Fine and coarse aggregates conveying apparatus

In a concrete production system having a longitudinal tank for storing aggregates and a longitudinal bottom trough for receiving said aggregates therefrom, said trough being open at its top in communication with said tank and having a discharge end, improved aggregates conveying apparatus which comprises:

• (a) said tank being composed of a pair of side-by-side, longitudinal hoppers for respectively storing fine and coarse aggregates;
• (b) said trough being disposed in common to both of said hoppers for receiving said respective aggregates therefrom, said trough having a generally horizontal bottom floor and a pair of laterally spaced generally upright sides which at their upper edges define said open top thereof and at their lower edges are interconnected by said bottom floor, said spaced sides and bottom floor of said trough defining a space generally rectangular in cross-section into which aggregates from said respective hoppers of said tank can flow only through said open tank of said trough;
• (c) a continuous conveyor mounted for movement along said trough, said conveyor having a lower aggregate conveying run disposed in said space defined by said spaced sides and bottom floor of said trough and in slidable engagement within said trough, said conveyor having a width and height adapted to substantially match said sides and bottom floor of said trough and fill said trough such that its open top overlies said conveyor, said conveyor for dragging aggregates, received from said hoppers of said tank into said trough, onto its bottom floor and only through its open top overlying said conveyor, toward said trough discharge end without allowing any stationary build-up of aggregates within said trough and an upper return run disposed above said trough and said lower run of said conveyor;
• and
• (d) a longitudinal wall structure extending through said tank between said hoppers thereof and defining a chamber isolated from said aggregates stored in said respective hoppers of said tank which provides a passageway for said upper return run of said conveyor, said longitudinal wall structure including
• (i) a tubular wall portion spaced above said open top of said trough for allowing passage of aggregates from said hoppers of said tank into said trough open top, said tubular wall portion defining said chamber which provides said passageway for said upper return run of said conveyor, and
• (ii) a lower longitudinal generally vertical wall portion attached to and extending below said tubular wall portion and between said hoppers of said tank, said wall portion having a lower edge disposed generally at the level of said open top of said trough and aligned above said lower run of said conveyor so as to keep said lower conveyor run from rising up over aggregates received and being conveyed in said trough.