Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to improvements in mixing
apparat~ls ancl more particularly, but not by way of limita-
tion, -to a gunnite mixing apparatus mounted on a vehicle
for mobility.
There are many mixer vehicles available today for
transporting and mixing of various combinations of dry
materials and in some instances for mixing the dry materials
with liquids. For example, the Gerard J. Gallagher U.S.
Patent No. 3,~56,~25, issued July 22, 196'3, and entitled
"Mixer Vehicle" relates to a wheeled vehicle having a
plurality of storage bins where dry materials are mixed
with the water, and the fluid mixture is discharged into a
trough in the proximity of beaters or paddles and is then
conveyed to an auger for ultimate discharge from the
apparatus. I~hereas many of these vehicles are in widespread
use, and perform the function for which they are intended,
most of the devices are complicated in use and expensive in
manufacture, the disadvantages of which will be apparent.
The present invention provides a mobile gunnite material
mixer comprising a wheeled vehicle having a cab section and a
bed section, a first load carrying portion mounted on the bed
section for receiving a quantity of sand therein, a second
load carrying portion mounted on the bed section for indepen-
dently receiving a quantity of cement therein, conveyor means
operably mounted on the bed section and extending beneath the
first and second load carrying sections, a mixer apparatus
carried by the bed section and disposed outboard of the second
load carrying portion and having one end in open communication
with the conveyor apparatus and Lhe opposite end open for
discharging materials therefrom, said first and second load
..~'
23~ 3
carrying portions being provided with discharge port means
at the lower portions thereof for selectlvely depositing the
sand and cement on the conveyor apparatus whereby tlle conveyor
apparatus conveys the sand and cement to the mixer appara-tws
for discharge therein, and wherein the second load carrying
section comprises a hopper, a baffle member disposed within
the hopper for facilitating even distribution of the cement
material therein, and auger means operably secured within
the hopper for facilitating movement of the cement to and
from the discharge port means, and wherein drive shaft means
is operably connected with the conveyor apparatus, and gear
train means is interposed between the drive shaft means and
the auger means within the hopper for simultaneous actuation
of the auger means and conveyor apparatus.
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile gun-
nite materials mixer embodying the invention, with a portion
of the forward end of the vehicle broken away for purposes
of illustration, and depicting the operating position of
the mixer apparatus in solid lines and the transporting
position thereof in broken lines.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of
Figure 1, with portions eliminated for purposes of illustration.
Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, with
portions shown in broken lines for purposes of illustration.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference
character 10 generally indicates a mobile *gunnite mixer
comprising a suitable wheeled vehicle 12 having a cab section
14 and a rear bed section 16, as is well known. A first
load carrying portion 18 is mounted on the bed section 16
in any well known manner for storage of a first material
*Trademark designating a mixture of cement, sand and water applied by
pneumatic pressure through a specially adapted hose.
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âuch as sand. ~Yhereas the portion 18 may be of any suitable
construction, it is pre~Eerably a s~lbstantially elongatecl open
box-like container provicled with downwardly and inwardly
directed sidewalls 20
23
and 22 (FIGURE 2) ~or facilitating discharge of the
contents thereof downwardly by gravity through a longi-
tudinally ex~ending centrally disposed opening 24
(FIGVRE 3). It is preferable to provide suitable doors
(not shown) across the opening 24 for opening and closing
the opening 24 in order to regulate the discharge of
materials from the portion 18, as will be hereinafter set
forth in detail. A typical vehicle of this type con-
struction which may be adapted to encompass the present
invention is that commonly known as Chief Model FA Hyd.
All-hydraulic Lime and Fertilizer Spreader, manufactured
and sold by Henderson ~fg. Company, Manchester, Iowa.
A second load carrying portion or hopper 26 is
mounted on the bed 16 rearwardly of the portion 18 and
separate therefrom for storage of a second material
therein, such as cement. The hopper 26 may be supported
from the bed 16 in any suitable or well known manner,
such as by a pair of spaced support plates 28 and 30
welded or otherwise secured between the bed 16 and the
outer periphery of the hopper 26. The hopper 26 is
preferably open at the top thereof, and is of a sub-
stantially box-like ~onstruction comprisin~ a pair of
spaced substantially vertical end walls 32 and 34 and a
pair of substantially identical but oppositely disposed
sidewalls having downwardly and inwardly directed lower
portions 36 and 38. The diverging sidewalls 36 and 38
facilitate the accumulation of the contents of the hopper
26 at the lower portion thereof, as is well kno~n. A
centrally disposed discharge port 40 is provided in the
bottom of the hopper 2~ for discharge of the contents of
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the hopper by ~ravity, as will be hereinafter set forth.
