Patent Application
20050276152
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix.
In the mixing of concrete, there are two basic approaches. The first is the batch process which causes the concrete to be mixed in batches. A typical example of the batch process is the use of cement trucks which carry batches of the concrete and which mix the concrete during transport.
The other method of processing concrete is the continuous method. In the continuous method, the concrete is continuously added to a conveyor which delivers the mixture of concrete and other materials to an auger mixer. The auger mixer then mixes the materials and discharges the mixed concrete continuously. A typical example of a continuous method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,890.
In either the continuous method or the batch method it is desirable on occasion to add pigmentation to the concrete mixture before it is mixed. Pigmentation materials are very difficult to handle because they are often finely divided particles which compact and which are difficult to handle.
Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix wherein a hopper and two augers are provided for loosening and dispensing the pigmentation material.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix wherein the augers or rotors include helical ribbon flighting having a central opening therein.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix wherein the hopper or bin includes sloped edges which converge toward a bottom auger or rotor.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix wherein a tube extends from the lower end of the hopper and an auger has a portion extending within the tube and a portion extending within the hopper.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix which is efficient in operation and which is simple and easy to manufacture.
The foregoing objects may be achieved by an apparatus for adding pigment to a concrete mixture. The apparatus comprises a hopper for containing pigmentation material to be added to the concrete mixture. The hopper has a lower end and an outlet opening adjacent the lower end for dispensing the pigmentation material from the hopper. A first rotor is mounted within the hopper above the outlet opening for rotation about a first horizontal axis. A second rotor is mounted within the hopper below the first rotor for rotation about a second horizontal axis. A drive system is connected to the first and second rotors for causing them to rotate about the first and second horizontal axis respectively. The second rotor is capable of moving pigmentation material to the outlet opening and causing the pigmentation material to be dispensed outwardly from the hopper through the outlet opening.
A conveyor is located below the outlet opening of the hopper for receiving the pigmentation material dispensed from the outlet opening. The conveyor includes a concrete mixture thereon. The conveyor moves the concrete mixture below the outlet opening of the hopper so that the pigmentation material dispensed from the outlet opening is added to the concrete mixture. The conveyor has a discharge end adjacent a concrete mixer. The concrete mixer is adapted to receive the concrete mixture and the pigmentation material from the discharge end of the conveyor and to mix the concrete mixture and the pigmentation material together.
According to another feature of the present invention the first rotor includes a helical flighting thereon. The helical flighting may be in the shape of a helical ribbon, but other types of helical flighting may be used.
According to another feature of the present invention the first rotor includes radial beater bars for mixing the pigmentation material during the rotation of the first rotor. The second rotor may also comprise the helical flighting which may be in the shape of a helical ribbon or in some other helical shape.
As used herein, the term rotor refers to an elongated rotatable member. The rotor may have helical flighting thereon, radially extending beater bars, or a combination of the two. The helical flighting may be typical helical flighting or it may be ribbon helical flighting having an open center therein. A primary object of the rotors is to move and agitate the pigmentation material. Agitation is important in order to break up the finely ground particles of pigmentation and the movement is required in order to discharge the pigmentation from the hopper.
According to another feature of the present invention a mixing rod is attached to the helical flighting and is positioned off center from the longitudinal axis of the rotor. The mixing rod performs the function of holding the ribbon flighting together while at the same time providing a mixing function as it rotates about the longitudinal axis of the rotor.
According to another feature of the present invention an exit tube is positioned adjacent the outlet opening of the hopper. The lower most auger extends within the exit tube and also extends within the bottom of the pigmentation hopper. The rotor is exposed to the pigmentation material at the lower end of the pigmentation hopper, but protrudes within the tube and rotates within the tube adjacent the outlet opening.
The method of the present invention comprises placing the pigmentation within the hopper chamber. A first rotor is rotated to agitate and loosen the pigmentation material within the hopper chamber. A second rotor is rotated to cause the pigmentation material within the hopper to move toward and be dispensed outwardly through the outlet opening. The pigmentation material dispensed through the outlet opening is added to the concrete materials being conveyed below the outlet opening on a conveyor. The pigmentation material and the concrete material are deposited into a mixer and the mixer is used to mix the concrete materials and pigmentation materials together.
Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a conveyor of a continuous concrete processor. Conveyor 10 has a discharge end 12 and carries a concrete mix 14 which has been deposited on the conveyor. Adjacent the discharge end 12 of the conveyor is an auger mixer 16 having a lowered end 18 and a raised or upper end 20. A motor 22 is attached to an auger shaft 24 which has helical auger flighting 26 thereon. A housing 28 surrounds the helical flighting and includes a rubber lower housing 30 and an inlet opening 32. A discharge opening 34 is provided adjacent the discharge end of the auger mixer 16 and a shoot 36 is shown to carry the mixed concrete away.
A pigmentation housing 38 is in the form of a hopper having opposite end walls 40, 42, a V-shaped front wall 44 (
The lower end of the hopper 38 includes an outlet opening 56 which provides communication into the interior of hopper chamber 50 through a rotor tube 58.
A bottom rotor 60 includes an elongated helical ribbon 62. The helical ribbon forms an open center (
A clean out 80 is best seen in
An upper rotor 84 includes a helical ribbon 86 which is attached to an elongated rotor shaft 88. Also extending outwardly from the rotor shaft 88 are a plurality of radial beater bars 90. The opposite ends of shaft 88 are mounted in the two opposite bearings 92. A large sprocket 94 is mounted outside the hopper 38 and an idler sprocket 96 (
A motor 98 is mounted to the rear under surface of the hopper 38 and includes a first drive chain 100 which is trained around a sprocket 104 on the motor 98 and is also trained around the large sprocket 70 on the end of lower rotor 60. A second drive chain 102 is trained around the small sprocket 72 on the lower rotor 60 and is also trained around idler sprocket 96 and the large sprocket 94 on the upper rotor 84.
In operation, the motor 98 is driven in a first rotational direction and causes rotation of the upper rotor 84 and the lower rotor 60. Upper rotor 84 agitates the pigmentation and moves the pigmentation materials to the right as viewed in
The pigmentation material is then deposited on the conveyor and is designated by the numeral 106. It is deposited on the concrete mix 14. At the discharge end of the conveyor 10 the combination of the pigmentation material 106 and the other concrete materials 14 are deposited into the inlet opening 32 of the auger mixer 16. The rotation of the auger mixer 16 causes the pigmentation and the other concrete materials to be mixed and ultimately discharged from dispensing opening 34. Water may be added to the inlet opening 32 to create the desired concrete mix. The resulting mixture is designated by the numeral 108, and includes the pigmentation material dispersed throughout the concrete mixture. The result is the pouring of concrete having the color provided by the pigmentation material 106.
When it is desired to clean out hopper 38, the motor 98 is reversed and the plug 82 is removed from the clean out 80. Reversal of motor 98 causes the lower rotor 60 to move the pigmentation material to the right as viewed in
In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.
