Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060152997A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-05-27 11:51:38
Document Index: 227156125

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 16', 'arts 16', 'arts 16', 'arts 16', 'arts 16', 'art;\n2', 'art.\n3']

US20060152997A1 - Vehicle mounted concrete mixing drum and method of manufacture thereof - Google Patents
US20060152997A1
US20060152997A1 US10516726 US51672605A US2006152997A1 US 20060152997 A1 US20060152997 A1 US 20060152997A1 US 10516726 US10516726 US 10516726 US 51672605 A US51672605 A US 51672605A US 2006152997 A1 US2006152997 A1 US 2006152997A1
US10516726
US7784995B2 (en )
A method of manufacture of a vehicle mounted rotary concrete mixing drum of the type having an opening at one end for receiving and/or discharge of concrete therefrom and at the other end, means for engaging a drive assembly so as to rotate the drum for mixing or discharging concrete. The drum is manufactured from at least one mould using at least one plastics material and further includes integrally attached vanes which outstand from the internal surface of the drum forming an archimedian spiral disposed such that when the drum is rotated in a first direction the concrete contents are mixed and when the drum is rotated in a second direction the contents are discharged from the drum; wherein, the method comprises the steps of; a) preparing a first generally helical inner mold part containing a surface extending between first and second helical edges; b) mounting the first helical inner mould part on a support c) enclosing the inner helical mold assembly within an outer mould formed by at least one outer mold part; d) fitting a second mating inner helical mold part to the first inner mould part to form an inner mold assembly; e) injecting a polyurethane elastomer into a cavity defined by said inner mold assembly and the outer mould assembly to form an inner wall element comprising one half of an interior wall of the mixer and one helical blade; f) allowing said polyurethane to cure; g) removing said at least one outer mold parts to expose said inner wall element; h) removing said inner wall element one of said inner molds;
The present invention relates to concrete mixing apparatuses and more particularly relates to a vehicle mounted plastics drum for mixing concrete and a method manufacture thereof
U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,198 discloses a cement mixing apparatus with a cradle support assembly and including a polyethelyne cement mixing drum held and supported by a cradle arm assembly formed of cradle base support braces and upright cradle arms which interfit into cradle arm recesses which are preformed with the polyethylene drum. A bull gear drives the polyethylene drum. The drum disclosed in this patent is intended for light duty cement operations and does not address the structural and manufacturing requirements for heavy duty operations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,401 discloses a concrete mixer with a mixing drum consisting of high density crosslinked polyethylene material. The drum includes a bottom supported buy a conventional rigid metal pan secured to the external surface thereof to rigidify the plastic drum and extend the life expectancy of the plastic drum by enabling the concrete mixer to be used to complete a mixing job at a job site even though movement of the concrete mix within the drum during repetitive mixing cycles may ultimately wear a hole through the bottom of the plastic drum. Paddle assemblies are positioned interiorly of the drum and oriented to maintain minimum splashing during the mixing operation. Not only is the drum disclosed in this patent unsuitable for heavy duty vehicle mounted operation the patent in fact teaches a means to accommodate a wear failure on site whereby a hole could be worn through the wall of the drum.
In another broad form the present invention comprises: a method of manufacture of a vehicle mounted rotary concrete mixing drum of the type having an opening at one end for receiving and discharge of concrete therefrom and at the other end means for engaging a drive assembly so as to rotate the drum for mixing or discharging concrete; wherein, the drum is manufactured from at least one inner mould and at least one opposing outer mould; wherein the drum includes integrally attached vanes which outstand from the internal surface of the drum forming an archimedian spiral disposed such that when the drum is rotated in a first direction the concrete contents are mixed and when the drum is rotated in a second direction the contents are discharges from said drum; and wherein the internal surface of the drum is formed or lined with an elastomer which causes mixing of the contents of the concrete at the concrete boundary layer; wherein the method comprises the steps of;
FIG. 9 shows a completed drum with track ring fitted.;
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown an assembly 10 which comprises a support 12 which receives and retains thereon a helical inner mould assembly 14. Mould assembly 14 is shown in profile by line [4] 14A. Mould assembly 14 is initially prepared in a separate mould having a helical interior so that mould 3 14 conforms to the shape of that interior. Once mould assembly 14 is formed, it may be transferred manually or otherwise for mounting on support 12 in preparation for receiving external mould[s] parts 16, 18 (shown in FIG. 2). FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the mould assembly 14 of FIG. 1 with exploded opposing external mould parts 16 and 18.
