Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
Title of the Invention: MIXER
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a mixer.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional mixer. This
mixer includes a mixer drum (a drum), a support (a vehicle body),
a solar power generator and a plurality of electrical devices
(remaining water detective sensors). The mixer drum has an end
formed with an opening. The mixer drum is rotatably mounted on
the support. The solar power generator is provided on an outer
peripheral surface of the mixer drum. The solar power generator
receives sunlight to generate electric power while being rotated
together with the mixer drum. The plural electrical devices are
arranged circumferentially on an inner peripheral surface of the
mixer drum. The plural electrical devices are rotated together
with the mixer drum. Accordingly, the solar power generator
provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mixer drum
receives sunlight and generates electric power while being
rotated together with the mixer drum, which electric power can
be fed to the plural electrical devices in this mixer. In other
words, this mixer need not feed power through a power line from
the support side to the electrical devices provided at the mixer
drum side, with the result that there is no risk of disconnection
of a power line to feed the electrical devices.
Prior Art Document
Patent Documents
[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application
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Publication JP 2008-100407 A
Summary of the Invention
Problem to Be Overcome by the Invention
[0004] In the mixer of patent document 1, however, electric power
is generated by the solar power generator which is subjected to
influences from time zones and a surrounding environment such
as weather. As a result, there is a possibility that electric
power cannot stably be fed to the electrical devices in the mixer
depending upon the surrounding environment.
[0005] The present invention was made in view of the
above-described circumstances in the conventional art and has
an object to provide a mixer which can successfully feed the
electrical devices rotated together with a mixer drum.
Means for Overcoming the Problem
[0006] A mixer in accordance with the present invention includes
a support, a mixer drum, an electric device, a generator, and
a power line. The mixer drum is supported by the support to be
rotatable about a rotation axis. The electric device is mounted
on the mixer drum to be rotatable together with the mixer drum.
The generator includes a power generation part and a shaft. The
power generation part is mounted on the mixer drum to be rotatable
together with the mixer drum. The shaft protrudes from the power
generation part to be rotatable relative to the power generation
part. The generator generates electric power to be fed to the
electric device when the shaft is rotated relative to the power
generation part with rotation of the mixer drum. The power line
connects the power generation part and the electric device.
[0007] The power generation part of the mixer in accordance with
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the invention is fixed to an outer surface of the mixer drum to
be rotatable on a circumference about the rotation axis of the
mixer drum. Furthermore, the shaft of the generator includes a
rotation body coupled to a distal end thereof. Furthermore, the
support has a contacted part with which the rotation body is
brought into contact while being rotated.
[0008] The contacted part of the mixer in accordance with the
invention is a cylindrical part formed to be coaxial with the
rotation axis.
[0009] The generator of the mixer in accordance with the invention
is mounted on the mixer drum so that the rotation body is swung
radially with respect to the rotation axis of the mixer drum.
Furthermore, the generator has an elastic member imparting an
elastic force in a direction such that the rotation body abuts
against the contacted part.
[0010] The mixer drum of the mixer in accordance with the
invention has a drive shaft provided coaxially with the rotation
axis. Furthermore, the power generation part is coupled to the
drive shaft of the mixer drum to be rotatable about the rotation
axis. Furthermore, the shaft is fixed to the support and inserted
into the power generation part coaxially with the rotation axis.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a mixer truck of a first
embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the mixer in the first
embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a power generation part in
the first embodiment;
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Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a major part of the mixer in
a second embodiment; and
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a major part of the mixer in
a third embodiment.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0012] First to third embodiments of the mixer truck with a mixer
in accordance with the invention being mounted on the upper side
of the mount of the body will be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0013] <First Embodiment>
Referring to Fig. 1, the mixer truck of the first embodiment
includes a body 50, a mixer 10J, a hopper 50C and a chute 50D.
[0014] The body 50 has a cabin 50A and a mount 50F. The cabin
50A is provided at the front side of the body 50 (a front-back
direction corresponds to a left-right direction as viewed in Fig.
