity in a placer of low height adapted for operation in small bore tunnels.

As here shown, the frame 8 supporting the hopper 11 is mounted on a pair of identical truck units 14. These truck units are mounted so that each is yieldable relative to the other and with respect to the frame in a generally vertical direction to prevent jolting, tiling and vibratory movements of the hopper such as would cause agitation and separation of components of the concrete carried in the hopper when moving the carrier over uneven or irregular portions of the track.

Each of the truck units 14 includes an elongated wheelsupporting member 15, mounting adjacent the ends thereof a pair of the front and rear wheels 9 for engaging one rail of the track 10.

The weight of the frame 8 and the vessel or hopper 11 is sustained by coiled springs 16 interposed between the members 15 of the truck units 14 and the frame 8 in a manner providing for relative fore and aft rocking movement of the truck units as well as for bodily yielding movement thereof in a vertical direction, to prevent such tilting and vibration of the frame 8 and hopper 11 as would cause the aforesaid objectionall jolting and tilting of the carrier.

The frame 8 is rigid and of open rectangular form, being fabricated as here shown, of steel plate stock to provide like elongated side members 17 rigidly joined at 3 their ends to front and rear end members 18 and 18a respectively.

The truck units 14 extend parallel with the side members 17 of the frame 8 in inwardly spaced relation thereto, being spaced from one another according to the gauge of the track, which in the present showing is of narrow.

gauge.

The end members 18 and 18a of theframe 8 are provided with pairs of inwardly extended opposed guide 7 members 19' and 20 welded thereto for vertically slidably confining the ends of the Wheel supporting members 15 therebetween and thereby connecting the truck units 14 with the frame for relative vertical movement. The guide members 19 are spaced from the'inner sides of the frame members 17 a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the members 19 and 2d of each pair from one another. nation with the side members 17 of the frame 8, constitute means providing at each end of the frame, a pair of laterally spaced inner guide pockets 19a formed between the

members

19 and 20, as well as a pair of outer guide pockets 26a formed between the side members 17 and the guide members 19. When thecarrier is used on the narrow gauge track as here shown, the ends of the wheel supporting members are mounted in the inner guide pockets 19a. For a wider gauge track the outer guide pockets 26a are employed for mounting themembers 15 in the same manner as these members are mounted in the inner pockets 1%.

The wheel supporting member 15 of each track unit is in the form of an inverted channel in which front and rear wheels 9 are mounted on short axles 21 journalled between opposed sides of the member 15. This arrangement makes it unnecessary to employ axles extending across the frame and providing for the desired low dispositionvof the hopper 11 and the discharge conduit extending from the lower end of the hopper. Suitable reinforcing webs 22 are welded between opposed sides of each member 15 .to strengthen it.

Box-like sockets 23 open at their upper ends are formed at the ends of the members 15 in any suitable manner for. ,receptionof the springs 16. These springs extend upwardly from the sockets 23 between the

guide plates

19 and 20, with their upper ends in abutting relation to the under sides of horizontal flanges 17:: extending inwardly from the upper edges of the side members 17 of the frame 8,:thereby'yieldably supporting the frame 87 As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower ends of the springs 16 rest upon the bottom walls 23a of the sockets 23, being centered in the sockets on a hollow pin 25 fixed to the bottom walls.

T-bolts 26 extend through springs 16 and have their T- heads 26a disposed for limited vertical sliding movement to the hollow pins 25. These bolts extend upwardly through the upper ends of the hollow pins 25 through openings affording a clearance suitable to enable limited angular movement of the bolts. These bolts 26 also extend through ove-rsized openings 27 in the flanges 17a. Nuts 28 are threaded on the upper ends of these bolts so as to contact the upper side of the flanges 17a. Protective caps 29 are welded to the nuts 28 and cover the upper endsrof the bolts.- The tension of the springs 16 may be varied by appropriate turning of the caps 29 and the bolts secured thereto. The T-heads 26a on the bolts engage in vertical slots- 25a formed interiorly of the pins 25. to prevent turning of the bolts while permit ting limited vertical movement thereof. In addition, the vertical slots 25a afllord adequate clearance, as seen in FIG. 6, to enable slight angular movement of the bolts 26. With this arrangement of springs, bolts, and nuts the truck units 14 and frame are connected for limited relative vertical movement-with the clearances between bolt heads 26a and hollow pins 25 and between the shanks of the bolts 26 and the flanges 17a providing for Thus, the guide members 19 and in combirelative rocking movement of the truck units in a vertical plane.

The ends of the wheel supporting members 15 of the truck units 14 are spaced from contact with the inner surfaces of the end members 18 and 13a and prevented from binding thereagainst incident to rocking movement of the truck units by means of transverse spacer bars 30 welded to the members 15 and having small rounded surfaces for slidably engaging the end members 18.

