초록 ▼

A portable concrete plant for producing ready mix concrete proximate to a location where the ready mix concrete is used. The portable concrete plant includes storage regions for storing components used in the ready mix concrete. The portable concrete plant also includes a slurry mixer for preparing

A portable concrete plant for producing ready mix concrete proximate to a location where the ready mix concrete is used. The portable concrete plant includes storage regions for storing components used in the ready mix concrete. The portable concrete plant also includes a slurry mixer for preparing slurry that is used in the ready mix concrete. The portable concrete plant further includes conveying systems for conveying the components from the storage regions and from the slurry mixer to a system discharge port.

대표청구항 ▼

What claimed is: 1. A portable concrete plant for preparing ready mix concrete, the portable concrete plant comprising: a frame having at least one set of wheels attached thereto for supporting the frame above a ground surface and permitting the frame to be moved along the ground surface; a cement

What claimed is: 1. A portable concrete plant for preparing ready mix concrete, the portable concrete plant comprising: a frame having at least one set of wheels attached thereto for supporting the frame above a ground surface and permitting the frame to be moved along the ground surface; a cement storage region attached to the frame, wherein the cement storage region stores cement, and wherein the cement storage region has a cement entry port and a cement exit port; a sand storage region attached to the frame, wherein the sand storage region stores sand, and wherein the sand storage region has a sand entry port and a sand exit port; a rock storage region attached to the frame, wherein the rock storage region stores rock, and wherein the rock storage region has a rock entry port and a rock exit port; a water storage region attached to the frame, wherein the water storage region stores water, and wherein the water storage region has a water entry port and a water exit port; a slurry mixer attached to the frame, wherein slurry mixer has a slurry mixer entry port and a slurry mixer exit port, wherein the cement exit port and the water exit port are operably connected to the slurry mixer entry port, wherein the slurry mixer prepares a slurry from cement and water; and wherein the slurry mixer exit port is proximate a system exit port; a conveyor system attached to the frame, wherein the conveyor system receives rock from rock exit port and sand from the sand exit port and transports the rock and sand to the system exit port; and further comprising a mixing apparatus mounted on the frame proximate the system exit port for mixing the rock, sand and slurry wherein the mixing apparatus imparts a swirling motion to the rock, sand and slurry as the rock, sand and slurry pass through the mixing apparatus. 2. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, wherein the slurry mixer is attached to the frame with a slurry mixer support frame, wherein the slurry mixer support frame has a stationary portion and a pivoting portion, wherein the stationary portion is attached to the frame, wherein the slurry mixer is attached to the pivoting portion, and wherein the pivoting portion is pivotally attached to the stationary portion so as to enable the slurry mixer to pivot between a transport position and an extended position. 3. The portable concrete plant of claim 2, wherein the portable concrete plant has a height of less than about 14 feet, when the slurry mixer is in the transport configuration, and wherein the system exit port is positioned at a height of at least 10 feet when the slurry mixer is in the extended position. 4. The portable concrete plant of claim 2, wherein the conveyor system pivots between the extended position and the transport position as the slurry mixer is pivoted between the extended position and the transport position. 5. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, and further comprising: a cement weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the cement storage region to the frame; and a sand weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the sand storage region to the frame; a rock weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the rock storage region to the frame; a water weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the water storage region to the frame. 6. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, wherein the slurry mixer comprises: an outer enclosure; a first stirring apparatus fixedly mounted to the outer enclosure; and a second stirring apparatus rotatably mounted in the outer enclosure. 7. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, wherein the cement storage region, the sand storage region, the rock storage region, and the water storage region each include a load cell for continuously measuring the weight of components therein. 8. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, and further comprising an internal combustion engine attached to the frame for powering the operation of the portable concrete plant. 9. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, and further comprising a heat exchanging apparatus attached to the frame, wherein the heat exchanging apparatus heats water being delivered to the water storage region and cools hydraulic oil used to operate the components in the portable concrete plant. 10. The portable concrete plant of claim 1, and further comprising a control room attached to the frame, wherein the control room includes controls for controlling the operation of the portable concrete plant. 11. A system for preparing ready mix concrete, the system comprising: a portable concrete plant comprising: a frame having at least one set of wheels attached thereto for supporting the frame above a ground surface and permitting the frame to be moved along the ground surface; a cement storage region attached to the frame, wherein the cement storage region has a cement entry port and a cement exit port; a sand storage region attached to the frame, wherein the sand storage region has a sand entry port and a sand exit port; a rock storage region attached to the frame, wherein the rock storage region has a rock entry port and a rock exit port; a water storage region attached to the frame, wherein the water storage region has a water entry port and a water exit port; a slurry mixer attached to the frame, wherein slurry mixer has a slurry mixer entry port and a slurry mixer exit port, wherein the cement exit port and the water exit port are operably connected to the slurry mixer entry port, wherein the slurry mixer prepares a slurry from cement and water, and wherein the slurry mixer exit port is located proximate a system exit port; a conveyor system attached to the frame, wherein the conveyor system receives rock from rock exit port and sand from the sand exit port and transports the rock and sand to a the system exit port, and wherein the slurry mixer comprises: an outer enclosure; a first stirring apparatus fixedly mounted to the outer enclosure; and a second stirring apparatus rotatably mounted in the outer enclosure. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the slurry mixer is attached to the frame with a slurry mixer support frame, wherein the slurry mixer support frame has a stationary portion and a pivoting portion, wherein the stationary portion is attached to the frame, wherein the slurry mixer is attached to the pivoting portion, and wherein the pivoting portion is pivotally attached to the stationary portion so as to enable the slurry mixer to pivot between a transport position and an extended position. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the portable concrete plant has a height of less than about 14 feet, when the slurry mixer is in the transport configuration, and wherein the system exit port is positioned at a height of at least 10 feet when the slurry mixer is in the extended position. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the conveyor system pivots between the extended position and the transport position as the slurry mixer is pivoted between the extended position and the transport position. 15. The system of claim 11, and further comprising: a cement weight monitoring mechanism operably attaching the cement storage region to the frame; and a sand weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the sand storage region to the frame; a rock weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the rock storage region to the frame; and a water weight monitoring mechanism operable attaching the water storage region to the frame. 16. The system of claim 11, where in the slurry mixer has a self-cleaning configuration in which the first stirring apparatus and the second stirring apparatus clean each other and the second stirring apparatus cleans an inner surface of the outer enclosure as the second stirring apparatus is rotated in the outer enclosure. 17. The system of claim 11, and further comprising a mixing apparatus mounted on the frame proximate the system exit port for mixing the rock, sand and slurry. 18. They system of claim 17, wherein the mixing apparatus imparts a swirling motion to the rock, sand and slurry as the rock, sand and slurry pass through the mixing apparatus.