1. The same shall apply hereinafter.). The mount 5OF is provided
at the rear side of the cabin 50A. An engine (not illustrated)
to run the body 50 is provided at a lower side of the cabin 50A
(an up-down direction corresponds to an up-down direction as
viewed in Fig. 1. The same shall apply hereinafter.).
[0015] The mixer 10J includes a mixer drum 10, a support 11, a
generator 30, a slump sensor 16 serving as an electric device,
a power line 14, and a contacted part 13, as illustrated in Fig.
2.
[0016] The mixer drum 10 has a drum body 10A, a drive shaft 103,
two drum blades 10C and a roller ring 10D. The drum body 10A is
formed into a cylindrical shape. The drum body 10A has two ends
one of which is provided with an opening 10E. The other end of
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the drum body 10A located at the inner side as viewed from the
one end is closed by a closure part 10F. The drive shaft 10B is
connected to a central part of the closure part 1OF and extends
outward from the drum body 10A. The drive shaft 10B extends on
a rotational axis 10G of the mixer drum 10.
[0017] The drive shaft 10B is connected to a speed reducer (not
illustrated) . The speed reducer is connected to a hydraulic motor
(not illustrated). The hydraulic motor is connected via piping
(not illustrated) to a hydraulic pump (not illustrated). The
hydraulic pump is connected to an engine (not illustrated)
mounted on the body. Thus, a rotative force of the engine is
transmitted to the drive shaft 10B via the hydraulic pump, the
piping, the hydraulic motor and the speed reducer, so that the
mixer drum 10 is rotated.
[0018] The drum blades 10C are fixed along an inner peripheral
surface of the drum body 10A in a spiral manner with a
predetermined space from each other. In other words, the drum
blades 10C are rotated together with the drum body 10A. The roller
ring 10D is annular in shape and is provided so as to go round
an outer surface of the drum body 10A at the opening 10E side.
[0019] The mixer drum 10 is mounted on the support 11 in a
forwardly inclined posture in which the opening 10E is raised
higher than the closure part 1OF with the opening 10E being
located above the rear support 11B so as to be rotatable about
a rotation axis 10G. In more detail, the support 11 includes a
plurality of rollers 11A which is provided on a rear end of the
support 11 and supports the roller ring 10D of the mixer drum
10 from below. Furthermore, the support 11 includes a front end
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which supports the drive shaft 103 of the mixer drum 10. Thus,
the support 11 axially support the mixer drum 10 so that the mixer
drum 10 is rotatable about the rotational axis 10G.
[0020] The generator 30 includes a power generation part 30D,
a spring 30C, and a shaft 30B as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.
[0021] The power generation part 30D includes a generator body
30A, right-left side walls 30G, and an upper wall 30H. The
generator body 30A extends in a front-back direction of the mixer
drum 10. The right-left side walls 30G are paired in the
right-left direction (a front and depth direction as viewed in
Fig. 3). The right-left side walls 30G are flat plates elongated
in the up-down direction. Right and left sides of the rear of
the generator body 30A are horizontally sandwiched by the
right-left side walls 30G. The rear right and left sides of the
generator body 30A are axially supported by the right-left side
walls 30G so that a front end of the generator body 30A is
swingable in the up-down direction.
[0022] The upper wall 30H includes a first upper wall 30J and
a second upper wall 30K. The first upper wall 30J is a flat plate
extending in the up-down direction. The first upper wall 30J has
right and left lower portions respectively coupled to the
right-left side walls 30G. The first upper wall 30J extends upward
from upper rear ends of the right-left side walls 30G. The second
upper wall 30K is a flat plate elongated in the front-back
direction. The second upper wall 30K has an end coupled to an
upper end of the first upper wall 30J.
