Abstract:
A concrete wash-out bin includes a primary receptacle having a rim positioned at an elevation that exceeds the elevation of a discharge port of certain items of concrete-handling equipment. An auxiliary receptacle is positioned in leading relation to the primary receptacle and is hingedly mounted to the primary receptacle. The auxiliary receptacle has a position of repose where it is horizontally disposed at an elevation lower than the discharge port of the concrete-handling equipment and a discharge position where it is disposed in elevated and angled relation to the position of repose. The discharge position is effective to discharge the contents of the auxiliary receptacle into the primary receptacle. The auxiliary receptacle is repeatedly lifted and lowered as needed until the concrete-handling equipment is free of residual concrete or until the primary bin is full.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to the disposal of concrete and wash water that is produced when various items of concrete-handling equipment are cleaned. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus that enables such concrete-handling equipment to discharge concrete washout residue into a bin without requiring the equipment to be lifted to the level of the rim of the bin. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    It is imperative that residual concrete be washed from concrete-handling equipment at the end of each work day. Failure to do so results in a gradual build-up of hardened concrete in the equipment. Such build-up may reduce the amount of usable concrete that can be delivered to a job site and it may increases the taxable weight of “empty” trucks or other equipment subject to taxation by weight. Studies have also shown that even small amounts of hardened concrete in equipment act as seeds that serve to accelerate the rate of build-up. If the problem is ignored, the amount of hardened concrete becomes substantial and the removal thereof is very problematic. 
         [0005]    However, it is unacceptable from an environmental standpoint to simply wash out the inside of a ready-mixed concrete truck drum, a concrete boom pump truck, a hopper that receives concrete from a concrete boom pump truck, or other concrete-handling equipment with a water hose, so that the residual concrete is washed onto the ground. The wash water contains caustic soda and potash and therefore is classified by the Water Quality Act (part 116) as a hazardous substance. Accordingly, the Environmental Protection Agency requires the owners and operators of concrete-handling equipment to handle and dispose of the wash water as a hazardous substance, to maintain records of such wash water disposal for three (3) years, and to submit the records to the EPA when required. 
         [0006]    Most companies that handle concrete comply with the requirements by collecting the wash water in a bin or receptacle and by transporting the filled bin or receptacle to a treatment facility such as a settling pond or the like. A typical bin has a rim that is about twenty to twenty four inches (20-24″) above the ground or other support surface upon which it rests. Unfortunately, such elevation is too high for some concrete-handling equipment to reach. For example, the hopper that receives concrete from a boom pump has a funnel-like discharge downspout that is below the level of a typical washout bin. Such hoppers are too heavy to economically lift to a level where they can be positioned over a bin. Thus, owners of such hoppers and other such concrete-handling equipment are presented with a problem when told they must discharge all washout water into a bin that is higher than such equipment was designed to discharge into. 
         [0007]    One solution to this problem is to provide a ramp that extends from the ground surface up to a level that is sufficiently elevated to enable a concrete-handling truck to back up the ramp and deploy its discharge chute above the rim. Published U.S. patent application No. US2004/0155126 discloses this solution to the problem. 
         [0008]    However, the provision of a ramp may not be the optimal solution to the problem. Many concrete-handling trucks weigh about thirty-five (35) tons and are most stable when all wheels are on the ground. Backing such a heavy truck up a ramp is a risky maneuver and probably violates one or more OSHA safety regulations. If a wheel slides off a ramp, the results can be catastrophic, totaling the truck and placing the life of the driver in jeopardy. At least one such incident has already been reported since the advent of the EPA requirements and the introduction of ramps that enable compliance. 
         [0009]    There is a need for an apparatus and method that enables the concrete-handling industry to comply with EPA requirements without ramps or other devices that cause heavy trucks to leave the ground. 
         [0010]    However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art how the identified need could be fulfilled. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0011]    The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an apparatus and method that enables concrete washout residue to be delivered by low-elevation discharging equipment into a high-elevation bin is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. The novel structure is a concrete wash-out bin that includes a primary receptacle having a rim positioned at an elevation that exceeds the elevation of the discharge point or port of many concrete-handling items of equipment such as the hoppers used with concrete boom pump trucks. The primary receptacle has a depth sufficient to hold economically feasible quantities of concrete and water the novel structure further includes an auxiliary receptacle which may be hingedly mounted to the primary receptacle and has a position of repose where it is substantially horizontally disposed at an elevation lower than the discharge port of such concrete-handling equipment. 
