Patent Publication Number: US-6041907-A

Title: Hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to chutes for cement mixing trucks. In particular, the invention relates to ready mix type concrete dispensing trucks. More particularly, the present invention is related to hydraulically operated concrete transfer chutes for concrete trucks. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Most chutes for transferring ready mix concrete from cement mixing trucks, hereinafter referred to as concrete trucks, have several sections which are hooked together on the job site prior to discharging concrete from the concrete truck. Such hooked together chutes are not hydraulically operated. After concrete is transferred from the concrete truck, the individual sections of the chutes are then washed and stored on the truck. 
     Such hooked together mixer chutes are cumbersome to use and time consuming to assemble. Furthermore, when the chutes are being assembled it is possible for the operator suffer injuries by catching his fingers or hands in the chute sections which are being hooked or latched together. After assembly, such chutes are difficult to position exactly where it is desired to discharge concrete since the length of the chute is determined by the sum of the lengths of the sections. 
     Hydraulically operated discharge chutes are known in the art. Exemplary of the hydraulically operated chutes of the prior art are the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,178,252 ; 5,035,313; 3,481,440; 2,968,382 and 2,880,977. Such hydraulically operated transfer chutes have not been widely accepted in the industry. One of the principal reasons for their lack of acceptance has been due to the high cost of such hydraulically operated chutes. Another reason for their non-acceptance has been the excessive wear and tear which has occurred on some of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chutes of the prior art. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute which is low in cost. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute which sustains little wear during use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute which is strong and durable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute having a plurality of telescoping generally U-shaped chute sections which are arranged to telescope together onto a first chute section pivotally connected to a concrete truck, the inner end of the first chute being aligned to receive the concrete discharged from the concrete truck, the first chute section having a planar bearing surface on each of the top sides and inside of the first chute, each of the two parallel planar bearing surfaces extending from the outer end of the first chute at least to the point at which concrete enters the first chute section, and each of the plurality of telescoping chute sections having a plurality of roller bearings aligned in a row along the inside of each of the top sides of each of the telescoping chute sections, each of the rows of roller bearings being covered on their top side by a planar bearing surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is shown an elevational view of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention connected to a cement mixer truck shown in phantom lines with the chute being fully extended horizontally from the mixer truck; 
     FIG. 2 is a elevational view of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention in the nested or telescoped position; 
     FIG. 3 is a elevational view of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention, partially cut away, with the chute being inclined downwardly for dispensing concrete from a cement mixer truck; 
     FIG. 4 is a top, plan view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 2 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9--9 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 10--10 of FIG. 1 of the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the portion of the invention shown in the circle 11 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the portion of the invention shown in the circle 12 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 14--14 of FIG. 12. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown the hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute generally indicated by the numeral 10. Transfer chute 10 is connected to the rear of a concrete truck shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by the numeral 12. Concrete truck 12 includes a discharge area generally indicated by the numeral 14 where concrete is selectively dispensed on the first chute section hydraulically operated concrete transfer chute 10. 
     Concrete truck 12 has a horizontal support beam 16 to which transfer chute 10 is connected. Transfer chute 10 has a connection block 18 which is rigidly secured to support beam 16 by welding, bolting or the like. Extending vertically upward from connection block 18 is a support post 20 which is rotatably and pivotally connected at bracket 22 to yoke 24 by pin 26. Yoke 24 is rigidly connected to the first chute section generally indicated by the numeral 28 of transfer chute 10. 
     First chute section 28 of transfer chute 10 is generally U-shaped to contain concrete flowing therethrough. First chute section 28 has a curved end section 28a which aligns beneath discharge area 14 of concrete truck 12 as can best be seen in FIG. 4. 
     A multi-stage hydraulically ram generally indicated by the numeral 30 is connected to first chute section 28 by the rigid strongback generally indicated by the numeral 32. Strongback 32 is rigidly connected to ram 30 and to first chute section 28. Preferably hydraulic ram 30 is a three stage hydraulic ram. Ram 30 has a first telescoping piston 30a which is received in ram 30. First telescoping piston 30a has a second telescoping piston 30b which is received in first telescoping piston 30a. 