[0023] The spring 30C serving as an elastic member is formed of
a metal wire into a coil shape. The spring 30C is formed into
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the coil shape so that a slight space is defined between each
turn of metal wire and an adjacent one. The spring 30C is disposed
so as to be elongate in the up-down direction and has two ends
one of which is connected to an upper front end of the generator
body 30A. The other end of the spring 30C is connected to an
underside of the other end of the second upper wall 30K. An elastic
force of the spring 300 is imparted downward to the generator
body 30A and the shaft 30B which will be described later.
[0024] The shaft 30B includes a shaft body 30E and a rotor 30F
serving as a rotation body. The shaft body 30E is rotatably
provided on the generator body 30A and protrudes forward from
a front end of the generator body 30A. The rotor 30F is formed
into a frustum shape in which a front end has a smaller outer
diameter than a rear end. The outer diameters of the front and
rear ends of the rotor 30F are larger than the outer diameter
of the shaft body 30E. The rotor 30F has a central axis coaxial
with a central axis of the shaft body 30E. Furthermore, a distal
end of the shaft body 30E is inserted into the rotor 30F. Thus,
the rotor 30F is coupled to the distal end of the shaft body 30E.
The shaft body 30E and the rotor 30F both serving as the shaft
30B are rotated together about the central axis relative to the
generator body 30A. In other words, the shaft 30B protrudes
forward from the front end of the generator body 30A and is
rotatable relative to the generator body 30A.
The shaft 303 is rotated relative to the generator body 30A,
whereby electric power is generated in the generator body 30A.
The power line 14 has two ends one of which is connected to a
rear end of the generator body 30A. Furthermore, the other end
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of the power line 14 is connected to an operation part 15 of the
slump sensor 16 which will be described later.
[0025] In the generator 30, lower ends of the right-left side
walls 30G are fixed to a front end of the outer peripheral surface
of the mixer drum 10, and the shaft 30B extends forward. The shaft
30B of the generator 30 protrudes forward with respect to the
mixer drum 10. Since the front end of the generator body 30A is
swingably supported by the right-left side walls 30G, the rotor
30F which serves as the rotation body of the shaft 30B extending
forward from the generator body 30A is swung radially with respect
to the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10. Furthermore, the
elastic force of the spring 300 is imparted to the rotor 30F toward
the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10.
[0026] The slump sensor 16 serving as the electric device includes
an electrode 12 and the operation part 15. The electrode 12 is
provided on an inner peripheral surface of the mixer drum 10.
The operation part 15 is provided on an outer surface of the mixer
drum 10. The electrode 12 and the operation part 15 are
electrically connected to each other through a through-hole 17
formed through the drum body 10A in a watertight manner. In other
words, the slump sensor 15 is mounted on the mixer drum 10 and
rotated together with the mixer drum 10. In the slump sensor 16,
a slump value is found by the operation part 15 based on
predetermined electric characteristic such as a resistance value
or an electrostatic capacitance value of the ready-mixed
concrete measured using the electrode 12.
[0027] The power line 14 is laid in the mixer drum 10, and the
other end thereof is connected to the operation part 15 of the
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slump sensor 16. Thus, in this mixer truck, the power line 14
electrically connects the generator body 30A of the power
generation part 30D and the operation part 15 of the slump sensor
16 serving as the electric device. In other words, in this mixer
truck, electric power is fed from the power generation part 30D
to the electric devices through the power line 14.
[0028] The contacted part 13 is coupled to a front end of the
support 11. The contacted part 13 is coaxial with the rotation
axis 10G of the mixer drum 10 and is a cylindrical part formed
around the rotation axis 10G. The elastic force of the spring
30C is imparted to the rotor 30F in a direction such that the
outer peripheral surface of the rotor 30F abuts against the
outside of the contacted part 13.
[0029] The hopper 50C is fixed to an upper rear end of the support
11. The hopper 50C is formed with an inlet that is open while
being spread upward. The hopper 50C has a lower end which is open
forwardly downward thereby to be formed into an outlet. The outlet
of the hopper 50C communicates with a central part of the opening
10E of the mixer drum 10. The ready-mixed concrete put through
the inlet of the hopper 50C is further put into the mixer drum
10 through the outlet of the hopper 50C.