         [0012]    The auxiliary receptacle has a discharge position where it is disposed in elevated and angled relation to the position of repose. The discharge position is effective to discharge the contents of the auxiliary receptacle into the primary receptacle. Lifting and lowering means are provided for raising the auxiliary receptacle to the discharge position and for lowering the auxiliary receptacle to the position of repose, respectively. 
         [0013]    Wash water and concrete residue from a hopper or other item of concrete-handling equipment is discharged into the auxiliary receptacle when the auxiliary receptacle is in its position of repose and the wash water and concrete residue is transferred to the primary receptacle by lifting the auxiliary receptacle from said position of repose to the elevated position. The auxiliary receptacle is lowered to the position of repose after being lifted to the discharge position so that additional wash water and concrete residue may be discharged into the auxiliary receptacle. The lifting and lowering operation is performed as many time as is needed until the wash water and concrete residue is removed from the item of concrete-handling equipment or until the primary receptacle is full, whichever first occurs. 
         [0014]    The primary receptacle has an imperforate bottom wall, a transversely disposed front wall, a transversely disposed back wall, a first sidewall interconnecting a first end of the front wall to a first end of the back wall, and a second sidewall interconnecting a second end of the front wall to a second end of the back wall. 
         [0015]    The auxiliary receptacle has an imperforate bottom wall, a transversely disposed front wall, a transversely disposed back wall, a first sidewall interconnecting a first end of said front wall to a first end of said back wall, and a second sidewall interconnecting a second end of the front wall to a second end of the back wall. 
         [0016]    A first embodiment of the invention includes a platform for supporting the primary receptacle and the auxiliary receptacle. The platform is ground-supported and has a low profile so that the primary receptacle and the auxiliary receptacle are supported by the platform in closely spaced relation to said ground. 
         [0017]    The first and second sidewalls of the primary receptacle have a common height and the front wall has a height less than the common height. A first mounting lug is secured to a top edge of the primary receptacle front wall, adjacent the first sidewall of the primary receptacle. A second mounting lug is secured to a top edge of the primary receptacle front wall, adjacent the second sidewall of the primary receptacle. 
         [0018]    A first hinge plate has a trailing end rotatably mounted to the first mounting lug and a second hinge plate has a trailing end rotatably mounted to the second mounting lug. The first hinge plate has a leading end fixedly secured to the first sidewall of the auxiliary receptacle and the second hinge plate has a leading end fixedly secured to the second sidewall of the auxiliary receptacle. 
         [0019]    A first pivot pin extends from the first hinge plate in normal relation thereto and a second pivot pin extends from the second hinge plate in normal relation thereto. 
         [0020]    The lifting and lowering means includes a first lifting and lowering means having a first end secured to the platform and a second end pivotally secured to the first pivot pin and further includes a second lifting and lowering means having a first end secured to the platform and a second end pivotally secured to the second pivot pin. The first lifting and lowering means also includes a first plunger or rod telescopically engaged with a first cylinder, and the second lifting and lowering means includes a second plunger or rod telescopically engaged with a second cylinder. Extension of the first plunger with respect to the first cylinder effects rotation of the first hinge plate in a first direction about the first mounting lug and extension of the second plunger with respect to the second cylinder effects rotation of the second hinge plate in a first direction about the second mounting lug. Rotation of the first and second hinge plates about the first and second mounting lugs in the first direction, respectively, effects rotation of the auxiliary receptacle in a first direction relative to the primary receptacle. Retraction of the first plunger with respect to the first cylinder effects rotation of the first hinge plate in a second direction about the first mounting lug, said second direction being opposite to the first direction. Retraction of the second plunger with respect to the second cylinder effects rotation of the second hinge plate in the second direction about the second mounting lug, said second direction being opposite to the first direction. Rotation of the first and second hinge plates about the first and second mounting lugs in said second direction, respectively, effects rotation of the auxiliary receptacle in a second direction relative to the primary receptacle. 
         [0021]    The first lifting and lowering means is preferably provided in the form of a first hydraulic cylinder and the second lifting and lowering means is preferably provided in the form of a second hydraulic cylinder. 
