Patent Application
20090194565
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of wet cement dispensers and more particularly to a wet cement dispensing apparatus having a tilting hopper and a hinged, angled auger tube for aiding in the cleaning of the apparatus and for delivering grout to elevated and hard to reach locations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional wet cement (i.e., “grout”) dispensers such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,955 to Lang and U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,249 to Lang, which are herein incorporated by reference, combine a hopper for holding grout and an auger tube containing a motorized auger that extends horizontally from the bottom of the hopper for conveying the grout a short distance away from the hopper. Typically, a flexible hose extends from the end of the auger tube for accurately channeling grout to the area where it is to be applied.
In the sequence of normal operation, a cement truck or other mixing container first pours grout into the open top of the hopper which funnels the grout into the accepting end of the auger tube. The entire dispenser is then lifted by a forklift to a position above an area where grout is to be applied. The motorized auger is then activated. As the auger rotates within the tube, the grout is driven from the accepting end of the tube to its dispensing end. The grout is then forced through the flexible hose to the area of application. To control the flow of grout, a worker pinches and releases the hose by hand. A small, radial gap between the perimeter of the auger and the inner surface of the auger tube allows the auger to continue to rotate when the hose is pinched closed without causing an excessive build-up of pressure on the grout within the tube or the hose.
One problem associated with grout delivery systems of the type described is that it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to deliver grout to elevated areas that offer little overhead space. In order to properly position a traditional grout dispenser during use, there must be a sufficient amount of space above an application site to accommodate the entire dispensing apparatus, as well as the boom and carriage of the forklift that carries it. This can be a severe limitation, because many work areas do not provide the requisite amount of overhead space and therefore necessitate alternative, more cumbersome means of grout application.
Another common problem among conventional grout dispensers is the difficulty associated with cleaning. After use, excess grout must be cleaned out of the hopper and the auger tube before the grout is able to cure. This is typically accomplished by spraying the interior surfaces of the hopper and the auger tube with pressurized water to flush the residual grout out of the dispenser. However, much of the interior of the auger tube is difficult to reach, particularly the portions of the tube's interior that are closest to its longitudinal center.
Yet another problem associated with traditional grout dispensers is excessive grout run-out after the motorized auger has been deactivated. This occurs when there is grout left in the auger tube after the auger has stopped rotating. Gravity forces some of the leftover grout to feed into the flexible hose and out to the work area, where it must be disposed of.
It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a grout dispensing apparatus that is easy to clean and capable of delivering grout to elevated and difficult to reach locations. It is a further purpose of this invention to provide such a grout dispensing apparatus that also prevents excessive grout run-out after being shut off.
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, there is provided a grout dispenser having a base, a hopper that can be tilted relative to the base, and an upwardly angled auger tube that can be folded along its length. The angled auger tube extends from the bottom of the hopper at an acute angle to a height greater than that of the hopper. Grout is poured into the open top of the hopper and is funneled into the accepting end of the auger tube. The entire apparatus is then lifted, such as by a forklift, into position. The rotating auger drives the grout upwardly through the tube and into a flexible hose that extends downwardly from the tube's dispensing end.
Because the dispensing end of the auger tube is elevated relative to the rest of the dispenser's components, the dispenser need not be lifted as high as conventional grout dispensers (i.e., those having horizontally disposed auger tubes) to reach the same overall height. Moreover, because the angled auger tube is smaller than the carriage, boom, and hopper, the invention can reach into much tighter overhead areas than previous dispensers. Another benefit associated with the upwardly angled auger tube is that gravity prevents excess grout from running out of the tube after the auger has stopped rotating.
The hopper is pivotably affixed to the base, enabling the hopper to tilt in the direction of the auger tube. The auger tube is hinged near its longitudinal center enabling its more elevated portion to fold back toward the hopper. For cleaning, the auger is removed from the auger tube, the auger tube is folded, and the hopper is tilted. The interiors of the hopper and the auger tube are then sprayed with pressurized water. The folded auger tube provides convenient access to the interior surfaces of the tube nearest its longitudinal center. The tilted hopper allows water and excess grout to run out through the neck of the folded tube.
