Abstract:
The present invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner, wherein the holding means can be swiveled rotatorily and/or translatorily between a transport position and a removal position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner. 
     In the rear open region of their mixing drum, truck mixers have a discharge funnel below which a so-called swivel chute is arranged. This is a chute which is pivotally mounted to the truck mixer at the rear end of the vehicle. To extend this swivel chute arranged below the discharge funnel, one or more extension chutes are used. When unloading the drum contents of the truck mixer, the extension chute is hung into the end of the swivel chute. The extension chute can consist of several parts, which during transport usually are fixed on the rear fenders of the truck mixer. On the rear fenders, the extension chutes are retained on correspondingly provided chute supports. The chute supports are sheet metal strips firmly arranged on the rear fenders of the truck mixer, which partly are adapted to the outer shape of the extension chute, so that after correspondingly locking the same by a so-called chute holder, the extension chutes are firmly held in their position on the rear fenders. 
     This holding situation is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  of the attached drawings. The truck mixer  10  shown here only in part includes a usual mixing drum  12 . In the rear region of the chassis of the truck mixer the discharge funnel  14  is arranged, below which the swivel chute  16  is pivotally arranged. On rear fenders  18 , extension chutes  20  are mounted on two chute supports  22  made of curved plates, wherein the extension chutes  20  are held in position by means of a chute holder  24 . The chute holder  24  includes a tension spring (cf.  FIG. 4 ), which retains the extension chute  20  on the chute supports by its spring force. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the chute supports  22  are connected with the fender  18  via screw connections. 
     For removing an extension chute  20 , a number of working steps must now be performed: 
     1. First, the hook of the chute holder  24  must be lifted against the tension spring and must be deposited at the side. 
     2. For removal, the extension chute  20  must then be removed from the chute supports  22  and be rotated against the stop of the chute support in the chute support  22 . 
     3. Thereafter, the extension chute must be removed from the chute support  22  by the operating personnel by a vertical upward movement. 
     4. For depositing the extension chute  20 , these working steps must be performed in reverse order. 
     This handling of the extension chute is quite laborious. It should be considered that the mounting height of the chute support is dependent on the vehicle height and the fender attachment. This means that the chute support is located at a height of 1.30 m to 1.60 m. For supporting the chute on the fender, the operator must lift the extension chute with a weight of up to 20 kg to a height of 1.50 m to 1.80 m, so that he can position the extension chute in the extension chute holder. On a truck mixer, up to four extension chutes can now be supported on the fenders. For comparatively small or weaker operators, this means a considerable exertion. 
     Due to the open construction of the extension chute holder on the fender of the truck mixer, a high cleaning effort is necessary. In addition, the open construction of the chute support and chute holder on the fender is not optically appealing either. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide for an easier removal of the extension chutes from their transport position and an easier locking of the extension chutes in the transport position. 
     In accordance with the invention, this object is solved by a truck mixer with the features herein. 
     In a generic truck mixer with the features of the characterizing part of claim  1 , a holding means for the extension chutes accordingly is provided, which can be swiveled rotatorily and/or translatorily between a transport position and a removal position. Via the rotatorily and/or translatorily movable holding means it thus becomes possible to move the extension chute from the transport position into a lower and hence comfortable removal position. As a result, it is possible to remove the extension chute at an ergonomic height. 
     Preferred aspects of the invention can be taken from the description herein. 
     Accordingly, the at least one holding means is guided in a guideway. 
     Advantageously, the holding means can be arranged on a rear fender of the truck mixer. 
     Particularly advantageously, the holding means can be moved and/or swiveled electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically. However, the holding means can of course also be moved by muscular power. 
     In accordance with a further advantageous aspect, each of the holding means arranged at a distance from each other has one extension chute each. The number of holding means here depends on the length of the respective extension chute. 
     In particular with regard to the optical appearance, but also with regard to the cleaning possibility it is advantageous when the holding means each consist of a section which is adapted to the shape of the extension chute to be received. 
     Furthermore, the holding means on one side can engage over the inserted extension chute by means of a hook-shaped protrusion, whereas the opposite side is locked by means of a manually releasable latching mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features, details and advantages of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 4 : show representations of a truck mixer with extension chute according to the prior art, and 
         FIGS. 5 to 8 : show detailed representations of a part of a truck mixer with a chute holder of the invention in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  each show a detail of a truck mixer  10 . There is each shown the left-hand tail region with the fender  18  covering the tail wheels  5 . On the fender  18  an extension chute  20  is arranged. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the extension chute  20  is held in holding means  30 , a plurality of which are arranged on the fender  18  distributed along the length of the extension chute  20 . The structure of the holding means  30  can be taken in particular from  FIG. 8 , in which the extension chute  20  has already been removed. As can be taken from this Figure, the extension chute substantially is a U-shaped sheet-metal part. The same is guided in a guideway  32  such that it can be moved and swiveled translatorily and/or rotatorily between a transport position (cf.  FIG. 5 ) and a removal position (cf.  FIG. 8 ). 
     For this purpose, the holding means  30  includes a swivel bolt  34  guidable in the guideway  32 . Furthermore, additional bolts  36  are provided on the holding means, which can releasably be received in a bolt receptacle  38  movably arranged in the guideway. This releasable reception serves the purpose that the holding means  30  initially can translatorily be moved over a certain region in the guideway  32  (cf,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). After reaching an end position at the edge of the guideway  32  (cf.  FIG. 6 ), the receptacle  38  then releases the corresponding bolts  36 , so that the holding means  30  can be swiveled about the swivel bolts  34  (cf.  FIG. 7 ). 
     The bolt receptacle  38  can be formed in any desired way. It is only important that it can safely retain the bolts  36  in the guideway  32  during the translatory movement and will only release the same after reaching the end position as shown in  FIG. 6 , so that the holding means  20  can be swiveled about the swivel pins  34 . On the other hand, when the holding means  30  is turned in reverse direction, the holder  38  must again be able to safely receive the swivel pin  36 , so that the holder can be moved in the guideway. 
     With reference to the sequence of representations shown in  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the removal of an extension chute by an operator B can be explained. In  FIG. 5 , the extension chute is shown in its transport position. It can translatorily be shifted by the operator B in direction of arrow  1 , until the position shown in  FIG. 6  is reached. In this position, the extension chute  20  is swiveled in direction of arrow  2  about the swivel bolts  34 , with the bolts  36  being released from the holder  38 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , the holding means  30  has already been swiveled together with the extension chute  20 . From this position swiveled down, the extension chute  20  can be removed by the operator B in direction of arrow  3 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the removed extension chute  20  is shown, which has been removed from the holding means  30  in direction of arrow  4 . 
     As can be taken from the sequence of  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the operator B can remove the extension chute  20  from the transport position much more easily, since the same can be moved together with the holding means  30  into a position facing the operator B, wherein this removal position additionally is lowered with respect to the height of the fender  18  of the truck mixer. 
     For receiving the extension chute  20  in the holding means  30 , the same have a hook-shaped protrusion  40  on the one side, whereas on the opposite side a non-illustrated locking mechanism is provided for locking the extension chute in the holding means  30 .