US3881706A

US3881706A - Trailer having concrete mixer thereon

Info

Publication number: US3881706A
Application number: US374739A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Mohrmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-28
Filing date: 1973-06-28
Publication date: 1975-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-06

Abstract

A utility vehicle comprised of a trailer having a rotatable, inclined concrete mixer thereon and means on the trailer for rotating the mixer. Thus, the vehicle is self-contained and can be towed by a conventional concrete mixer truck to a job site. The mixer of the vehicle is pivotally mounted on the trailer for movement in a vertical plane. Means carried by the trailer and coupled with the mixer thereon raises the same from a lowered, over-the-road position to an elevated, materials-transfer position, whereby concrete can be transferred from the mixer on the trailer to the mixer of the truck. The trailer has a tongue for releasable connection to the rear end of the truck.

Description

' United States Patent 11 1 Mohrmann 11] 3 ,881,706 1451 May 6,1975

[ TRAILER HAVING CONCRETE MIXER THEREON [76] Inventor: William C. Mohrmann, 1030 35th Ave., Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 [22] Filed: June 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 374,739

52 us. c1. 259/162; 259/164; 259/171; 259/177 R 51 1111. c1. 1328C 5/28 58 Field 61 Search ..259/173,174,175,176, 259/177 R, 177 A,161,162,163,164,165, 169,170,171,16O

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend [5 7 ABSTRACT A utility vehicle comprised of a trailer having a rotatable, inclined concrete mixer thereon and means on the trailer for rotating the mixer. Thus, the vehicle is self-contained and can be towed by a conventional concrete mixer truck to a job site. The mixer of the vehicle is pivotally mounted on the trailer for movement in a vertical plane. Means carried by the trailer and coupled with the mixer thereon raises the same from a lowered, over-the-road position to an elevated, materials-transfer position, whereby concrete can be transferred from the mixer on the trailer to the mixer of the truck. The trailer has a tongue for releasable connection to the rear end of the truck.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBW IBISYS 3,881,706

FIG. I I2 1 TRAILER HAVING CONCRETE MIXER THEREON This invention relates to improvements in the hauling of pre-mixed concrete to a building site and, more particularly, to a concrete mixer on a trailer capable of being attached to a concrete mixer truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional concrete mixer trucks have a capacity of about 6 cubic yards of concrete. These trucks generally make several trips a day to a job site and during each trip, they deliver only this limited volume of concrete. The size of the mixer on the truck cannot be increased because of vehicle safety codes; thus, such conventional trucks are limited to the aforesaid capacity, thereby keeping labor costs relatively high per unit of volume of concrete delivered in each such trip. A need, therefore, exists for a way to increase the capacity of a mixer apparatus to minimize labor costs yet provide the advantages of delivery afforded by present concrete mixer trucks to a building site remote from the source of the concrete materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention satisfies the above-mentioned need by providing a utility vehicle adapted to be towed by a conventional concrete mixer truck, with the vehicle having a rotatable, inclined concrete mixer thereon which operates in substantially the same manner as the mixer on the truck. To this end, the mixer on the vehicle includes a drum which is normally rotatable about an inclined axis. Means carried by the vehicle and coupled to the mixer rotates the latter relative to the trailer. The drum is pivotally mounted on the vehicle for limited movement in a vertical arc from a lowered, over-the-road position to an elevated, operative position.

In the lowered position, the center of gravity of the trailer and mixer combination is at a safe height above ground to stabilize the vehicle. Thus, the trailer can be pulled over the road by the truck without danger of tipping over, such as in turns or the like. In the elevated position, the outlet end of the mixer on the trailer is at the same height as the outlet end of the mixer on the truck. Thus, concrete from the mixer onthe trailer can be transferred directly to the mixer on the truck after the latter has been moved so that its rear end is contiguous to the front end of the trailer. This feature permits the truck to be driven away from the trailer and into confined areas which would not accommodate the truck and trailer together.

The use of the present invention allows the capacity of a conventional concrete mixer truck to be essentially doubled, thereby significantly reducing the labor costs per trip of the truck between a concrete-receiving site and a job site at which the concrete is dumped. Moreover, the concrete in the mixer on the trailer can be removed therefrom in a conventional manner, such as by directing the same in small volumes to conventional buckets, wheelbarrows and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved concrete carrier which can be towed by a conventional concrete mixer truck to increase its hauling capacity and thereby reduce labor costs associated with hauling concrete to a job site.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle of the type described wherein it includes a trailer having a concrete mixer mounted thereon for rotation about an inclined axis whereby the concrete mixer on the trailer can be used to haul an additional amount of concrete to'a job site yet allows the direct transfer of concrete therefrom to the mixer on the truck so that the truck can move away from the trailer into confined areas for dumping of the concrete.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle of the aforesaid character wherein the mixer on the trailer is pivotally mounted for movement in a vertical plane so that the mixer can be lowered into an overthe-road position to stabilize the vehicle as it is being towed to a job site yet the mixer on the trailer can be elevated into an operative position at which concrete can be transferred directly to the mixer of the truck, thereby minimizing the need for additional structure for conveying the concrete between the mixers.