     A second hydraulic ram 34 generally indicated by the numeral 34 is connected to the outer end of strongback 32 and to connection block 18. Ram 34 is utilized to raise and lower the discharge end of transfer chute 10. Cylinder 34a of ram 34 pivots about pin 38 which is received in bracket 18a connected to connection block 18. The outer end of piston 34b pivots about pin 36 which is received in bracket 32a connected to strongback 32. 
     As can best be seen in FIG. 5, located on the upper edges of first chute section 28 are two bearing surfaces generally indicated by the numeral 40--40 which face inwardly toward each other. Bearing surfaces 40--40 each have a flat horizontal bearing surface 40a, a downwardly inclined flat surface 40b, and an upwardly inclined flat surface 40c. Located on the inside of first chute section 28 at a distance from the outer end of first chute section 28 are stops 28a-28a. 
     Located adjacent to first section 28 and slidably received thereon is the second U-shaped chute section generally indicated by the numeral 44. Located on the upper edges of second chute section 44 are two bearing surfaces generally indicated by the numeral 45 which face each other. Bearing surfaces 45--45 each have a flat horizontal surfaces 45a and 45c connected by an intermediate inclined surface 25b. 
     Second chute section 44 has a row of roller bearings 46--46 connected on the inside of each side thereof immediately beneath the bearing surfaces 45 and facing each other. As can be seen in FIG. 6, bearings 46--46 are connected to second chute section 44 by pins 48--48. Roller bearings 46--46 receive flat horizontal bearing surface 40a and downwardly inclined flat surface 40b of first chute section 28 on the underside thereof. First chute section 28 is slidably received in second chute section 44 as shown in FIG. 8. 
     Located on the inside of second chute section 44 adjacent to the inner end of second chute section 44 are stops 44a--44a as can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 14. Stops 44a--44a contact stops 28a13 28a to prevent second chute section 44 from sliding off of first chute section 28. Located on the inside of second chute section 44 at a distance from the outer end of second chute section 44 are stops 44b--44b as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 13. 
     A third chute section generally indicated by the numeral 50 is slidably received on second chute section 44. Located on the upper edges of third chute section 50 are two bearing surfaces generally indicated by the numeral 51 which face each other. Bearing surfaces 51--51 each have a flat horizontal surfaces 51a and 51c connected by an intermediate inclined surface 51b. 
     Third chute section 50 has a row of roller bearings 52--52 connected on the inside of each side thereof immediately beneath the bearing surfaces 45 and facing each other. As can be seen in FIG. 6, bearings 52--52 are connected to third chute section 50 by pins 54--54. Roller bearings 52--52 receive flat horizontal bearing surface 45a and 45c and inclined flat surface 45b of second chute 44 on the underside thereof. Second chute section 44 is slidably received in third chute section 50 as shown in FIG. 8. 
     Located on the inside of third chute section 50 adjacent to the inner end of third chute section 50 are stops 50a--50a . Stops 50a--50a contact stops 44b--44b as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 to prevent third chute section 50 from sliding off of second chute section 50. 
     Second telescoping piston 30b is connected by bracket 30c by rib 30d to the bottom of third chute 50. Located at the outer end of chute 10 is a conventional rotatable U-shaped section generally by the numeral 54 which can rotate upwardly as indicated by the arrow 56 in FIG. 1. U-shaped section 54 may be omitted if desired. 
     The concrete transfer chute 10 may be stored when concrete truck 12 is traveling in the position shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to transfer concrete with chute 10, chute 10 is extended to the position shown in FIG. 1 by extending hydraulic ram 30 and manually rotating chute 54 downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. Hydraulic ram 34 may then be retracted to the position shown in FIG. 3 to transfer concrete through chute 10. Chute 10 can be rotated on support post 10 to position the end of chute 10 in the area in which concrete is to be poured. 
     Hydraulic rams 30 and 34 have conventional remote controls and hydraulic (not shown) for operating both rams. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of the following claims: