CONCRETE STATION

Abstract: This invention applies to a concrete mixing plant, with an aggregate storage (1) to which a central part (8) is fixed, forming a whole. In the concrete mixing plant there is a conveyor (2) that transfers the aggregate to the aggregate mixer component (6), the mixer component (6) containing the mixing equipment with its batching and weighing devices. The characteristics of the invention are the following: the connecting unit (7) is attached to the lower part of the mixer component (6) with a joint (7a), and to the upper side (8a) of the central part (8) with a joint (7b). The jointed frame (4a) is attached with the top joint (4b) to the upper part of the mixer component (6) and with the bottom joint (4c) to the top at the back of the central part (8). As a result the mixer component (6) can be lifted from the transporting position to the mixing position and lowered to the transporting position, retaining all the cabling connections.

Description: CONCRETE STATION This invention applies to a concrete mixing plant as described in the introduction below to the Patent Protection Claim included. At present there are concrete mixing plants that may be transported as a whole or assembled from parts. The disadvantage with the transportation of a complete unit is that its dimensions are large, and special arrangements are needed for its transportation. As a result the whole operation becomes expensive, due to which the amount of concrete to be produced need to be large to make the transportation profitable. In addition, the aggregate storage will remain either small or high, in which case the transportation is basically more difficult. The disadvantage with the concrete plants assembled from parts is the laborious and time- consuming re-assembly of the parts transported separately, as the cabling for the equipment, for example, need to be connected. The invention applies to a concrete mixing plant, the transport dimensions of which are small in relation to its concrete producing capacity. Moreover, the plant is designed to allow it to be readied for transport and installation in a minimum time with a minimum of labour. As a result the transfer of the concrete mixing plant is profitable even in cases where relatively small amounts of concrete are to be produced. The above-mentioned disadvantages can be eliminated and the above-mentioned objectives can be reached with the concrete mixing plant as described in the invention and the characteristics of which plant are presented in the Patent Protection Claim below. The most important advantage of the invention is that the structure of the joints designed for the mixer component allows it to be swivelled rapidly into a transportation- or work-position without any detaching of cables etc. As a result a transfer to a new location is fast and inexpensive. In addition, the folding of the wall -structure enables the aggregate storage to be much larger than the transport dimensions would otherwise indicate In spite of this advantage the time needed for assembly and disassembly is not substantially increased In the following, the invention is presented in detail referring to the figures attached Figure 1 shows the partially profiled side view ofthe concrete mixing plant as described in the invention, ready for transportation, Figure 2 shows the partially profiled side view ofthe concrete mixing plant of figure 1. ready for concrete production Figure 3 shows the partially profiled side view ofthe concrete mixing plant of figures 1 and 2 Figure 4 shows the partially profiled top view ofthe concrete mixing plant of figures 1. 2 and 3 Figure 5 shows the profiled front view ofthe concrete mixing plant's (figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) aggregate storage The basic idea of this invention is, that the concrete mixing plant can be rapidly readied for transport and installation and that its transport dimensions are so small, that its transportation does not produce any additional problems The concrete mixing plant as shown in the figures is made up ofthe following parts and assemblies of parts which can all be manufactured of known metals, apart from those previously known components, the raw-material of which is not metal The aggregate storage ( 1 ) functions as the storage area for concrete aggregate, and is divided into several compartments for different types of aggregate The lower part (lb) ofthe aggregate storage ( 1 ) has hinges or other types of attachments ( lc) holding the walls ( la) above, enabling them to be folded for the transportation or erected for functional readiness in a very short period of time by lifting the walls ( la) up and attaching them to each other with known rapid attachment devices such as self-locking hooks, for example The lower part ( lb) ofthe aggregate storage ( 1 ) contains the aggregate batching devices The central part (8) is fixed to the aggregate storage ( 1 ), together forming a common unit These two parts can be made to share a common body frame which then forms the base for both structures The control room may be located in the central part (8) The conveyor (2) for the aggregate is made up of a compartmentalized belt (2a), and its supporting frame (2b) with the necessary known equipment attached to it to move the belt (2a) This equipment includes a power source, belt-flexing rollers, beaπng rollers etc As a new feature there is a joint (2c) in the frame (2b) ofthe conveyor(2), enabling the folding ofthe upper part ofthe conveyor (2) over the central part(8) for transport without detaching or dismantling it At the same time the height ofthe transportable unit is reduced The aggregate conveyor (2) cames the aggregate to the receiving area (3) (receiving hopper) from where the aggregate is directed to the mixer The conveyor (2) and the receiving area (3) are both supported by weighing sensors, and function, therefore, as the weighing device for the aggregate As a consequence, there is no need for a separate weighing device, usually a belt weigher, for the aggregate The conveyor (2) is inside the center cover (4) The centre cover (4) is attached to a jointed frame (4a) which has a bottom joint (4c) and a top joint (4b) This jointed frame (4a) also functions as a support for the mixer component (6) The bottom joint (4c) is attached at the back to the top ofthe central part (8), and the top joint (4b) to the upper side ofthe mixer component(6) The mixer component (6) contains a known concrete mixer, known cement- and waterscales, aggregate scales and all their necessary automation components In addition, the mixer component (6) includes the receiving area (3) mentioned above The frame structure in the mixer component (6) is very strong, enabling it to be moved with the help ofthe joint (7a) and the top joint (4b), using a car-crane or something similar, for example The joint (7a) is attached to the lower part ofthe mixer component (6) and the top joint (4b) to the upper part ofthe mixer component (6) Both of these joints are on the side of the aggregate storage ( 1 ) of the mixer component (6) The function ofthe connecting unit (7) is to act as a movable connecting structure for the mixer component (6) and the central part (8) it enables the erecting of the mixer component (6) into a working position The shape ofthe connecting unit (7) in the figure is shown to be rectangular, but other shapes, a cube for example, can be used The frame ofthe connecting unit (7) is strong to make it withstand the weight of the mixer component (6) The connecting unit (7) is attached to the mixer component (6) with the joint (7a) mentioned above, and in the opposite angle to the joint (7a) there is a joint (7b) attached to the front upper side (8a) ofthe central part (8) To sum up, the connecting unit (7) is attached with the joint (7a) to the lower part of the mixer component (6) and with the joint (7b) to the front upper side (8a) of the central part (8) The jointed frame (4a) is attached with the top joint (4b) to the upper part ofthe mixer component (6) and with the bottom joint (4c) to the top at the back ofthe central part (8) As a result the mixer component (6) can be lifted from the transporting position to the mixing (working) position and lowered to the transporting position, retaining all the cabling connections, even with the conveyor (2) in its place - the joint (2c) enabling the turning ofthe conveyor The joints described above can be manufactured with known techniques (a metal sleeve containing a slidebeaπng, for example) or using known components, for example various bearings The erected mixer component (6) stays easily in its position with the help of the jointed frame (4a), no special fixing is needed For transport the mixer component (6), the connecting unit (7), and the central part (8)/aggregate storage ( 1 ) can be locked together in such a way that their trans-portation may be effected with the help of wheels positioned under the system Alternatively, the whole may be lifted on any conventionally known transporting platform The concrete mixing plant s equipment- and working areas may be covered and insulated to ensure faultless operation in extreme conditions The binding agent needed in the production of concrete is obtained from a separate binding agent silo (9) from where it can be moved to the mixer component (6) with the help of a screw-conveyor ( 10), for example The installation for operational readiness ofthe concrete mixing plant is effected as follows The mixing component (6) and the connecting unit (7) are detached from each other A crane is used to lift the mixer component (6) in position the connecting unit (7) seats itself on top ofthe central part (8), the conveyor (2) finds its place at the same time, and the mixer component (6) locks itself in place due to the jointed frame (4a) Next the walls ( 1 a) of the aggregate storage ( 1 ) are folded out along the hinges (lc) and locked in their positions The binding agent silo (9) is lifted in its position, and the screw-conveyor (10) is connected to the binding agent weighing scale Finally, servicing platforms, walkways and the top cover (5) are lifted in their positions and attached with rapid attachment devices To dismantle the plant for transportation follows a procedure the order of which is opposite to the above It is clear to a person adept in the field that the invention is not limited just to its advantageous form as depicted above, but that many modifications are possible within the scope ofthe innovation as descπbed in the claim for patent protection

