# US 7,744,267 B2 · Mixing drum drive ring

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,744,267 B2
- Document ID: US7744267B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/549,566
- Filed: 2003-08-15
- Published: 2007-07-12
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2003-08-15
- Assignees: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc.
- Inventors: Ted Daly; Ronald E. Christenson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744267B2

## CPC

- B28C 5/0831: {Drives or drive systems, e.g. toothed racks, winches (B28C7/0876 takes precedence)}
- B28C 5/2054: {Drums, e.g. provided with non-rotary mixing blades (B28C5/2009 takes precedence)}
- B28C 5/421: {Drives (in general B28C5/0831)}
- B28C 5/4268: {Drums, e.g. provided with non-rotary mixing blades (drums for concrete mixers with horizontal axis B28C5/2054)}
- B29C 45/14: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C45/1671 takes precedence)}
- B28C: PREPARING CLAY; PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING CLAY OR CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (preparing material for foundry moulds B22C5/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A composite, heavy duty rotary concrete mixing drum (16) for coupling to a vehicle having a drivetrain (18) for rotating the drum (16) comprises a wall and a drive ring. The wall defines a first end of the drum and a second end of the drum. The drive ring (39) is coupled to the first end of the drum and includes a hub (108, 252) and a plurality of extensions (110, 254). The hub is operatively coupled to the drivetrain. The plurality of extensions (110, 254) extend outwardly from the hub (108, 252) into the wall of the drum. At least one of the extensions includes an aperture (121, 126) extending therethrough. Rotation of the hub by the second drivetrain causes rotation of the drum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A concrete mixing truck for transporting concrete from one location to another comprising:
a chassis including: a frame, a first power source coupled to the frame, wheels coupled to the frame, and a first drivetrain coupling the first power source and the wheels;
a second drivetrain coupled to a second power source; and
a mixing drum coupled to the frame and to the second drivetrain, the drum comprising:
a wall defining a first end of the drum and a second end of the drum;
a drive ring coupled to the first end of the drum and comprising:
a hub operatively coupled to the second drivetrain; and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub into the wall of the drum, at least one of the extensions including an aperture extending therethrough;
wherein rotation of the hub by the second drivetrain causes rotation of the drum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 1, wherein the first power source and the second power source are the same power source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 1, wherein the wall includes a first layer and a second layer exterior to the first layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 3, wherein the extensions extend into the second layer of the wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 4, wherein the first layer is made from an elastomeric material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 5, wherein the second layer is made from a reinforced composite material including fibers and resin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 6, wherein the aperture is configured to allow the resin used in the construction of the second layer of the wall to infiltrate the aperture.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 7, wherein the fiber in the second layer extends between the extensions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 8, wherein the hub is substantially cylindrical.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 9, wherein the extensions extend radially outward from the hub.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 10, wherein the extensions are spaced apart around the hub.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 1, wherein the extensions are triangular.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 1, wherein the extensions are rectangular.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 1, wherein the drive ring is integrally formed as a single unitary body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The concrete mixing truck of claim 14, wherein drive ring is formed from a cast material.

### Claim 16

A composite, heavy duty rotary concrete mixing drum for coupling to a vehicle having a drivetrain for rotating the drum, the drum comprising:
a wall defining a first end of the drum and a second end of the drum;
a drive ring coupled to the first end of the drum and comprising:
a hub configured to be operatively coupled to the drivetrain; and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub into the wall of the drum, at least one of the extensions including an aperture;
wherein rotation of the hub by the drivetrain causes rotation of the drum.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 16, wherein the wall includes a first layer and a second layer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 17, wherein the extensions extend into the second layer of the wall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 18, wherein the first layer is made from an elastomeric material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 19, wherein the second layer is made from a fiber reinforced composite material.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 20, wherein the aperture is configured to allow resin used in the construction of the second layer of the drum to infiltrate the aperture.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 21, wherein the fiber in the second layer extends between the extensions.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 22, wherein the hub is substantially cylindrical.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 23, wherein the extensions extend radially outward from the hub.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 24, wherein the extensions are spaced apart around the hub.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 16, wherein the extensions are triangular.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 16, wherein the extensions are rectangular.

### Claim 28 (depends on 16)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 16, wherein the drive ring is formed from a cast material.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 28, wherein the cast material is off-tempered ductile iron.