Of course, it is preferable to provide a suitable closure
means (not shown) for the port 40 ~or facilitating con-
trol of the discharge of materials therethrou~h, as is
well known.
A baffle member of substantially inver-ted ~-shaped
~ .,
configuration is secured in the hopper 26 in the proximity
of the port 40 for facilitating an even distribution of
the contents within the hopper during loading thereof.
The baffle 42 may be secured between the diverging side-
walls 36 and 38 in any suitable manner, and the side edges
thereof are preferably provided with aligned arcuate
recesses 44 and 46 in order to assure freedom of movement
of the contents of the hopper to the port 40 as will be
hereinafter set forth in detail. In addition a shaft 48
is suitably journalled between the end walls 32 and 34
and extends through the recesses 44 and 46 as particularly
shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. A first spiral or helical
flange 50 is provided around the outer periphery of the
right hand section of the shaft 48 as viewed in FIGURE 2,
and rotates simultaneously therewith for directing the
contents of the hopper which surround that portion of the
shaft in a direction toward the discharge port 40. A
second spiral or helical flange 52 is provided around
the outer periphery of the left hand section of the shaft
48 and is oppositely disposed with respect to the helical
flange 50 for directing the contents of the hopper which
surround the left hand portion of the shaft in a direc-
tion toward the discharge port 40, as will be more fully
set forth hereinafter.
~ ~
2;~
An endless belt or conveyor apparatus generally
indicated at 54 extends longitudinally along the bed 16
and is preferably substantially centrally disposed be-
tween the outer sides thereof for passing directly below
the elongated opening 24 of the first load carrying por-
tion 18 and the port 40 of the hopper 26. The conveyor
apparatus 54 as shown herein comprises a drive shaft 56
(FIGURE 2) of a suitable power supply or motor 58 and
which extends through and is suitably journalled in the
support flanges 28 and 30. A suitable roller 60 is
disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft 56
and disposed between the flanges 28 and 30 for receiving
a suitable endless belt 62 therearound. The roller 60
is rotated about its own longitudinal axis by the drive
shaft 56, and the frictional engagement of the roller 60
with the belt 62 causes the belt 62 to move cons-tantly
during actuation of the motor 58, as is well known.
Of course, the opposite end of the conveyor apparatus
54 is provided with a similar rotatable shaft 68 and
roller 70 for supporting the apparatus 54. The shaft
56 is preferably rotated in the proper direction for
causing the upper portion of the belt 62 to move in a
direction toward the rear of the vehicle, as indicated
by the arrow 64, and the lower portion of the belt to
move in a direction toward the front of the vehicle as
indicated b~ the arrow 66.
The outer end of the drive shaft 56 extends out-
board of the support flange 28, as shown in FIGURE 2,
and carries a first gear member 72 which is in meshing
engagement with a second gear 74. The gear 74 is
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keyed to or other~ise securecl to a rotatable shaft 75
which is sui-tably journalled between the flange 28 and
a downwardly extending flange 76 depending from the hopper
26 in spaced relation to the flange 28. The outer end of
the shaft 75 is provided with a third gear member 78 which
is in meshing engagement with a fourth gear 80. The gear
80 is operably connected with the outer end of the shaft
48, which extends from the interior of the hopper 26, as
shown in FIGURE 2. It will be apparent that rotation of
the drive shaft 56 is transmitted to the shaft 48 through
the gear train for coordinating the actuation of the shaft
48 with the actuation of the conveyor apparatus 54.
A mixer apparatus 82 is disposed at the rear of the
vehicle, preferably outboard of the hopper 26, and may be
pivotally secured to the bed 16 in any suitable manner,
such as by a pair of spaced flanges 84 ~only one of which
is shown in FIGURE 1) which are pivotally secured to the
respective support flanges 28 and 30 as indicated at 86.
The mixer apparatus comprises an elongated housing 88 having
at least the opposite ends thereof open t~hereby materials
may be loadecl illtO the housing at one end and discharged
therefrom at the opposite end. A suitable auger 90 is
journalled in the lower portion of the housing 88 as viewed
in FIGURE 3, and extends longitudinally therethrough for
moving the contents of the housing from the receiving end
to the discharge end, as will be hereinafter set forth.