         [0022]    The platform is adapted to be engaged by a chain so that a concrete-handling truck equipped with a winch may pull the platform and hence the primary receptacle and auxiliary receptacle towards the truck so that the truck need not be driven into close relationship with the platform. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the novel structure in a position of repose; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view thereof; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view when the auxiliary receptacle is lifted about fifty percent (50%) of its total lift; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view when the auxiliary receptacle is lifted about one hundred percent (100%) of its total lift; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the auxiliary receptacle when an access door is open; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a second embodiment when the auxiliary receptacle is in its lowered position; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3 , it will there be seen that an illustrative embodiment of the invention is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral  10 . 
         [0033]    Concrete wash-out bin  12  is the primary receptacle for receiving wash out water. Its rim, denoted  14 , is positioned at an elevation that exceeds the discharge point of certain concrete-handling equipment, not depicted, when such equipment is supported by the ground or other non-elevated road surface. 
         [0034]    Primary receptacle  12  includes imperforate bottom wall  12   a , transversely disposed front wall  12   b , longitudinally disposed sidewalls  12   c ,  12   d , and transversely disposed back wall  12   e . In a preferred embodiment, the height of front wall  12   b  is less then the height of sidewalls  12   b ,  12   c.    
         [0035]    The inventive structure includes a low platform  16  having a flat support surface  18  upon which primary receptacle  12  rests. Platform  16  is supported at a trailing end by a first pair of caster wheels denoted  20  and at a leading end by a second pair of caster wheels denoted  22 . Other types of wheels are within the scope of this invention. 
         [0036]    Auxiliary bin or receptacle  24  is positioned atop platform  16  in leading, adjacent relation to primary receptacle  12 . It includes flat, imperforate bottom wall  24   a , transversely disposed front wall  24   b , and transversely disposed back wall  24   c . Forward sidewalls  26   a ,  28   a  determine the depth of auxiliary receptacle  24 . Medial sidewalls  26   b ,  28   b  interconnect said forward sidewalls to rear sidewalls  26   c ,  28   c , respectively. 
         [0037]    Hinge plates  30 ,  32  are pivotally mounted at their respective trailing ends as at  30   a ,  32   a  in surmounting relation to front wall  12   b  of primary receptacle  12 . More particularly, a first mounting lug, not depicted, is mounted to front wall  12   b  adjacent sidewall  12   c  and a second mounting lug, not depicted, is mounted to the front wall adjacent sidewall  12   d . The height of each mounting lug is roughly equal to the difference in height between front wall  12   b  and sidewalls  12   c ,  12   d.    
         [0038]    The respective leading ends of said hinge plates are fixedly secured to rear sidewalls  26   c ,  28   c  of auxiliary receptacle  24 , near the respective upper ends thereof as best depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    Upper axle members  34 ,  36  are welded to their associated hinge plates  30 ,  32  and extend therefrom in normal relation thereto, i.e., in a horizontal plane. Upper clevis members  42 ,  44  receive upper axle members  34 ,  36 , respectively, and are mounted to the free ends of plungers  46 ,  48 , respectively, of hydraulic cylinders  50 ,  52 . 
         [0040]    Lower clevis members  54 ,  56  are mounted to the respective lower ends of said hydraulic cylinders  50 ,  52 . Lower clevis member  54  engages lower axle  62  and lower clevis member  56  engages lower axle  64 . Mounting members  66 ,  68  engage said lower axles  62 ,  64 , respectively, and are secured to support surface  18  of platform  16 . 
         [0041]    Auxiliary receptacle  24  is in its position of repose in  FIGS. 1-3 . It is only a few inches above ground level. A chain, not depicted, attached to a winch, not depicted, that is mounted to a concrete-handling truck, not depicted, at or near the trailing end of said truck, is engaged to chain hook  70  that is mounted to the leading end of platform  16 . The winch is activated to wind the chain about a reel, not depicted, thereby pulling platform  16  towards the trailing end of the truck. Thus it is understood that the driver of the truck need not back the truck up all the way to said platform  16 , but merely needs to be sufficiently close to enable the chain to engage chain hook  70  so that the winch can pull the platform to the truck. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  depicts the position of auxiliary receptacle  24  when plungers  46 ,  48  are about fifty percent (50%) extended and  FIG. 5  depicts the position of said auxiliary receptacle when said plungers are fully extended. The water and washed-out concrete from inside the concrete-handling equipment drain from said auxiliary receptacle  24  into primary receptacle  12  when said auxiliary receptacle is in said  FIG. 5  position. After said auxiliary receptacle is emptied, plungers  46 ,  48  are retracted and auxiliary receptacle  24  returns to its  FIG. 3  position of repose. 
