Debris catching apparatus for a concrete mixer

Abstract

An apparatus for a lorry-based concrete mixer comprising a vessel adapted to be positioned beneath a concrete mixer discharge chute portion when the discharge chute is in a stowed position, the vessel being adapted, in use, to receive and retain debris exiting the discharge chute portion while the lorry-based concrete mixer is in motion, the vessel being further adapted to receive wash down water.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a lorry-based concrete mixer comprising a body and a drum; a discharge chute having an inlet and an open unobstructed arcuate outlet, wherein the inlet is arranged to receive any material exiting the drum whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is moving in transit; said discharge chute being movable between an in-transit stowed position and a discharge position, wherein in the in-transit stowed position the discharge chute is positioned proximate the body; a vessel attached to the body and positioned relative to the body such that upon moving the discharge chute to the in-transit stowed position the open outlet of the discharge chute aligns with the vessel such that the vessel is positioned beneath said open outlet of the discharge chute when the discharge chute is in said in-transit stowed position, and wherein in said in-transit stowed position the vessel is operable to receive and retain any discharge from the drum exiting the open outlet of the discharge chute whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is moving in transit, and also wherein in said in-transit stowed position the vessel is operable to receive wash-down waste water or slurry from the open outlet of the discharge chute such that any discharge or wash-down waste water from the discharge chute is contained on the lorry-based concrete mixer whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is moving in transit; and a securing portion adapted to secure the discharge chute in the in-transit stowed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing portion is a securing mechanism adapted to secure the discharge chute to the body of the lorry-based concrete mixer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the securing mechanism is adapted to secure the open outlet of the discharge chute in line with an inlet to the vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the securing mechanism is a male member attached to one of the discharge chute or, in use, a frame or chassis of the lorry-based concrete mixer and a female member attached to the other of the discharge chute or frame or chassis of the lorry-based concrete mixer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the male and female members, once engaged, are arranged to prevent movement of the discharge chute in a horizontal plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises a vessel outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a storage container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the storage container is adapted to hold the discharge or wash-down waste from the drum.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vessel is in fluid communication with the storage container such that the discharge and/or wash-down waste from the drum can pass through the vessel outlet into the storage container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage container and the vessel outlet are connected by means of a conduit.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises an outlet grill adapted to prevent larger pieces of debris from passing through the vessel outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel is adapted to receive and retain debris falling from the discharge chute.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel is adapted to receive the open outlet end of the discharge chute within a vessel interior.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the in-transit stowed position, the discharge chute is, in use, positioned above the vessel.

15. The apparatus of any claim 1, wherein in the in-transit stowed position, the discharge chute is lowered towards the vessel, wherein lowering the discharge chute towards the vessel includes the open outlet of the discharge chute being lowered into the vessel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a storage portion adapted to secure an at least one secondary chute in an in-transit stowed position, wherein the storage portion is adapted to secure the at least one secondary chute adjacent the discharge chute.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the storage portion is adapted to position the at least one secondary chute such that the discharge or wash-down waste from the drum exiting the discharge chute is directed towards the vessel.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the storage portion, in use, suspends the at least one secondary chute above the vessel.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the storage portion is adapted to secure the at least one secondary chute in the in-transit stowed position adjacent the discharge chute and a discharge position, wherein the secondary chute is attachable to the open outlet of the discharge chute.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel is, in use, adapted to be fixed relative to the body of the lorry-based concrete mixer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the vessel is, in use, removably fixed to the body of the lorry-based concrete mixer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vessel is adapted to be removably received within a cradle defined by the body of the lorry-based concrete mixer.

23. An apparatus comprising: a lorry-based concrete mixer comprising a body and a mixing drum; a main chute having an inlet end proximate an outlet of the mixing drum and an open unobstructed arcuate outlet end, which is axially disposed from the inlet end, wherein the inlet end is arranged to receive material from the mixing drum during normal discharge from the mixing drum and to receive material from the mixing drum in the event of accidental discharge from a partially or fully loaded mixing drum whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling; said main chute being movable between an in-transit stowed position and a discharge position, wherein the in-transit stowed position is where the main chute is positioned proximate the body and the open outlet end faces towards a side of the lorry-based concrete mixer and in the discharge position, the main chute is positioned such that the open outlet end faces towards a rear of the lorry-based concrete mixer; a vessel is attached to the body and is positioned relative to the body such that upon moving the main chute to the in-transit stowed position the open outlet end of the main chute is positioned relative to the vessel such that any material exiting the main chute from the open outlet end is discharged into the vessel, wherein the vessel is operable to receive any material, which is discharged from the mixing drum, wherein the discharged material is captured by the main chute, when positioned in said in-transit stowed position and said material is transferred to the vessel via the open outlet end of the main chute whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling with a partial or full load, and also wherein the vessel is operable to receive wash-down waste water or slurry from the open outlet end of the main chute when positioned in the in-transit stowed position such that during wash-down the wash-down material from the main chute is captured by the vessel for containment on the lorry-based concrete mixer whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is moving in transit; and wherein the vessel is in fluid communication with a storage container attached to the lorry-based concrete mixer, wherein the storage container is operable to retain the discharged material and/or wash down material from the vessel whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling between locations and to a dump location, where the storage container can be emptied.