[0030] The chute 50D is supported on the rear end of the support
11 so that a distal end thereof is rotatable about a proximal
end thereof in a horizontal direction and in an up-down direction.
In this case, the horizontal direction should not mean a strict
horizontal direction but includes a state deviated somewhat from
the strict horizontal direction. Thus, the ready-mixed concrete
discharged from the mixer drum 10 is guided by the chute 50D to
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a desired location.
[0031] The mixer 10J, the hopper 50C and the chute 50D as
constructed above are mounted at the upper side of the mount 50F
of the body 50 in this mixer truck.
[0032] The working of the mixer 10J of the mixer truck will now
be described. The mixer drum 10 of the mixer 10J is rotated about
the rotation axis 10G to agitate the ready-mixed concrete put
thereinto. In this case, the generator 30 is rotated on the
circumference about the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10
with rotation of the mixer drum 10. The outer peripheral surface
of the rotor 30F is caused to abut against the outside of the
contacted part 13 by the elastic force of the spring 30C, so that
the rotor 30F is rotated in contact with the outside of the
contacted part 13. In other words, the shaft 30B is rotated with
rotation of the mixer drum 10 while being moved around the outside
of the contacted part 13. Thus, the electric power can be
generated by the generator 30 since the shaft 30B is rotated
relative to the generator body 30A.
[0033] Thus, in the mixer 10J of this mixer truck, electric energy
can be taken out by making use of the rotative force of the mixer
drum 10 which rotates to agitate the ready-mixed concrete. As
a result, the mixer 10J can generate electric power by an
effective use of the rotative energy of the mixer drum 10 without
influences from the ambient environment, such as time of day or
weather, and can stably feed the electric power to the slump
sensor 16. Furthermore, the mixer 10J does not require a larger
mounting area as compared with the case where a solar power
generator is mounted, and the generator 30 can easily be mounted
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on the mixer drum 10. Furthermore, since the electric power is
fed from the power generation part 30D mounted on the mixer drum
through the power line 14 to the slump sensor 16, the electric
power need not be fed from the support 11 side through the power
5 line 14 to the slump sensor 16 provided at the mixer drum 10 side,
with the result that electric power can be fed to the slump sensor
16 by a simple circuit.
[0034] Accordingly, the mixer 10J of the mixer truck of the first
embodiment can successfully feed electric power to the slump
10 sensor 16 which is mounted on the mixer drum 10 to be rotated
together with the mixer drum 10.
[0035] Furthermore, the power generation part 30D of the mixer
10J is fixed to the outer surface of the mixer drum 10 and rotated
on the circumference about the rotation axis 10G of the mixer
drum 10. Furthermore, the shaft 30B of the generator 30 is
provided with the rotor 30F coupled to the distal end of the shaft
30B. Furthermore, the support 11 has the contacted part 13 with
which the rotor 30F is brought into contact while being rotated.
Accordingly, the shaft 30B of the generator 30 is rotated relative
to the power generation part 30D while being turned around the
predetermined circumference radially away from the rotation axis
10G of the mixer drum 10. This can render the rotational speed
of the shaft 30B relative to the power generation part 30D higher
than the rotational speed of the mixer drum 10. As a result, this
mixer 10J can generate a larger amount of electric power in the
power generation part 30D. Furthermore, the rotor 30F can be made
of a material differing from that of the shaft body 30E. In other
words, the material of the rotor 30F can be selected according
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to the material of the contacted part 13, with the result that
the rotor 30F can reliably be rotated relative to the contacted
part 13.
[0036] Furthermore, the contacted part 13 of the mixer 10J is
a cylindrical part formed coaxially with the rotation axis 10G.
