US3458177A

US3458177A - Portable batch tower

Info

Publication number: US3458177A
Application number: US628112A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Farnham; Donald W Smith; Harry A Barber
Original assignee: Barber Greene Co
Current assignee: Barber Greene Co
Priority date: 1967-04-03
Filing date: 1967-04-03
Publication date: 1969-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-29
Also published as: DE1759033A1; GB1219368A; NL6804239A

Description

y 1969 R. E. FARNHAM ET AL 3,458,177

PORTABLE BATCH TOWER Filed April 3, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN T0] 5 Baerffirzz/zam Dazed "Z62 WAEZZZ'ZZZ Haj? 14.542359! g-a. Z A'ITORNEYS I July 29, 1969 R FARNHAM ET AL 3,458,177

PORTABLE BATCH TOWER Filed April 3, 1967 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTORS m 42 V MATTORNEYS July 29,

Filed April 5. 1967 R. E. FARNHAM ET PORTABLE BATCH TGWER 70 BY w, odZ/%M (5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z ATTORNEYS United States Patent U.S. Cl. 259-153 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable tower for mixing aggregate materials with asphalt and including an elevator unit and a batch mixing unit which are generally mobile in a horizontal position and which may be pivotally coupled and raised by means of a cable and =Winch or the like from the horizontal mobile position to a vertical functioning position. As the pivotal action begins, the batch tower frame pivots on the ground or grade surface, and the elevator tower progresses toward the batch tower along roller means provided at the far end thereof, the gradual drawing of the cable means causing the individual tower sections to elevate to a generally vertical position wherein aggregate material may be moved up the elevator tower to gravity feed the batch tower for producing the desired asphalt mix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is a mixing tower or station for combining aggregate materials of suitable grades and qualities with an asphalt source for producing a desired asphalt mix and in particular this field of art deals with a portable asphalt batch plant and means for readily assembling and disassem bling the same.

SUMMARY An important feature of this inventon is the provision of a portable batch tower having separate operational units which may be moved in a horizontal position along a roadway or the like and which may be readily assembled and elevated to a vertical position for immediate functional service.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a portable asphalt batch plant which includes a separate elevator tower and a separate batch tower and means for coupling the two tower sections in such a way as to permit the sections to be readily elevated to a vertical position by the drawing of a cable means connected between the two units.

An object of the invention is the provision of a batch tower and an elevator tower having features which permit the movement of these towers along a roadway in a generally horizontal position and having additional features which permit the coupling of these units and the elevating of the coupled assembly from a horizontal to a generally vertical position such that the units may operate together as an assembled asphalt batch plant.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a batch unit and an elevator unit which may be readily elevated from a generally horizontal to a generally vertical position wherein the batch unit has a rigid frame member for pivoting on the ground or grade surface or roadway during the elevating process and the elevator unit has a roller means for moving along the ground or grade surface relatively toward the stationary batch unit as the coupled assembly is raised to the vertical functional position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable asphalt batch plant which may be raised from a horizontal to a generally vertical position through the use of a cable means interconnecting the two operational units as described above at opposite or non-adjacent ends thereof and wherein the drawing of the cable means raises the pivotal point between the two units such that the elevating assembly forms a rigid A-frame structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a batch tower which may be used with a portable mixing plant as described above wherein the batch tower has a rigid frame member for pivoting on the ground or grade surface and an additional frame portion which is disposed above the rigid frame member at the horizontal position such that the pivoting on the grade surface is transferred from the said rigid frame member to the additional frame portion during the elevating process.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for coupling adjacent ends of two vehicles together at a common pivot point and to elevate the two vehicles at the pivot point by drawing the support legs of the vehicles together to form an A-frame.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a method to move a pair of coupled vehicles from a horizontal to a relatively upright position by attaching a cable means between the support legs of the vehicle and by drawing the support legs of the vehicle together through the use of the cable means to elevate the vehicles at a common pivot point and to assure that the center of gravity of each of the vehicles at all times during the elevating process lies between the supporting feet of the two vehicles.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparatus to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description and the annexed sheets of drawings which shOW a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic and elevational view of the two operational units of this invention which may be later coupled and raised to a generally vertical position to provide a functional asphalt batch plant assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing the two operational units coupled while still in a horizontal position;

