The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the delivery rate (P.sub.Q) of a concrete pump (1) for filling a formwork arrangement (2) with a pumpable filling compound (3) as a function of curing-relevant material and environmental parameters (RST), after which the installed filling compound (3) sets within the formwork arrangement (2), comprising the following steps: determining a permissible climbing speed (vsz) for filling the formwork arrangement (2) with the filling compound (3) on the basis of the material and ambient parameters (RST), measuring the static filling compound pressure (p.sub.F) acting on the formwork arrangement (2) during filling, calculating the permissible delivery rate (P.sub.Q) of the concrete pump (1) as a function of the determined permissible rate of ascent (vsz) and the measured static filling compound pressure (p.sub.F) at the formwork arrangement (2).

Method and system to measure and monitor the grey water content in a rotating concrete mixer drum mixer truck using a sensor attached to the interior of the concrete mixer drum. By measuring the grey water content before a batching process takes place, the batched water (and cement content and admixture type and content) can be modified in order to maintain expected performance of the batched load in terms of both strength and rheology, or more simply, some or all of the grey water can be discharged from the concrete mixer drum before batching.

The present invention relates to a new method and system for reclaiming and recycling the concrete residue that remains on key components of a concrete mixing truck in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Any slurry aggregate remaining on the chutes or other parts of the concrete mixing truck is collected by a concrete collection system that is attached to the concrete mixing truck and includes an augur conveyor enclosed in a housing, whereby the augur conveyor is hydraulically extended either behind or in front of the chutes of the concrete mixing truck depending on a type of mixing truck. The augur conveyor can be raised to a maximum height in order to discharge any collected slurry aggregate from the chutes or other parts of the truck back into a top hopper of the concrete truck to be directed back into the mixing drum of the concrete mixing truck.

A method for detecting segregation occurring in fresh concrete mixture being agitated in a drum generally includes: rotating said drum about its rotation axis at a low rotational speed for agitating said fresh concrete mixture during at least a rotation; said fresh concrete mixture segregating, said segregating including gravity pulling denser concrete ingredients downwards in said fresh concrete mixture; measuring a plurality of pressure values indicative of pressure exerted onto a rheological probe mounted inside said drum and moving through said fresh concrete mixture as said drum rotates; providing reference data indicative of a behaviour of said rheological probe in a fresh concrete mixture in said absence of said segregating; and detecting that said segregating has occurred, including comparing at least some of said measured pressure values to said reference data.

A method and apparatus for producing liquified Alternative Supplemental Cementitious Material (ASCM) from an uncured concrete slurry. Uncured concrete slurry is received into a receiving hopper, diluted with water, and pumped upward through a slurry discharge conduit to an aggregate separator that screens the gravel and sand for separate discharge. The remaining ASCM entrained water flows into a holding tank. The ASCM settles to the lower portion of the holding tank. The holding tank stores the remaining water for re-use diluting uncured concrete slurry. The ASCM is liquified and moved towards the ASCM discharge port by an agitator system located in the bottom of the holding tank. From the discharge, a pump delivers the liquified ASCM through a conduit for discharge. The discharged ASCM can be used as a partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement and as an ingredient in flowable fills.

A mixing drum assembly includes a frame, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the frame, and a charge hopper coupled to the frame and positioned to direct material into the mixing drum. The charge hopper includes a hopper frame and a liner extending along an inner surface of the hopper frame and at least partially defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet. The hopper frame includes a first material and the liner includes a second material different from the first material. The liner is removably coupled to the hopper frame.

A concrete mixer system includes a washout system and a controller. The washout system includes a tank configured to store a fluid, a plurality of electronically controllable valves in fluid communication with the tank, and a plurality of nozzles. One or more of the plurality of nozzles are fluidly coupled to a respective one of the plurality of electronically controllable valves. Each of the plurality of nozzles is configured to be positioned to facilitate washing a respective component of a concrete mixer vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) receive an indication that the washout system is coupled to a continuous fluid source and (ii) operate the washout system in a continuous wash mode in response to receiving the indication.

The present invention provides a method and system for detecting hardened concrete buildup in a mixer drum which is substantially devoid of plastic concrete. An exemplary method involves monitoring the hydraulic pressure required to rotate the drum through at least two successive rotations at constant speed, using a hydraulic pressure sensor on hydraulic charge side, discharge side, or preferably both sides of the hydraulic motor which turns the mixer drum; and detecting when the pressure/time data curve indicates eccentric behavior of the mixer drum, whereby an alarm or other indication is provided to confirm that the hardened concrete buildup in the truck is not acceptable. The buildup detection method and system of the present invention does not require the use of an automated slump monitoring system, but can be implemented in combination with such systems with favorable results and advantages.

A drive apparatus for a mobile operating machine, comprising at least one internal combustion motor, an articulated arm to deliver concrete and a pumping unit to pump the concrete from the drum to the articulated arm. The drive apparatus comprises hydraulic pumps configured to pump a working fluid and to determine the drive of the pumping unit and of the articulated arm. The apparatus also comprises at least one electromechanical machine connected to the internal combustion motor, to the hydraulic pumps, and to an electric accumulator.

A spraying system and method is provided for more efficiently accessing the interior of a container having an access opening to the container that is offset from or in angular relationship to the center and/or rotational axis of the container to contact the interior walls and surfaces of the container with a medium, such as a liquid, mixture, solution or suspension. The spraying system and method includes a non-linear boom that is elevated by a support structure, where the non-linear boom includes at its front end a plurality of spray nozzles. In one example, the support structure is a movable support structure that includes a guide mechanism where the guide mechanism is mounted on the moveable support structure at an angle relative to the surface supporting the moveable support structure to allow access to the interior of the container.