Valve assembly for concrete pumps

Claim 1

A constant, uniform-pressure-discharge, concrete-pump apparatus comprising: a hopper for receiving a semi-fluid concrete mixture therein, said hopper being defined by a front wall having a centrally disposed opening and a plurality of inlet ports arcuately arranged about said central opening, and a rear wall having an outlet opening oppositely disposed and axially aligned with said central opening and side walls integrally formed therewith; a valve assembly operably positioned within said hopper, said valve having a main conduit adapted with a receiving end and a discharge end, said discharge end being rotatably supported within said outlet opening in said rear wall, said receiving end thereof being movably positioned adjacent each inlet port during rotation thereof, and an auxiliary conduit integrally connected to said main conduit adjacent the discharge end thereof, the opposite end of said auxiliary conduit being rotatably supported in said central opening in said front wall, whereby said conduits form a substantially Y-shaped configuration; a plurality of concrete-pump assemblies connected to each of said inlet ports for communication with the interior of said hopper, whereby said concrete is sequentially pumped from said hopper through said main conduit of said valve for discharge therefrom; and an auxiliary concrete-pump assembly connected to said auxiliary conduit for operable communication with said concrete disposed in said valve assembly, whereby said auxiliary-pump assembly is operably synchronized with said other concrete pump assemblies to provide a continuous, uninterrupted flow of concrete from the discharge end of said valve assembly.