A spring-loaded pivot latch is mounted to the base of the dispenser. During operation, the pivot latch keeps the hopper locked in its normal, upright position. For cleaning, an operator manually disengages the latch, allowing the hopper to tilt. When the hopper is pivoted back to its normal, upright position, the pivot latch automatically reengages the hopper again, thereby locking it into place.
a is a perspective view illustrating the hopper and base of the invention with the roll pin engaging the retaining block.
b is a perspective view illustrating the hopper in the cleaning position and the roll pin disengaged from the retaining block.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or term similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection, but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
Referring to
The hopper 14 is a box-shaped container that is wider at its top end than its bottom end in order to “feed” fluent material downwardly along vertical and sloped sidewalls. The top of the hopper 14 is open for accepting grout, such as from a larger container, and the bottom of the hopper is open to the auger tube 16 for dispensing grout. Additionally, a U-shaped cradle 18 is rigidly affixed to the bottom of the hopper 14.
The auger tube 16 is an elongated, cylindrical body that is rigidly affixed to the bottom and/or front of the hopper 14. The auger tube 16 extends at an acute angle, relative to the surface upon which the dispenser sits, to a dispensing end that has an elevation greater than the rest of the auger tube 16, and preferably to about the top edge of the hopper 14. The accepting end of the tube 16, which is beneath the hopper 14, has an upwardly-facing aperture below the open bottom of the hopper for accepting grout from the bottom end of the hopper 14. In an alternative embodiment in which the auger tube attaches to the front of the hopper, the accepting end of the tube has a horizontally-facing aperture facing into the hopper for accepting grout from the bottom end of the hopper. A cylindrical discharge spout 20 extends downwardly from the tube 16 adjacent the tube's elevated dispensing end for dispensing grout. A removable cap 22 fits over the dispensing end of the tube 16 and a hose (not shown) is attached to the spout 20.
Within the auger tube 16 is a removable auger drivably linked to a hydraulic motor (not shown). During operation of the dispenser 10, the motor rotates the auger in a conventional manner, and the auger drives grout from the accepting end of the tube 16 (beneath the hopper 14) to its dispensing end. Because the dispensing end of the auger tube 16 is elevated relative to its accepting end, the force of gravity on the grout prevents any significant amount of unused grout left in the auger tube 16 from exiting the discharge spout 20 after the motor has been deactivated. Instead, the grout flows downhill to the accepting end of the auger tube 16.
A hinge plate 24 transversely divides the auger tube 16 into two cylindrical segments, one being a proximal segment 26 that is rigidly mounted to the hopper 14, and the other being a distal segment 28 that is more elevated and that is capable of being folded back toward the hopper about the axis of the hinge plate's hinge 25. A releasable tube pivot latch 30 is affixed to the hinge plate 24, on the opposite side as the hinge 25, for preventing the tube 16 from folding while the latch 30 is engaged. Of course, the hinge can be placed on the opposite side as that shown, and the latch can be reversed. Other structures that permit relative movement of the proximal and distal segments 26 and 28 are contemplated. It is contemplated that other structures, that permit separation of the segments of the auger tube 16, can be substituted for the hinge. For example, referring to
Referring to
The turntable 34 is preferably a rectangular plate, with a top surface facing vertically upwardly and a bottom surface facing vertically downwardly. The turntable has four rollers 40, 42, 44, and 46 (with horizontal axes of rotation) extending upwardly from its top surface. The rollers 40-46 are disposed around a circle and are spaced about 90 degrees apart. A cylindrical pivot post 48 extends upwardly from the surface of the turntable 34 at about the center of the circle equidistant from the rollers 40-46. The bottom surface of the carriage 32 has a slightly smaller male post (not shown) that extends downwardly therefrom and rotatably engages the female pivot post 48. The rollers 40-46 seat against the underside of the carriage 32, and therefore the hopper 14 can be rotated about the axis of the pivot post 48 relative to the turntable 34 with the rollers 40-46 supporting the carriage vertically and permitting rotation of the carriage about the vertical axis of the post 48.