As shown by FIG. 3, mould parts 16 and 18 encapture mould assembly 14 but leave a generally helical cavity therebetween. Once external mould parts 16 and 18 have been secured and sealed, polyurethane is injected into the aforesaid cavity 19. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that more than two external moulds 16, 18 may be used to fulfill the same objectives of encapsulating inner mould 3. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the inner mould 3 assembly 14 enclosed by external mould sections or parts 16 and 18.
A steel mandrel 66 is inserted into the open (discharge ) end 68 of the mixer so that it reaches the drive ring (not shown) which is common to heavy duty drums of this type. The drive ring which imparts rotation to the mixer is spigotted and drilled to suit a gear box flange (not shown). The glass fibre reinforced plastic exterior of the polyurethane interior 26 is bonded to the drive ring and allowed to cure. The glass fibre reinforced plastic exterior 70 is extended over the discharge end support flange which then forms an enclosed vessel against the mandrel.
c) Surface finishing by filling and grinding or/ Moulding a gel coat finish using vacuum or pressure.
1. A method of manufacture of a vehicle mounted rotary concrete mixing drum of the type having an opening at one end for receiving and/or discharge of concrete therefrom and at the other end, means for engaging a drive assembly so as to rotate the drum for mixing or discharging concrete; wherein, the drum is manufactured from at least one mould using at least one plastics material; wherein the drum further includes integrally attached vanes which outstand from the internal surface of the drum forming an archimedian spiral disposed such that when the drum is rotated in a first direction the concrete contents are mixed and when the drum is rotated in a second direction the contents are discharged from said drum; wherein, the method comprises the steps of;
a) preparing a first generally helical inner mold part;
2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step of placing a reinforcing member in a recess formed in said inner mold part.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein steps a)-h) are repeated thereby providing a second helical inner wall element.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the first and second helical inner wall elements are complimentary and combine to form an inner wall surface of the mixing drum.
5. A method according to claim 4 comprising the further step of placing said first and second helical inner wall elements into a jig where opposing edges of said elements are held adjacent; the wall elements defining an inner cavity of said drum.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said opposing edges are sealed to complete said inner wall of said drum.
7. A method according to claim 6 comprising the further step of removing said inner wall from said jig and placing said inner wall on a mandrel such that the mandrel is disposed in said inner cavity.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the inner wall is placed on said mandrel via an open end of said inner wall
9. A method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of applying structural layers of glass fibre reinforced plastic to the polyurethane inner layer.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the internal surface of the drum includes an elastomer which allows mixing of the contents of the concrete at a concrete boundary layer;
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said reinforcing member is a continuous rope inserted in a recess in said blades.
12. A method of construction of a plastics concrete mixing drum wherein the method includes the use of inner and outer molds each made up from separate mould parts which are divided along two helical lines thereby allowing formation of a drum interior wall from two complementary mould parts.
13. A method of manufacture of a vehicle mounted rotary concrete mixing drum of the type having an opening at one end for receiving and discharge of concrete therefrom and at the other end means for engaging a drive assembly so as to rotate the drum for mixing or discharging concrete; wherein, the drum is manufactured from at least one inner mould and at least one opposing outer mould; wherein the drum includes integrally attached vanes which outstand from the internal surface of the drum forming an archimedian spiral disposed such that when the drum is rotated in a first direction the concrete contents are mixed and when the drum is rotated in a second direction the contents are discharges from said drum; and wherein the internal surface of the drum is formed or lined with an elastomer which causes mixing of the contents of the concrete at the concrete boundary layer; wherein the method comprises the steps of;
a) placing a second inner wall element along with said first inner helical wall element in a jig where the jointing surfaces are held adjacent so as to form an inner wall;
b) sealing the join formed by said jointing surfaces.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein comprising the additional step of
a) inserting a mandrel into an open discharge end of a drum interior;
b) winding structural layers of glass fibre reinforced plastic about an outer surface of said inner wall.
16. A method of construction of a plastics mixing drum comprising the steps of:
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the reinforcing rod is fitted with spacers which centralize the rod in its recess.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein, the first and second inner helical mold elements are jointed with a sealing compound or gaskets along an inner edge.