When the housing 88 is in the operating position as shown
in solid lines in FIGURE 1, the inner end thereof is open
to communication with the outer end of the conveyor
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apparatus 54 for rcceiving materlals therefrom~and the
outer elld o~ tlle housing 88 is opcn to the usual g~lnllite~
delivery apparatus (not shown).
In operation, the vehicle 12 may be driven to the
site of use in the usual or well known manner, and
positioned in such a manner that the outer end of the mixer
apparatus 82, when in the operating position thereof,
will be disposed immediately above the usual gunnite~
delivery apparatus (not shown). The mixer apparatus is
preferably pivoted about the pivots 86 in a direction
for placing the housing 88 in a position substantially
adjacent the rear of the hopper 26 as shown in broken
lines in FIGURE 1 during driving of the vehicle from site
to site. However, when the vehicle is in position for
operation of the mixer 10, the housing 88 is preferably
pivoted in a direction for placing the housing in the
position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1.
The first load portion 18 of the vehicle 12 is pro-
vided with a supply of sand, and the hopper 26 is provided
with a load of cement, these being the materials for use
in the making of a g~ lite mlxture. ~hen the housing 88
has been placed in the operational position, the motor 58
may be activated in any well known manner. Of course, the
motor may be operably connected with the electrical system
of the vehicle, if desired, or may be provided with
independent power means (not shown), as desired. Upon
activation of the motor 58, the belt 62 begins to move
in the direction indicated by the arrows
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3~:3
64 and 66, and the shaft 48 within the hopper 26 is
rotated. The doors or closure means controlling the
opening 24 may be activated in the usual manner ~or
opening the interior of the portion 18 -to the upper
portion of the belt 62. The quantity of sand deposited
on the surface of the belt may be predetermined by the
size of the opening in combination with the distance
between the upper surface of the belt 62 and the bottom
of the opening 24, as is well known. In this manner,
the optimum quantity of sand for the ultimate gunnite
mixture may be deposited on the belt 62.
The moving belt 62 carries the sand in a direction
toward the auger housing 88, as will be seen in FIGUR~
3, and as indicated at 92. As the sand passes beneath
the discharge port 40, the closure means of the port 40
may be activated ~or opening the interior of the hopper
26 to the belt passing therebelow. The rotation of the
shaft 48 moves the cement within the hopper 26 toward
the port 40 whereupon the cement falls by gravity onto
the surface of the sand carried by the belt 62, and as
indicated at 94 in FIGURE 3. The quantity of the cement
being deposited on the sand is predetermined in order
to provide the optimum ratio of sand and cement for
the ultimate gunnite mixture. Of course, the initial
operation of the apparatus requires that the opening 24
be initially opened for depositing a layer of sand on
the belt prior to passage of the belt beneath the cement
hopper. However, once the sand has reached the position
directly beneath the port 40 and the cement has begun to
be deposited on the layer of sand, both the port 40 and
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tllc opening 2~1 may remain open duri1lg the entire gunnite mixing
operation.
The mixture of sand and cement, in the proper ratios as
preselected, falls from the outer end of the conveyor apparatus
54 by gravity and is discharged into the housing 88, as shown
in FIGURE 3. The auger 90 is rotated in any well known manner
for intimately mixing the sand and cement and moving the
mixture in a direction toward the outer end of the housing 88.
Of course, the continued operation of the auger 90 causes the
discharge of the sand-cement mixture from the outer end of
the housing for depositing in the usual gunnite delivery
apparatus.
A proper and preselected quantity of water is mixed with
the sand-cement mixture within the gunnite delivery apparatus,
and the fluid mixture may be sprayed or otherwise applied to
the surface where the gunnite material is needed. This is a
well known method for the application of gu1lnite during a
construction operation, or the like.
From the foregoing i-t will be apparent that the present
invention provides a novel mobile gunnite materials mixer
wherein a supply of sand and a separate supply of cement are
carried by a wheeled vehicle. An endless belt conveyor
apparatus is mounted on the vehicle and passes beneath the sand
supply and cement supply for receiving preselected quantities
of the materials thereon. The sand and cement materials are
delivered to a mixer apparatus whereupon the materials are
intimately mixed and discharged into the usual gunnite delivery
apparatus. The gunnite may then be prepared and applied in the
usual or well known manner.
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