A mixing drum assembly includes a frame, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the frame, and a charge hopper coupled to the frame and positioned to direct material into the mixing drum. The charge hopper includes a hopper frame and a liner extending along an inner surface of the hopper frame and at least partially defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet. The hopper frame includes a first material and the liner includes a second material different from the first material. The liner is removably coupled to the hopper frame.

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.

A controller for a concrete mixer vehicle includes a base, an elongated shaft extending from the base, and a control portion positioned at free end of the elongated shaft. The control portion has a grip portion and a button interface providing at least one of a plurality of controls. The plurality of controls facilitate selectively operating (i) a hopper actuator to reposition a charge hopper between a first position and a second position, (ii) a first chute actuator to pivot a chute about a lateral axis to raise and lower a distal end of the chute, (iii) a second chute actuator to pivot the chute about a vertical axis to move the distal end left and right, (iv) a drum driver to control at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of a mixing drum, and (v) a transmission of the concrete mixer vehicle in one of a plurality of 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.

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.

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.

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.

A hopper for a mixer vehicle includes a body defining a flat medial surface for transfer of material into a mixer drum of the mixer vehicle. The flat medial surface is angled 45 degrees or less relative to a vertical axis.

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.

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.