Since the rotor 30F is also turned around the predetermined
circumference about the rotation axis 10G, the rotor 30F can be
always brought into contact with the contacted part 13. As a
result, this mixer 10J can always generate electric power in the
generator 30 during rotation of the mixer drum 10.
[0037] Furthermore, the generator 30 of this mixer 10J is mounted
on the mixer drum 10 so that the rotor 30F is swung radially with
respect to the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10. The
generator 30 has the spring 30C imparting the elastic force to
the rotor 30F in the direction such that the rotor 30F abuts
against the contacted part 13. Accordingly, the rotor 30F can
be caused to abut against the contacted part 13 while load is
applied to the rotor 30F, with the result that the rotor 30F can
be restrained from idle rotation relative to the contacted part
13. Furthermore, in the case where the contacted part 13 is the
cylindrical part, the rotor 30F can reliably be rotated relative
to the contacted part 13 even when the central axis of the
contacted part 13 is slightly shifted from the rotation axis 10G
of the mixer drum 10.
[0038] <Second Embodiment>
The mixer truck of a second embodiment differs from that
of the first embodiment in the mounting position of the generator
130 on the mixer drum 10, an outer shape of the rotor 130F, and
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an outer shape of the contacted part 113, as illustrated in Fig.
4. Other construction of the mixer truck of the second embodiment
is same as that of the first embodiment. Identical or similar
parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the
first embodiment, and the detailed description of these parts
will be eliminated.
[0039] The shaft 130B includes the shaft body 30E and the rotor
130F. The shaft body 30E is rotatably provided on the generator
body 30A and protrudes forward from the front end of the generator
body 30A. The rotor 130F is columnar in shape. The rotor 130F
has an outer peripheral surface provided with grooves
circumferentially at regular intervals and formed with a spur
gear. The rotor 130F has a larger outer diameter than the shaft
body 30E. The rotor 130F has a central axis coaxial with a central
axis of the shaft body 30E. The distal end of the shaft body 30E
is inserted into the rotor 130F. Thus, the rotor 130F is coupled
to the distal end of the shaft body 30E. The shaft body 30E and
the rotor 130F both serving as the shaft 130B are rotated together
about the central axes relative to the generator body 30A. In
other words, the shaft 130B protrudes forward from the front end
of the generator body 30A and is rotatable relative to the
generator body 30A.
[0040] In the generator 130, the rear ends of the right-left side
walls 30G are fixed to the outer surface of the closure part 1OF
of the mixer drum 10, and the shaft 130B extends forward. The
shaft 130B of the generator 130 protrudes forward with respect
to the mixer drum 10. Since the front end of the generator body
30A is swingably supported by the right-left side walls 30G, the
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rotor 130F serving as a rotation body of the shaft 30B extending
forward from the generator body 30A is swung radially with respect
to the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10. Furthermore, the
elastic force of the spring 30C is imparted to the rotor 130F
toward the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10.
[0041] The contacted part 113 is coupled to the front end of the
support 11. The contacted part 113 is coaxial with the rotation
axis 10G of the mixer drum 10 and is a cylindrical part formed
around the rotation axis 10G. The contacted part 113 has an
outside provided with grooves circumferentially at regular
intervals and formed with a spur gear. The elastic force of the
spring 30C is imparted to the rotor 130F in a direction such that
the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 130F abuts against the
outside of the contacted part 113. The contacted part 113 abuts
against the rotor 130F while the spur gear provided on the outer
peripheral surface of the rotor 130F is in mesh engagement with
the spur gear provided on the outer peripheral surface of the
contacted part 113. As a result, when the rotor 130F is turned
around the outside of the contacted part 113 while rolling on
the outside of the contacted part 113, the rotor 130F can be
restrained from idle rotation relative to the outside of the
contacted part 113.
