Ready mix batch hauler system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6808303
  • Patent Number
    6,808,303
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 18, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 26, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • (Lexington, KY, US)
  • Examiners
    • Soohoo; Tony G.
Abstract
A ready mix batch hauler system for efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site. A batch hauler truck is provided having a storage tank pivotally attached to the frame of the batch hauler truck. The storage tank has a first reservoir for holding particulate material and a second reservoir for holding cement. The user positions the batch hauler truck such that the rear discharge of the storage tank is positioned near the front discharge of a front end discharge truck mixer and elevates the storage tank. A first auger draws the cement into the second reservoir through an opening and a second auger draws the mixture of the cement and particulate material through the rear discharge. An alignment structure is preferably utilized for aligning the batch hauler truck with the front end discharge truck mixer.
Description




CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS




Not applicable to this application.




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not applicable to this application.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to concrete truck mixers and more specifically it relates to a ready mix batch hauler system for efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site.




2. Description of the Related Art




Concrete truck mixers have been in use for years. Conventional truck mixers are essentially free fall mixers mounted on a truck chassis. They typically handle either thoroughly mixed concrete or a batch of dry materials where water is added when the truck arrives on site. The size of each mixer ranges from 2.5 CY to 12 CY.




Truck mixers either contain centrally mixed concrete (mixed completely in a stationary mixer and then transferred to another piece of equipment for delivery) or will mix the contents during transport otherwise known as truck mixing. The total volume that a truck can handle is limited to 63 percent of the drum volume. The general cycle time is 70 to 100 revolutions, however, if the materials have been adequately charged into the mixer, uniform concrete should be obtained within 30 to 40 revolutions. The travel distance of a truck mixer can range from six to fifteen miles. This range can be extended by “dry batching” where dry materials are added to the mixer and are delivered to the construction site. Water is added at the construction site to the dry batch with the mixing tank revolving at a mixing speed.




The main problem with conventional truck mixers is that they are expensive to operate and maintain. A further problem with conventional truck mixers is that typically 2-6 truck mixers are required at a job site at one time which requires more than 2-6 truck mixers considering travel time between the job site and the material loading location. A problem with using multiple truck mixers is that a load of mixed concrete may have to be dumped if a problem occurs at the work site that does not allow for the concrete to be properly discharged which is costly and time consuming. Another problem with conventional concrete truck mixers is that specialized projects such as bridges and buildings require the wet concrete to be poured within a specified time after the concrete is mixed which can make such deadlines difficult when traveling to a job site.




While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site. Conventional concrete truck mixers are expensive and inefficient to operate upon remote job sites.




In these respects, the ready mix batch hauler system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of concrete truck mixers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new ready mix batch hauler system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site.




The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new ready mix batch hauler system that has many of the advantages of the truck mixers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new ready mix batch hauler system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art truck mixers, either alone or in any combination thereof.




To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a batch hauler truck having a storage tank pivotally attached to the frame of the batch hauler truck. The storage tank has a first reservoir for holding particulate material and a second reservoir for holding cement. The user positions the batch hauler truck such that the rear discharge of the storage tank is positioned near the front discharge of a front end discharge truck mixer and elevates the storage tank. A first auger draws the cement into the second reservoir through an opening and a second auger draws the mixture of the cement and particulate material through the rear discharge. An alignment structure is preferably utilized for aligning the batch hauler truck with the front end discharge truck mixer.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 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 the description and should not be regarded as limiting.




A primary object of the present invention is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.




A second object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system for efficiently transporting concrete mixing materials to a job site.




Another object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that reduces the number of truck mixers required for a job.




An additional object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that reduces the overall costs of performing a concrete job.




A further object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that reduces the wear and tear upon a truck mixer.




Another object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that avoids the time limitations placed upon specialized concrete projects such as buildings and bridges.




A further object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that allows the batch hauler truck to share the hydraulic system of the front end discharge truck mixer thereby reducing the cost of the batch hauler truck.




