Pumping unit for a machine to distribute concrete

Abstract

A pumping unit for a machine to distribute concrete includes a pair of cylinders provided with a relative pumping piston movable linearly for a determinate travel to feed the concrete to a determinate circuit to distribute the concrete; and a hydraulic command circuit operatively connected to both the cylinders, to determine an alternate pumping movement of the relative pumping pistons. The pumping unit includes at least a sensor member operatively associated to at least one of the cylinders in order to detect point-by-point one or more data relating to the operating condition of the pumping piston during its movement for the whole travel. The data includes at least one of position, speed, stress and direction of movement of the relative piston.

Claims

1. A pumping unit for a machine to distribute concrete, the pumping unit comprising: at least a pair of cylinders (12, 13) provided with a relative pumping piston (22, 23) movable linearly in relative chambers (25) of the cylinders for a determinate travel (S) and able to feed the concrete to a determinate circuit to distribute the concrete, a main hydraulic command circuit (11) operatively connected to both the cylinders (12, 13), and able to determine an alternate pumping movement of the relative pumping piston (22, 23), at least one sensor member (15) operatively associated with at least one of said cylinders (12, 13) in order to detect, at every instant on the whole travel (S), one or more data relating to the operating condition of said pumping piston (22, 23) during its movement, wherein said data comprise at least one of position, speed, stress and direction of movement of the relative piston (22, 23), a connection pipe (18) which connects the relative chambers (25) of the cylinders with respect to each other, and a hydraulic block (37) directly hydraulically connected to at least one of said chambers (25) and to said connection pipe (18) connecting the relative chambers (25), thereby defining an auxiliary hydraulic circuit which selectively introduces/discharges hydraulic fluid into/from the chambers (25) of said pumping cylinders (12, 13), in addition to the main hydraulic circuit, based on the signals being detected and transmitted to the hydraulic block (37) by the at least one sensor member (15), wherein the hydraulic block optimizes, in a continuous manner, the volume of hydraulic fluid contained in each of the chambers (25) of the cylinders connected by the connection pipe (18) and the performance of the pumping unit.

2. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor member (15) comprises two sensor members (15), each of which is associated to a relative cylinder (12, 13), so as to detect, in an independent manner, the data relating to the operating condition of each pumping piston (22, 23) for the whole travel.

3. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic unit (11) comprises a hydraulic pipe (16, 17, 18) fluidically connected to the cylinders (12, 13), means able to command the selective inversion of hydraulic command of the pistons (12, 13), and a pumping member (19, 20) able to command the feed of said hydraulic pipe (16, 17, 18).

4. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor member (15) is a single sensor position transducer which identifies the actual position of each pumping piston (22, 23).

5. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the at least one sensor member (15) comprises a slider element (26) mounted with and aboard the relative pumping piston (22, 23), and a detector element (27) mounted on the relative cylinder (12, 13), in a fixed position with respect to said pumping piston (22, 23).

6. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein each pumping piston (22, 23) comprises a blind axial hole (29) which is open toward the outside on the side opposite to the end suitable to act on the concrete, and wherein the slider element (26) comprises an annular magnet disposed inside the axial hole (29) at a distance from the blind bottom at least equal to the travel (S) of the pumping piston (22, 23).

7. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detector element (27) comprises a shaft (30) positioned with play inside the axial hole (29) so as to cover the whole travel (S) of the relative pumping piston (22, 23) and conformed and disposed so that the magnet of the slider element (26) is in a condition substantially surrounding said shaft (30).

8. The pumping unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shaft (30) comprises a support push rod (31) with sizes correlated to the axial hole (29) and able to support said shaft (30) inside said axial hole (29).

9. The pumping unit as in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one the sensor member (15) is selected from the group consisting of two or more transducer sensors, capacitive sensors, volumetric sensors, thermal sensors, and pressure sensors, and wherein each of the at least one sensor members (15) is disposed along the travel (S) of each pumping piston (22, 23).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 schematically shows a pumping unit according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a cross section of an enlarged detail in FIG. 1.

(5) To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) With reference to FIG. 1, a pumping unit 10 is shown in its entirety, of the type which can be used in a machine for the distribution of concrete, such as for example a concrete mixer, a truck-transported pump or other apparatus typically used in building sites to make concrete constructions.

(7) The pumping unit 10 according to the present invention includes a hydraulic command circuit 11, a pair of pumping cylinders, respectively a first 12 and a second 13, a feed terminal 14 to feed the concrete toward a relative concrete distribution circuit, of the known type and not shown, and an exchange circuit 24, operatively associated to the feed terminal 14.

(8) The pumping unit 10 also includes two sensor members 15 operatively associated to each of the two pumping cylinders 12 and 13, the functions of which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

(9) The hydraulic command circuit 11 in this case is of the oil-dynamic type and includes a first feed pipe 16, a second feed pipe 17, two bi-directional feed pumps 19 and 20 and a motor member 21.

(10) The first feed pipe 16 is structured to fluidically connect the feed pumps 19 and 20 with the first pumping cylinder 12.

(11) The second feed pipe 17 is structured to fluidically connect the bi-directional pumps 19 and 20 with the second pumping cylinder 13.

(12) The two bi-directional feed pumps 19 and 20 are structured to alternately direct the oil-dynamic flow toward the first feed pipe 16, or toward the second feed pipe 17, so as to condition the alternate actuation of the first pumping cylinder 12 and the second pumping cylinder 13.

