Bulk material storage and mixing apparatus

A portable bulk material storage and mixing apparatus for mixing and discharging a quantity of dry bulk material such as cement, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted on a transport vehicle;
• a cylindrical drum mounted on said frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis;
• drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said drum;
• said drum including a closed head at one end and a generally conical shaped discharge nozzle at the opposite end, said discharge nozzle including a material discharge opening formed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation and defining the apex of said discharge nozzle;
• means in the interior of said drum for urging material in said drum toward said discharge opening in response to rotation of said drum;
• a material discharge hopper mounted stationary on said frame including a depending material receiving portion and a hood portion supported on and connected to said material receiving portion by hinge means to provide for moving said hood portion between open and closed positions for access to the interior of said material receiving portion, said material receiving portion including a first sidewall at least partially surrounding said discharge opening and being in overlapping relationship to a flange disposed on said drum around said discharge opening, a second sidewall spaced from said first sidewall opposite said discharge opening, and means forming a material discharge port at the bottom of said material receiving portion;
• a closure member adapted to close said discharge opening, said closure member being connected to means for selectively moving said closure member to uncover said discharge opening for controlling the rate of discharge of material from said drum, said means for moving said closure member including a support member connected to said drum, said support member including a threaded portion, an elongated shaft extending through said material receiving portion and said second sidewall and including a portion threadedly engaged with said threaded portion of said support member, a collar fixed to said shaft and engageable with a hub portion of said closure member for moving said closure member axially toward and away from said discharge opening in response to rotation of said shaft;
• and
• a handwheel connected to said shaft and disposed outside said material receiving portion adjacent said second sidewall for rotating said shaft to selectively open and close said discharge opening in said drum with said closure member.

A bulk material storage and mixing apparatus for mixing and discharging a quantity of dry bulk material such as cement, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted on a transport vehicle;
• a cylindrical drum mounted on said frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis;
• drive means mounted on said frame for rotating said drum;
• said drum including a closed head at one end and a generally conical shaped discharge nozzle at the opposite end, said discharge nozzle including a material discharge opening formed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation;
• plural flights of elongated helical mixing and discharge fins formed on the interior of said drum extending generally from said head to said discharge opening;
• means forming a cylindrical bearing surface on the periphery of said drum;
• at least two spaced apart rollers mounted on said frame and engaged with said bearing surface in supportive relationship with said drum;
• and
• an elongated drum holddown band connected at one end to said frame and trained around only a portion of said bearing surface above said rollers, the opposite end of said band being engaged with lever means mounted on said frame and operable to tighten said band against said bearing surface to prevent rotation of said drum and to hold said drum in forcible engagement with said rollers to prevent damage to said rollers and said bearing surface during transport of said apparatus.