19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the outer mold is formed in three separate mold parts.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein, the joint between said two inner helical elements forming a helical blade is made with a polyurethane elastomer compound.
21. A method of manufacture of a vehicle mounted concrete mixing drum comprising the steps of;
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the flowable material is polyurethane.
23. A method according to claim 22 wherein, said first and second helical elements are joined in a jig to form an inner surface of said drum.
24. A method according to claim 23 comprising the further step of preparing an exterior surface of the mixer for bonding to a structural layer of glass fibre.
25. A method according to claim 24 comprising the additional step of winding a structural layer of fiberglass about said exterior surface.
26. A vehicle mounted rotary concrete mixing drum of the type having an opening at one end for receiving and/or discharge of concrete therefrom and at the other end, means for engaging a drive assembly so as to rotate the drum for mixing or discharging concrete; wherein, the drum is manufactured from at least one mould using at least one plastics material; wherein the drum further includes integrally attached vanes which outstand from the internal surface of the drum forming an archimedian spiral disposed such that when the drum is rotated in a first direction the concrete contents are mixed and when the drum is rotated in a second direction the contents are discharged from said drum; wherein, the drum is formed by a method comprising the steps of;
27. A vehicle mounted concrete mixing drum formed by a method of manufacture comprising the steps of;
28. A concrete mixing drum according to claim 27 wherein the flowable material is polyurethane.
29. A concrete mixing drum according to claim 27 wherein helical blades projecting from an inner surface of said drum have a pitch dimension of between 1-2 meters and are formed by elastomeric material.
30. A mixing drum according to claim 28 wherein the wall strength of said drum is around 600 MPa at a wall thickness of 8mm.
31. A mixing drum according to claim 29 wherein the polyurethane forms an inner layer which is approximately 3 mm thick.
32. A mixing drum according to claim 31 wherein and said structural layer comprises filament windings forming a layer of approximately 5mm thickness.
33. A method for making a concrete mixing drum, the method comprising:
combining a first helical section and a second helical section.
34. A method for making a concrete mixing drum, the method comprising:
providing a mould having a recess configured to form a drum blade;
locating a reinforcing member in the recess; and
inserting polymeric fluid in the recess such that the fluid flows about and substantially surrounds the reinforcing member.
35. A concrete mixing drum comprising:
a first helical element; and
a second helical element joined to the first helical element, wherein the first helical element and the second helical element form a substantially continuous layer circumferentially extending about a longitudinal axis of the drum.
36. The drum of claim 35 wherein the first helical element and the second helical element are polymeric.
37. The drum of claim 35 wherein the first helical element includes a blade.
38. The drum of claim 37 wherein the second helical element includes a blade.
39. The drum of claim 37 wherein the blade is helical.
40. The drum of claim 37 including a reinforcing member within a tip of the blade.
41. The drum of claim 35 including a second substantially continuous layer extending across a junction of the first element and the second element.
42. The drum of claim 41 wherein the second continuous layer is a fibre reinforced elastomer.
43. The drum of claim 35 wherein the first helical element and the second helical element form an interior of the drum.
44. An element comprising:
a helical polymeric shell; and
a polymeric blade integrally formed with and extending from the shell.
US10516726 2002-05-31 2003-05-31 Vehicle mounted concrete mixing drum and method of manufacture thereof Active 2026-09-21 US7784995B2 (en)
AUPS275302 2002-05-31
US20060152997A1 true true US20060152997A1 (en) 2006-07-13
US7784995B2 US7784995B2 (en) 2010-08-31
US10516726 Active 2026-09-21 US7784995B2 (en) 2002-05-31 2003-05-31 Vehicle mounted concrete mixing drum and method of manufacture thereof
FR2766407B1 (en) * 1997-07-22 1999-10-15 Aerospatiale large parts manufacturing method of composite material with thermoplastic matrix, such as aircraft fuselage sections
CA2487613C (en) 2012-06-26 grant
KR100679346B1 (en) 2007-02-06 grant
EP1551607A1 (en) 2005-07-13 application
CA2487613A1 (en) 2003-12-11 application
EP1551607A4 (en) 2008-02-06 application
US7784995B2 (en) 2010-08-31 grant
CN1659005A (en) 2005-08-24 application
KR20050024304A (en) 2005-03-10 application
WO2003101694A1 (en) 2003-12-11 application
CN1659005B (en) 2012-03-21 grant
JP2005528254A (en) 2005-09-22 application