Method and apparatus for producing concrete

Claim 1

A method of continuously producing concrete and depositing said concrete along a desired path comprising the steps of: moving a mobile concrete producing machine, having a loading conveyor, at least two aggregate supply bins, a cement supply bin, a water tank, delivery conveyors and a mixing auger, along a path of travel substantially corresponding to the desired path along which concrete is to be deposited; simultaneously with said moving step, receiving supplies of at least two different aggregates delivered from an external ground supported supply vehicle at mutually exclusive intervals by said loading conveyor and conveying said aggregates to preselected respective aggregate supply bins to maintain an adequate supply of each said aggregate in the respective said aggregate supply bin; engaging the supply vehicle with the concrete producing machine to permit propelling the supply vehicle on the ground during said receiving step; delivering supplies of water and cement to said water tank and said cement supply bin, respectively, simultaneously with said moving step as needed at appropriate intervals to maintain adequate supplies thereof within said mobile concrete producing machine; withdrawing discernible quantities of each said aggregate and said cement from each said aggregate supply bin and said cement supply bin, respectively, in a substantially continuous manner by said delivery conveyors simultaneously with said moving step and discharging said aggregates and said cement from said delivery conveyors into said mixing auger with preselected quantities of water from said water tank; mixing said aggregates, cement and water by said mixing auger to produce concrete simultaneously with said moving step; and depositing said concrete from said mixing auger into the desired path of deposit by pivotally moving said mixing auger into a desired position simultaneously with said moving step.

Claim 2

A method of continuously producing concrete and depositing said concrete along a desired path comprising the steps of: moving a mobile concrete producing machine, having a loading conveyor, at least two aggregate supply bins, a cement supply bin, a water tank, delivery conveyors and a mixing auger, along a path of travel substantially corresponding to the desired path along which concrete is to be deposited; simultaneously with said moving step, receiving supplies of at least two different aggregates delivered from an external ground supported supply vehicle at mutually exclusive intervals by said loading conveyor and conveying said aggregates to preselected respective aggregate supply bins to maintain an adequate supply of each said aggregate in the respective said aggregate supply bin; engaging the supply vehicle with the concrete producing machine to permit propelling the supply vehicle on the ground during said receiving step; delivering supplies of water and cement to said water tank and said cement supply bin, respectively, simultaneously with said moving step as needed at appropriate intervals to maintain adequate supplies thereof within said mobile concrete producing machine; withdrawing discernible quantities of each said aggregate and said cement from each said aggregate supply bin and said cement supply bin, respectively, in a substantially continuous manner by said delivery conveyors simultaneously with said moving step and discharging said aggregates and said cement from said delivery conveyors into said mixing auger with preselected quantities of water from said water tank; mixing said aggregates, cement and water by said mixing auger to produce concrete simultaneously with said moving step; and depositing said concrete from said mixing auger into the desired path of deposit by pivotally moving said mixing auger into a desired position simultaneously with said moving step.