FIGURE 3 is a further view similar to views shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the initial stage in the elevating process including the operation of a secondary lifting mechanism to release the maximum tension which would otherwise be developed on the cable means which is also shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 shows a further step in the elevating process wherein the cable means is utilized alone to raise the operational units to the desired vertical position and also showing the transferred position wherein the additional frame portion is pivoted on the grade surface or a suitable footing mounted on the grade surface;

FIGURE 5 shows the operational units in the final assembled position such that aggregate materials may be moved up the elevator tower and passed to the batch tower for mixing with an asphalt compound or the like;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed side view showing the several features of the vertically assembled batch tower and elevator tower and illustrating the operation of the various types of equipment mounted on the tower units;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the batch tower as taken along the lines VIIVIl of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of the elevator tower as taken along the lines VIII-VIII of FIGURE 6.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The portable batch plant as shown in FIGURES 1-5 includes two operational units, an elevator unit and a batch unit 11. The elevator unit 10 has a series of functional devices indicated generally by the reference numeral 12 and designed to function in a generally vertical position. However, the elevator unit 10 as shown in FIG- URE 1 is disposed horizontally for being moved from place to place about a wheel system 13. The rear portion 14 of the elevator unit may be provided with additional wheels or may be attached to a tractor or semi-tractor or the like for being towed from place to place by means of an extension or towing connection 18a.

The batch unit 11, like the elevator 10, is designed to be generally functional in a vertical position, but is disposed in a generally horizontal position for being moved from place to place about a wheel system 15. The batch unit 11 may also be towed by a suitable connection to a king pin or the like located in the framework 21 toward the end indicated by the numeral 25.

The adjacent end portions 17 and 18 of the batch unit and elevator unit respectively are provided with coupling means for pivotally connecting the units 10 and 11 as shown in FIGURE 2.

-In FIGURE 2 the batch unit 11 is pivotally coupled to the elevator unit 10 at the point 19. In the position shown in FIGURE 2, a rigid frame member 20 of the batch unit 10 has an end portion 21 which is in contact with the roadway 22. The batch unit is still resting on its wheel system 15, and the elevator unit is supported at its fore end by the wheel system 13.

In FIGURE 3 a secondary lifting mechanism 23 has been employed beneath the rigid frame member 20 of the batch unit 11 to move the batch unit to partially elevate the batch unit. Due to the pivotal connection of the batch unit to the elevator unit, the raising of the batch unit as shown in FIGURE 3 also raises the elevator unit, and the combination of the batch unit and the elevator unit begins to pivot about the pivot point 19. Also, in FIGURE 3, a cable means 24 is attached to an end por tion 25 of an additional frame member 26 and extends from the end 25 around the end portion 21 of the rigid member 20 and beneath the pivot point 19 to the axle of the roller means or wheel system 13. A winch may be provided at the point 25, for instance, to draw the cable means 24 taut and to gradually decrease the effective length of the cable means between the operational units to cause the units to elevate about the pivot point 19 as shown in FIGURE 4.