Claims: PATENT PROTECTION CLAIM 1 A concrete mixing plant, with - an aggregate storage ( 1 ) with a central part (8) fixed to it, forming a whole, - a conveyor (2) that can transfer the aggregate to the aggregate mixer component (6) - a mixer component (6) containing a mixing equipment with its batching and weighing devices - its characteπstics being the following The connecting unit (7) is attached to the lower part of the mixer component (6) with the joint (7a), and to the upper side (8a) ofthe central part (8) with a joint (7b) The jointed frame (4a) is attached with the top joint (4b) to the upper part of the mixer component (6) and with the bottom joint (4c) to the top at the back ofthe central part (8) As a result the mixer component (6) can be lifted from the transporting position to the mixing position and lowered to the transporting position, retaining all the cabling connections 2 A concrete mixing plant in accordance with the claim for patent protection, its characteπstics being The conveyor (2) has a joint (2c) which enables the turning ofthe conveyor (2) to a transporting position without detaching it AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 27 ϋune 1997 (27.06.97); original claims 1 and 2 replaced by new claims 1 and 2 (1 page)] 1. A concrete mixing plant, with - an aggregate storage ( 1 ) with a central part (8) fixed to it, forming a whole, - a conveyor (2) that transfers the aggregate to the aggregate mixer component (6) - a mixer component (6) containing a mixing equipment with its batching and weighing device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that - the connecting unit (7) is attached to the lower part of the mixer component (6) with the joint (7a), and to the upper side (8a) of the central part (8) with a joint (7b), - in the working position the connecting unit (7) is turned on the top of the central part (8) and the mixer component (6) is on the top of the connecting unit (7), and - the jointed frame (4a) is attached with the top joint (4b) to the upper part of the mixer component (6) and the other end of the jointed frame is attached with the bottom joint (4c) to the top at the back of the central part (8), whereby the mixer component (6) can be lifted from the transporting position to the mixing position and lowered to the transporting position, retaining all the cabling connections. 2. A concrete mixing plant in accordance with the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the conveyor (2) has a joint (2c) which enables the turning of the conveyor (2) to a transporting position without detaching it.

Inventors: RYHAENEN VILJO HEIKKI KALEVI, RYHAENEN, VILJO, HEIKKI, KALEVI
Applicants: RYHAENEN VILJO HEIKKI KALEVI, TECWILL OY, RYHAENEN, VILJO, HEIKKI, KALEVI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B28C9
IPC codes: B28C7, B28C9