Another object is to provide a ready mix batch hauler system that properly aligns the batch hauler truck to the front end discharge truck mixer.




Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.




To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:





FIG. 1

is a side view of the batch hauler truck positioned adjacent to the front end discharge truck mixer.





FIG. 2

is a side view of the batch hauler truck.





FIG. 3

is a side cutaway view of the batch hauler truck illustrating the first reservoir and the second reservoir of the storage tank.





FIG. 4

is a side cutaway view of the batch hauler truck illustrating the first reservoir filled with particulate material and the second reservoir filled with cement.





FIG. 5

is a side cutaway view of the batch hauler truck dispensing the particulate material and cement into the front discharge of the front end discharge truck mixer.





FIG. 6

is a flowchart illustrating the overall functionality and operation of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,

FIGS. 1 through 6

illustrate a ready mix batch hauler system


10


, which comprises a batch hauler truck


20


having a storage tank


40


pivotally attached to the frame


22


of the batch hauler truck


20


. The storage tank


40


has a first reservoir


44


for holding particulate material


11


and a second reservoir


48


for holding cement


13


. The user positions the batch hauler truck


20


such that the rear discharge


45


of the storage tank


40


is positioned near the front discharge


16


of a front end discharge truck mixer


12


and elevates the storage tank


40


. A first auger


60


draws the cement


13


into the second reservoir


48


through an opening and a second auger


62


draws the mixture of the cement


13


and particulate material


11


through the rear discharge


45


. An alignment structure is preferably utilized for aligning the batch hauler truck


20


with the front end discharge truck mixer


12


.





FIGS. 1 and 5

illustrate an exemplary front end discharge truck mixer


12


which are well known in the art of truck mixers


12


. The front end discharge truck mixer


12


has a mixing tank


14


which has a front discharge


16


for receiving and discharging material. A front guide chute


18


may be attached near the front discharge


16


for guiding the material into and out from the mixing tank


14


as further shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

of the drawings. Various other truck mixers


12


may be utilized with respect to the present invention and the drawings of the same should not be considered limiting of the present invention.





FIGS. 2 and 3

best illustrate the batch hauler truck


20


which has a frame


22


, wheels


24


, rear bumper


26


, a support structure


30


and a storage tank


40


. The frame


22


, wheels


24


and rear bumper


26


of the batch hauler truck


20


may be comprised of any well known structure commonly utilized upon trucks and the like. The support structure


30


extends upwardly from a rear of the frame


22


for pivotally supporting the storage tank


40


.




The storage tank


40


is comprised of a volume sufficient for carrying a complete load of particulate material


11


, cement


13


and possibly water. The storage tank


40


is pivotally attached at the rear thereof to the support structure


30


as best illustrated in

FIGS. 2 and 3

of the drawings. At least one main actuator


50


is positioned between the frame


22


and the front of the storage tank


40


for elevating the front of the storage tank


40


as shown in

FIG. 5

of the drawings. The main actuator


50


may be comprised of a hydraulic cylinder or other actuator device. Hydraulic pressure to the main actuator


50


may be provided by an independent hydraulic unit upon the batch hauler truck


20


or by fluidly connecting to the existing hydraulic system of the front end discharge truck mixer


12


when positioned adjacent to the front end discharge truck mixer


12


.




As best shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

of the drawings, the storage tank


40


preferably has a first reservoir


44


for receiving the particulate material


11


such as but not limited to sand, gravel and the like. A removable first hatch


42


provides access to the first reservoir


44


through a first opening within the storage tank


40


for filling the first reservoir


44


.




The storage tank


40


also has a second reservoir


48


for receiving the cement


13


and fly ash material as shown in

FIGS. 2 through 4

of the drawings. The second reservoir


48


is accessible by a second hatch


46


through a second opening within the storage tank


40


for filling and the like. The second reservoir


48


is preferably smaller in volume capacity than the first reservoir


44


since a greater volume of particulate material


11


is required compared to the volume of cement


13


required to mix a batch of concrete.