24. An apparatus comprising: a lorry-based concrete mixer comprising a body, a mixing drum mounted on the body; a main chute having an inlet end proximate an outlet of the mixing drum and an open unobstructed arcuate outlet end, which is axially disposed from the inlet end, wherein the inlet end is arranged relative to the mixing drum and is arranged to receive material from the mixing drum during normal discharge from the mixing drum and to receive material from the mixing drum in the event of accidental discharge from a partially or fully loaded mixing drum whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling; a secondary chute secured by a storage portion adjacent the main chute; and a vessel, which is attached to the body and is positioned relative to the body such that upon moving the main chute to an in-transit stowed position the open outlet end of the main chute is positioned relative to the vessel such that any material exiting the main chute from the open outlet end is discharged into the vessel; wherein the main chute is movable between the in-transit stowed position wherein the main chute is positioned proximate the body and the open outlet end faces towards a side of the lorry-based concrete mixer and a discharge position wherein the main chute is positioned such that the open outlet end faces towards a rear of the lorry-based concrete mixer and the secondary chute is movable between an in-transit stowed position wherein the storage portion is adapted to secure the secondary chute adjacent the main chute, and a discharge position wherein the secondary chute is attachable to the open outlet end of the discharge chute, wherein the vessel is operable to receive any material, which is discharged from the mixing drum, wherein the discharged material is captured by the main chute when it is positioned in said in-transit stowed position and said material is transferred to the vessel via the open outlet end of the main chute whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling with a partial or full load, and wherein the secondary chute is arranged to deflect drum material exiting the main chute and direct it to the vessel and wherein the vessel is operable to receive wash-down waste water or slurry from the main chute and the secondary chute when positioned in the in-transit stowed position such that during wash-down the wash-down material from the main chute and the secondary chute is captured by the vessel for containment on the lorry-based concrete mixer whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling; and wherein the vessel is in fluid communication with a storage container attached to the lorry-based concrete mixer, wherein the storage container is operable to retain the discharged material and/or wash down material from the vessel whilst the lorry-based concrete mixer is travelling between locations and to a dump location, where the storage container can be emptied.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for a lorry-based concrete mixer according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a close-up view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of an apparatus for a lorry-based concrete mixer according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a side view of an apparatus, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for a lorry-based concrete mixer 12 and a close-up view of part of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 respectively.

(7) The apparatus 10 comprises a vessel 14 connected to a storage container 16 by a pipe 18. The storage container 16 and pipe 18 are mounted to a lorry-based concrete mixer 12. The concrete mixer 12 includes a drum 25, a mixer body 26 and a discharge chute 20 having an open unobstructed arcuate outlet 22. The discharge chute 20 is movable relative to the mixer body 26 and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a stowed position in which it is swung close to the mixer body 26. The apparatus 10 comprises a securing means 62 adapted to secure the discharge chute to the lorry-based concrete mixer 12 in the stowed position. As can be seen, in this position, the chute outlet 22 is secured within the vessel 14. Particularly, in this position, the chute 20 cannot swing away from the stowed position should there be a failure in the brackets 24A, 24B, securing the chute to the mixer body 26. In this stowed position, and particularly after discharge of concrete, the chute 20 can be washed down, the washing water being captured within the vessel 14 and fed through a vessel outlet 30 into the storage container 16 via the pipe 18.

(8) The apparatus 10 further comprises a securing portion 34 (securing means) adapted to secure the discharge chute 20 to the lorry-based concrete mixer 12. The securing portion 34 may be a securing mechanism 36 adapted to secure the discharge chute 20 to a frame or chassis of the lorry-based concrete mixer 12. The securing mechanism 36 may be adapted to secure the outlet 22 over the vessel 14. The securing mechanism 36 may be a male member 38 attached to one of the discharge chute 20 or, in use, a frame or chassis of the lorry-based concrete mixer 12, and female member 39 attached to the other of the discharge chute 20 or frame or chassis of the lorry-based concrete mixer 12. The male member 38 and female member 39, once engaged, may be arranged to prevent movement of the discharge chute 20 in a horizontal plane. Such an arrangement prevents the discharge chute 20 from swinging from the stowed position to the discharge position. The securing portion 34 may be the primary method of securing the discharge chute 20 in the stowed position.

(9) Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the vessel 14 includes a back plate 32 which, in use, prevents debris which may exit the chute outlet 22, from leaving the vicinity of the mixer 12 by catching it and retaining it within the vessel 14.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first and a second perspective views of an apparatus 110 for a lorry-based concrete mixer, a slightly different arrangement is that shown for the apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this apparatus 110, the open arcuate outlet 122 at the end of the discharge chute sits above the vessel 114 and debris exiting the lorry-based concrete mixer 112 will fall off the open end 122 of the discharge chute 120 and fall into the vessel 114. A secondary chute 140 which, in use, is attachable to the chute outlet 122 to provide extra utility when depositing concrete, is, in this stowed position, positioned around the chute outlet 122 to deflect debris, which may otherwise miss the vessel 114, into the vessel 114. In this position, the secondary chute 140 can also be cleaned with the washing water being captured within the vessel 114. A third chute 142 is also shown in the stowed position displaced from the vessel 114 however in further embodiments, this third chute 142 may also be positioned around the chute outlet 122 to deflect debris.

(11) The apparatus 110 further comprises a storage portion 144 (storage means) adapted to secure the at least one secondary chute 140 in the stowed position, preferably adjacent the chute outlet 122. It is preferred that the at least one secondary chute 140 be stored in a position such that the debris and/or fluid exiting the chute outlet 122 is directed towards the vessel 114, for instance by being suspended above the vessel 114. Further, the storage portion 144 is adapted to secure the at least one secondary chute 140 in both the stowed position and in a discharge position.

(12) It will be seen that the apparatus provides utility by securing the chute in the stowed position, preventing debris exiting the chute and causing damage and by providing a means of storing waste water which has been used to wash down the chute.

(13) It will be understood that modifications and improvements may be meters above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.