A further object of this invention is to provide concrete conveying apparatus which includes a concrete mixer truck and a trailer releasably coupled to the truck wherein the trailer has a rotatable concrete mixer thereon which can be moved from a lowered position at which the trailer is stabilized to an elevated position at which concrete can be transferred directly from the mixer on the trailer to the trailer to the mixer on the truck when the truck has been moved into proximity to the forward end of the trailer.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for an illustration of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the vehicle of this invention, showing it being pulled forwardly by a concrete mixer truck;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing one operative position of the vehicle of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the rear end portion of the vehicle; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentray, side elevational view of a front portion of the vehicle.

The utility vehicle of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 1 in combination with a conventional concrete mixer 12 of the type having an inclined, rotatable mixer 13 provided with an upper, rear opening 15. Vehicle 10 is adapted to be pulled over a roadway 14 by truck 12 and, to this end, has a tongue 16 which is pivotally connected thereto and is adapted to be releasably connected to the rear end of truck 12.

Vehicle 10 includes a trailer 20 having front and

rear wheels

22 and 24, the front wheels being pivotally mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis so that the trailer can be steered by truck 12. Trailer 20 has an inclined concrete mixing drum 26 mounted thereon for rotation about a generally inclined axis. An opening 27 in the forward, upper end of drum 26 permits materials to be placed in and taken out of the drum. Drum 26 has a rear bearing 28 and a front pivotal roller frame or bearing 29 by means of which the drum can rotate about such inclined axis to mix materials, such as aggregate, sand, water and cement, to form concrete in a manner which is well-known.

The power source for causing rotation of drum 26 comprises an internal combustion engine 30 carried by trailer 20 rearwardly of drum 26 as shown in FIG. 3. A

hydraulic motor operated by engine 30 is coupled to drum 26 and operates to rotate the same about the aforesaid inclined axis and mix the contents therewithin. The trailer is provided with a water tank 32 for cleaning drum 26 or to provide a supply of water for the mix in the drum. A fuel tank is carried by trailer 20 beneath engine 30.

Bearing 28 is pivotally mounted by a horizontal shaft 34 on trailer 20. Similarly, the lower end of drum roller frame 29 is pivotally mounted by a pin 36 on trailer 20 near the front end 38 thereof. The upper end of roller frame 29 has a pivotal connection (not shown) to the upper, front end of drum 26 to permit the drum to pivot about pin 34.

A fluid piston and cylinder assembly 40 connected to trailer 20 and to the front, lower end of roller frame 29 is adapted to cause the same to pivot about pin 36 relative to trailer 20. Hydraulic lines 44 are coupled to a suitable hydraulic pump (not shown) operated by engine 30 to pump hydraulic fluid to and from the cylinder of assembly 40. As roller frame 29 pivots about pin 36, it also pivots relative to drum 26 to raise or lower the same depending upon the direction of rotation of the bearing.

A stop 46 carried by trailer 20 rearwardly of roller frame 29 serves to prevent further movement of the same when the bearing has been elevated by assembly 40. The bearing pivots through an arc from a generally, lower position at which drum 26 is in a relatively low position as shown in FIG. 1 to an elevated position shown in FIG. 2. In such a lowered position,, the center of gravity of vehicle is sufficiently low to prevent the vehicle from being unstable as trailer 20 is pulled over the ground by truck 12. Typically, the opening 27 in drum 26 can be below opening in the drum 13 of truck 12 when drum 26 is in its lowered, over-the-road position.

Drum 26 has a loading hopper 65 and drum 13 has a pivotally mounted loading hopper 66. To permit transfer of the mix from drum 26 to drum 13, hopper 66 is swung upwardly and out of the way as shown in FIG. 2.

The reason for permitting drum 26 to be elevated is that its opening 27 can be raised so that a discharge chute 60 on drum 26 can be aligned with opening 15 of drum 13. This will permit transfer of concrete from drum 26 to drum 13. To facilitate this, tongue 16 is lowered until its forward end touches the ground as shown in FIG. 2. Then, truck 12 is driven in reverse until its rear end abuts the front end of trailer 20. To guide the truck into place, trailer 20 has a forward projection 50 which is received within a complementary recess 52 in the back of truck 12 as shown in FIG. 4. In such a position, discharge chute 60 of drum 26, when the latter is elevated by assembly 40, will be in direct communication with opening 15 of drum 13, permitting transfer of concrete from drum 26 to drum 13.

ln use, both drum 13 and drum 26 are filled with the materials for making concrete. Then, with tongue 16 connected to the rear end of truck 12, the truck can pull vehicle 10 to a building site at which the concrete is to be discharged from both concrete mixing drums. As vehicle 10 is pulled over the ground, drum 26 is in its lower position wherein the vehicle is stable for movement over the road.

Arriving at the road site, the truck can be disconnected from the trailer and moved to the building site at which its load of concrete in drum 13 is discharged in the usual manner. Then, the truck returns to the trailer, is reversed into the position shown in FIG. 2 as drum 26 is elevated. When the two drums are in direct fluid communication with each other, concrete is transferred from drum 26 to drum l3, whereupon the truck can then again move to the discharge site, discharge the concrete in drum l3 and then return to trailer 20 for connection again therewith to pull the trailer back to the source of the concrete.

