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AssigneeBoral Resources (VIC) PTY Limited
InventorsHenry Zandberg, Hussein Briedis
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for mixing concrete in a concrete delivery mixing truck is provided which can yield a mix with an approximate required slump. This is achieved by monitoring the torque loading on hydraulic drive which rotates a mixing barrel and noting an anticipated minimum torque loading which, in turn, approximates to a required slump value. Liquid component is added to a mix until this minimum torque loading is noted. A CPU (17) is used to process information derived from a hydraulic pressure sensor (15) connected in the hydraulic drive motor used to rotate the mixing barrel. A volume/mass input sensor (21) can be used for meaning the amount of particulate ingredients, and a water volume sensor (25) can be used to measure the volume of liquid component added to the mix. When a known maximum volume of liquid component is added a computer can operate to prevent further liquid being added, unless it is purposely overridden. The computer can be used to print a delivery docket via a printer with all the specified concrete data and all the measured parameters, and can also be used to transfer information to a main computer at a concrete depot, so the information can be used as a record of the concrete delivered and also as data for account processing.
A method of mixing concrete comprising:
Concrete mixing apparatus having a mixing barrel and driving means for rotating said mixing barrel, said driving means having a torque loading sensing means which monitors the torque loading on said driving means required to rotate said barrel, said torque loading sensing means being connected with a processing means programmed to enable a concrete mix in said mixing barrel to be optimized to approximate a required slump by calculating a predetermined minimum torque loading on said driving means for the required slump for an amount of particulate material in said mixing barrel, so that an operator can monitor the torque loading sensed by said torque loading sensing means as liquid component is added to said concrete mix during mixing, and cease adding liquid component when the monitored torque loading sensed by said torque loading sensing means approaches said predetermined minimum torque loading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.