Patent classifications
B28C5/422
CONCRETE MIXER TRUCK DRUM ROTATION MEASUREMENT USING CAMERA
Embodiments disclose systems and methods to measure concrete mixer truck drum rotation. A camera (e.g., a video camera or Infra-Red (“IR”) camera) may capture images of a surface of a concrete mixer truck drum. A drum rotation measurement platform may receive the images of the surface of a concrete mixer truck drum captured by the camera and automatically analyze the captured images using machine learning technology to determine drum rotation information (e.g., a drum rotation speed and/or drum rotation direction). The drum rotation measurement platform may then output an indication of the determined drum rotation information. In some embodiments, the surface of the concrete mixer truck drum may include one or more marking symbols (e.g., of various shapes), and the automatic analysis performed by the drum rotation measurement platform includes detection of movement of the marking symbol between captured images.
CONCRETE DRUM CONTROL, PROPERTY PREDICTION, AND MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A vehicle includes a chassis, an engine, a drum assembly, and a control system. The drum assembly includes a drum configured to receive drum contents and a drive system coupled to the drum. The drive system is configured to rotate the drum to agitate the drum contents. The control system is configured to operate the drive system at a drive speed; receive data comprising at least one of (i) a drum speed command from a remote monitoring system, (ii) a signal from a mixture sensor configured to acquire mixture data indicative of a current property of the drum contents, (iii) the current property of the drum contents from the remote monitoring system, and (iv) an initial property of the mixture from at least one of a batching system, the mixture sensor, and a user input device; and adjust the drive speed of the drum based on the data.
Vehicle control system
A system includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of a portable user device, cause the processor to wirelessly connect to a machine via a wireless transceiver of the portable user device, display a control interface for the machine on a user interface of the portable user device, receive a user input through the control interface regarding operation of a controllable component of the machine, and provide a command to the machine via the wireless transceiver based on the user input to facilitate remote operation of the controllable component of the machine.
Mixer vehicle with 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.
Electric concrete vehicle systems and methods
A concrete mixer truck includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive assemblies coupled to the chassis, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the chassis, the mixing drum defining an internal volume configured to contain material and an aperture through which the material can enter and exit the internal volume, an energy storage device positioned at a rear end of the chassis and configured to provide electrical energy, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the energy storage device, where the electromagnetic device is configured to receive the electrical energy from the energy storage device and provide mechanical energy to drive at least one of the plurality of tractive assemblies to propel the concrete mixer truck.
Automatic system for monitoring the mixing of conglomerates
The invention relates to an automatic system for monitoring the mixing of conglomerates. The inventive system can be used to monitor and measure the volume of a conglomerate, i.e. a concrete, mortar or other similar product, and the conditions in which the conglomerate is being mixed inside a mixer. The invention is characterized in that the system is provided with a sensor which rotates integrally with the mixer and which is fitted with a blade that is sensitive to the stresses exerted by the conglomerate thereon. The invention is also characterized in that the aforementioned information is transmitted to one or more terminals, by means of radio communication or other similar wireless communication means, for use in industrial processes.
Automatic washout system for a mixer vehicle
A washout system for a concrete mixer vehicle includes a plurality of valves, a plurality of nozzles, and a controller. The plurality of valves are configured to (i) be fluidly coupled to a pump and a fluid tank and (ii) receive a fluid from the pump. One or more of the plurality of nozzles are fluidly coupled to a respective one of the plurality of valves. Each of the plurality of nozzles are configured to provide the fluid to a respective target when the respective one of the plurality of valves is selectively activated to an open position. The controller is configured to monitor a plurality of washout parameters during operation of the concrete mixer vehicle and initiate one of a plurality of washout modes in response to a subset of the plurality of washout parameters being satisfied for the one of the plurality of washout modes.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FRESH CONCRETE BEING HANDLED IN A CONCRETE MIXER USING TRAINED DATA PROCESSING ENGINES
A system for a concrete mixer having a drum receiving fresh concrete therein. The system generally has: a sensor measuring a set of measurand values indicative of a measurand associated with at least one of the fresh concrete, the drum and components of the concrete mixer; and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller performing the steps of: accessing the set of measurand values generated by the sensor; using a trained data processing engine stored on the non-transitory memory, at least one of determining a property value indicative of a property of the fresh concrete, determining a parameter value indicative of a parameter of the drum, and determining that the set of measurand values are indicative of some operating conditions of the concrete mixer; and outputting a signal based on said determining.
Wide speed range concrete monitoring calibration
A method and system for concrete monitoring calibration using truck-mounted mixer drum jump speed data selectively assimilated from previous deliveries. The method involves measuring energy at a first drum speed and a second drum speed. Slump is calculated using low speed energy/speed/slump curve data, or pre-stored equation wherein slump is derived as a function of slope of the line. The energy, speed, slump relationship in the provided concrete is compared to at least two pre-stored data curves across drum speed ranges of 15 0.5 RPM-6 RPM and 6 RPM-20 RPM, to ascertain whether the provided concrete matches any of the stored curve data; either activating the monitoring system for all drum speed ranges where a match is confirmed or allowing the monitoring system to calculate slump only at low drum speeds.
HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE WITH ENHANCED OPERATION EFFICENCY
The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic drive system having a hydraulic circuit architecture operable in first and second modes. In a first mode, a main hydraulic pump (22) is used to drive a hydraulic actuator (24) via a closed hydraulic circuit, and a charge pump (42) provides charge flow to the closed hydraulic circuit. In a second mode the main pump set to zero displacement and the charge pump (42) is used to drive the hydraulic actuator (24).