[0042] In the mixer 10J of the mixer truck of the second embodiment ,
too, the power generation part 30D is rotated with rotation of
the mixer drum 10, whereby the shaft 30B is rotated relative to
the power generation part 30D so that electric power is generated
in the power generation part 30D. In other words, in this mixer
10J, electric energy can be taken out by making use of the rotative
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force of the mixer drum 10 which rotates to agitate the
ready-mixed concrete. As a result, the mixer 10J can generate
electric power by an effective use of the rotative energy of the
mixer drum 10 without influences from the ambient environment,
such as time of day or weather, and can stably feed the electric
power to the slump sensor 16. Furthermore, the mixer 10J does
not require a larger mounting area as compared with the case where
a solar power generator is mounted, and the generator 130 can
easily be mounted on the mixer drum 10. Furthermore, since the
electric power is fed from the power generation part 30D mounted
on the mixer drum 10 through the power line 14 to the slump sensor
16, the electric power need not be fed from the support 11 side
through the power line 14 to the slump sensor 16 provided at the
mixer drum 10 side, with the result that electric power can be
fed to the slump sensor 16 by a simple circuit.
[0043] Accordingly, the mixer 10J of the mixer truck of the second
embodiment can also successfully feed electric power to the slump
sensor 16 which is mounted on the mixer drum 10 to be rotated
together with the mixer drum 10.
[0044] Furthermore, the power generation part 30D of the mixer
10J is fixed to the outer surface of the mixer drum 10 and rotated
on the circumference about the rotation axis 10G of the mixer
drum 10. Furthermore, the shaft 130B of the generator 130 is
provided with the rotor 130F coupled to the distal end of the
shaft 130B. Furthermore, the support 11 has the contacted part
13 with which the rotor 130F is brought into contact while being
rotated. Accordingly, the shaft 130B of the generator 130 is
rotated relative to the power generation part 30D while being
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turned around the predetermined circumference radially away from
the rotation axis 10G of the mixer drum 10. This can render the
rotational speed of the shaft 130B relative to the power
generation part 30D higher than the rotational speed of the mixer
drum 10. As a result, this mixer 10J can generate a larger amount
of electric power in the power generation part 30D. Furthermore,
the rotor 130F can be made of a material differing from that of
the shaft body 30E. In other words, the material of the rotor
130F can be selected according to the material of the contacted
part 13, with the result that the rotor 130F can reliably be
rotated relative to the contacted part 113.
[0045] Furthermore, the contacted part 113 of the mixer 10J is
a cylindrical part formed coaxially with the rotation axis 10G.
Since the rotor 130F is also turned around the predetermined
circumference about the rotation axis 10G, the rotor 130F can
be always brought into contact with the contacted part 113. As
a result, this mixer 10J can always generate electric power in
the generator 130 during rotation of the mixer drum 10.
[0046] Furthermore, the generator 130 of this mixer 10J is mounted
on the mixer drum 10 so that the rotor 130F is swung radially
with respect to the rotation axis 100 of the mixer drum 10. The
generator 130 has the spring 30C imparting the elastic force to
the rotor 130F in the direction such that the rotor 130F abuts
against the contacted part 113. Accordingly, the rotor 130F can
be caused to abut against the contacted part 113 while load is
applied to the rotor 130F, with the result that the rotor 130F
can be restrained from idle rotation relative to the contacted
part 113. Furthermore, in the case where the contacted part 113
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is the cylindrical part, the rotor 130F can reliably be rotated
relative to the contacted part 113 even when the central axis
of the contacted part 113 is slightly shifted from the rotation
axis 10G of the mixer drum 10.
[0047] <Third Embodiment>
The mixer truck of a third embodiment differs from those
of the first and second embodiments in the construction of the
generator 230, a mounting position of the generator 230 on the
mixer drum 10, a laying position of the power line 214, and
non-provision of the contacted part, as illustrated in Fig. 5.
Other construction is same as those of the first and second
embodiments. Identical or similar parts are labeled by the same
reference symbols as those in the first and second embodiments,
and the detailed description of these parts will be eliminated.
