Silo and delivery system for premixed dry mortar blends to batch mixers
OwnerTerrance P. Feneloninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved silo and delivery system for efficiently handling dry mortar-blend compositions at construction sites is disclosed. Mortar-blend compositions are premixed to desired specifications and packaged at remote mixing stations into large bag containers that are transported to the construction site. A silo designed for uniquely servicing batch mixers is provided at the construction site for storing the premixed composition. The bag contents are emptied into the silo and are sealed therein against exposure to environmental elements. The silo contents are discharged by means of simple gravity flow on a batch-need basis into a batch mixer operatively underlying the silo.
Claims17
A portable silo for storing and delivering premixed dry mortar-blend materials to an inlet port of a portable batch mixer apparatus of the type used at a construction site, comprising:
- (a) a silo chassis defining an inner cavity for retainably storing a charge of premixed dry mortar-blend material, comprising:
- (i) a sidewall portion extending between upper and lower ends and peripherally defining said inner cavity;
- (ii) upper wall means cooperatively engaging said sidewall portion upper end for closing the inner cavity at its upper end, said upper wall means defining an inlet port opening into said inner cavity;
- and
- (iii) lower wall means for closing the inner cavity at its lower end, said lower wall means defining an outlet port opening into said inner cavity;
- (b) inlet means cooperatively connected with said upper wall means for selectively providing sealed closure and open access to said inner cavity through said inlet port;
- (c) discharge means cooperatively connected with said lower wall means for selectively providing sealed closure and open access to said inner cavity through said outlet port;
- said discharge means being operable between closed and open positions;
- said discharge means when in said closed position being operable to sealingly close said outlet port of the inner cavity to prevent mortar-blend material within said inner cavity from passing through said outlet port and being operable between said closed and said open positions to enable measured amounts of mortar-blend material within said inner cavity to pass by gravity through said outlet port;
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- (d) leg means operatively connected with said chassis for elevating said chassis above a support surface such that said discharge means operatively overlies an inlet port of a portable batch mixer supported by said support surface, said leg means being arranged and configured to allow the portable batch mixer to operatively stand therebetween;
- whereby material leaving said inner cavity through said discharge means falls by gravity into the inlet port of the batch mixer.
A system for delivering premixed dry mortar-blend compositions to a batch mixer apparatus at a construction site, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a premixed dry mortar-blend composition packaged in a carrying bag of the type having means adequate to support lifting of the bag when filled and having discharge means for enabling discharge of the bag contents by gravity when in a lifted position;
- (b) providing a silo of the type having a sealable internal cavity suitable for retaining and storing a dry mortar-blend material, sealable upper inlet and lower discharge ports, and means for elevating the silo discharge port sufficiently to overlie the inlet port of a batch mixer when operatively positioned below said discharge port;
- (c) elevating a bag of said premixed dry mortar-blend of step (a) in overlying relationship with said silo;
- (d) discharging the mortar-blend contents of said elevated bag into the internal cavity of said silo through said silo upper inlet port;
- (e) sealing the dry mortar-blend material within the silo internal cavity;
- (f) cooperatively positioning a batch mixer relative to said silo such that said silo discharge port operatively overlies the inlet port of said batch mixer;
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- (g) selectively discharging a portion of the silo contents by gravity through the silo discharge port, into the inlet port of the batch mixer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.