Patent Publication Number: US-8985837-B1

Title: Hopper wall mounting for concrete vibrator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of provisional application 61/343,780, filed May 4, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A concrete slip forming machine as for forming a curb and gutter, a median wall, or the like, has a hopper in which concrete is deposited and directed to a slip form mold. One or more concrete vibrators in the hopper deaerate and consolidate the concrete. Presently a mounting structure is welded or bolted to the inner surface of the hopper wall and the vibrator is secured to the mounting structure. The vibrator is typically powered by a hydraulic motor and the pressure and drain hoses for hydraulic fluid extend out over the top of the hopper to a hydraulic pump. The flow of concrete through the hopper causes wear on the hoses; and the hoses and vibrator mounting structure restrict concrete flow. In the event of a vibrator failure, the hopper must be emptied of concrete and a worker has to crawl inside the hopper to remove and replace the vibrator. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, a vibrator is mounted at the end of a tube around the hydraulic hoses. The tube extends through the hopper wall. An isolator body, preferably ball-shaped, of resilient material on the tube is clamped to a mounting flange secured to the outside of the hopper wall. The shape of the tube accommodates different sizes and shapes of hoppers. Further features of the invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of one embodiment of vibrator mounted outside a hopper wall; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of another embodiment of vibrator mounted outside a hopper wall; 
         FIG. 3  is sectional view of yet another embodiment of vibrator mounted outside a hopper wall; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the ball and tube of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of the vibrator of  FIG. 1 ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The vibrator assembly of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7  comprises a vibrator head  20  secured to the end of a steel tube  22  which extends through an opening in hopper wall  24 . Outside the hopper wall, tube  22  terminates in an elbow section  26  and a protective hose  28  for hydraulic pressure and return hoses  30 ,  32 , respectively. 
     A rubber ball  34  is molded on the center section  22   a ,  FIG. 4 , of tube  22 . The ball is clamped to the hopper wall  24  to mount the vibrator head  20  at the desired position in the hopper. A base flange  36  is welded to hopper wall  24  around the opening in the wall. Cover flange  38  is fastened to base flange  36  with bolts  40 , clamping ball  34  between the flanges. Stand-off sleeves  42  around bolts  40  establish repeatable clamping pressure applied to ball  34 . A rubber compound with 50 duro ASTM D2000 M4 AA514 A13 B13 C12 F17 has been found satisfactory for isolator ball  34 . 
     Configurations other than the straight tube  22  of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5  provide a vibrator mounting to fit different shapes of hoppers. A tube  22 ′ with a 45° elbow section  44  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The tube  22 ″ of  FIG. 3  has a 90° elbow section  46  and vibrator head  20  is parallel with the hopper wall  24 . 
     The surface of center section  22   a  of tube  22  where rubber ball  34  is molded is machined to a uniform diameter for a good seal with the rubber. The sections  22   a ,  26 ,  44 , and  46  of sleeve  22  are welded together. Vibrator head  20  is threaded into the end of sleeve  22 . 
     The mounting of ball  34  between flanges  36 ,  38  permits rotation of the ball  34  and tube  22  about the axis of tube section  22   a , and thus the position of vibrating head  20  in the hopper. The ball mounting also permits adjustment of the head position toward and away from the hopper wall  24  through a limited arc so long as tube  22  does not engage the hopper wall  24  or base flange  36 . Ranges of vibrator positions are indicated in broken lines,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  5 .