The turntable 34 (
Still referring to
The cradle 18 sits within, and is pivotably attached to, the carriage 32 by a pivot pin 78 that passes horizontally through axially-aligned holes 79 and 79′ (hole 79′ is not within view, but is identical to hole 79) and 33 and 33′ in the two opposing sides of the cradle 18 and the carriage 32. This allows the hopper 14 to tilt to one side about the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 78.
The cradle 18 has two holes 86 and 88 positioned one above the other, and each provides a horizontal passageway through one of the cradle's sidewalls. A spring-loaded hopper pivot latch 80 is affixed to the sidewall of the carriage 32. The pivot latch 80 has a handle 82 with an elongated locking pin 84 extending therefrom for axially engaging a flanged pin sheath 85 that is rigidly mounted to the carriage 32. The locking pin 84 extends through the pin sheath 85 and the sidewall of the carriage 32 and can extend through one of the holes 86 and 88 in the sidewall of the cradle 18 to prevent the hopper 14 from pivoting about the pivot pin 78. During operation of the dispenser 10, the locking pin 84 engages the upper hole 88 in the cradle 18, thereby keeping the hopper 14 locked in its upright, dispensing position. The lower hole 86 is used for cleaning, as described below when the hopper is tilted.
Referring to
Referring now to
Once the dispenser 10 is in the cleaning position shown in
In an alternative method for cleaning the dispenser 10, water is first sprayed or poured into the top of the hopper 14 while the hopper 14 is locked in its normal, upright position. The water accumulates in the hopper 14 and the auger tube 16, thereby diluting and loosening any residual grout therein. With the dispenser 10 partly or nearly full of water, the auger is activated. The rotation of the auger agitates the contents of the dispenser 10 and further loosens any grout that may be built-up within the auger tube 16, while at the same time possibly pushing some of the grout and water mixture out of the tube 16. The cap 22 is then removed and the hopper 14 is tilted to flush the remaining mixture out of the dispenser 10. The hopper and auger tube are subsequently cleaned of any remaining grout and possibly sprayed with clean water so that all water and residue can run downhill out of the distal portion of the auger tube.
To move the hopper 14 back to its upright position, the operator pulls the hopper pivot latch handle 82 to disengage the locking pin 84 from the lower hole 86, and then rotates the handle 82 about the axis of the locking pin 84 and brings the roll pin 89 to rest on the retaining block 91. The operator then tilts the hopper 14 upwardly. As the hopper 14 is being tilted, the bottom surface of the contact bar 95 engages the top surface of one end of the handle 82, thereby rotating the handle 82 clockwise. The rotational movement of the handle 82 causes the roll pin 89 to slide off of the retaining block 91, thereby allowing the locking pin 84 to be further inserted into the sheath 85, and drawn into contact with the sidewall of the cradle 18. The cradle sidewall then slides along the tip of the locking pin 84 while the hopper 14 is being tilted. When the hopper 14 is fully returned to its upright position, the locking pin 84 is in alignment with the upper hole 88 in the cradle, and the locking pin 84 is drawn into full insertion in the upper hole 88, thereby locking the hopper 14 in its upright position. The auger is returned to the tube 16 after the tube 16 is unfolded. The cap 22 is replaced and the dispenser is ready for use or storage.
Various mechanisms are shown to lock parts of the dispenser in position. Any similar mechanisms can be substituted for the structures shown, as will become apparent. For example, the locking pin 84 is inserted through aligned holes. This can be replaced by a friction brake or another structure that accomplishes the purpose of locking the otherwise relatively moveable parts to one another. Additionally, although various pivot pins are shown, any structure that produces relative movement about an axis can be substituted, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill.
This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.