[0048] In the mixer drum 10, the drive shaft 210B has a front
end coupled to the speed reducer 70. The speed reducer 70 includes
a first gear 70A and a second gear 70B. The first and second gears
70A and 70B are spur gears. A distal end of the drive shaft 210B
is inserted into the first gear 70A so that the first gear 70A
is coaxial with the drive shaft 210B. The second gear 70B is
disposed under the first gear 70A in mesh engagement with the
first gear 70A. The second gear 70B has a smaller outer diameter
than the first gear 70A. Furthermore, the second gear 70B is
coaxially coupled to an output shaft 72 of the hydraulic motor
71.
[0049] The generator 230 includes the generator body 230A serving
as the power generation part and the shaft 230B. The generator
body 230A is cylindrical in shape. The shaft 2303 is rotatably
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mounted on the generator body 230A. The shaft 230B has a rear
part inserted into the generator body 230A and a front part
protruding forward from a front end of the generator body 230A.
One end of the power line 214 is connected to a rear end of the
generator body 230A.
[0050] The generator 230 is disposed so that the central axis
of the shaft 230B is coaxial with the rotation axis 10G of the
mixer drum 10 with the side where shaft 230B protrudes being
directed frontward. The rear end of the generator body 230A is
coupled to the front end of the drive shaft 2103. In other words,
the generator body 230A is coupled to the drive shaft 210B of
the mixer drum 10 thereby to be rotated about the rotation axis
10G. The power line 214 has one end connected to the rear end
of the generator body 230A and the other end connected to the
operation part 15 of the slump sensor 16, and is laid through
an inside of the drive shaft 210B and then on the outer surface
of the mixer drum 10. Thus, the power line 214 electrically
connects the generator body 230A and the operation part 15 of
the slump sensor 16 serving as the electric device in this mixer
truck. In other words, electric power is fed from the generator
body 230A serving as the power generation part to the electric
device via the power line 214. The generator body 230A is rotated
with rotation of the mixer drum 10 in this mixer truck. Then,
the generator body 230A is rotated relative to the shaft 2303
with the distal end being fixed to the support 111. Thus, this
mixer truck can generate electric power in the generator 230.
[0051] In the mixer 10J of the mixer truck of the third embodiment,
too, the generator body 230A serving as the power generation part
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is rotated with rotation of the mixer drum 10, whereby the shaft
230B is rotated relative to the generator body 230A so that
electric power is generated in the generator body 230A. In other
words, in this mixer 10J, electric energy can be taken out by
making use of the rotative force of the mixer drum 10 which rotates
to agitate the ready-mixed concrete. As a result, the generator
230 can generate electric power by an effective use of the
rotative energy of the mixer drum 10 without influences from the
ambient environment, such as time of day or weather, and can
stably feed the electric power can to the slump sensor 16.
Furthermore, the mixer 10J does not require a larger mounting
area as compared with the case where a solar power generator is
mounted, and the generator 230 can easily be mounted on the mixer
drum 10. Furthermore, since the electric power is fed from the
generator body 230A mounted on the mixer drum 10 through the power
line 214 to the slump sensor 16, the electric power need not be
fed from the support 111 side through the power line 214 to the
slump sensor 16 provided at the mixer drum 10 side, with the result
that electric power can be fed to the slump sensor 16 by a simple
circuit.
[0052] Accordingly, the mixer 10J of the mixer truck of the third
embodiment can also successfully feed electric power to the slump
sensor 16 which is mounted on the mixer drum 10 to be rotated
together with the mixer drum 10.
[0053] Furthermore, the mixer drum 10 of the mixer 10J has the
drive shaft 210B which is coaxial with the rotation axis 10G of
the mixer drum 10. Furthermore, the generator body 230A serving
as the power generation part is coupled to the drive shaft 210B
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of the mixer drum 10 thereby to be rotated about the rotation
axis 10G. Furthermore, the shaft 230B of the generator 230 is
fixed to the support 111 and inserted into the generator body
230A coaxially with the rotation axis 10G. As a result, the shaft
230B can reliably be rotated relative to the generator body 230A,
with the result that this mixer 10J can reliably generate electric
power in the generator body 230A.
