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US 10,286,573 B2Granted
Mixing plant and related production methods
OwnerCarl Cunningham, Richard Thornton +1inventors
InventorsCarl Cunningham, Richard Thornton, Craig Lawson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile construction plant includes two sets of low-profile bins: one set containing granular materials and the other set containing powdery materials. Each of the bins is mounted on a weighing mechanism that pre-weighs the contents before mixing. An elongated dual shaft mixer having a small bore diameter is located below the bins. A set of belt conveyors is provided for transporting materials from the granular material bins to the mixer, and a blending auger is provided for transporting materials from the powdered material bins to the mixer. All of the bins, the conveyors, the blending auger, the mixer, and other components are supported on a small footprint frame that can easily be transported to a job site.
Claims18
A construction plant comprising:
- a first set of bins configured to contain and dispense granular materials, the first set of bins including a distalmost bin configured to contain and discharge coarse aggregate material;
- a second set of bins configured to contain and dispense powdery materials;
- a mixer configured to receive and mix materials discharged from the first and second sets of bins, the mixer comprising a mixer housing positioned below the first and second sets of bins, the mixer housing having a discharge opening disposed at a distal end;
- a first conveying assembly configured to transport granular materials from the first set of bins to the mixer, the first conveying assembly including a two-way conveyor positioned below the distalmost bin and movable in a distal direction to transport coarse aggregate material from the distalmost bin to the distal end of the mixer and in a proximal direction to transport coarse aggregate material from the distalmost bin to an intermediate portion of the mixer;
- a second conveying assembly configured to transport powdered materials from the second set of bins to the mixer;
- and
- a frame configured to serve as a base to support the first and second sets of bins, the mixer, and the first and second conveying assemblies and to keep the construction plant as a unit for convenient transportation.
4 more elements
A construction method comprising:
- providing a mobile plant including
- a first set of bins configured to contain and dispense granular materials, the first set of bins including a distalmost bin configured to contain and discharge coarse aggregate material;
- a second set of bins configured to contain and dispense powdery materials;
- a mixer configured to receive and mix materials discharged from the first and second sets of bins, the mixer comprising a mixer housing positioned below the first and second sets of bins, the mixer housing having a discharge opening disposed at a distal end;
- a first conveying assembly configured to transport granular materials from the first set of bins to the mixer, the first conveying assembly including a two-way conveyor positioned below the distalmost bin and movable in a distal direction to transport coarse aggregate material from the distalmost bin to the distal end of the mixer and in a proximal direction to transport coarse aggregate material from the distalmost bin to the an intermediate portion of the mixer;
- a second conveying assembly configured to transport powdered materials from the second set of bins to the mixer;
- a tank configured to contain a liquid;
- and
- a frame configured to serve as a base to support the first and second sets of bins, the mixer, the tank, and the first and second conveying assemblies and to keep the construction plant as a unit for convenient transportation;
- pre-weighing the granular and powdery materials and the liquid;
- mixing the granular and powdery materials in the mixer;
- and
- transporting the mobile plant to a job site.
10 more elements
A construction plant comprising:
- a first set of bins configured to contain and dispense granular materials;
- a second set of bins configured to contain and dispense powdery materials;
- at least one tank configured to contain a liquid material;
- at least one load cell associated with each of the bins and the tank, wherein said load cell is configured and positioned to weigh the material contained within the associated bin or tank;
- a mixer configured to receive and mix materials discharged from the first and second sets of bins, the mixer being disposed directly below the first set of bins and the second set of bins;
- a first conveying assembly configured to transport granular materials from the first set of bins to the mixer;
- a second conveying assembly configured to transport powdered materials from the second set of bins to the mixer;
- a controller electronically coupled to each of the load cells, the first and second conveying assemblies, and the mixer, and configured to operate the first and second conveying assemblies and the mixer in response to information received from the load cells;
- and
- a frame configured to serve as a base to support the first and second sets of bins, the mixer, and the first and second conveying assemblies and to keep the construction plant as a unit for convenient transportation.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.