A gate member


49


selectively covers a middle opening between the first reservoir


44


and the second reservoir


48


as shown in

FIGS. 3 through 5

of the drawings. The gate member


49


may be manually or mechanically manipulated for opening and closing thereof. The gate member


49


is preferably a sliding structure, however various other gate structures may be utilized to construct the gate member


49


.




A second auger


62


is preferably positioned within the second reservoir


48


for drawing the cement


13


toward the middle opening where the cement


13


is combined with the particulate material


11


within the first reservoir


44


as shown in

FIGS. 1 through 5

of the drawings. The second auger


62


is rotated by a motor which may be hydraulic or electrically powered. It can be appreciated that the second auger


62


may not be needed to divert the cement


13


into the first reservoir


44


if the angle of the floor in the second reservoir


48


is sufficient for allowing gravity diversion to occur.




As further shown in

FIGS. 1 through 5

of the drawings, a first auger


60


is preferably positioned within the first reservoir


44


for drawing the particulate material


11


and the cement


13


outwardly through the rear discharge


45


of the storage tank


40


. The first auger


60


is rotated by a motor which may be hydraulic or electrically powered. It can be appreciated that the first auger


60


may not be needed to divert the particulate material


11


and cement


13


through the rear discharge


45


if the angle of the floor in the first reservoir


44


is sufficient for allowing gravity diversion to occur.

FIGS. 1 through 5

further illustrate the usage of a rear guide chute


64


attached to the storage tank


40


adjacent to the rear discharge


45


.




An alignment structure is preferably utilized for aligning the batch hauler truck


20


with the front end discharge truck mixer


12


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

of the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 5

illustrate the usage of a first guide member


70


attached to the rear bumper


26


or other rear structure of the batch hauler truck


20


. The first guide member


70


is preferably comprised of a pin structure. A second guide member


72


is attached to the front bumper or other front structure of the front end discharge truck mixer


12


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

of the drawings. The second guide member


72


is comprised of a slot or opening that receives the first guide member


70


. It can be appreciated that the respective structures of the guide members


70


,


72


can be interchanged.




In use, the user fills the first reservoir


44


with the desired particulate material


11


and the second reservoir


48


with cement


13


and other related material at a filling site. The user then drives the batch hauler truck


20


to the job site and is aligned with a front end discharge truck mixer


12


as shown in

FIG. 1

of the drawings. The user then elevates the front of the storage tank


40


by extending the main actuator


50


as shown in

FIG. 5

of the drawings. The user then opens the gate member


49


and then actuates the augers


60


,


62


. The second auger


62


draws the concrete through the middle opening into the first reservoir


44


with the particulate material


11


as shown in

FIG. 5

of the drawings. The first auger


60


then transfers the combined particulate material


11


and concrete outwardly through the rear discharge


45


into the front discharge


16


of the front end discharge truck mixer


12


as further shown in

FIG. 5

of the drawings. This process continues until the first reservoir


44


and the second reservoir


48


are emptied. The front end discharge truck mixer


12


preferably has the mixing tank


14


in a mixing rotation during the filling thereof and water may be combined with the mixture during and after the filling of the mixing tank


14


. The batch hauler truck


20


is then separated from the front end discharge truck mixer


12


allowing the front end discharge truck mixer


12


to mix the concrete mixture and dispense the same upon the job site. Once the front end discharge truck mixer


12


has dispenses the concrete mixture, the entire process is repeated with another batch hauler truck


20


at the job site.