(13) Each pumping cylinder 12 and 13 includes a pumping piston, respectively a first 22 and a second 23, each able to slide inside a relative chamber 25, for a determinate travel S.

(14) The linear movement of each pumping piston 22, 23 as far the speed, the pressure and the direction of actuation are concerned, is commanded, as we said, by the hydraulic command circuit 11, or main circuit.

(15) To close the hydraulic command circuit 11, a connection pipe 18 is provided disposed in a fluid dynamic connection between the two pumping cylinders 12 and 13.

(16) In particular the connection pipe 18 puts in communication the chambers 25 of the cylinders where the pistons 22, 23 move in alternate motion.

(17) To optimize the performance of the pumping unit 10, the volume of fluid contained in the chambers 25 of the pistons connected by the pipe 18 must have a precise and constant value depending on the size of the pistons 22, 23.

(18) This volume, thanks to the presence of the sensor members 15, can be detected continuously by the system in a point-by-point manner. It is therefore possible to intervene at any moment to restore the correct value by the aid of a hydraulic block 37, dedicated for this function.

(19) In particular, the hydraulic block 37 is suitable to remove/introduce oil, at a sufficient pressure, in a point-by-point manner and in any case able to optimize the performance of the pumping unit 10 based on the detections supplied by the sensors 15.

(20) The fluid used to restore the correct value can be introduced into/removed from the chambers 25 of the cylinders by directly exploiting the mouth 38 present on the chamber 25 of the lower cylinder, in FIG. 1, or by inserting a branch 39 on the connection pipe 18.

(21) An auxiliary circuit is thus made which, based on the commands from the sensors 15, determines the introduction/discharge of fluid into/from the chambers 25 thanks to the selective activation of the hydraulic block 37, so as to optimize at every moment the behavior of the pumping pistons 22, 23.

(22) The bi-directional pumps 19 and 20 are of the variable volume type, both commanded by the motor member 21 which can be a combustion engine of the Diesel type or other, of a substantially traditional type.

(23) Advantageously, the two bi-directional pumps 19 and 20 are connected to a power adjuster set to about 60-80 kw, and a pressure cut of about 340-360 bar.

(24) In the form of embodiment shown as a non-restrictive example in the drawings, each sensor member 15 includes a slider element 26 (FIG. 2) mounted solid and on board the relative pumping piston 22, 23, and a detector element 27 mounted on the relative cylinder 12, 13, in a fixed position with respect to the pumping piston 22, 23.

(25) In this case, each pumping piston 22, 23 has a blind axial hole 29 which is open toward the outside on the side opposite the end suitable to act on the concrete.

(26) The slider element 26 includes an annular magnet disposed inside the axial hole 29 at a distance from the blind bottom at least equal to the travel S of the pumping piston 22, 23.

(27) The detector element 27 includes a shaft 30 fed electrically and disposed with play inside the axial hole 29. The shaft 30 is conformed and disposed so that the magnet of the slider element 26 is also outside and in a condition substantially surrounding the shaft 30, so that the magnetic field of the magnet generates an induced current on the shaft 30.

(28) In this way, the movement of the pumping piston 22, 23, and therefore of the slider element 26 with respect to the shaft 30, determines a movement of the magnetic field generated by the magnet along the travel S of the cylinder and along the length of the shaft 30.

(29) This movement determines a variation in the position of the magnetic field generated by the magnet with respect to the shaft 30 and therefore the detection of a different induced current on the shaft 30.

(30) The variation in the induced current detected on the shaft 30 is translated by the detector element 27 in terms of variation of the position of the slider element 26 with respect to the shaft 30; it is therefore possible to obtain data relating to the actual position, speed, acceleration and other of the relative pumping piston 22, 23.

(31) Advantageously, the shaft 30 includes a support push rod 31 with sizes correlated to the axial hole 29 and able to support the shaft 30, keeping it in a substantially linear position inside the axial hole 29, that is, without interference with the outside walls of the latter.

(32) In this case, an end-of-travel sensor 36 is also associated to each pumping cylinder 12, 13, which assists the system to command the operative inversion both of the bi-directional pumps 19 and 20 and also of the exchange circuit 24, and therefore of the feed terminal 14.

(33) The feed terminal 14 is of the substantially traditional type and is known in jargon by the term S valve. The feed terminal 14 is alternately moved by the exchange circuit 24, in a coordinated manner to the movement of the two pumping pistons 22 and 23.

(34) The exchange circuit 24 traditionally includes a mono-directional pump 32, a directional valve 33, and a pair of exchange cylinders 35, hydraulically connected with each other.

(35) The mono-directional pump 32 has a variable volume, is commanded by the same motor member 21 as the two bi-directional pumps 19 and 20, and is pressure adjusted. In particular, when a determinate pressure value is reached in the exchange cylinders 35 the volume of the pump 32 is reduced to its minimum value with the sole function of compensating the oil leaks. The value of this pressure is variable between about 120 bar and about 200 bar.

(36) The directional valve 33 is a 4/2 valve with electro-hydraulic command with detention of the position, and is able to alternately exchange the flow of oil entering the exchange cylinders 35, until these determine the alternate movement of the feed terminal 14.

(37) The exchange command of the directional valve 33 occurs in a coordinated manner to the frequency of operative alternation of the pumping pistons 22 and 23, and is subject to possible operative variations defined by the effect of the data detected by the sensor member 15.

(38) In FIG. 1 the discharge lines of both the command circuit 11 and the exchange circuit 24 are represented by a dotted line.

(39) It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the pumping unit 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(40) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.