         [0043]    The above-described procedure is repeated until primary receptacle  12  is filled. The entire assembly including primary receptacle  12 , auxiliary receptacle  14 , and platform  16  are then loaded onto a flatbed truck or other suitable vehicle and transported over public highways to a facility equipped to empty primary receptacle  12  in an environmentally acceptable way so that apparatus  10  may be returned to service. 
         [0044]    Although hydraulic cylinders are depicted, pneumatic, electrical, or manual means may also be used to perform the work of lifting auxiliary receptacle  24  from its  FIG. 3  position of repose to its  FIG. 5  position and returning it from said  FIG. 5  position back to said  FIG. 3  position. 
         [0045]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , sidewall  12   d  of primary receptacle  12  has a part  12   f  that is coplanar with sidewall  12   d  at its top edge but which is inclined so that its bottom edge protrudes about a foot into the open-topped cavity defined by primary receptacle  12 . Triangular sidewalls, not depicted, are secured to each end of inclined sidewall  12   f  so that a closed compartment is formed. Locking door  70  is coplanar with sidewall  12   d  and is hinged as at  70   a ,  70   a  at a leading end and a lock, not depicted, is provided at its trailing end. The compartment created by the inclination of wall  12   f  is therefore closed when locking door  70  is open and is accessible when said locking door is open. 
         [0046]    Twelve volt battery  72  is positioned in the compartment and is in electrical communication with hydraulic motor  74  through switch  76 . Hydraulic pump  78  is connected in driven relation to hydraulic motor  74  and pressurizes hydraulic fluid  80  in hydraulic fluid reservoir  82 . Hoses  84  and  86  provide fluid communication between pump  78  and opposite ends of hydraulic cylinders  50 ,  52 . Hoses  84 ,  86  are preferably three thousands pounds per square inch hoses (3,000 psi), and hydraulic cylinders  50 ,  52  are preferably one inch bore, twelve inch stroke. The hydraulic cylinders are inclined rearwardly as depicted to provide a mechanical advantage when lifting auxiliary receptacle  24 . 
         [0047]    A second embodiment, depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , positions the rim of auxiliary receptacle  24  even lower than the first embodiment so that a discharge port as low as eight inches (8″) from a road surface can still use the inventive structure. This lowering of auxiliary receptacle  24  is achieved by eliminating that part of platform  16  that underlies auxiliary receptacle  24  in the first embodiment. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the leading end of platform  16  ends at  16   a , in trailing relation to trailing wall  24   c  of auxiliary receptacle  24 . This enables bottom wall  24   a  of auxiliary receptacle  24  to rest on the ground or a paved surface. In this embodiment, forward wall  24   b  of auxiliary receptacle  24  is only eight inches (8″) in height. Auxiliary receptacles having even less depth are within the scope of this invention. 
         [0048]    The second embodiment also discloses a different mounting position for the two (2) hydraulic cylinders that lift and lower auxiliary receptacle  24 . A first rigid, preferably metallic channel member  88  is mounted to a first side of auxiliary receptacle  24  as depicted in  FIG. 7  and its unillustrated counterpart is mounted in the same way to a second side of the auxiliary receptacle. Each channel member  88  has a leading end flush with bottom wall  24   a  of auxiliary receptacle  24  and a trailing end secured to trailing wall  24   c  of said auxiliary receptacle, about mid-height thereof. 
         [0049]    A first hydraulic cylinder  90  has a trailing end pivotally mounted to axle  91  of clevis  92  and a leading end pivotally mounted to axle  93  of clevis  94 . Clevis  92  is secured to forward wall  12   b  of primary receptacle  12  and clevis  94  is secured to channel  88  about mid-length thereof. Second hydraulic cylinder  96  is mounted in the same way to the opposite side of the novel apparatus, as depicted in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, hydraulic cylinders  90  and  96  are preferably three and one-half inch (3½″) bore and twenty four inch (24″) stroke but hydraulic cylinders of differing sizes, as well as other means for lifting auxiliary receptacle  24  with respect to primary receptacle  12 , are within the scope of this invention. 
         [0050]    It is important to observe that auxiliary receptacle  24  is preferably detachably secured to primary receptacle  12 . The two receptacles work together but they could be manufactured separately and as such represent independent inventions as indicated by the claims that follow. 
         [0051]    It will thus be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0052]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Now that the invention has been described,