As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A batch hauler truck for transporting concrete mixing material to a job site for a truck mixer, comprising:a frame and wheels; a support structure extending upwardly from a rear portion of said frame; a storage tank pivotally attached to said support structure, wherein said storage tank has a first reservoir for storing a volume of particulate material, a second reservoir for storing a volume of cement, a reservoir opening between said reservoirs, a gate member selectively closing said reservoir opening and a rear discharge opening; and a main actuator connected between said frame and said storage tank for elevating said storage tank.
  • 2. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, including a first auger within said first reservoir for dispensing said particulate material through said rear discharge opening.
  • 3. The batch hauler truck of claim 2, including a second auger within said second reservoir for discharging said cement through said reservoir opening into said first reservoir.
  • 4. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, including a first opening within said storage tank providing access to said first reservoir, and a second opening within said storage tank providing access to said second reservoir.
  • 5. The batch hauler truck of claim 4, including a first hatch and a second hatch for selectively enclosing said first opening and said second opening respectively.
  • 6. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, wherein said main actuator is hydraulically powered by a hydraulic system upon a truck mixer.
  • 7. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, wherein said first reservoir has a larger volume than said second reservoir.
  • 8. The batch hauler truck of claim 7, wherein said first reservoir surrounds said second reservoir.
  • 9. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, wherein said gate member is manually manipulated.
  • 10. The batch hauler truck of claim 1, wherein said gate member is mechanically manipulated by an actuator.
  • 11. A batch hauler truck for transporting concrete mixing material to a job site for a truck mixer, comprising:a frame and wheels; a support structure extending upwardly from a rear portion of said frame; a storage tank pivotally attached to said support structure, wherein said storage tank has a first reservoir for storing a volume of particulate material, a second reservoir for storing a volume of cement, a reservoir opening between said reservoirs, a gate member selectively closing said reservoir opening and a rear discharge opening; a main actuator connected between said frame and said storage tank for elevating said storage tank; a first guide member attached to a rear portion of said batch hauler truck; and a second guide member attachable to a front portion of a truck mixer, wherein said first guide member and said second guide member are positionable within one another for providing alignment of the trucks.
  • 12. The batch hauler truck of claim 11, including a first auger within said first reservoir for dispensing said particulate material through said rear discharge opening.
  • 13. The batch hauler truck of claim 12, including a second auger within said second reservoir for discharging said cement through said reservoir opening into said first reservoir.
  • 14. The batch hauler truck of claim 11, including a first opening within said storage tank providing access to said first reservoir, and a second opening within said storage tank providing access to said second reservoir.
  • 15. The batch hauler truck of claim 14, including a first hatch and a second hatch for selectively enclosing said first opening and said second opening respectively.
  • 16. The batch hauler truck of claim 11, wherein said main actuator is hydraulically powered by a hydraulic system upon a truck mixer.
  • 17. The batch hauler truck of claim 11, wherein said first reservoir has a larger volume than said second reservoir.
  • 18. The batch hauler truck of claim 17, wherein said first reservoir surrounds said second reservoir.
  • 19. The batch hauler truck of claim 11, wherein said gate member is manually manipulated.
  • 20. A method of operating a batch hauler truck for refilling a truck mixer with a concrete mixture at a job site, wherein said batch hauler truck is comprised of a frame and wheels, a support structure extending upwardly from a rear portion of said frame, a storage tank pivotally attached to said support structure, wherein said storage tank has a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a reservoir opening between said reservoirs, a gate member selectively closing said reservoir opening and a rear discharge opening, a main actuator connected between said frame and said storage tank for elevating said storage tank, said method comprising the steps of:(a) filling said first reservoir with a volume of particulate material; (b) filling said second reservoir with a volume of cement; (c) operating said batch hauler truck to said job site; (d) aligning said batch hauler truck such that said rear discharge opening is near a front discharge opening of said truck mixer; (e) elevating said storage tank; (f) opening said gate member; (g) facilitating dispensing of said cement from said second reservoir into said first reservoir; and (h) facilitating dispensing of said particulate material with said cement through said rear discharge opening into said front discharge opening.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
1834670 Yett Dec 1931 A
2945684 Soldini Jul 1960 A
RE25386 Soldini May 1963 E
3306590 Gallagher Feb 1967 A
3385571 Preeman May 1968 A
4810097 Stephens Mar 1989 A