A method to control a mixer (10) for concrete, mortar, powders, dry and semi-dry granulates, cement-based mixes or similar or comparable mixes or mixtures, comprises an input step in which it provides to communicate to a control and command unit (15) of the mixer (10) a plurality of input data correlated to the formulation of the mix that has to be treated in the mixing cycle, a detection step in which it provides to detect the values of an electric quantity characteristic of the electric power line of a drive unit (12) comprised in the mixer (10), a processing step in which the control and command unit (15) processes the data detected in the detection step in order to calculate the overall active power that is generated as a function of time, and to carry out one or more verifications, comparing the data processed with one or more of the respective data introduced among the input data, in order to transmit to a programmable logic controller (14) that commands the functioning of the mixer (10) alternately a consent signal to discharge the mix subjected to the mixing cycle, or an anomaly signal selectively correlated to the verification or verifications that have had a negative outcome, so that the operator can respectively command in the first case the discharge of the mix from the mixer (10), and in the second case the consequent corrective actions on the mixing cycle.

A system and method for automatically controlling concrete batch mixing cycles and for training an operator to minimize the mixing cycles, includes receiving real time mixer motor power measurements; detecting an initial peak value among the real time mixer motor power measurements; determining, by a processor, an initial amount of water to add to a concrete batch; waiting a first time period to determine a first supplemental amount of water to add to a concrete batch; and, then, periodically determining additional supplemental amounts of water to add to a concrete batch; until, the real time mixer motor power measurements meet a pre-determined target mixer motor power value, responsive to which, one or more outputs are activated, such as a user interface indicator that the batch is ready, or an optional electronic signal to a batch control system to dump the batch, or both.

A device for producing a concrete includes a cement premixer for mixing a cement suspension, the cement premixer having an ultrasonic probe for preparing a cement suspension, a crystallization tank arrangement with the first crystallization tank, for increasing the early strengths of the concrete, and a concrete mixer for producing a concrete mixture from the premixed cement suspension, in particular with the addition of aggregates.

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.

Described are a method and system for initiating a majority percentage of chemical admixture dosage into a delivered concrete load preferably just before arrival of the concrete delivery truck at the delivery pour site, such that a maximized slump (or slump flow, or other slump characteristic) increase occurs just before discharge/pour. The invention employs a concrete slump management system having a processor that is programed to consider time of pour (discharge) and stored data that includes dosage response (change of slump characteristic) of the concrete mix due to past additions in the same type of concrete mix, and thus maximizes pre-pour increase in slump characteristic while minimizing or avoiding the risk of overshooting the slump target as well as limiting the time required for adjusting concrete to attain the target slump value at the jobsite.

A mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum, a sensor, and a controller. The mixer drum is configured to rotate to mix a material within the mixer drum. The sensor is configured to obtain values of one or more properties of the material within the mixer drum. The controller is configured to receive the one or more properties of the material, and receive a user request to discharge the material within the mixer drum. The controller is configured to determine if the material requires additional mixing to obtain accurate values of the one or more properties of the material or to sufficiently mix the material, and limit discharge of the material from the mixer drum in response to a determination that the material requires additional mixing to obtain accurate values of the one or more properties of the material or to sufficiently mix the material.

Readings produced by an improved slump meter will be the consistent across a wide range of redi-mix units, regardless of the size of the load, make, model, age or condition of the redi-mix unit, therefore any mix consistency can be easily duplicated or created, by producing a common number for each mixer when running and empty, applying a conversion factor to raw hydraulic or electric motor work measurement data, and averaging and to stabilize the output reading on a refreshing period.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a drum, a load detection system, and a control system. The drum is coupled to the chassis and is configured to mix drum contents received therein. The load detection system is coupled to the chassis and includes a load sensor. The load sensor is positioned proximate to one of a forward end of the drum and a rear end of the drum. The load sensor is configured to determine a portion of a force applied by the drum to the chassis. The control system is communicably coupled to the load detection system and is configured to determine a longitudinal position of a concrete buildup in the drum based on the portion. The control system is also configured to generate at least one of a notification indicating the longitudinal position or a control signal based on the longitudinal position.

Readings produced by an improved slump meter will be the consistent across a wide range of redi-mix units, regardless of the size of the load, make, model, age or condition of the redi-mix unit, therefore any mix consistency can be easily duplicated or created, by producing a common number for each mixer when running and empty, applying a conversion factor to raw hydraulic or electric motor work measurement data, and averaging and to stabilize the output reading on a refreshing period.

A system and method for automatically controlling concrete batch mixing cycles and for training an operator to minimize the mixing cycles, includes receiving real time mixer motor power measurements; detecting an initial peak value among the real time mixer motor power measurements; determining, by a processor, an initial amount of water to add to a concrete batch; waiting a first time period to determine a first supplemental amount of water to add to a concrete batch; and, then, periodically determining additional supplemental amounts of water to add to a concrete batch; until, the real time mixer motor power measurements meet a pre-determined target mixer motor power value, responsive to which, one or more outputs are activated, such as a user interface indicator that the batch is ready, or an optional electronic signal to a batch control system to dump the batch, or both.