System and method for distributing building materials in a controlled manner

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a portable system for distributing building materials comprising a motor vehicle which can be in the form of a truck. Disposed on a flat bed of the truck is at least one container coupled to the motor vehicle. The container can include at least one stirrer wherein the stirrer is for stirring a first component in the container. There can be at least one mixer coupled to the motor vehicle wherein the mixer is for mixing at least one liquid component with the component in the container to form a slurry. Once the slurry is formed, it can be fed to at least one distribution feeder which is then used to feed materials to a job site. This system can include a computer for controlling the mixer, and the distribution feeder to control the distribution of this slurry material. The disclosure can also relate to a process for creating the dry mixture, the slurry and then distributing this slurry so as to create a building component such as a floor. This process can be monitored by a computer, wherein the computer can be used to generate a series of reports such as a job report, a quality control report or a bill.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a top view of the device without hatch covers covering the openings;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hydraulic arm;

FIG. 5A is a side view of a silo;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of a silo;

FIG. 6A is a side view of a mixer;

FIG. 6B is an end view of a mixer;

FIG. 6C is a top view of a mixer;

FIG. 7A is an end view of the feeders;

FIG. 7B is a top view of the feeders;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the water system for the truck;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing the communication between different devices on a truck;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing the control panel in communication with the different components that are controlled by the control panel;

FIG. 11A is a flow chart showing the entire process for monitoring, distributing and reporting on the distribution of bulk materials;

FIG. 11B is another process for dispensing the building material;

FIG. 12 is a screen shot of a universal reporting screen;

FIG. 13A is a first section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13B is a second section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13C is a third section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13D is a fourth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13E is a fifth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13F is a sixth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13G is a seventh section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13H is an eighth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13I is a ninth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. J is a tenth section which can be found on the reporting screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a screen showing the listing of recipes for the mix;

FIG. 15A is a first screen for modifying these recipes;

FIG. 15B is a second screen for modifying these recipes;

FIG. 16A is a first screen for modifying the amount of water input into the system;

FIG. 16B is a second screen for modifying the amount of water input into the system;

FIG. 17A is a first screen for adjusting the screw speed and the vibration time in a silo;

FIG. 17B is a second screen for adjusting the screw speed and the vibration time in a silo;

FIG. 18A is a first screen showing the different adjustable screens for setting a capacity of a mixer;

FIG. 18B is a second screen for setting the capacity of a mixer;

FIG. 19A is a first screen for allowing a user to modify a job report;

FIG. 19B is a second screen for allowing a user to modify a job report;

FIG. 20 is a further job report modification screen;

FIG. 21 is a screen showing a finalized job report;

FIG. 22 is a screen showing a quality control report; and

FIG. 23 is a screen showing an embodiment of a single silo truck.

Claims

1. A process for creating a flooring material comprising: a) providing at least one building component distribution system on a flatbed of a motor vehicle;b) moving said motor vehicle to a job site;c) stirring a first set of components in a silo;c) stirring a second set of components in a silo;d) mixing said first set of components with said second set of components to create a dry mixture;e) mixing said dry mixture with a liquid to create a slurry mixture;f) monitoring said mixing;g) distributing said slurry mixture to create a building component; andh) locking said distribution to prevent backflow of components.

2. The process as in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said building component distribution system comprises providing a system with at least one silo.

3. The process as in claim 1, wherein said step of stirring a first set of components in a silo comprises providing at least one of the following mixing components, a stirrer having paddles; a vibration stirrer; an air stirrer and a screw stirrer.

4. The process as in claim 1, wherein said step of mixing said first set of components with said second set of components occurs in a container, wherein said first set of components is a binder material and said second set of components is sand.

5. The process as in claim 4, wherein said step of mixing said dry mixture with a liquid comprises mixing said dry mixture with water.

6. The process as in claim 1, further comprising the step of presenting a preset menu of recipes including a preset range of parameters for mixing said components.

7. The process as in claim 6, further comprising the step of presenting a user with an option to modify said recipes to create new parameters for mixing said components.

8. The process as in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a job history report based upon the amount of slurry distributed.

9. The process as in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a quality control report based upon tests taken from samples of said slurry.

10. The process as in claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically generating a bill based upon an amount of slurry that is deposited.

11. The process as in claim 1, wherein said step of automatically generating a bill includes monitoring an amount of material that is deposited and then calculating a total amount for billing based upon the amount of material deposited.

12. A portable system for distributing building materials comprising: a) a motor vehicle;b) at least one container coupled to said motor vehicle;c) at least one stirrer disposed in said at least one container, said at least one stirrer for stirring a first component in said container;d) at least one mixer coupled to said motor vehicle said mixer for mixing at least one liquid component with said at least one component in said container to form a slurry;e) at least one distribution feeder for feeding said slurry to a work site;f) at least one lock for selectively locking said at least one distribution feeder;g) at least one computer for controlling said at least one mixer, said at least one distribution feeder, and said at least one lock.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein said motor vehicle is in the form of a truck.

14. The system as in claim 12, further comprising at least one additional container, wherein said at least one container is for holding a binder and said at least one additional container is for holding sand.

15. The system as in claim 14, further comprising at least one pre-mixer for mixing said binder and said sand together.

16. The system as in claim 15, further comprising: a first container feeder coupled to said at least one container for feeding material from said at least one container into said pre-mixer,a second container feeder coupled for feeding material from said at least one additional container into said pre-mixer; anda pre-mixer feeder coupled to said pre-mixer for feeding said mixture from said pre-mixer; anda mixer feeder coupled to said mixer, said mixer feeder for feeding said slurry from said mixer to said at least one distribution feeder.

17. The device as in claim 16, wherein said at least one distribution feeder comprises at least two distribution feeders.

18. The device as in claim 17, wherein said computer is for controlling a feeding rate of said first container feeder, said second container feeder, said pre-mixer feeder, and said mixer feeder.