Patent classifications
B28C5/4231
Grey Water Measurement
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.
Processes and systems for carbon dioxide sequestration and related concrete compositions
A ready-mixed composition and a pre-mix composition for the production of a concrete material containing sequestered carbon dioxide, a CO.sub.2-containing water used in such compositions, dry-batch and wet-batch processes for sequestering carbon dioxide in concrete material, general method and process for sequestering carbon dioxide in hardening concrete, system and ready-mixed truck to perform such processes and methods for the production of a ready-to-cure carbonated concrete. Compositions comprise a concrete mixture and a CO.sub.2-containing water. The CO.sub.2-containing water comprising water and at least one of blended CO.sub.2 gas bubbles, dissolved H.sub.2CO.sub.3, carbonate ions (CO.sub.3.sup.2−), bicarbonate ions (HCO.sup.3−), nanosized alkaline earth metal carbonate and nanosized alkali metal carbonate particles. The concrete mixture comprises a cementitious material, aggregates and at least one CO.sub.2-sequestering chemical for accelerating a CO.sub.2 sequestration speed and maximizing the captured amount of the carbon dioxide.
PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION AND RELATED CONCRETE COMPOSITIONS
A ready-mixed composition and a pre-mix composition for the production of a concrete material containing sequestered carbon dioxide, a CO.sub.2-containing water used in such compositions, dry-batch and wet-batch processes for sequestering carbon dioxide in concrete material, general method and process for sequestering carbon dioxide in hardening concrete, system and ready-mixed truck to perform such processes and methods for the production of a ready-to-cure carbonated concrete. Compositions comprise a concrete mixture and a CO.sub.2-containing water. The CO.sub.2-containing water comprising water and at least one of blended CO.sub.2 gas bubbles, dissolved H.sub.2CO.sub.3, carbonate ions (CO.sub.3.sup.2−), bicarbonate ions (HCO.sup.3−), nanosized alkaline earth metal carbonate and nanosized alkali metal carbonate particles. The concrete mixture comprises a cementitious material, aggregates and at least one CO.sub.2-sequestering chemical for accelerating a CO.sub.2 sequestration speed and maximizing the captured amount of the carbon dioxide.
Rotated Concrete Volume Determination
Disclosed is a method for determining volume of a concrete mix load in a mixer drum based on use of an in-and-out sensor probe which submerges into and exits from the concrete during drum rotation and which provides data to a processor used for calculating volume based on the data. To provide for concavity, convexity, and/or cascading surface flow effects that can hinder accurate determination of the concrete load volume, the processor may be configured to compare original batch volume and/or rheology of the concrete load monitored during drum rotation. The calibration of load volume value, highly useful for monitoring or admixture dosing purposes, can be done based on comparison of real-time data with historic data gathered over time and stored in processor-accessible memory. Further exemplary embodiments also take into account the speed and/or tilt of the drum (due to roadway conditions), concrete mix design, and other factors.
VOLUMETRIC MIXER CONTROL SYSTEM
A volumetric mixer control system for a mobile volumetric mixer for controlling a mix recipe produced by the mobile volumetric mixer. The control system on the mobile volumetric mixer has a programmable logic controller, electronic control units for controlling flow control devices, and a controller area network for controlling the mixer control system. A mobile electronic device connects the controller area network on the mobile volumetric mixer to a remote terminal for providing a control signal to the mobile electronic device to control the mix produced by the volumetric mixer.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FLUID CONCRETE
An apparatus (1) for producing fluid concrete comprising: a first mixer (100) configured to mix at least water (A1) and cement (C) so as to make a low fluidity concrete (2), having consistency class S2, a truck mixer configured to mix the low fluidity concrete (2) with further water (A2) so as to make a fluid concrete (3) having consistency class S2, a water supply means and at least a cement supply means configured so that said apparatus (1) can produce fluid concrete (3), a control and adjustment unit (4), connected to the water supply means and at least to the cement supply means, configured to selectively control and adjust the introduction of water (A1) and cement (C) into the first mixer (100) and the introduction of further water (A2) into the cement mixer.
Concrete washout and water recycling apparatus
A concrete washout and water recycling apparatus has a water tank with a capacity of at least 250 gallons, having an input aperture in a top portion of the water tank, and an outlet aperture on a bottom portion of the water tank, which has a release valve. The apparatus further includes a mounting structure for mounting the water tank on the cement truck, and a water channeling system. The system has a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a diameter, the proximal end being connected to the input aperture of the water tank. The second pipe has first end, a second end, and a diameter, the first end being connected to the distal end of the first pipe, and the second end having a connector valve.
EXPANDING NOZZLE FOR COMPONENT ADDITIONS IN A CONCRETE TRUCK, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USE OF SAME
A nozzle, including a support member and a nozzle boot surrounding at least a portion of the support member, the nozzle boot having a nozzle boot inlet and a nozzle boot outlet spaced from the nozzle boot inlet and a volume between the nozzle boot inlet and the nozzle boot outlet, the nozzle boot being expandable upon the introduction of fluid into the volume, and collapsible upon withdrawal of fluid from the volume. Also disclosed is a method of removing unwanted concrete from a surface by creating tensile stress to concrete adhered to that surface by causing the surface to expand, and a system for injecting fluid (s) into a rotating drum.
System and method for determining a status of a valve using an actuator accelerometer and a reference accelerometer
The system for determining a status of a valve being mounted in a liquid supply line of a concrete mixer and being actuatable via an actuator generally has: an actuator accelerometer mounted to the actuator and being adapted to measure an actuator position associated with a position of the valve; a reference accelerometer mounted to the concrete mixer and being adapted to measure a reference position fixed relative to the concrete mixer, the actuator position and the reference position being measured while the concrete mixer is fixed relative to the ground; a computing device adapted to receive the actuator and reference positions, the computing device being adapted to determine the status of the valve based on the actuator position, the reference position and calibration position data; and to generate status of the valve indicative of the determined status of the valve.
Concrete drum modes
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum, a chute, and a controller. The mixer drum has an inner volume configured to hold a mixture for transportation and placement. The chute is configured to receive mixture exiting the mixer drum and direct the mixture. The controller is configured to receive a selected mode of operation of the mixer drum and the chute. The selected mode of operation is selected from a set of multiple modes of operation of the mixer drum and the chute. The controller is configured to adjust an operation of at least one of the mixer drum or the chute to cause at least one of the mixer drum or the chute to operate according to the selected mode of operation.