Patent classifications
B28C5/4272
Concrete mixer vehicle
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a drum assembly coupled to the chassis, and a module coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the drum assembly. The module includes a prime mover, a cooling system, and a hood. The hood has a first end positioned proximate the drum assembly, an opposing second end positioned proximate a rear end of the chassis, and a top surface. The hood defines an internal cavity within which the prime mover and the cooling system are disposed. The first end defines an inlet airflow cavity. The inlet airflow cavity has a bottom surface and an air inlet positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface. The air inlet connects the inlet airflow cavity to the internal cavity.
Concrete mixer vehicle with trainer cab
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a trainer cab that is coupled to a chassis and arranged laterally outwardly relative to a main cab. The trainer cab includes: (a) a seat mounted to a recessed mounting floor that is arranged rearward of a wheel well, (b) a support beam that includes an air vent and air flow path integrated into the support beam, or (c) a windshield wiper with a park location that is arranged between a trainer cab column and a superstructure support so that the windshield wiper is hidden from being viewed from within the main cab.
Axle pressure setting systems and methods
A vehicle including a chassis, a lift axle coupled to the chassis and including a tractive element, a lift actuator coupled to the lift axle, a location sensor configured to provide location data indicating a location of the vehicle, and a controller operatively coupled to the lift actuator and the location sensor and configured to control the lift actuator to reposition the lift axle based on the location data.
Automatic washout system for a mixer vehicle
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.
CONCRETE MIXER VEHICLE
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a front bumper coupled to a front end of the chassis, a drum assembly coupled to the chassis, and a module coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the drum assembly. The drum assembly includes a mixing drum defining an aperture and an internal volume, a charge hopper positioned proximate the aperture and above the cab, a chute positioned proximate the aperture, beneath the charge hopper, and a drum driver configured to drive the mixing drum. The module includes a prime mover and a hood within which the prime mover is disposed.
Concrete sensor system
A mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum, a first acceleration sensor, a second acceleration sensor, and a controller. The first acceleration sensor is configured to produce first acceleration signals and the second acceleration sensor is configured to measure accelerations within the mixer drum to produce second acceleration signals. The controller is configured to receive the first acceleration signals from the first acceleration sensor and second acceleration signals from the second acceleration sensor. The controller is further configured to determine a presence of material within the mixer drum based on the first acceleration signals and the second acceleration signals. The controller is further configured to determine one or more properties of the material within the mixer drum based on the first acceleration signals and the second acceleration signals.
CONCRETE MIXER VEHICLE WITH TRAINER CAB
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a trainer cab that is coupled to a chassis and arranged laterally outwardly relative to a main cab. The trainer cab includes: (a) a seat mounted to a recessed mounting floor that is arranged rearward of a wheel well, (b) a support beam that includes an air vent and air flow path integrated into the support beam, or (c) a windshield wiper with a park location that is arranged between a trainer cab column and a superstructure support so that the windshield wiper is hidden from being viewed from within the main cab.
AXLE PRESSURE SETTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A vehicle includes a mixing drum rotatably coupled to a chassis, a fill level sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a fill level of a material within the mixing drum, an axle assembly including a first tractive element, a suspension actuator coupled to the axle assembly and configured to apply a biasing force that forces the first tractive element into engagement with a ground surface, a lift axle including a second tractive element, a lift actuator coupled to the lift axle, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a target weight to be supported by at least one of the first tractive element or the second tractive element based on the fill level of the material within the mixing drum and control the suspension actuator to vary the biasing force based on the target weight.
AUTOMATIC WASHOUT SYSTEM FOR A MIXER VEHICLE
A concrete mixer system includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions causing one or more processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving an indication that a mixing drum of a concrete mixer vehicle is about to be charged and controlling an electronically controllable valve in response to the indication such that a fluid is provided to a nozzle to facilitate pre-wetting a charge hopper of the concrete mixer vehicle prior to the mixing drum being charged.
Jobsite operational status detection for concrete trucks
A vehicle includes a chassis, a cab, a drum coupled to the chassis and configured to mix a concrete mixture received therein and selectively dispense the concrete mixture, a chute configured to be operable between a raised position and a lowered position such that, when in the lowered position, the chute is configured to receive the concrete mixture from the drum and provide the concrete mixture to a work location, a sensor configured to detect an operational characteristic and provide signals relating to the operational characteristics, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the signals relating to the operational characteristic from the sensor, determine, based on signals relating to the operational characteristic, when the vehicle entered an operational state, generate a timestamp indicating when the vehicle entered the operational state, provide the timestamp and the operational state to a fleet management system.