Abstract:
A mobile transfer station for flowable material includes a mobile frame defining a footprint. A hopper support is pivotally coupled to the mobile frame and a hopper is pivotally coupled to the hopper support. A valve is disposed in a lower portion of the hopper. A chute is slidably coupled to the hopper and disposed beneath the valve. The chute is extendable from a first position within the mobile frame&#39;s footprint to a second position where chute&#39;s outboard end is outside the mobile frame&#39;s footprint. A lift mechanism is coupled to the mobile frame and the hopper support for raising and lowering the hopper relative to the mobile frame.

Description:
[0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119, the benefit of priority from provisional application 62/151,668, with a filing date of Apr. 23, 2015, is claimed for this non-provisional application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to material handling, and more particularly to a mobile transfer station that facilitates the transfer of a flowable material such as concrete from dump trucks to ready mix trucks at a job site. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wet or plastic concrete is delivered to a job site by a ready mix truck or by a dump truck. Both types of trucks have their advantages and disadvantages. Ready mix trucks simultaneously mix and transport wet concrete to a job site. A ready mix truck can be loaded with pre-mixed materials or dry materials and water. In either case, the materials are maintained in a liquid state as the ready mix truck&#39;s drum is rotated. Once at the job site, ready mix trucks disperse the wet concrete in a fairly precise fashion where it is needed via a chute. Unfortunately, the cost and frequent limited-availability of ready mix trucks can negatively impact a job&#39;s budget and production schedule. 
         [0004]    Using dump trucks to deliver wet concrete to a job site provides several advantages compared to the use of ready mix trucks. First, dump trucks have a greater payload than ready mix trucks. Second, dump trucks are plentiful in the marketplace thereby generally assuring sufficient availability even for large jobs. Third, dump trucks are less expensive to own/operate than ready mix trucks thereby making them preferable from a cost perspective. However, dump trucks are not equipped for the precise dispensing of wet concrete thereby complicating their use at a job site. Furthermore, dump trucks are not equipped for adjusting or mixing a concrete mixture while the concrete is being transported. As a result, the viscosity changes experienced by wet concrete being transported by dump trucks to a job site can negatively impact the concrete&#39;s workability during placement at the job site. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that facilitates transfer of a bulk flowable material such as wet concrete to improve handling operations. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that facilitates the use of dump trucks for delivery of wet concrete to a job site. 
         [0007]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can readily be transported to a job site to facilitate efficient wet concrete delivery to the job site and wet concrete dispensing at the job site. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, a mobile transfer station for flowable material includes a mobile frame defining a footprint. A hopper support has a first end and a second end with the first end being pivotally coupled to the mobile frame. An open-top hopper is pivotally coupled to the second end of the hopper support. A valve is disposed in a lower portion of the hopper. A chute is slidably coupled to the hopper and disposed beneath the valve. The chute has an upper end and a lower end wherein the upper end is maintained at a height that is greater than a height of the lower end. The chute is extendable from a first position to a second position wherein the chute&#39;s lower end is within the mobile frame&#39;s footprint when the chute is in its first position, and wherein the chute&#39;s lower end is outside the mobile frame&#39;s footprint when the chute is in its second position. A lift mechanism is coupled to the mobile frame and a portion of the hopper support between its first end and second end for raising and lowering the hopper relative to the mobile frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile transfer station in a transport-ready configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the mobile transfer station in its transport-ready configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mobile transfer station in a site-ready configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the mobile transportation in its site-ready configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isolated perspective view of the hopper support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an isolated perspective view of the hopper and chute assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an isolated perspective view of the chute; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an isolated end view of the hopper and chute assembly with the chute extended and opened for a concrete off-loading operation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the mobile transfer station with its hopper deflector in a tilted configuration in preparation for receiving a flowable material; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the mobile transfer station with its hopper assembly raised in preparation for off-loading of a flowable material; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the mobile transfer station with its chute extended in preparation for off-loading of a flowable material; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the mobile transfer station with its chute extended and opened as it would be during the off-loading of a flowable material; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a ready mix truck positioned to receive concrete when the mobile transfer station&#39;s chute is extended and opened for the off-loading of concrete into a ready mix truck. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, simultaneous reference will be made to  FIGS. 1-4  where a mobile transfer station in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced generally by numeral  10 . Mobile transfer station  10  will be referred to as “MTS  10 ” hereinafter.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate MTS  10  in its transport-ready configuration and  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate MTS  10  in its site-ready configuration. By way of an illustrative example, MTS  10  will be explained for its use as a mobile concrete transfer station that facilitates the transfer of wet concrete between dump trucks and ready mix concrete trucks. Accordingly,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate MTS  10  configured for transport to/from a job site where the concrete transfer will occur, while  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate MTS  10  at a job site with its stabilizer pads and wheel positioners deployed and attached, respectively, as will be explained further below. Although MTS  10  will be described for its use in a wet concrete transfer operation, it is to be understood that MTS  10  can be used to facilitate the transfer of any bulk flowable material (e.g., sand, gravel, grains, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    As will be explained later herein, a dump truck (not shown) is used to load MTS  10  with wet concrete and ready mix trucks (not shown) are used to off-load the wet concrete from MTS  10 . In general, MTS  10  is transported to/near a job site and then parked at/near the job site. Dump trucks are used to transport wet concrete from a concrete plant to MTS  10 , and ready mix trucks are used to transport wet concrete from MTS  10  to precise dispensing locations at the job site. In this way, readily-available and cost-efficient dump trucks can be used to provide a steady/efficient supply of wet concrete to a job site, while only a small number of less-available and more costly ready mix trucks are needed at the job site for concrete dispensing/placement. 
