Patent Application
20100232253
The present invention relates generally to concrete truck discharge chutes, and more particularly, relating to a concrete containment and washout apparatus for use in connection with a concrete discharge chute to permit controlled rinsing of a concrete chute with waste collection.
Concrete mixing trucks transport concrete in large rotating mixing drums and deliver concrete to a desired location by utilizing a discharge chute. The discharge chute is mounted on the truck via hinged connections that enable the discharge chute to be aligned into a particular position to direct the discharge of cement from the concrete mixing truck.
After the concrete is delivered, the discharge chute is washed to prevent the hardening of concrete on the chute surface. Some cement residue may be removed from the truck by washing. Some debris, for example, sand and gravel, may be held in the chute to be disposed of when the truck returns to the plant. Some traditional concrete mixing trucks utilize screens or pumps which may eventually become clogged with debris. Other mixing trucks are designed so that cleaning out all sand and gravel includes disposal of this material at the building site. A problem encountered during washing of the discharge chute is the flow of the water and cement onto the road or the site where concrete is being poured. Ultimately, undesired cement patches may be formed on the road or at a construction site. Sometimes, a concrete mixing truck has to be designed to include a separate container on the truck to store the sand and rocks until the truck returns to the plant. Thus, in general, the onsite cleaning of cement residue and disposing of rocks and sand from concrete mixing trucks present some unresolved problems.
Accordingly, there is a need for efficiently removing cement residue located within a concrete discharge chute and controlling the collection of debris and wash water, in a concrete mixing truck.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention addresses this need by providing an apparatus for removing cement residue located within a concrete discharge chute and controlling the collection of debris and wash water, in a concrete mixing truck.
To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a concrete containment and chute washout apparatus for use in association with a concrete truck having a concrete discharge chute with a main chute and an end chute hingeable connected to the main chute for rotation between a lowered positioned where the main chute and end chute form an elongated chute for concrete discharge, and a raised position where the end chute is positioned above the main chute, is provided. The concrete containment and chute washout apparatus includes a barrier plate having a peripheral sealing edge, and a fluid passage through the barrier plate at an inwardly position from the peripheral sealing edge, and a seal located along the peripheral sealing edge. The barrier plate connectable to the end chute such that when the end chute is in the raised position, the barrier plate is positioned within the main chute with the seal providing a sealing contact between the peripheral sealing edge and an interior surface of the main chute forming a liquid tight barrier against the flow of material in the main chute. A container is positionable remotely of the barrier plate, and a hose is connectable to in fluid communication to the fluid passage and to the container for the passage of material from the main chute to the container.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which:
Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to
With reference to
Barrier plate 22 is attached to opposed sides 34 and 36 of end chute 18 to extend transversely therebetween. While barrier plate 22 can be attached to end chute 18 using threaded fasteners, by welding or riveting, preferably, barrier plate 22 is attached to end chute 18 through a support 38, which permits barrier plate 22 to be attached or removed without tools. In the preferred embodiment, support 38 includes a pair of plates 40 and 42 welded to sides 34 and 36, respectively. Each plate 40 and 42 includes an opening 44 through which opposed ends 46 and 48 of a cross-bar 50 are removably insertable. Securment pins 52 and 54 are used to prevent withdrawal of ends 46 and 48 from plates 40 and 42. Barrier plate 22 can be attached to cross-bar 50 by a pair of brackets 52 and 54. Alternatively, barrier plate 22 could be welded, riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to cross-bar 50.
Barrier plate 22 includes a peripheral sealing edge 26 to which is attached a seal 28. Seal 28 provides sealing contact between sealing edge 26 and interior surface 30 of the main chute 18 when end chute 20 is in the lowered position, and barrier plate 22 is positioned in the main chute 18. In this manner, a water tight barrier is formed across the main chute 18 to prevent the flow of material and fluid out end 32 thereof. The peripheral sealing edge 26 is arcuate shaped to form complementary reception within the concave interior surface 30 of the main chute 18. In an embodiment, top edge 27 of the barrier plate may be straight, as shown. In other embodiments, top edge 27 can be arcuate shaped. Preferably, barrier plate 22 is attached to end chute 20 with top edge 27 even with or raised slightly above edges 35 and 37 of sides 34 and 36 respectively.
A fluid passage 56 is formed through barrier plate 22 an inward position from sealing edge 26 to be elevated or spaced from the interior surface 30 of the main chute 18 when end cute 18 is in the raised position. Preferably, fluid passage 56 is spaced a minimum of three-inches from bottom 58 of main chute 18 to cause solid debris to accumulate within the main chute and permit fluid to flow through the fluid passage.
A fluid collection tank 60 is positionable remotely of barrier plate 22 and can be attached to the concrete truck 12, as best depicted in
In use, it can now be understood, to deliver a load of concrete, end chute 20 rotated into the lowered position to form concrete chute 16, as best seen in
A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
