Abstract:
Disclosed is a cement mixer chute assembly designed to seal a cement mixer chute. The cement mixer chute sealing system fits between adjacent sections (e.g., upper and lower) of the cement mixer chute. The cement mixer chute system may be connected to the cement mixer chute in any number of ways including clips, nuts and bolts and adhesives. The cement mixer chute sealing system prevents leakage of wet concrete as it leaves the cement mixer via the cement mixer chute.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional Application No. 60/843,302 filed Sep. 7, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a cement mixer chute assembly, and more particularly relates to such a system and method for sealing a cement mixer chute. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This section describes the background of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention. There is no intention, either express or implied, that the background art discussed in this section legally constitutes prior art. 
         [0004]    Concrete is frequently delivered to a construction site in a cement mixer truck. The truck may have a rotating drum in which the components of concrete are mixed in route to the site. The concrete is formed by mixing cement and various aggregates, such as sand, with water to form a concrete mixture. At the site, the concrete is poured from the drum onto a surface generally through a chute, which is typically part of the cement mixer truck. The chute is typically made of a number of chute sections connected to one another. The connection points often leak spilling concrete and/or its aggregates onto the ground. The leakage may be environmentally controlled for at least some applications. For example, it may be desirable to prevent or limit the leakage of the concrete and its aggregates onto the ground, as these materials may constitute a serious environmental hazard and require clean up. Further, the leaked materials may constitute lost resources to the concrete provider. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A first embodiment of the present invention comprises: a pliable sealing member configured to generally envelope an outer, underneath portion of a cement mixer chute near a connection boundary of adjacent, separate cement mixer chute sections; and means for connecting said pliable sealing member to said cement mixer chute near the connection boundary. 
         [0006]    The features of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of certain embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side partially cutaway view of a chute sealing system at the connection point of two chute sections in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the sealing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the chute sealing system of  FIG. 1  with the chute sections unconnected; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sealing assembly; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of another embodiment of a sealing assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could .be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system, components and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain embodiments of the invention. 
         [0013]    In accordance with certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system and method for sealing adjacent chute sections of a cement mixer. One embodiment of the disclosed system includes a sealing element and a backing plate attached to a flange on a lower chute section. Another embodiment includes a sealing element and a clip attached to a flange on a lower chute section. Another embodiment of the disclosed method includes installing a sealing element adjacent to a lip of a lower chute section and attaching the lower chute section to an upper chute section wherein the sealing element creates a seal between the lower chute section and the upper chute section. 
         [0014]    Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 3  thereof, there is shown a chute sealing system shown generally at  10 , which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The chute sealing system  10  may be part of a chute assembly for a cement mixer. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the chute assembly may include an upper chute section  15  and a lower chute section  20 . Each chute section may be an elongated generally u-shaped member. The upper chute section  15  may include a bottom portion  25  having a pair of pivot pins  30 , an abutment flange  35  and a lip  40 . The lower chute section  20  may include a top portion  45  having a pair of hooks  50  to engage the pivot pins  30 , a flange  55  and a lip  60 . The dimension of the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20  may be slightly larger than the dimension of the lip  40  of the upper chute section  15 . When the lower chute section  20  is connected to the upper chute section  15 , the hooks  50  of the lower chute section  20  may engage the pivot pins  30  of the upper chute section  15 , the lip  40  of the upper chute section  15  may be nested in the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20 , and the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20  may abut the abutment flange  35  of the upper chute section  15 . When connected, the upper chute section  15  and lower chute section  20  create a substantially u-shaped connection or intersection boundary. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the chute sealing system  10  is shown. The chute sealing system  10  may include a generally u-shaped sealing element  70  and a. generally u-shaped backing plate  75 . The sealing element  70  may be made of gum rubber or some other suitable material by extrusion, casting, or another suitable method. The backing plate  75  may be made of metal or some other suitably durable material. A plurality of bolts  80  may be embedded in the sealing element  70  with a plurality of corresponding holes  85  in backing plate  75 . 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the chute sealing system  10  may be attached to the lower chute section  20  by placing the sealing element  70  over the lip  60  and adjacent the flange  55 . The bolts  80  may extend over the flange  55 . The backing plate  75  may be placed on the opposite side of flange  55  with bolts  80  extending through holes  85 . Nuts  90  may be used with bolts  80  to secure the sealing element  70  and the backing plate  75  to the flange  55  of lower chute section  20 . When the lower chute section  20  includes the chute sealing system  10  but is not connected to the upper chute section  15 , the sealing element  70  may extend over the end of lip  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    When the lower chute section  20  with the chute sealing system  10  attached is connected to the upper chute section  15 , the sealing element  70  creates a seal between the flange  55  and the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20  and the abutment flange  35  of the upper chute section  15 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the chute sealing system is shown. A chute sealing system  100  may include a clip  105  and a sealing element  110 . The clip  105  may be generally u-shaped overall and also generally u-shaped in cross-section with a mating cavity  115 . The sealing element  110  may be generally u-shaped overall and also generally u-shaped in cross-section with a mating portion  120  and a sealing portion  125 . 
         [0020]    The clip  105  may be attached to the lower chute section  20  adjacent the flange  55  and opposite the lip  60  with fasteners, adhesives, or any other suitable material or method. The sealing element  110  may be attached to the clip  105  by inserting the mating portion  120  of the sealing element  110  into the mating cavity  115  of the clip  105 . With the mating portion  120  inserted into the mating cavity  115 , the sealing portion  120  of the sealing element  110  may be located adjacent to the flange  55  and the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20 . 
         [0021]    When the lower chute section  20 , with the chute sealing system  100  attached, is connected to the upper chute section  15 , the sealing portion  120  of sealing element  110  creates a seal between the flange  55  and the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20  and the abutment flange  35  of the upper chute section  15 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the chute sealing system is shown. A chute sealing system  200  is very similar to the chute sealing system  10  described above. The bolts  80  and the nuts  90  of chute sealing system  10  may be replaced by a plurality of barbs  205  extending from a sealing element  210 . The barbs  205  of sealing element  210  may lock into the holes  85  of the backing plate  75  to attach chute sealing system  200  to the lower chute section  20  in a similar manner as described above for chute sealing system  10 . 
         [0023]    When the lower chute section  20 , with the chute sealing system  200  attached, is connected to the upper chute section  15 , the sealing element  210  creates a seal between the flange  55  and the lip  60  of the lower chute section  20  and the abutment flange  35  of the upper chute section  15 . 
         [0024]    It is also envisioned that a sealing element may be attached to the flange  55  of lower chute section  20  by using an adhesive only. It is further envisioned that the shape of the sealing element and the backing plate may be compatible with chutes of different shapes. 
         [0025]    An embodiment of a method of sealing a chute assembly for a cement mixer is described below. A sealing element may be attached to an end of a first chute section that may be adapted to be connected to a second chute section. The sealing element may be shaped in a similar manner as the ends of the chute sections and may extend beyond the end of the first chute section. When the first chute section is attached to the second chute section, the sealing element may create a seal between the two chute sections to eliminate any leakage at this connection point. 
         [0026]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications and combinations are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact disclosure herein presented.