US 4,428,677 AGranted

Hopper for mixer unit of a concrete transport vehicle

AssigneeConcrete Transport Mixer Co.

InventorPaul W. Schreiter, Jr.

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Abstract

The mixer unit of a concrete transport vehicle has a loading hopper constructed in two sections which are connected together at a hinge joint. The one section is attached firmly to the frame of the mixer unit, and this section is located opposite to the opening at the elevated end of the mixer drum. The other section moves about the hinge axis from an extended position to a storage position. When in the extended position, the movable section forms an upward continuation of the fixed section, and the hopper has extended height to facilitate loading concrete mix into the drum. When in the storage position, the movable section is positioned to the rear of the fixed section and is carried entirely below the upper margin of the fixed section. This reduces the height of the mixer unit, enabling the transport vehicle to maneuver in areas where the overhead clearance is relatively low.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In combination with a mixer unit for a concrete transport vehicle, said mixer unit including a frame, a drum mounted on the frame for rotation relative to the frame, the drum having one of its ends elevated above the other of its ends with the elevated end being open for introducing concrete mix into and discharging it from the drum, and a discharge chute mounted on the frame and extending away from the open end of the drum;

an improved hopper for directing concrete mix into the elevated open end of the drum, said hopper comprising:
a fixed section of rigid shape mounted on the frame in a fixed position with respect thereto and being open at its top and at its bottom, with the open top being located externally of the drum and being presented directly upwardly and with the open portion of the bottom facing and opening into the elevated open end of the drum;
and a movable section of rigid shape located externally of the drum and having opposite ends that are open, the movable section being capable of moving from an extended position to a storage position with respect to the fixed section, the movable section when in its extended position having one of its ends at the open top of the fixed section and forming an upwardly directed continuation of the fixed section to in effect extend the height of the hopper, the movable section when in its storage position being located such that the open top of the fixed section is generally unobstructed and constitutes the highest portion of the hopper.

A mixer unit for a concrete transport vehicle, said mixer unit comprising:

a frame;
a drum supported on the frame such that it rotates relative to the frame about an axis that is inclined with respect to the horizontal, whereby one end of the drum is higher than the other end, the drum having an opening at its higher end, with the opening being circular and concentric to the axis of rotation for the drum;
a discharge chute extending away from the opening in the elevated end of the drum;
and a hopper supported on the frame for directing concrete into the drum, the hopper including a first section that is supported in a fixed position on the frame and has an open top that is presented directly upwardly outside of the drum, the first section being rigid in shape and also being open near its bottom with that portion of the first section being presented toward and opening into the opening at the elevated end of the drum, the hopper further including a second section which is rigid in shape and is open at both of its ends, the second section being located externally of the drum and further being hinged to the first section such that the second section is capable of moving between extended and storage positions, the second section when in its extended position forming an upward extension of the first section with one open end of the second section being at and generally coinciding with the open top of the first section, the second section when in its storage position being offset with respect to the first section and being at an elevation below the open top of the first section.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.