[0054] The present invention should not be limited to the first
to third embodiments described above with reference to the
drawings, but the technical scope of the invention encompasses
the following embodiments, for example.
(1) Although the metal wire formed into the coil shape is used
as the elastic member to impart the elastic force to the generator
body and the shaft in the first embodiment, a leaf spring,
synthetic rubber, urethane resin or the like may be used as the
elastic member to impart elastic force to the generator body and
the shaft.
(2) Although the rotor has the columnar shape and has the front
end having a smaller outer diameter than the rear end in the first
embodiment, the front end and the rear end may have the same outer
diameter or the front end may have a larger outer diameter than
the rear end.
(3) Although the outer peripheral surface of the rotor serving
as the rotation body abuts against the outside of the contacted
part in the first and second embodiments, the elastic force of
the spring may be imparted to the generation shaft and the
generator body in a direction such that the shaft and the
generator body depart from the rotation axis of the mixer drum,
CA 02987560 2017-11-28
so that the outer peripheral surface of the rotor abuts against
the inside of the contacted part.
(4) Although the outer peripheral surface of the rotor abuts
against the outside of the contacted part in the first and second
embodiments, the shaft and the generator body may be disposed
on the closure part of the mixer drum in the radial direction
of the rotation axis, and the elastic force of the spring may
be imparted to the shaft and the generator body in the frontward
direction of the mixer drum so that the outer peripheral surface
of the rotor abuts against the end surface of the contacted part.
(5) Although the grooves are provided circumferentially in the
outside of the contacted part at regular intervals and the spur
gear is formed in the second embodiment, a helical gear, a bevel
gear or the like may be formed, instead.
(6) Although the spur gears are used as the first and second gears
of the reducer in the third embodiment, a helical gear, a bevel
gear, a worm gear or the like may be used, instead.
(7) Although the rotative force obtained from the engine serving
as the power source is transmitted to the mixer drum in the first
embodiment, the power source may not be the engine, a rotative
force obtained from an electric motor or the like may be used
as the power source.
(8) Although the first to third embodiments are directed to the
mixer truck, the embodiments may be directed to the mixer which
includes a support which is installed at a work site and on which
a mixer drum is rotatably mounted. In this case, the rotative
power to rotate the mixer drum may be obtained from an electric
motor or the like.
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(9) Although one slump sensor is provided in the first to third
embodiments, the number of slump sensors may be two or more.
(10) Although the speed reducer includes two gears, that is, the
first gear and the second gear in the third embodiment, the number
of gears may not be two, but may be three or more.
(11) Although the ready-mixed concrete is agitated by the mixer
drum in the first embodiment, various types of powder and granular
material, liquid and the like may be agitated or kneaded by the
mixer drum.
(12) Although the slump sensor is provided on the outer and inner
peripheral surfaces of the mixer drum in the first to third
embodiments, the slump sensor may be provided anywhere on the
inner and outer surfaces of the mixer drum.
(13) Although one generator is provided on the outer surface of
the mixer drum in the first and second embodiments, two or more
generators may be provided on the outer surface of the mixer drum.
(14) Although the slump sensor is provided on the mixer drum in
the first to third embodiments, another electric device such as
a tachometer may be provided, instead of the slump sensor.
Explanation of Reference Symbols
[0055] 10... mixer drum; 10B, 210B._ drive shaft; 10G._ rotation
axis; 11, 111 ._ support; 13, 113
contacted part; 14, 214 ._
power line; 16 ... slump sensor (electric device); 30, 130, 230
._ generator; 305, 130B, 230B _. shaft; 30C ._ spring (elastic
member); 30D, 230A ._ power generation part; and 30F, 130F ._
rotor (rotation body).
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