Initially, the elevation of the operational units 10 and 11 is accomplished about the end portion 21 of the rigid frame member. Essentially, the end portion 21 pivots on the grade surface and causes the roller means 13 of the elevator unit to advance toward the dry pivot point 21 as the unit is pivoted upwardly. However, as the unit is elevated beyond the point shown in FIGURE 3, the dry pivotal action of the batch unit is transferred from the end portion 21 of the rigid frame member 20 to the end portion 25 of the additional frame member 26. A footing 27 may be provided to receive the end portion 25 of the additional frame member 26 as the system is raised to a generally vertical position as shown in FIGURE 5. During the elevating process, it is important that the center of gravity of the batch tower section 11 be maintained to the right in the FIGURES 1-5 or to be maintained between the support legs of the entire tower structure. In this instance, the support legs may be the roller means 13 and the pivot point 21 in FIGURE 3 or in FIGURE 4 the roller means 13 and the pivot point 25.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, as the center of gravity swings about pivot point 21 during erection, point 25 preferably touches the ground and the load is transferred to that point before the center of gravity passes over point 21. In this way, the center of gravity is kept between the support legs of the assembly and the assembly may be raised or lowered smoothly.

In FIGURE 5, the units have been raised to a functional position such that aggregate material may be fed into the elevator unit 10, and from the elevator unit the material may be introduced into the batch unit 11 where it is to be mixed with an asphalt composition or the like. The assembly as shown in FIGURE 5 is supported by a brace member 28 which may be folded into position and secured to form an A-shaped structural configuration for rigidly supporting the assembled tower structure. For illustrative purposes, the entire tower assembly as shown in FIGURE 5 would have a total weight of approximate- 125,000 pounds.

The detailed structure of the batch tower can be seen more clearly in the enlarged view of FIGURE 6. In FIG- URE 6, the elevator section is shown as being mounted on a longitudinal frame and casing 30 which has a base portion 31 designed to firmly engage the grade surface 22 for rigidly supporting the tower structure.

An elevator 32 is provided between first and

second drivers

33 and 34 and is designed to carry aggregate material from the base of the longitudinal frame member 31 to the uppermost portion of the tower.

As is well understood in the art, it is necessary that the aggregate material which is fed to the conveyor system be suitably dried prior to the mixing with the asphalt at the batch tower 11, and accordingly, in keeping with the standard practice, a heater or dryer device 35, which includes a dryer drum 36 mounted upon a frame 37 having a series of roller means or wheels 38 is employed. Aggregate material is fed from the dryer 35 through a feed tube 39 into the base of the elevator at a point 40. The aggregate material is then picked up by the conveyor and conveyed to the point 34 and therefrom through a chute 41 to the batch tower 11.

As a supplemental feature, a dust collector 42 may be provided in combination with the elevator tower. In particular, the dust collector includes a fan or other airmoving device such as the fan 43 which is provided to draw air and dust through a duct 44 from the outlet of the cones 45, 46 and 47 to the inlet of the fan 43. These gases enter the dust collector cones from the dryer by means of duct 50 and exit from the top of the cones through duct 44. Heavier aggregate materials which are taken into the dust collector may be removed by being deposited in a series of cones 45, 46 and 47. Material collected in the cones 45, 46 and 47 is then returned by gravity feed to the elevator via a duct 48. Material not deposited in the cones 45, 46 and 47 is drawn upwardly and exhausted through an outlet 49 formed at the uppermost portion of the tower assembly.

The dried aggregate material which is passed from the elevator unit through the feed duct 41 is received at a screening mechanism 50a which screens out the various grades of aggregate material and deposits these grades in a series of supply bins 51. Each of the supply bins 51 is provided with a gate 52, and material from any one of the gates 52 may be selectively received by a scale hopper 53. Here the aggregate material is weighed prior to mixing with a suitable quantity of asphalt material.

The liquid asphalt is received from an asphalt spray bar 54, and the asphalt and aggregate material are mixed in a pug mill 55. The pug mill 55 is driven by a motor 56 and a chain drive 57 in a well understood manner. As shown in FIGURE 7, prior to the mixing process, the weight of the aggregate and asphalt materials may be measured by

scales

58 and 59, respectively.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the assembled tower is rigidified by a cross member 60 which may be moved into position after the two operational units are elevated to the vertical position. The brace member 16 may be rigidly connected between the batch tower and the elevator tower, as shown, to rigidify the units.

