System and Process for Introducing a Rigid Lance into a Concrete Mixing Truck Using an Articulated Arm

A system (100) for injecting cooling fluid into a concrete mixing container (502), the system (100) comprising:

• A) a support structure (116) comprising:
• i) a leg assembly having two or more supporting legs (201);
• and
• ii) a cross member beam (200) supported between the two or more legs (201);
• the two or more legs (201) and the cross member beam (200) being positioned with respect to one another in such a manner as to define a passageway (210) of sufficient height (H) and width (W) between the two or more legs (201) and beneath the cross member beam (200) to allow passage of a concrete mixer truck (504) through the passageway (210);
• and
• B) a lance device (190) positioned on the cross member beam (200) of the support structure (116), the lance device (190) comprising:
• i) an articulated arm comprising the following components:
• a) a rigid lance (102) having a fluid receiving end (102A), a fluid exit end (102B), a fluid path in the form of a tube that extends from the fluid receiving end (102A) to the fluid exit end (102B) and allows for the flow of a cooling fluid there through, and an injection nozzle (112) coupled to the fluid exit end (102B) of the rigid lance (102), wherein when the cooling fluid is injected into the fluid receiving end (102A) of the rigid lance (102), the cooling fluid flows along the fluid path of the rigid lance (102) and into the concrete mixing container (502) through the fluid exit end (102B) and optional injection nozzle (112);
• b) an upper lifting arm (104) having a first end (104A) and a second end (108B);
• c) a lower guide arm (108) having a first end (108A) and a second end (108B);
• d) a vertical support member (110) having an upper end (110A) and a lower end (110B);
• e) a breakaway bracket (304);
• and
• f) a mounting bracket (314) for attaching the lance device (190) to the cross member beam (200) of the support structure (116);
• wherein the fluid receiving end (102A) of the rigid lance (102) is pivotally connected to the second end (104B) of the upper lifting arm (104),
• the upper lifting arm (104) is further pivotally connected to the upper end (110A) of the vertical support member (110) at a point between the first end (104A) of the upper lifting arm (104) and the second end (104A) of the upper lifting arm (104), the second end (108B) of the lower guide arm (108) is pivotally connected to the rigid lance (102) at a point between the fluid exit end (102B) of the rigid lance (102) and the pivotal connection of the rigid lance (102) to the upper lifting arm (104), the first end (108A) of the lower guide arm (108) is pivotally connected at one or more points along the breakaway bracket (304) that is further pivotally connected at one or more different points along to the lower end (110B) of the vertical support member (110);
• and
• the mounting bracket (314) is located on the lower end (110B) of the external surface of the vertical support member (110) and is formed by joining the lower end (110B) of the vertical support member (110) to a mounting bracket member (314C) to form a passage between the vertical support member (110) and the mounting bracket member (314C) in which the cross member beam (200) is at least partially positioned;
• and
• ii) an electric actuator (302) for acting on the articulated arm, the electric actuator (302) having a shaft capable of extending and retracting, thereby causing the pivotal movement of the components of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion and thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance (102) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance (102) into the concrete mixing container (502) for fluid injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container (502);
• and
• C. an electronic controller.

A method for cooling a concrete mixture, comprising:

• a) providing a system for injecting a cooling fluid into the concrete mixture, the system comprising:
• i) a support structure;
• ii) a lance device (190) comprising an actuator (302) and an articulated arm, the articulated arm including a rigid lance (102) that comprises a fluid receiving end (102A), a fluid exit end (102B), a fluid path in the form of a tube that extends from the fluid receiving end (102A) to the fluid exit end (102B) and allows for the flow of a cooling fluid there through, and an optional injection nozzle (112) fluidly coupled to the fluid path at the fluid exit end (102B) of the rigid lance (102), the lance device (190) being moveably disposed on the support structure (116) and capable of movement in a non-linear manner;
• and
• iii) a fluid source fluidly coupled to the fluid path of the rigid lance;
• b) adjusting the position of the injection nozzle of the rigid lance relative to an opening in a concrete mixer;
• d) extending the rigid lance to insert at least the injection nozzle of the rigid lance into the concrete mixer;
• and
• e) injecting the cooling fluid into the concrete mixer by flowing the cooling fluid from the fluid source into the receiving end of said rigid lance, along the fluid path of the rigid lance and out of the injection nozzle into the concrete mixer.