IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0535790
(2006-09-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7546843
(2009-07-01)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Boos, Frederick A.
- Boos, Scott F.
- Charo, Michael W.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
Residual concrete in the drum of a ready mixed concrete truck is removed by high-pressure water. A nozzle is mounted on the leading end of a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing that is hingedly mounted to an elongate boom. The boom enters the mouth of the drum at an angle that matches the angle of the dru
Residual concrete in the drum of a ready mixed concrete truck is removed by high-pressure water. A nozzle is mounted on the leading end of a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing that is hingedly mounted to an elongate boom. The boom enters the mouth of the drum at an angle that matches the angle of the drum. The hinge allows the nozzle housing to pivot with respect to the elongate boom so that the nozzle is close to the residual concrete. The boom is retracted toward the mouth with the drum rotating in the mix direction and the nozzle oscillating so that it cuts through a swath of concrete. As the boom retracts, the torpedo-shaped nozzle housing maintains the nozzle close to the residual concrete on the drum and both sides of the helical fins. The nozzle sweeps an arc from about eighty to one hundred twenty degrees as it oscillates.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for removing residual concrete from a rotatably mounted ready mixed concrete truck drum, comprising: an elongate boom adapted to be inserted into said drum along a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said drum, said longitudinal axis of symmetry also being an axis o
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for removing residual concrete from a rotatably mounted ready mixed concrete truck drum, comprising: an elongate boom adapted to be inserted into said drum along a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said drum, said longitudinal axis of symmetry also being an axis of said drum; a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing hingedly connected to a leading end of said elongate boom so that said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is positionable in an infinite number of angular positions relative to said elongate boom; said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing having a storage and insertion position where said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is disposed in axial alignment with said elongate boom; control means for controlling the angular position of said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing relative to said elongated boom; a high-pressure water nozzle lance mounted within said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing; oscillating means to cause said high-pressure water nozzle lance to oscillate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis; said high-pressure water nozzle lance being mounted so that it points straight up at a center of its oscillation; said high-pressure water nozzle lance oscillating to either side of said center of oscillation; an elongate hose extending between a source of water under high-pressure water nozzle lance; said truck adapted to have a plurality of helical fins mounted within said drum, each of said helical fins having a leading side and a trailing side, and said high pressure water nozzle being adapted to clean concrete from both sides of each helical fin as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is retracted from an interior of said drum; said high pressure water nozzle lance further adapted to cut, blast, and remove green and hardened concrete from an interior drum shell of said drum and between said helical fins; said high pressure water nozzle being positioned radially outwardly of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said drum to reduce a distance between said high pressure water nozzle lance and the residual concrete to be blasted removed; a float control that maintains said high pressure water nozzle lance in very close proximity to said helical fins and said interior drum shell as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is retracted; and said float control enabling said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing to contact and slide over each helical fin as it is encountered and further enabling said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing to return to said very close proximity to said interior drum shell upon clearing each helical fin; said high-pressure water nozzle lance blasting and removing concrete from a trailing side of a helical fin as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing slides up, across, and over a helical fin during retraction of said elongate boom; said high-pressure water nozzle lance blasting and removing concrete from a leading side of a helical fin as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing slides down a helical fin during retraction of said elongate boom; said high-pressure water nozzle lance also blasting and removing concrete from said interior drum shell and between helical fins during retraction of said elongate boom; whereby rotation of said ready mixed concrete drum in a direction adapted to mix concrete and discharge of high-pressure water from said high-pressure water nozzle lance during said rotation causes hydraulic separation of residual concrete from an upper interior drum shell of said ready mixed concrete drum; whereby rotation of said ready mixed concrete drum in a direction adapted to discharge concrete causes said helical fins to discharge the residual concrete and water removed by the action of said high pressure water; and whereby blasting and removing concrete from said interior drum shell fins of said drum is performed with high efficiency because said float control maintains the high pressure water nozzle lance at said close proximity from the green and hardened concrete as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is retracted from said drum. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: said high-pressure water nozzle lance having an adjustable angle of oscillation having a range of motion of approximately eighty to about one hundred twenty degrees and fully adjustable. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: said oscillating means including an oil-driven hydraulic motor having an output shaft; a disc mounted on said output shaft for conjoint rotation therewith; a rigid link having a first end rotatably mounted to said disc in eccentric relation thereto and a second end pivotally secured to said high-pressure water nozzle lance in spaced relation to said pivot point; whereby rotation of said disc creates and effects oscillation of said high-pressure water nozzle lance and; whereby the energy of high-pressure water traveling through said high-pressure water nozzle lance is not harnessed to drive any motion of said high-pressure water nozzle lance for blasting and removing of concrete purposes because said apparatus uses hydraulic oil under pressure from a hydraulic pump to drive motion of said high-pressure water nozzle lance; whereby the energy supplied to the high-pressure water nozzle for blasting and removing concrete is not depleted. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an upstanding tower; a hydraulic motor mount housing, having a hollow interior, positioned in surmounting relation to said upstanding tower; a boom housing of straight configuration having a hollow interior and open ends, said boom housing mounted in surmounting relation to said hydraulic motor mount housing; said boom housing being pivotally mounted with respect to said hydraulic motor mount housing; said boom housing having a position of repose where a longitudinal axis of said boom housing is disposed normal to a longitudinal axis of said upstanding tower; said elongate boom disposed at least in part within said hollow interior of said boom housing; said elongate boom having a leading end extending from a leading end of said boom housing, a trailing end extending from a trailing end of said boom housing, and a medial extent disposed within said boom housing; said elongate boom having a retracted position where said leading end of said elongate boom is disposed close to said boom housing and where said trailing end of said elongate boom is disposed remote from said boom housing; said elongate boom having an extended position where said leading end of said elongate boom is remotely disposed relative to said boom housing and where said trailing end of said elongate boom is disposed close to said boom housing; and said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing having a storage and insertion position where said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is disposed in axial alignment with said elongate boom. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: an elongate rack gear secured to an underside of said elongate boom; said elongate rack gear being disposed within said boom housing; a pinion gear disposed in meshing engagement with said rack gear so that rotation of said pinion gear in a first direction extends said elongate boom and in a second direction retracts said elongate boom; a hydraulic motor having an output shaft; said hydraulic motor being mounted on said motor mount housing, externally thereof; said pinion gear being mounted on said output shaft for conjoint rotation therewith; said pinion gear being mounted in said hollow interior of said motor mount housing. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: said hydraulic motor being an oil-driven hydraulic motor. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: said upstanding tower having a tube-in-tube construction so that a height of said tower is adjustable from a fully extended elevated position to a fully retracted low position and an infinite plurality of positions therebetween. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: said tube-in-tube construction including a lower tube and an upper tube; a hinge means for hingedly interconnecting said upper tube and said elongate boom; said hinge means including a top plate disposed in surmounting relation to said upper tube; said hinge means including a support plate disposed in underlying relation to said elongate boom; said hinge means including a hinge post for hingedly interconnecting said top plate and said support plate; said support plate being disposed at an angle to said top plate when said elongate boom is disposed at an angle relative to said motor mount housing, said angle between said top and support plates being equal to the angle between said elongate boom and said motor mount housing. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a hydraulic cylinder disposed in interconnecting relation to said motor mount housing and said upper tube; a first end of said hydraulic cylinder being pivotally connected to a proximal end of said motor mount housing; a second end of said hydraulic cylinder being pivotally secured to said upper tube; whereby extension of said hydraulic cylinder causes pivotal movement of said motor mount housing and said elongate boom; and whereby full retraction of said hydraulic cylinder positions said motor mount housing and said elongate boom in a horizontal plane. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a first and second control means mounted on said observation tower; said first control means adapted to control the insertion and retraction speed of said elongate boom; said second control means adapted to control the speed of oscillation of said nozzle. 11. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: said elongate boom being pivotally mounted with respect to said motor mount; said elongate boom having an unpivoted position of repose where it is disposed substantially horizontally; said elongate boom having a first pivoted position where it is disposed at an angle of about seventeen degrees (17°) relative to a horizontal plane. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: said elongate boom having a second pivoted position where it is disposed at an angle of about thirty four degrees (34°) relative to a horizontal plane. 13. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: an elongate, flexible hose handler; a first plurality of hydraulic hoses and a first high pressure water hose housed within said elongate boom; a second plurality of hydraulic hoses and a second high pressure water hose housed within said flexible hose handler; and said first and second plurality of hydraulic hoses and said first and second high pressure water hoses being respectively connected to one another at a trailing end of said elongate boom, said elongate, flexible hose handler having a leading end disposed in close proximity to said trailing end of said elongate boom. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing having a longitudinally-extending slot formed therein; an oil-driven hydraulic motor mounted within a hollow interior of said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing; said oil-driven hydraulic motor powering the oscillation of said high-pressure water nozzle lance; said second plurality of hydraulic hoses providing fluid communication between a source of hydraulic fluid and said oil-driven hydraulic motor; said oil-driven hydraulic motor having an output shaft; a disc secured to said output shaft for conjoint rotation therewith; a first end of a rigid link secured to said disc near an outer periphery of said disc; a second end of said rigid link connected to said nozzle; whereby rotation of said output shaft effects oscillation of said rigid link and hence oscillation of said nozzle. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a hose connector mounted within the hollow interior of said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing; said hose connecter adapted to receive a leading end of said second high pressure water hose; a ninety degree swivel mounted in said hollow interior of said nozzle housing; said ninety degree swivel having an input port in fluid communication with said hose connector so that high pressure water flowing from said second high pressure water hose is constrained to follow a path of travel that bends ninety degrees; and said ninety degree swivel having an output port in fluid communication with said high pressure water nozzle lance; whereby said second high pressure water hose is mounted independently of said high-pressure water nozzle lance and is therefore not flexed as said high-pressure water nozzle lance oscillates. 16. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising, a transportable trailer system for supporting said elongate nozzle boom, said upstanding tower, said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing, said upstanding post, and said motor mount housing; a back-up assistance assembly that facilitates interconnection of said transportable trailer system and a ready mixed concrete truck; whereby said transportable trailer system may be stationary or truck-mounted. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: said float control including a torpedo float cylinder having a blind side pressurized to urge the torpedo-shaped nozzle housing toward the interior wall of said drum and having a rod side pressurized to urge the torpedo-shaped nozzle housing down when a helical fin is encountered; and said float control further including a first and second pressure regulator, each of which is adjustable for desired compensation of any pressure and flow reaction force. 18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: said float control further including an adjustable flow control valve. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a line reel rotatably mounted on a side of the trailer corresponding to the side of the truck where the driver sits; a pipe and a plate positioned near said side of said truck where said driver sits; whereby an elongate line is played out to said pipe and plate from said line reel in parallel alignment with a common longitudinal axis of symmetry of the truck and trailer up to a point where it can be seen by said driver; whereby said driver aligns the trailer with the line and backs up until the wheel chocks are encountered; and whereby the line is reeled back onto its reel after said trailer is properly positioned with respect to the ready mixed concrete truck. 20. An apparatus for removing residual concrete from a rotatably mounted ready mixed concrete truck drum, comprising: an elongate boom; a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing hingedly connected to a leading end of said elongate boom so that said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is positionable in an infinite number of angular positions relative to said elongate boom; a high-pressure water nozzle lance mounted within said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing; an elongate hose extending between a source of water under high pressure and said high-pressure water nozzle lance; said truck adapted to have a plurality of helical fins mounted within said drum, each of said helical fins having a leading side and a trailing side, and said high pressure water nozzle lance being adapted to clean concrete from both sides of each helical fin as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is retracted from an interior of said drum; said high pressure water nozzle further adapted to clean residual concrete from said interior drum shell of said drum between said helical fins; a float control that maintains said high pressure water nozzle in very close proximity to said helical fins and said interior drum shell as said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is retracted; said float control enabling said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing to contact and slide over each helical fin as it is encountered and further enabling said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing to return to said very close proximity to said interior drum shell upon clearing each helical fin, said close proximity substantially increasing the blasting and removing capability of said high-pressure water nozzle lance; an upstanding tower; a hydraulic motor mount housing, having a hollow interior, positioned in surmounting relation to said upstanding tower; a boom housing of straight configuration having a hollow interior and open ends, said boom housing mounted in surmounting relation to said hydraulic motor mount housing; said boom housing being pivotally mounted with respect to said hydraulic motor mount housing; said boom housing having a position of repose where a longitudinal axis of said boom housing is disposed normal to a longitudinal axis of said upstanding tower; said elongate boom disposed at least in part within said hollow interior of said boom housing; said elongate boom having a leading end extending from a leading end of said boom housing, a trailing end extending from a trailing end of said boom housing, and a medial extent disposed within said boom housing; said elongate boom having a retracted position where said leading end of said elongate boom is disposed close to said boom housing and where said trailing end of said elongate boom is disposed remote from said boom housing; said elongate boom having an extended position where said leading end of said elongate boom is remotely disposed relative to said boom housing and where said trailing end of said elongate boom is disposed close to said boom housing; said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing having a storage and insertion position where said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing is disposed in axial alignment with said elongate boom; an interconnecting means for interconnecting said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing and said elongate boom; control means for controlling the angular position of said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing relative to said elongate boom; a transportable trailer system that may be stationary including truck mounted for supporting said elongate nozzle boom, said upstanding tower, said torpedo-shaped nozzle housing, said upstanding post, and said motor mount housing; a back-up assistance assembly that facilitates interconnection of said transportable trailer and a ready mixed concrete truck; said back-up assistance assembly including a longitudinal rod having a first end pivotally secured to a trailing end of said trailer; a transverse rod connected to said longitudinal rod to form a "T"-shaped connection therewith; a first pair of truncate rods mounted to and extending longitudinally from a first half of said transverse rod; a second pair of truncate rods mounted to and extending longitudinally from a second half of said transverse rod; a first flat plate having an upwardly protruding first wheel chock formed thereon; said first flat plate being positioned between but not connected to said first pair of truncate rods; a second flat plate having an upwardly protruding wheel chock formed thereon; and said second flat plate being positioned between but not connected to said second pair of truncate rods formed in said second half of said transverse rod; whereby a driver of a ready mixed concrete truck backs onto the first and second flat plates until the wheels are stopped by the wheel chocks; and whereby the length of said longitudinal rod is preselected to ensure that the truck will be properly spaced from the novel apparatus when the wheels of the ready mixed concrete truck abut said wheel chocks.
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