         [0026]    In order to be transportable on ground surfaces such as public roadways and private job-site roadways, MTS  10  defines a footprint projectable to a ground surface that allows MTS  10  to be safely moved on roadways of interest. The footprint of MTS  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4  and is indicated by the dashed-line box referenced by numeral  100 . In  FIG. 2 , MTS  10  is configured in its travel-ready configuration where none of MTS  10  extends outside of footprint  100 . In  FIG. 4 , MTS  10  is in its site-ready configuration with elements thereof extending outside of footprint  100  as will be described further below. 
         [0027]    To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, the ensuing description will make additional and simultaneous reference to  FIGS. 5-8  where various subassemblies of MTS  10  are shown in isolation and in different views in order to more clearly illustrate the features thereof. It is to be understood that not every feature will be visible in every view so that simultaneous reference to the figures is necessary. 
         [0028]    MTS  10  includes a trailer  12  that can be towed/driven to a job site and stabilized for a concrete transfer operation. Trailer  12  is generally a mobile trailer that includes (among other things) a rigid trailer frame  120 , wheels/tires  121  coupled to frame  120  at an aft end thereof for rolling support of trailer  12 , and a tow coupling  122  coupled to frame  120  at a forward end thereof. As used herein, the forward end and aft end of trailer frame  120  are defined relative to the direction of travel of trailer  12  when it is being towed behind a tow vehicle (not shown) coupled to tow coupling  122 . It is to be understood that the particular construction of trailer  12  is not a limitation of the present invention, and that trailer  12  can include additional features without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]    In terms of the present invention, outrigger stabilizing pads  123  are hingedly coupled (as indicated by reference numeral  124 ) to lateral sides of frame  120 . Pads  123  are rotated about hinge  124  to a vertical position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for transport of MTS  10 , and rotated about hinge  124  to a horizontal position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) once MTS  10  is on site. In their horizontal position, pads  123  rest on a ground surface on both sides of MTS  10  for stability. Power cylinders  125  coupled to portions of frame  120  and pads  123  control rotation of pads  123  between their vertical and horizontal positions. 
         [0030]    Frame  120  includes rigid supports  126  coupled to and extending vertically up from opposing lateral sides of frame  120  near the aft end of frame  120 . Supports  126  can be attached to or integrated with frame  120  such that they are essentially extensions of frame  120 . A hopper support  14  (shown in isolation in  FIG. 5 ) is hingedly coupled at ends  140  thereof to the upper ends of supports  126  as indicated by reference numeral  141 . Hopper support  14  is a rigid frame having opposing and parallel longitudinal sides  142  and  144  extending from respective ends  140  to opposing ends  146 . Spanning and coupled to sides  142  and  144  between ends  140 / 146  is a lift housing  148 . Pneumatic or hydraulic lifts  16  are coupled to frame  120  and to a portion of lift housing  148 . Lifts  16  can be powered/controlled by power and control system(s)  18  mounted on frame  120 . It is to be understood that power and control system(s)  18  can include a variety of apparatus/systems that allow the operation of MTS  10  to be fully self-supportive. Accordingly, power and control system(s)  18  can include, but is not limited to, gas generators, compressors, batteries, fuel tanks, fuel cells, controllers, etc. Power and control system(s)  18  could be mounted on a pallet  20  to simplify removal, replacement, and/or repair of system(s)  18 . For clarity of illustration, wires, conduits, etc., between power and control system(s)  18  and the powered/controlled elements of MTS  10  have been omitted. 
         [0031]    Opposing sides of a hopper and chute assembly  22  (shown in isolation in  FIGS. 6 and 8 ) are hingedly coupled to ends  146  of hopper support  14  as indicated by reference numeral  24 . Assembly  22  includes a hopper  30  and a chute  40  coupled to hopper  30 . As will be explained further below, chute  40  is positioned fully under hopper  30  during a concrete-loading operation, and is extended from hopper  30  during a concrete off-loading operation to, for example, a ready mix truck. 
