Concrete transit mixer with forward discharge mechanism

Claim 2

In a concrete transit mixer apparatus comprising, a truck chassis for on highway operation, an inclined rotatable concretemixing drum mounted on the rear of said truck chassis, said mixing drum having an elevated open end facing forwardly and positioned near the midlength of the truck chassis, an elongated conveyor having one end mounted on said truck chassis beneath said drum open end for pivoting about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis and having an extending end, power-operated means for causing said pivotal movement of said conveyor about both the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, an elongated discharge means pivotally mounted on the extending end of said conveyor both for elevating and lowering and for swinging from side to side said discharge means relative to said conveyor, said pivotal mounting of the discharge means on the conveyor including a housing supported for pivotal movement on said conveyor about a horizontal axis parallel to the pivotal axis for elevating and lowering the conveyor, and tie rod means extending parallel to said conveyor between said housing and the conveyor mounting for mechanically maintaining the side to side pivotal axis of said discharge means substantially vertical for ease of such side to side movement.

Claim 3

A concrete transit mixer apparatus employing a truck chassis usable for on-highway operation and having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, and a truck cab at the front of the chassis wherein the truck cab has a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartmeNt laterally offset to one side of the motor compartment with the operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment and the cab has an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from the operator''s compartment, the lateral width of the cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation, the improvement comprising; a concrete mixer mounted on the frame entirely rearwardly of the truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end facing forwardly for discharging concrete; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising an elongated rigid frame supporting a conveyor having a receiving end and a discharging end, said conveyor frame having the receiving end mounted on the chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and said mounting being pivotable for movement of said conveyor frame in both the vertical and horizontal planes, said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on said discharge end of said conveyor frame for receiving concrete from said conveyor and having means for conducting concrete to the other end of said second section, said second section being mounted on said conveyor frame for relative movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and power-operated means for selectively causing said movements of said first and second section, the combined lengths of said first and second sections being of an amount to extend a substantial distance beyond the front of the truck chassis when extending forwardly for controlled discharge and placement of the concrete in front of the truck chassis; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mounted in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said discharge end of said first section being laterally beyond the motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section discharge end to a position in said open space and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 4

A concrete transit mixer apparatus employing a truck chassis usable for on-highway operation and having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, and a truck cab at the front of the chassis wherein the truck cab has a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartmeNt laterally offset to one side of the motor compartment with the operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment and the cab has an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from the operator''s compartment, the lateral width of the cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation, the improvement comprising; a concrete mixer mounted on the frame entirely rearwardly of the truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end facing forwardly for discharging concrete; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising an elongated rigid frame supporting a conveyor having a receiving end and a discharging end, said conveyor frame having the receiving end mounted on the chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and said mounting being pivotable for movement of said conveyor frame in both the vertical and horizontal planes, said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on said discharge end of said conveyor frame for receiving concrete from said conveyor and having means for conducting concrete to the other end of said second section, said second section being mounted on said conveyor frame for relative movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and power-operated means for selectively causing said movements of said first and second section, the combined lengths of said first and second sections being of an amount to extend a substantial distance beyond the front of the truck chassis when extending forwardly for controlled discharge and placement of the concrete in front of the truck chassis; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mounted in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said discharge end of said first section being laterally beyond the motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section discharge end to a position in said open space and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 5

A concrete transit mixer apparatus employing a truck chassis usable for on-highway operation and having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, and a truck cab at the front of the chassis wherein the truck cab has a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartment laterally offset to one side of the motor compartment with the operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment and the cab has an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from the operator''s compartment, the lateral width of the cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation, the improvement comprising; a concrete mixer mounted on the frame entirely rearwardly of the truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end facing forwardly for discharging concrete; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising a conveyor having one end mounted on the chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and pivotable for permitting movement of said conveyor in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on the other end of said conveyor and pivotable for movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mountEd in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said other end of said first section being laterally beyond said motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section to a position in the open space of the cab and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 6