The vessel or hopper 11 is provided with an inlet 31 at its upper end subject to be opened and closed by closure means 32 corresponding to the closure means claimed in my US. Letters Patent No. 2,565,029.

The lower portion of the hopper 11. is conical and extends between and beneath the side members 17 of the frame 8. Opposite sides of the conical portion of the hopper are engaged with seat members 34 welded on the upper sides of the flanges 17a on the side members 17. These seat members have arcuate surfaces 35 conforming to the curvature of the conical portion of the hopper and welded thereto.

The discharge opening 36 at the lower end of'the hopper communicates the interior of the hopper with a pressure chamber 37 formed in a conduit 38 secured to the lower end of the hopper as well as to thelend member 18 at the front end of the frame 3.

As it is desired to provide a low center of gravity in this placer, the two wheel supporting members 15 of the trucks 14 are of reduced height between their ends, 7

as shown in FIG. 4, to accommodate a low disposition of the conical portion of the hopper 11 with the lower end thereof and the chamber 37 below the upper sides of the reduced portions of the members 15 and centered between the latter as well as between the front and rear wheels.

Concrete carried in the hopper 11 will gravitate into the pressure chamber 37 from which it may be forced by compressed air through a discharge section 38a of the conduit 38 which latter extends through the front end member 18. The conduit 12. is adapted to be coupled to the discharge section 38a by means of coupling units 4% and 40a on the conduit 12 and the front end member 18 respectively. for coupling the carrier with compressed air supply lines 41 and 42.

The compressed air directed through the lines 41 and 42 passes through nozzles 43 on the coupling unit 40 into an intake chamber 44 which is a part of the coupling unit dtla on the carrier. From the intake chamber 44, the air passes through a pipe 45 leading to a manifold 46 at one end of the conduit 38. From this manifold the air is directed through a port 47 into the chamber 37. A valve 4-8 normally closed by a spring loaded actuating means 49 is operable to control the volume of air entering the chamber 37. A flap valve 51 in the conduit section 38a is operable to close the conduit section to prevent escape of concrete before coupling the conduit 38a to the delivery conduit 12'.

Coupling units 51 and 52 at opposite ends of the frame 8 provide for coupling the placer to another placer to form a train for movement into and out of the tunnel.

It will now be apparent that by reason of the construction and arrangement of the frame 8, the springs 16, and

the two independently mounted truck units 14, provision is made for a stabilized transportation of a large capacity concrete-carrying vessel or hopper in a placer of low height and low center of gravity, whereby the tilting moment and agitation of the vessel or hopper are minimized and segregation of components of the concrete is prevented. Thus, with a carrier embodying the invention, a most eiflcient lining of tunnels with concrete, particularly tunnels of small bore, may be carried out.

It should be noted that although the vehicle of this invention is particularly adapted for transporting concrete,

it may be used to advantage for other vehicular purposes.

These coupling units also provide where it is desired to minimize jolting and vibration as provided herewith.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle of the character described: a load supporting frame; a pair of opposed wheel-supporting members extending generally in the direction of travel of the vehicle; wheels mounted on each of said wheel supporting members; and means operatively connected with said frame and said wheel-supporting members mounting said frame on said wheel supporting members with said wheel-supporting members positioned for independent bodily movement relative to said frame in a substantially vertical plane as well as for independent rocking movement relative to said frame in said plane, said means including springs interposed between said frame and said wheel supporting members and sustaining the load of said frame.

2. In a vehicle of the character described: a load supporting frame; and means for yieldably supporting said frame including a pair of elongated wheel supporting members; a pair of wheels on each of said members; means mounting each member on said frame for movement in a vertical plane relative to the other member ineluding a pair of springs interposed between said members and said frame; means for limiting vertical movement of said members relative to said frame; and means for adjusting said last named means to vary the tension of said springs.

3. In a vehicle of the character described: a loadsustaining frame; a pair of laterally opposed elongated wheel supporting members extending in the general direction of movement of the vehicle; a pair of wheels on each of said members; cooperating means on said frame and each of said'm'embers respectively, maintaining each member and said frame connected for relatively bodily and rocking movements in a substantially vertical plane; and spring means resisting said relative movements between each member and said frame.

4. In a vehicle such as described: a load-supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel-supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said end members and end portions of said wheel-supporting members being opposed for slidable engagement with one another; guide means on said frame embracing portions of said wheel supporting members for maintaining said frame and wheel supporting members connected for relative movement in a substantially vertical plane; a pair of wheels mounted at longitudinally spaced points on each of'said wheel supporting members; and spring means between each wheel supporting member and said frame resisting relative movement therebetween.