It will further be appreciated that a further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of erecting two vehicles whereby coupled ends of the vehicles can be elevated to move the vehicles into relative upright positions for further use to reduce the expense and amount of time required to place portable units in operative position. The method features of the invention may be practiced by coupling adjacent ends of the two vehicles together at the common pivot point 19. A lift force is then applied to one of the vehicles, causing the coupled ends of the vehicles to be pivoted andelevated while one of the vehicles is lifted off its wheels and while a lower end 21 of the same vehicle is engaged against the ground, leaving the other of the vehicles supported on the ground by its wheels 13. According to our method, the non-connected ends of the vehicles are then drawn together after one of the non-connected ends is anchored by moving the other vehicle on its wheels thereby causing the vehicles to be moved into an upright position as the pivot point 19 at the ends of the vehicles is elevated. Thereafter, the brace 28 is attached to the vehicles for securing the vehicles in the upright position.

It will be appreciated that as the first vehicle 11 is raised by the lift force generated by jack 23 that a lower end 21 of the first vehicle is caused to be engaged against the ground to support the first vehicle while the wheels 15 are in an elevated position. Then, as the second vehicle 12 is drawn toward the first vehicle 11 with the lower remote end 21 serving as a preliminary pivot point or anchor, the upper non-connected remote end 25 of the first vehicle is moved into ground engagement and serves as a pivot and anchor after the lower remote end 21 has been raised out of ground engagement. It will be further appreciated that the upper remote end 25 is spaced a greater distance from the pivot point 19 than the lower remote end 21 thereby permitting the upper remote end 25 to serve as the final pivot and anchor.

It will, of course, be understood that other variations and modifications of this invention may be accomplished by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic principles of the invention as described above and as covered in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A portable tower structure comprising:

first and second operational units each having facilities for being mobile when disposed in a generally horizontal position and each having facilities for being functional when disposed in a generally vertical position,

said first operational unit having one end pivotally connected to an adjacent end of said second operational unit,

said first operational unit having wheels at the pivotally connected end thereof for supporting the same on a roadway and having a rigid non-rotary pivot point intermediate said wheels and the opposite end thereof, said rigid pivot point being spaced above the roadway when said first unit is in a horizontal position, cable means for interconnecting the non-adjacent ends of said first and second operational units,

said cable means being disposed beneath the pivot point of said pivotally connected adjacent ends, means to draw the cable means taut and to gradually shorten the effective extension of the cable means between the operational units thereby causing the pivotally connected ends of the units to elevate and the non-pivotally connected, non-adjacent ends to move relatively toward each other,

whereby said first and second operational units are elevated from a generally horizontal mobile position to a generally vertical functional position.

2. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein a secondary lifting mechanism is provided to begin the pivotal motion of the tower section from a generally horizontal position to a position inclined above horizontal thereby reducing the maximum tension developed on said cable means during the course of the plvotal movement of the units to a generally vertical functional position.

3. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 2 wherein said structure is carried over a roadway in the generally horizontal position and wherein pivotal movement of the units toward an elevated position causes one end of the rigid frame member to contact the roadway and wherein further pivotal movement of the units causes said first operational unit to pivot about the point of contact of said end of the frame and the roadway.

4. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said one end of the rigid frame is disposed at the lower surface of the unit when in the horizontal position and wherein an additional frame portion is provided above said first frame end and wherein pivotal movement of said first operational unit about said first frame end is transferred to said additional frame portion during the course of the elevating process.

5. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein the center of gravity of said first operational unit is maintained between the pivot connection point of the operational units and the rigid frame member during the engagement of the rigid frame member at the roadway and wherein the center of gravity of the first operational unit lies between the common pivot point of the operational units and the additional frame portion when the pivotal movement of the first operational unit is transferred to said additional frame portion during the course of the elevating process.

