Abstract:
A mobile support system for supporting a concrete pouring hose supports ten to sixteen feet of hose while providing sufficient ground clearance to avoid common obstacles. The mobile support system features large castors and conveniently placed hand holds to permit the mobile support system to be moved safely and easily. The system provides for socketed leg attachment, thereby allowing for ease of disassembly and storage.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/556898 filed Nov. 8, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a mobile support device for supporting and moving concrete spreading hoses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the construction industry it is common for concrete to be used and conveyed to the job site via hoses. Concrete is typically either delivered by transit mix trucks or mixed on site. The problem is that these sources of mixed concrete are typically at some distance from the actual site where the concrete is needed. Typically, uncured concrete is pumped from a mixing truck to the area to be filled utilizing a pumping device which feeds a flexible hose. Mixed but uncured concrete has a slurry-like consistency, and is difficult to deliver by hose. A common solution to this problem is to use a large diameter hose, which may range from about three inches in diameter to about ten inches in diameter, with about five inches being typical. When filled with uncured concrete, this hose may weigh up to 30 pounds per foot. With tens of feet of hose being a typical installation, devices which support and move the hose are advantageous. In order to facilitate distribution of the uncured concrete, it is desirable to position the hose off the ground, and provide a structure to support the hose so that it is easily movable, even though carrying substantial weight. 
         [0004]    Devices have been developed which attempt to perform these functions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,175 (Woelfel) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,893 (Ferris) disclose support devices for concrete hoses. Both of these devices use a single, short support to hold the hose resulting in the hose only being supported for less than one foot of its length. In addition, these supports both arrange the supports so that the weight of the supported hose is centered below the tops of the wheels, thereby making the devices more stable. The present designs, however, are still inherently unstable, allowing the supports to rock in relation to the hose, and allowing the hose to contact the ground. Further, surges and collapses in the flexible hose can result in tipping of the hose supports in relation to the hose, which can sometimes impede the pumping process. Another shortcoming in the prior art is the relatively short portion of the support which underlies the hose. This abbreviated dimension allows the hose to flex excessively unless many separate support assemblies are employed. These design features mean that multiple supports may be needed to support a significant length of concrete spreading hose. Likewise, the low center of gravity means that these supports have very low ground clearance and therefore must be lifted over obstacles. In addition, the placement of the lifting handles is such that operators must place their feet on either side of the wheels in order to lift the device, placing the operator&#39;s feet in danger of being rolled over by the wheels. 
         [0005]    It is desirable then, that a mobile support device for supporting and moving concrete spreading hoses be available which overcomes these limitations. In particular, it is desirable to provide a concrete pumping flexible hose support which resists tipping as it is moved from one distribution location to the next, which discourages buckling or collapsing, which provides readily accessible handles for repositioning, and which elevates the hose above the work site, while at the same time providing improved support along the longitudinal axis of the hose. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Aspects of the present invention provide for a mobile support device for supporting and moving concrete spreading hoses. Disclosed herein is a mobile support system for supporting a concrete spreading hose, comprising two or more supports spaced apart so as to support a length of concrete spreading hose; at least four large-diameter casters; a frame arranged to rotatably fixture the casters and to position the supports above the casters; and a hand hold arranged around the perimeter of the mobile support system above the wheels and below the supports. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved wheeled support for flexible concrete carrying hoses which provides stability for the flexible hose in all three dimensions, while still allowing a high degree of mobility. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a support which prevents or inhibits collapses of the hose during the concrete pumping and distribution process. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a support which offers increased clearance between the flexible hose and the work surface over which it is suspended, and to provide convenient hand holds for positioning the support and improved safety for the operator in positioning the support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of this invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of this invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of this invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Aspects of the present invention provide for a mobile support device for supporting and moving concrete spreading hoses.  FIGS. 1-4  show a mobile support assembly  10  for supporting a concrete spreading hose  12 . The assembly is preferably constructed as a metal framework having sufficient strength to support the anticipated loads, while the hose  12  as above described is generally flexible. It will be appreciated that the preset invention will also function effectively when used with rigid or semi-rigid pipes or similar conduits. The mobile support assembly  10  comprises two or more holders  14  spaced apart on a support beam  15  so as to support a length of concrete spreading hose  12 . The holders  14  are preferably in the configuration of a semi-cylindrical section, open at the upper end and affixed by fasteners or weldment to a support beam  15 . Elongated support beam  15  is of rigid solid or tubular construction and may be of circular or polygonal cross-section. The support beam  15  is affixed to hand hold  28 , which in turn is affixed to frame  18  at tubular sockets  32 . The frame  18 , hand hold  28  and sockets  32  form a box-like structure which imparts rigidity to the assembly  10 . The ends  30  of support beam  15  extend outward from opposing sides of the rigid frame  18  to facilitate manipulation of the assembly  10  as will be further described herein. 