5. In a vehicle such as described: a load-supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel-supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said end members and end portions of said wheel-supporting members being opposed for slidable engagement with one another; guide means on said frame engageable with opposite sides of each wheel-supporting member for maintaining said frame and wheel supporting members connected for relative movement in a substantially vertical plane; a pair of wheels mounted at longitudinally spaced points on each of said wheel-supporting members; and springs interposed between the ends of each wheel supporting member and said frame for resisting said relative movement between each wheel supporting member and said frame.

6. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said end members and end portions of said wheel-supporting members being opposed for slidable engagement with one another; guide means on said frame depending therefrom on opposite sides of end portions of each wheel-supporting member for maintaining said frame and each of said wheel supporting members connected for relative movement in a substantially vertical plane; a pair of wheels mounted at longitudinally spaced points on each of said wheel supporting members; spring means between eachwheel supporting member and said frame resisting relative movement therebetween; and means for limiting said relative movement between each wheel supporting member and said frame.

7. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; guide means on said end members of said frame and the end portions each of said wheel supporting members respectively connecting said frame and each Wheel supporting member for relative movement in a substantially vertical plane as well as for fore and aft rocking movement of said wheel-supporting members relative to one another and said frame; a pair of wheels mounted at longitudinally spaced points on each of said wheel supporting members; spring means between each wheel supporting member and said frame resisting relative movement ther'ebetween; means for limiting said relative movement between each wheel supporting member and said frame; and means for adjusting said last named means to vary the tension of said spring means.

8. In a vehicle'such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said end members and end portions of said wheel-supporting members being opposed for slidable engagement with one another; pairs of guide members on said end members slidably engageable with opposite sides ofsaid wheel supporting members and connecting said frame and each of said wheel supporting members for relative vertical movement; a pair of wheels on each wheel supporting member; and spring means resisting relative movement between said frame and said wheel supporting members.

9. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said end members and end portions of said wheel-supporting members being opposed for slidable engagement with one another; pairs of guide members on said end members disposed on opposite sides of end portions of said wheel supporting members for connecting said frame and wheel supporting members for relative vertical movement; a pair of wheels on each wheel supporting member; spring retaining pockets in said end portions and springs mounted in said pockets and engaging said frame for supporting the load of said frame.

10. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members confined between said end members; pairs of guide members on said end members disposed on opposite sides of end portions of said wheel supporting members; a pair of wheels on each wheel supporting member; and coiled springs having their lower ends mounted on end portions of said wheel supporting members and their upper ends abutting said frame to sustain the load of said frame; said end members, end portions, guide members and springs being constructed and arranged so that said wheel-supporting members are movable vertically and movable with a fore and aft rocking motion relative to one another and said frame.

11. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members H substantially parallel with said side members between said bers and their upper ends abutting said frame to sustain the load of said frame; bolts connected with end portions of said wheel supporting members; said bolts being slidably extended through said frame; and nuts on said bolts engageable with said frame for limiting said relative movement.

12. In a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; spacer members on said end members hav-' ing rounded surfaces engageable with the ends of said wheel-supporting members; pairs of guide members on said end members disposed on opposite sides of end portions of said wheel supporting members and connecting said frame and wheel supporting members for relative vertical and fore and aft rocking movement; a pair of Wheels on each wheel supporting member; coiled springs having their lower ends mounted on end portions of said wheel supporting members and their upper ends abutting said frame to sustain the load of said frame; bolts having heads connected with said wheel supporting membersfor limited sliding movement; said bolts being slidably extended through said frame; and nuts on said bolts engageable With said frame for limiting said relative movement.

6.) (J9 13. in a vehicle such as described: a load supporting frame having a pair of side members and a pair of end members; a pair of elongated wheel supporting members substantially parallel with said side members between said end members; said endmembers and said wheel-supporting members having parallel, vertically disposed surfaces opposed to one anothenspacermembers on said surfaces of said end members slidably engaging said surfaces on said wheel-supporting members; pairs of guide members on said end members disposed on opposite sides of end portions of said wheel supporting members and connecting said frame and wheel supporting members for relative vertical-movement; a pair of wheels on each wheel sup porting member; sockets on end portions of said Wheel supporting members; coiled springs seated in said sockets and abutting said frame; bolts having their heads secured to said sockets for limited vertical movement; said bolts extending slidably through said frame; nuts on said bolts engageable with said frame for limiting said relative movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 151,267 Birgess May 26, 1874 373,640 Brill Nov. 22, 1887 502,584 Rettig Aug. 1, 1893 962,465 Quinn June 28, 1910 1,011,219 McKee Dec. 12, 1911 1,712,747 Clasen May 14, 1929 2,030,553 Tiley Feb. 11, 1936 2,090,736 Sample- Aug. 24, 1937 2,478,187 Germain Aug. 9, 1949