6. A portable tower structure comprising: a first operational unit having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of said first unit having roller means for carrying the first unit from place to place in a generally horizontal position and said rear portion of said first unit having a coupling means for making a pivotal connection with another member, said first unit having a rigid non-rotary pivot point located intermediate said front portion and said rear portion thereof, said second operational unit having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of said second unit having roller means for carrying the first unit from place to place in a generally horizontal position and said front portion having a coupling means for making a pivotal connection with another member, means for removably connecting the coupling means of the first unit with the coupling means of the second unit whereby the two units are pivotally joined in end to end relationship, said first and second units being functional in a generally vertical position, cable means interconnecting the front portion of the first unit with the rear portion of the second unit, means to draw the cable means taut and to gradually shorten the effective extension of the cable means between the units thereby causing the pivotally connected adjacent ends of the units to elevate and the non-pivotally connected, non-adjacent ends to move relatively toward each other, whereby said first and second operational units are elevated from a generally horizontal mobile position to a generally vertical functional position.

7. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 6 wherein a hydraulic lifting means is provided beneath one of the two units to begin the pivotal motion of the tower section from a generally horizontal position to a position inclined above horizontal thereby reducing the maximum tension developed on said cable means during the course of the pivotal movement of the units to the generally vertical position.

8. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 6 wherein said second operational unit has a frame member extending rearwardly of the rear portion thereof and wherein the elevating of the units causes said frame member to grip and form a fixed pivot point with the roadway and wherein the drawing of the cable means to continue the elevating process causes the first unit to travel on its front roller means toward the said fixed pivot point.

9. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 8 wherein the second operational unit is provided with a second frame member disposed upwardly of the first mentioned frame member when the unit is horizontally disposed and wherein the pivotal movement of the second unit about the first mentioned frame member is transferred to said second frame member during the course of the elevating process.

10. A portable batch plant comprising:

an elevator unit mounted on a longitudinal frame and disposed to be moved from place to place in a generally horizontal position,

said elevator unit having conveying means for moving aggregate from the vicinity of one end of the unit to the other when said unit is in a generally vertical position,

a batch unit mounted on a longitudinal frame and disposed to be moved from place to place in a generally horizontal position,

said batch unit having aggregate receiving and mixing means mounted thereon to be operable in a generally vertical position,

said batch unit and elevator unit each having pivot connection means at one end thereof and being releasably coupled to one another when said units are disposed in a generally horizontal position,

cable means interconnecting the non-adjacent ends of said batch and elevator tower units,

said cable means being disposed beneath the pivot point of said pivotally connected ends thereof,

means to draw the cable means taut and to gradually shorten the effective extension of the cable means between the units thereby causing the pivotally connected ends of the units to elevate and the non-connected ends to move relatively toward each other,

whereby the batch and elevator tower units are raised from a generally horizontal mobile to a generally vertical functional position.

11. A portable batch plant in accordance with claim 10 wherein the non-pivotally connected end of one of said units has a roller means mounted thereon and wherein the non-pivotally connected end of the other of said units has a frame member extending therefrom and wherein the raising of the units by the drawing of the cable means causes said frame member to rigidly engage the roadway and causes the roller means to advance along the roadway toward the frame member.

12. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 11 wherein said frame member is disposed at the lower surface of the unit when in a generally horizontal position and wherein an additional frame portion is provided above said first frame member and wherein pivotal movement of said one unit above said frame member is transferred to said additional frame portion during the course of elevating the units to a generally vertical position and wherein said one unit is maintained substantially free of translation relative to the roadway and said other unit is caused to translate along the roadway toward said one unit during the elevating process.

13. A portable batch plant in accordance with claim 11 wherein said roller means and said frame member provide the support legs of an A-frame defined by the pivotal connection of the two operational units and wherein the center of gravity of each of the operational units individually lies between the leg supports provided by the roller means and the frame member.

14. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 13 wherein an additional frame portion is provided above said first frame member and wherein pivotal movement of said one unit above said frame member is transferred to said additional frame portion during the course of elevating the units to a generally vertical position and wherein the center of gravity of said one unit is maintained inwardly of the support legs of the A-frame provided by the roller means and said frame member and wherein the center of gravity of said one unit passes outwardly of said frame member when the pivotal movement of the one unit is transferred to the additional frame portion and wherein subsequently thereto the center of gravity of said one unit lies between the pivotal point of the additional frame portion and the roller means.

15. A portable batch plant in accordance with claim 10 wherein a secondary lifting unit is provided beneath the horizontal position of one of the units to raise the tower units to an initial inclined position at which point the drawing of the cable means continues the upward movement of the tower, thereby reducing the maximum 0 tension developed by the cable means.

16. A portable batch plant comprising:

an elevator unit mounted on a longitudinal frame and having a front portion and a rear portion,

said front portion of said elevator unit having roller means for carrying the elevator unit from place to place in a generally horizontal position and said rear portion of said elevator unit having a coupling means for making a pivotal connection with another member,

a batch unit mounted on a longitudinal frame and having a front portion and a rear portion,

said front portion of said batch unit having roller means for carrying the batch unit from place to place in a generally horizontal position and said front portion having a coupling means for making a pivotal connection with another member,

said latch unit and elevator unit each having pivot connection means at one end thereof and being releasably coupled to one another when said units are disposed in a generally horizontal position,

cable means interconnecting the non-adjacent ends of said batch and elevator tower units, said cable means being disposed beneath the pivot point of said pivotally connected ends thereof,

means to draw the cable means taut and to gradually shorten the effective extension of the cable means between the units thereby causing the pivotally connected ends of the units to elevate and the non-connected ends to move relatively toward each other, whereby the batch and elevator tower units are raised from a generally horizontal mobile to a generally vertical functional position.

17. A portable tower structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein said batch unit has a frame member extending rearwardly of the rear portion thereof and wherein the elevating of the units causes said frame member to grip and form a fixed pivot point with the roadway and wherein the drawing of the cable means to continue the elevating process causes the elevator unit to travel on its front roller means toward the said fixed pivot point.

18. In a method of moving two vehicles each having wheels from a generally horizontal position to a generally upright position, the steps of:

coupling adjacent ends of the tWo vehicles together at a pivot point,

applying a lift force to one of the vehicles causing the coupled ends of the vehicles to be pivoted and elevated at the pivot point while lifting one of the vehicles off of its wheels and engaging a lower rigid nonrotary pivot point of the same vehicle against the ground leaving the other of the vehicles supported on the ground by its wheels,

said pivot being located intermediate the ends of said one vehicle,

drawing the non-connected ends of the vehicles toward one another causing the pivot point at the coupled ends of the vehicles to be elevated, and

attaching a bracing to the vehicles for securing the vehicles in an upright position.

19. The method of claim 18 further characterized by attaching the bracing to the vehicles and interconnecting the vehicles at points substantially intermediate the coupled adjacent ends and the non-connected ends thereof and forming thereby an A-shaped frame.

20. The method of claim 19 further characterized by applying said lift force so as to lift the wheels of said first vehicle off the ground and engaging a lower remote end of said first vehicle against the ground, then, as a part of the aforesaid drawing step, anchoring an upper remote end of said first vehicle with the ground and disengaging said lower remote end as the vehicles are drawn into the generally upright position.

21. The method of claim 20 further characterized by disengaging said lower remote end of said first vehicle prior to the passing of the center of gravity of said first vehicle from points inwardly of the lower remote end thereof to points outwardly of said lower remote end and maintaining the center of gravity of said first vehicle at all times inwardly of the upper remote end of said first vehicle such that the center of gravity of the first vehicle is at all times between the support legs of the vehicles during the elevating process.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,484 9/1941 Kemp 259-153 3,092,264 6/ 1963 Milek 2l42 3,116,051 12/1963 Preeman 259-153 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 214-501