         [0032]    Hopper  30  is an open-top container that receives concrete from a dump truck (not shown) when MTS  10  is in its concrete-loading position. The top portion of hopper  30  adjacent to the forward end of trailer  12  can be defined by a deflector  301  that can be tilted or angled towards a dump truck (not shown) backed up the forward end of trailer  12  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Deflector  301  can be rotated about a hinge  302  by an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive  303 . When deflector  301  is rotated to its tilted position as shown in  FIG. 9 , the top opening of hopper  30  is positioned to receive the angled (dumping) bed of a dump truck during a concrete-loading operation. Hopper  30  can also have one or more vibrators  304  supported on a cross-rail  305  at the open top of hopper  30 . Vibrators  304  extend into hopper  30  and, when vibrating, keep concrete in hopper  30  in a more fluid state to facilitate the concrete off-loading operation. One side of the bottom of hopper  30  has a sealable opening formed therein. In the illustrated example, the sealable opening in hopper  30  is defined by a clam shell type of valve  306  provided at one bottom side of hopper  30 . It is to be understood that other types of valve/openings could be used in the bottom of hopper  30  without departing from the scope of the present invention. The sides and bottom of hopper  30  can be sloped towards valve  306  as illustrated. 
         [0033]    Chute  40  (shown in isolation in  FIG. 7 ) is coupled to the bottom of hopper  30 . In general, chute  40  is disposed at an angle and is slidably mounted on hopper  30  such that some portion of chute  40  is under valve  306  at all times. The angular disposition of chute  40  is such that it has a lower end  401  and an upper end  402  such that upper end  402  is always above lower end  401 . During a concrete loading operation, both lower end  401  and upper end  402  of chute  40  remain within the above-described footprint  100  of MTS  10 . However, during a concrete off-loading operation, chute  40  is extended to the side of hopper  30  such that lower end  401  of chute  40  extends beyond footprint  100  of MTS  10 . In its extended position, lower end  401  of chute  40  is the discharge point for wet concrete flowing along chute  40  when valve  306  in hopper  30  is opened over chute  40 . To support sliding movement of chute  40  beneath hopper  30 , side flanges  308  rigidly coupled to supports  307  of hopper  30  provide sliding support of rails  403  defined along the sides of chute  40 . Chute  40  has a pivoting door  404  at its lower end  401  that can be opened/closed by an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive  405  coupled to supports  307 . Chute  40  is moved along flanges  308  by an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive  406  coupled to supports  307 . 
         [0034]    An operational sequence of MTS  10  will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9-13  where it is assumed that MTS  10  has been transported/towed to a site and is ready to receive and then off-load a flowable material such as concrete. That is, it is assumed in this sequence of figures that the towing vehicle (not shown) has been uncoupled from tow coupling  122  at the forward end of trailer  12 . For clarity of illustration, only those reference numerals relevant to the description of each figure are shown. In  FIG. 9 , MTS  10  is illustrated with its pads  123  rotated to their horizontal position to stabilize MTS  10  on a ground surface. Hopper assembly  22  is in its lowered position and deflector  301  is tilted towards the forward end of trailer  12  as controlled by drive  303 . In this position, a dump truck (not shown) filled with wet concrete can back up to MTS  10  and dump its load into hopper  30  at tilted deflector  301 . Hopper  30  can be sized to receive approximately one dump truck load of wet concrete. 
         [0035]    In preparation for a concrete off-loading operation, deflector  301  is rotated back to its original position and hopper assembly  22  is raised up from trailer  12  by means of lifts  16  as shown in  FIG. 10 . In order to stabilize a filled hopper  30  during such movement, additional support rods  50  can be included in MTS  10 . More specifically, each support rod is of rigid construction and is hingedly coupled on one end to one of supports  126  at  502  and hingedly coupled on the other end thereof to a side of hopper assembly  22  as indicated at  504 . Each of rods  50  is parallel to a respective one of sides  142  and  144  of hopper support  14  with the distance between each rod  50  and the respective one of sides  142  and  144  being equal. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , chute  40  is extended out from hopper assembly  22  such that its lower end  401  with pivoting door  404  extends beyond footprint  100  at a lateral side of trailer  12 . Additionally, wheel positioning chocks  60  can be attached to trailer  12  to help align a ready mix truck (not shown) with pivoting door  404  for a concrete off-loading operation. 
         [0037]    Referring simultaneously now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , MTS  10  is illustrated with its pivoting door  404  opened to support the off-loading of concrete. In  FIG. 12 , MTS  10  is illustrated without a ready mix truck adjacent thereto, while  FIG. 13  illustrates a ready mix truck  200  with its loading port  202  aligned with lower end  401  of extended chute  40 . From this position, the hopper&#39;s valve  306  (see  FIGS. 6 and 11 ) can be opened and concrete can be off-loaded from hopper  30  into ready mix truck  200 . Vibrators  304  can be operated when hopper  30  contains wet concrete to improve the flow properties of the wet concrete as it leaves hopper  30  and flows along chute  40 . It is to be understood that concrete could also be off-loaded to a concrete pump, a concrete conveyor, or even a hole in the ground, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The mobile transfer station provides for efficient use of dump trucks for the delivery of bulk flowable material to a specific site where the material is to be re-dispensed. In terms of concrete transfer operations, the present invention facilitates efficient and cost-effective use of ready mix trucks for the task of dispensing wet concrete at a job site. By transferring wet concrete to ready mix trucks at a job site, adjustments to the concrete can be readily made prior to concrete placement thereby avoiding the problems associated with placing dump-truck-delivered concrete. The transfer station is readily transported and can be completely self-contained and self-supportive. 
         [0039]    Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.