A concrete transit mixer apparatus employing a truck chassis usable for on-highway operation and having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, and a truck cab at the front of the chassis wherein the truck cab has a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartment laterally offset to one side of the motor compartment with the operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment and the cab has an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from the operator''s compartment, the lateral width of the cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation, the improvement comprising; a concrete mixer mounted on the frame entirely rearwardly of the truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end facing forwardly for discharging concrete; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising a conveyor having one end mounted on the chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and pivotable for permitting movement of said conveyor in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on the other end of said conveyor and pivotable for movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mountEd in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said other end of said first section being laterally beyond said motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section to a position in the open space of the cab and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second section includes a plurality of hingedly connected chute sections selectively foldable back upon each other and unfoldable for shortening and lengthening, respectively, the discharge means, and means for mechanically assisting in such folding and unfolding.

Claim 8

A concrete transit mixer apparatus usable for on-highway operation comprising: a truck chassis having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, a cab at the front of the chassis, and a motor and drive means; said truck cab having a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartment laterally offset on the truck chassis to one side of said motor compartment, said operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment, said cab having an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from said operator''s compartment and the lateral width of said cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation; a concrete mixer mounted on said frame spaced rearwardly of said truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end for discharging concrete, said open end facing forwardly and being laterally centered on the truck chassis; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising an elongated rigid frame supporting a conveyor having a receiving end and a discharging end, said conveyor frame having the receiving end pivotally mounted on said chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and for permitting pivotal movement of said conveyor frame in both the vertical and horizontal planes, said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on said discharge end of said conveyor frame for receiving concrete from said conveyor and having means for conducting concrete to the other end of said second section, said second section being mounted on said conveyor frame for relative movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and power-operated means for selectively causing said movements of said first and second section, the combined lengths of said first and second sections being of an amount to extend a substantial distance beyond the front of the truck chassis when extending forwardly for controlled discharge and placement of the concrete in front and to at least one side of the truck chassis; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mounted in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the said motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said discharge end of said first section being laterally beyond said motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section discharge end to a position in said open space and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 9

A concrete transit mixer apparatus usable for on-highway operation comprising: a truck chassis having a frame, ground-engaging front and rear wheels with the front wheels being steerable, a cab at the front of the chassis, and a motor and drive means; said truck cab having a center motor compartment and a narrow operator''s compartment laterally offset on the truck chassis to one side of said motor compartment, said operator''s compartment extending substantially above the motor compartment for lateral visibility over the motor compartment, said cab having an open space laterally adjacent to the motor compartment on the opposite lateral side from said operator''s compartment and the lateral width of said cab being within predetermined limits for on-highway operation; a concrete mixer mounted on said frame spaced rearwardly of said truck cab and having an inclined rotatable mixing drum with an elevated open end for discharging concrete, said open end facing forwardly and being laterally centered on the truck chassis; a concrete discharge and placement mechanism mounted on said frame and including elongated first and second concrete carrier sections of substantial length, said first section comprising an elongated rigid frame supporting a conveyor having a receiving end and a discharging end, said conveyor frame having the receiving end pivotally mounted on said chassis frame in a position beneath said drum open end for receiving concrete discharged from the drum and for permitting pivotal movement of said conveyor frame in both the vertical and horizontal planes, said second concrete carrier section having one end mounted on said discharge end of said conveyor frame for receiving concrete from said conveyor and having means for conducting concrete to the other end of said second section, said second section being mounted on said conveyor frame for relative movement in both the vertical and horizontal planes, and power-operated means for selectively causing said movements of said first and second section, the combined lengths of said first and second sections being of an amount to extend a substantial distance beyond the front of the truck chassis when extending forwardly for controlled discharge and placement of the concrete in front and to at least one side of the truck chassis; and said first and second concrete carrier sections being mounted in an in-transit stowage position with said first section extending forwardly over the said motor compartment at a small lateral angle away from the operator''s compartment with said discharge end of said first section being laterally beyond said motor compartment, said second section suspended below said first section discharge end to a position in said open space and extending rearwardly in a substantially longitudinal direction along said truck chassis.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pivotal mounting of said conveyor frame allows elevating and swinging of the conveyor frame over the truck cab for placing concrete on both sides of the truck chassis.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second section is a second powered conveyor and the pivotal mounting thereof allows said power-operated means to elevate said second conveyor to extend upwardly.