         [0012]    The assembly  10  further comprises at least four large-diameter casters  16 , where large diameter is defined as  16  inches in diameter or greater. Large casters  16  are preferable in the typical work environment, where small, commonly occurring debris, such as gravel, nails, and the like may interfere with the operation of smaller wheels. The casters  16  may be provided with either solid or pneumatic tires  20 , which pivot on caster mounts  22  in the conventional fashion. The invention incorporates a frame  18  arranged to position legs  24  and casters  16  and to position the support beam  15  above the casters  16 . The frame  18  is preferably constructed of solid bar stock or hollow metal tubing, and is in the form of a rectangular structure to which is attached a plurality of legs  24  constructed of like material. The legs  24  extend downwardly and outwardly of said frame  18 , and at their distal ends are provided with the caster mounts  26  above described. A hand hold  28  is arranged above the frame  18  of the mobile support assembly  10 , above the wheels  16  and below the supports  14 , so that operators can lift or move the mobile support assembly  10  without placing their feet in danger from the casters  16 . Although the mobile support assembly  10 , by virtue of having the hose supports  14  well above the casters  16 , has a high center of gravity, the four casters  16  are located at the corners of the mobile support assembly  10  so as to provide adequate stability during use. In addition, the location of the elongated support beams  15  extending beyond the perimeter of the mobile support assembly  10  helps to keep the operator away from the hose  12  during use and permits operators to have additional safe and effective hand holds. To provide rigidity to the frame  18  and legs  24 , diagonal brace  38  is provided which extend from one corner  34  of the support frame  18  to a diagonally opposed corner  34  of said frame, and an additional brace  38  extends from one corner  34  of hand hold  28  to a diagonally opposed corner  34  of said hand hold. Preferably said braces  38  are constructed of solid bar stock, or hollow tubing. 
         [0013]    Legs  24  are preferably constructed in pairs and each pair is interconnected by lateral brace  37 . Frame  18  is provided with tubular sockets  32  attached to the frame  18  and held hold at corners  34 . The upper end  36  of leg  24  are sized to removably fit within sockets  32 , where legs  24  may be secured with fasteners (not shown). Likewise, legs  24  may fit into sockets  32  utilizing only a slide fit, whereby the weight of frame  18  and hand hold  28  serves to hold the sockets  32  in engagement with the upper ends  36  of legs  24 . In this fashion, the assembly may be disassembled for compact storage. 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , it will be appreciated that support beam  15  extends laterally across hand hold  28 , and extends distance “A” beyond the track “B” of the support assembly. This facilitates manipulation of the entire assembly by the operator, reducing risk that the casters  16  will interfere with the operator&#39;s person during re-positioning of the hose  12 . 
         [0015]    Embodiments of this invention use four supports  14  to support about ten feet of hose  12  and clear obstructions less than two feet high and two feet wide, permitting the hose  12  to be supported and moved forward, backward or side to side. Each assembly has a supporting beam  15  that typically supports 10 to 16 feet of hose. The normal gap between the support assemblies is between four and six feet. Therefore a set of four mobile support assemblies  10  can support over 80 feet of hose and keep it clear of the work surface. A typical pumping hose weighs over 30 pounds per foot when filled, giving the operators over 2400 pounds of concrete to transport. 
         [0016]    Concrete pouring generally proceeds from areas distant from the concrete source to the source. As the pour proceeds, a way to handle the decrease in distance from the source is to remove sections of hose, a time-consuming and messy task. Aspects of this invention permit the mobile support assemblies carrying the hose sections to be moved in opposite directions thereby folding the hose back on itself, thereby shortening the effective hose length and reducing the need to remove sections of hose. In addition, the placement of the last section of hose on the mobile support system permits the operator to distribute the concrete directly from the hose on the mobile support system thereby reducing the burden on the operator to lift and move the end of the hose while distributing concrete.