The concrete mix can be discharged from both drums l3 and 26 even though trailer 20 remains connected by tongue 16 to truck 12. In such a case, the mix can be discharged in the usual fashion to fill forms, concrete buckets, footings, slabs and the like.

The present invention permits the capacity of truck 12 to be almost doubled. Thus, as it moves to a job site, it can carry twice the normal amount of concrete yet the truck can still be maneuverable into confined areas without having to pull trailer 20 with it. Trailer 20 can be readily stored when not in use and can be unloaded using conventional wheelbarrows, buckets and the like.

I claim:

l. A concrete hauling unit comprising: a truck having a concrete mixer mounted thereon for rotation about a first inclined axis and provided with an opening near the rear end thereof for permitting concrete to be received therein; a trailer having a. concrete mixer mounted thereon and rotatable relative thereto about a second inclined axis, the mixer on the trailer having an opening near the front end thereof for permitting concrete to be removed therefrom and being pivotal relative to the trailer from a lowered, stabilized position to an upper position at which the opening thereof is in alignment with the opening of the mixer of the truck, whereby concrete can be transferred therebetween, means on the trailer for rotating the mixer thereof, and means carried by the trailer for raising and lowering the last-mentioned mixer; and means releasably interconnecting the truck and the trailer.

2. A hauling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means includes a tongue movable into a location to permit the rear end of the truck to be moved into proximity with the front end of the trailer when the truck and trailer are not interconnected to permit direct transfer of concrete from the mixer of the trailer to the mixer of the truck.

3. A hauling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trailer has a pin mounted thereon for pivotally mounting the mixer thereof for rotation in a generally vertical plane.

4. A hauling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said raising and lowering means includes a fluid piston and cylinder assembly.

5. A concrete carrier comprising: a trailer adapted to be towed over the ground; a concrete mixer including a drum having an outlet opening and a pair of spaced ends; a pair of bearings on respective ends of the drum for mounting the mixer on the trailer for rotation about a generally inclined axis with the outlet opening bearing near the bearing adjacent to the front end of the trailer, the bearing near the rear end of the trailer being below the front bearing and pivotally mounted on the trailer to permit pivotal movement of the drum in a,

generally vertical plane; means coupled with the mixer for rotating the same about said axis; and means coupled with the trailer and to the front bearing for pivoting the mixer from a lowered position for movement over the road to an elevated position at which concrete can be transferred from said outlet opening thereof.v

6. A concrete carrier comprising: a trailer adapted to be towed over the ground, said trailer having a tongue pivotally mounted on the front end thereof for attachment to a concrete mixer truck, said tongue, when disconnected from the trailer, being disposed to permit the truck to move rearwardly and into proximity to the front end of the trailer; a concrete mixer having an outlet opening; means mounting the mixer on the trailer for rotation about a generally inclined axis and for pivon the truck.

Claims

1. A concrete hauling unit comprising: a truck having a concrete mixer mounted thereon for rotation about a first inclined axis and provided with an opening near the rear end thereof for permitting concrete to be received therein; a trailer having a concrete mixer mounted thereon and rotatable relative thereto about a second inclined axis, the mixer on the trailer having an opening near the front end thereof for permitting concrete to be removed therefrom and being pivotal relative to the trailer from a lowered, stabilized position to an upper position at which the opening thereof is in alignment with the opening of the mixer of the truck, whereby concrete can be transferred therebetween, means on the trailer for rotating the mixer thereof, and means carried by the trailer for raising and lowering the lastmentioned mixer; and means releasably interconnecting the truck and the trailer.

5. A concrete carrier comprising: a trailer adapted to be towed over the ground; a concrete mixer including a drum having an outlet opening and a pair of spaced ends; a pair of bearings on respective ends of the drum for mounting the mixer on the trailer for rotation about a generally inclined axis with the outlet opening bearing near the bearing adjacent to the front end of the trailer, the bearing near the rear end of the trailer being below the front bearing and pivotally mounted on the trailer to permit pivotal movement of the drum in a generally vertical plane; means coupled with the mixer for rotating the same about said axis; and means coupled with the trailer and to the front bearing for pivoting the mixer from a lowered position for movement over the road to an elevated position at which concrete can be transferred from said outlet opening thereof.

6. A concrete carrier comprising: a trailer adapted to be towed over the ground, said trailer having a tongue pivotally mounted on the front end thereof for attachment to a concrete mixer truck, said tongue, when disconnected from the trailer, being disposed to permit the truck to move rearwardly and into proximity to the front end of the trailer; a concrete mixer having an outlet opening; means mounting the mixer on the trailer for rotation about a generally inclined axis and for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane, the outlet opening being near the upper end of the mixer; means coupled with the mixer for rotating the same about said axis; and means coupled with the trailer for pivoting the mixer from a lowered position for movement over the road to an elevated position at which the outlet opening thereof is in alignment with the corresponding opening of the mixer on the truck When the truck is adjacent to the front end of the trailer, whereby concrete can be transferred from the mixer on the trailer to the mixer on the truck.