A drum drive system includes a controller configured to selectively control an engine, a variable displacement pump, and a variable displacement motor of a vehicle to provide a target drum speed for a drum of the vehicle. To provide the target drum speed, the controller is configured to: (i) initially operate the variable displacement motor at a maximum motor displacement and operate the variable displacement pump at a pump displacement that provides the target drum speed without needing to actively manipulate an engine speed of the engine; (ii) increase the pump displacement and decrease a motor displacement without needing to actively manipulate the engine speed while still providing the target drum speed; and (iii) increase the engine speed in response to the pump displacement reaching a maximum pump displacement and the motor displacement reaching a minimum motor displacement if necessary to maintain the target drum speed.

Provided herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for delivering carbon dioxide as a mixture of solid and gaseous carbon dioxide to a destination.

A system features an acoustic sensor configured to mount on a wall of a mixing drum, sense an acoustic characteristic of a mixture of a slurry, including concrete, contained in a mixing drum when rotating, and provide acoustic sensor signaling containing information about the acoustic characteristic sensed; and a signal processor configured to receive the acoustic sensor signaling, and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a slump characteristic of the mixture of concrete contained in the mixing drum, based upon the signaling received.

Compositions and methods are provided for a system in which liquid carbon dioxide, or a mixture of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide, is converted to solid carbon dioxide by exiting an orifice at a sufficient pressure drop, e.g., for delivery of carbon dioxide to a concrete mixture in a mixer.

The invention provides compositions and methods directed to carbonation of a cement mix during mixing. The carbonation may be in a stationary mixer or a transportable mixer, such as a drum of a ready-mix truck.

A system features an acoustic sensor configured to mount on a wall of a mixing drum, sense an acoustic characteristic of a mixture of a slurry, including concrete, contained in a mixing drum when rotating, and provide acoustic sensor signaling containing information about the acoustic characteristic sensed; and a signal processor configured to receive the acoustic sensor signaling, and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a slump characteristic of the mixture of concrete contained in the mixing drum, based upon the signaling received.

A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis, a mixing drum assembly, and a controller. The mixing drum assembly includes a mixing drum, a mixing element, a collector, and a chute. The mixing drum defines an aperture and a volume. The mixing element is positioned within the volume and is coupled to the mixing drum. The controller is configured to determine a state of the concrete mixer vehicle, determine a state of a mixture delivery system of a batch plant, obtain and apply a setpoint value to an actuator of the concrete mixer vehicle or the mixture delivery system, and activate the mixture delivery system to output material through the outlet of the mixture delivery system such that the material is deposited directly into the volume of the mixing drum to thereby directly charge the concrete mixer vehicle with material.

A drum control system includes a mixture sensor and a controller. The mixture sensor is configured to be positioned within a drum to engage with drum contents to facilitate acquiring drum contents data indicative of a property of the drum contents. The controller is configured to control a drive system to rotate the drum at a first, unmixed speed following receipt of the drum contents by the drum where the drum contents including ingredients of a concrete mixture; acquire the drum contents data from the mixture sensor and monitor the property of the drum contents as the drum rotates; and control the drive system to rotate the drum at a second, mixed speed in response to determining that the property of the drum contents indicates that the ingredients have been sufficiently mixed.

A volumetric mixer is provided including a holding section adapted to store one or more materials simultaneously, one or more conveyors disposed in the holding section, a mixing section, one or more heating units disposed in the mixing section, and a control unit. The conveyors are operable to convey materials from the holding section to the mixing section and the one or more conveyors are operable to be individually controlled by the control unit to deliver a pre-determined amount of each material from the holding section to the mixing section.

A concrete mixer system includes a control system configured to provide a first input to a drum drive system to rotate a drum of a concrete mixer at a target speed while the drum is empty and clean, acquire operating data regarding an operating characteristic of the drum drive system to determine a baseline operating characteristic of the drum drive system in response to the first input, provide a second input to the drum drive system to rotate the drum at the target speed following one or more uses of the concrete mixer and while the drum is empty, acquire the operating data to determine a current operating characteristic of the drum drive system in response to the second input, and provide a buildup notification indicating that there is a buildup of drum contents within the drum in response to a difference between the baseline operating characteristic and the current operating characteristic exceeding a threshold differential.