### Claim 30

A composite, heavy duty rotary concrete mixing drum for coupling to a vehicle having a drivetrain for rotating the drum, the drum comprising:
a wall defining a first end of the drum and a second end of the drum;
a drive ring integrally formed as a single unitary body from a cast material, wherein the drive ring is coupled to the first end of the drum and comprising:
a hub configured to be operatively coupled to the drivetrain; and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub into the wall of the drum;
wherein rotation of the hub by the second drivetrain causes rotation of the drum.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 30, wherein at least one of the extensions includes a aperture extending therethrough.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 30, wherein the wall includes a first layer and a second layer.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 32, wherein the extensions extend into the second layer of the wall.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 33, wherein the first layer is made from an elastomeric material.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 34, wherein the second layer is made from a fiber reinforced composite material.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 35, wherein the aperture is configured to allow resin used in the construction of the second layer of the wall to infiltrate the aperture.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 36, wherein the fiber in the second layer extends between the extensions.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 37, wherein the hub is substantially cylindrical.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 38, wherein the extensions extend radially outward from the hub.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 39, wherein the extensions are spaced apart around the hub.

### Claim 41 (depends on 30)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 30, wherein the extensions are triangular.

### Claim 42 (depends on 30)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 30, wherein the extensions are rectangular.

### Claim 43 (depends on 30)

The concrete mixing drum of claim 30, wherein the cast material is off-tempered ductile iron.

### Claim 44

A drive ring for coupling to a heavy duty rotary concrete mixing drum capable of attachment to a vehicle having a drivetrain for rotating the drum, the drive ring comprising:
a hub configured to be operatively coupled to the drivetrain of the vehicle; and
a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the hub and configured to engage the drum, at least one of the projections including an aperture.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the aperture is configured to allow resin used in the construction of the drum to infiltrate the aperture.

### Claim 46 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the projections are configured to allow fiber used in the construction of the drum to extend between the projections.

### Claim 47 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the hub is substantially cylindrical.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The drive ring of claim 47, wherein the projections extend radially outward from the hub.

### Claim 49 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the distance between each of the projections around the hub is less that 6 inches.

### Claim 50 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the plurality of projections includes 12 projections.

### Claim 51 (depends on 48)

The drive ring of claim 48, wherein the projections are spaced apart around the periphery of the hub.

### Claim 52 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the projections are triangular.

### Claim 53 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the projections are rectangular.

### Claim 54 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the drive ring is integrally formed as a single unitary body from a cast material.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The drive ring of claim 54, wherein the cast material is off-tempered ductile iron.

### Claim 56 (depends on 44)

The drive ring of claim 44, wherein the extensions are configured to angle toward the mixing drum.

### Claim 57

A method of coupling a drive ring to a wall of a composite mixing drum, the wall comprising fibers and resin, the drive ring being configured to transfer a rotational force applied by a powered drivetrain to the wall, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a drive ring including:
a hub configured to be coupled to the powered drivetrain, and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub;
forming the wall around the extensions; and
mechanically interlocking the wall to the drive ring;
so that when the drive ring is coupled to the powered drivetrain, the force applied by the powered drivetrain to the drive ring will be distributed within the wall.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, wherein the step of forming the wall around the extensions comprises the step of wrapping the fibers of the wall around at least one of the extensions.

### Claim 59 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, wherein the extensions include apertures and wherein the step of mechanically interlocking the wall to the drive ring comprises the step of filling the apertures with the resin of the wall.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, wherein the extensions each include an aperture and wherein the step of mechanically interlocking the wall to the drive ring comprises the step of filling each aperture with the resin of the wall.

### Claim 61 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, wherein the hub and the extensions of the drive ring are formed as a single unitary body from a cast material.

### Claim 62 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, wherein the extensions each include an aperture and wherein the step of mechanically interlocking the wall to the drive ring comprises the step of forming a portion of the wall within the aperture.

### Claim 63

A concrete mixing drum for coupling to a power source for rotating the drum, the drum comprising:
a wall defining a first end of the drum and a second end of the drum;
a drive ring coupled to the first end of the drum and comprising:
a hub configured to be operatively coupled to the power source; and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub into the wall of the drum, at least one of the extensions including an aperture;
wherein rotation of the huh by the power source causes rotation of the drum.

### Claim 64

A concrete mixing drum for coupling to a power source for rotating the drum, the drum comprising:
a wall;
a drive ring coupled to the wall and comprising:
a hub configured to be operatively coupled to the power source; and
a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from the hub into the wall,
one of the wall and the plurality of extensions including a plurality of recesses, the other one of the wall and the plurality of extensions including a plurality of corresponding projections for engaging the plurality of recesses;
wherein rotation of the hub by the power source causes rotation of the drum.