US 8,827,657 B1Granted

Concrete pump system and method

OwnerFrancis Wayne Priddyinventor

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Abstract

A concrete pump system/method configured to provide substantially constant flow of concrete or cement material is disclosed. The system integrates a trapezoidal cutting ring and spectacle plate in conjunction with lofted transitional interfaces to the hydraulic pump cylinder rams and output ejection port to ensure that pressurized discharge concrete material is not allowed to be relaxed nor backflow into the material sourcing hopper. The trapezoidal cutting ring is configured to completely seal off the trapezoidal spectacle ports as it smoothly transitions between the hydraulic pump input ports during cycle changes thus generating a more uniform output flow of concrete while eliminating hopper backflow and hydraulic fluid shock. A control system is configured to coordinate operation of the hydraulic pump cylinder rams and cutting ring to ensure that output ejection port pressure and material flow is maintained at a relatively constant level throughout all portions of the pumping cycle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A concrete pump system comprising:

(a) material hopper (MHOP);
(b) trapezoidal-shaped spectacle plate (TSSP);
(c) hydraulic pump;
(d) trapezoidal-shaped cutting ring (TSCR);
and
(e) ejection port;
wherein
said TSSP comprises a first trapezoidal inlet port (FTIP) and a second trapezoidal inlet port (STIP);
said TSSP is attached to said MHOP and configured to supply concrete from said MHOP to said hydraulic pump through said FTIP and said STIP;
said hydraulic pump comprises a first hydraulic pump ram (FHPR) and a second hydraulic pump ram (SHPR);
said FHPR is configured to accept concrete via said FTIP;
said SHPR is configured to accept concrete via said STIP;
said TSCR comprises a trapezoidal receiver output port (TROP) configured to alternately traverse between positions that cover said FTIP and said STIP;
said TROP is configured to completely cover said FTIP and said STIP during said alternating traversal between said positions that cover said FTIP and said STIP;
said TROP is configured to direct concrete from said FTIP and said STIP to said ejection port;
said hydraulic pump is configured to eject concrete from said FHPR into said TROP when said TROP is positioned to cover said FTIP;
said hydraulic pump is configured to inject concrete from said MHOP into said SHPR when said TROP is positioned to cover said FTIP;
said hydraulic pump is configured to eject concrete from said SHPR into said TROP when said TROP is positioned to cover said STIP;
and
said hydraulic pump is configured to inject concrete from said MHOP into said FHPR when said TROP is positioned to cover said STIP.

17 more elements

A concrete pump method, said method operating in conjunction with a concrete pump system comprising:

(a) material hopper (MHOP);
(b) trapezoidal-shaped spectacle plate (TSSP);
(c) hydraulic pump;
(d) trapezoidal-shaped cutting ring (TSCR);
and
(e) ejection port;
wherein
said TSSP comprises a first trapezoidal inlet port (FTIP) and a second trapezoidal inlet port (STIP);
said TSSP is attached to said MHOP and configured to supply concrete from said MHOP to said hydraulic pump through said FTIP and said STIP;
said hydraulic pump comprises a first hydraulic pump ram (FHPR) and a second hydraulic pump ram (SHPR);
said FHPR is configured to accept concrete via said FTIP;
said SHPR is configured to accept concrete via said STIP;
said TSCR comprises a trapezoidal receiver output port (TROP) configured to alternately traverse between positions that cover said FTIP and said STIP;
said TROP is configured to direct concrete from said FTIP and said STIP to said ejection port;
said hydraulic pump is configured to eject concrete from said FHPR into said TROP when said TROP is positioned to cover said FTIP;
said hydraulic pump is configured to inject concrete from said MHOP into said SHPR when said TROP is positioned to cover said FTIP;
said hydraulic pump is configured to eject concrete from said SHPR into said TROP when said TROP is positioned to cover said STIP;
and
said hydraulic pump is configured to inject concrete from said MHOP into said FHPR when said TROP is positioned to cover said STIP;
wherein said method comprises the steps of:
(1) Centering said TROP over said TSSP to open said TROP to said FHPR and said SHPR;
(2) Ejecting material using said FHPR and said SHPR into said TROP;
(3) Shifting said TROP over said FHPR and sealing off said SHPR;
(4) Ejecting material into said TROP using said FHPR;
(5) Shifting said TROP over said FHPR and opening said SHPR to said MHOP;
(6) Ejecting material into said TROP using said FHPR and injecting material from said MHOP using said SHPR;
(7) Shifting said TROP over said FHPR and opening said SHPR to said MHOP;
(8) Ejecting material into said TROP using said FHPR and injecting material from said MHOP using said SHPR;
(9) Shifting said TROP over said FHPR and sealing off said SHPR;
(10) Ejecting material into said TROP using said FHPR and stopping said SHPR when fully loaded;
(11) Centering said TROP over said TSSP to open said TROP to said FHPR and said SHPR;
(12) Ejecting material into said TROP using said FHPR and said SHPR;
(13) Shifting said TROP over said SHPR and sealing off said FHPR;
(14) Ejecting material into said TROP using said SHPR and stopping said FHPR when fully ejected;
(15) Shifting said TROP over said SHPR and opening said FHPR to said MHOP;
(16) Ejecting material into said TROP using said SHPR and injecting material from said MHOP using said FHPR;
(17) Shifting said TROP over said SHPR and sealing off said FHPR;
(18) Ejecting material into said TROP using said SHPR and stopping said FHPR when fully loaded;
and
(19) Proceeding to step (1) to repeat material pumping operations.

37 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/155,812Filed 15 Jan 2014
Granted: 9 Sep 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F04B 7/04
Piston machines or pumps characterised by having positively-driven valving: in which the valving is performed by pistons and cylinders coacting to…
F04B 15/02
Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts: the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous
F04B 39/10
Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of…:…
F04B 39/1006
Adaptations or arrangements of distribution members: the members being ball valves