US6152457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Front discharge transit mixer
Assignee: MAXIM GLOBAL Inc
•
Filing: 1998-11-13
•
Granted: 2000-11-28
•
Expires: 2018-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A front discharge transit mixer having an air spring associated with each wheel. A load sensing system senses the pressure in each air spring and is analyzed to determine a load at each wheel. The load at each wheel is compared to a predetermined load and the pressure is varied as needed to distribute the load to other wheels.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred J. Silbernagel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:52
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28C; B28C5/00; B28C5/42; B28C5/4203; B28C5/4206; B28C5/4234; B28C5/4237; B28C5/4244; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A transit mixer apparatus, comprising: an internal combustion engine for propelling the apparatus; a vehicle chassis having a front-end portion and a back end portion, said engine coupled to said chassis; a plurality of axle assemblies coupled to said chassis, each of said plurality of axle assemblies having at least one ground engagement member associated therewith and adapted to engage ground; a material mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said material mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said material mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which material may be loaded into or discharged from said mixing drum, said material mixing drum inclined upwardly toward said front end portion; a plurality of air springs coupled between said chassis and said plurality of axle assemblies, each of said plurality of axle assemblies having at least one of said plurality of air springs associated therewith; a source of pressurized fluid in communication with said plurality of air springs; a central processor, said central processor including a predetermined load value for each of said plurality of axle assemblies; a plurality of pressure sensors, one of said plurality of pressure sensors associated with each of said plurality of air springs and adapted for sensing the pressure in the respective air springs and sending a signal to said central processor, wherein said signals are converted to actual load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies; and wherein said actual load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies are compared to said predetermined load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies, and upon an axle's actual load value exceeding its respective predetermined load value the pressure in said at least one of said plurality of air springs is adjusted to distribute the load to others of said plurality of axle assemblies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
A transit mixer apparatus, comprising: an internal combustion engine for propelling the apparatus; a vehicle chassis having a front-end portion and a back end portion, said engine coupled to said chassis; a plurality of axle assemblies coupled to said chassis, each of said plurality of axle assemblies having at least one ground engagement member associated therewith and adapted to engage ground; a material mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said material mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said material mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which material may be loaded into or discharged from said mixing drum, said material mixing drum inclined upwardly toward said front end portion; a plurality of air springs coupled between said chassis and said plurality of axle assemblies, each of said plurality of axle assemblies having at least one of said plurality of air springs associated therewith; a source of pressurized fluid in communication with said plurality of air springs; a central processor, said central processor including a predetermined load value for each of said plurality of axle assemblies; a plurality of pressure sensors, one of said plurality of pressure sensors associated with each of said plurality of air springs and adapted for sensing the pressure in the respective air springs and sending a signal to said central processor, wherein said signals are converted to actual load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies; and wherein said actual load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies are compared to said predetermined load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies, and upon an axle's actual load value exceeding its respective predetermined load value the pressure in said at least one of said plurality of air springs is adjusted to distribute the load to others of said plurality of axle assemblies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pressure sensors is a pressure transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one ground engagement member defines at least one wheel coupled to each of said plurality of axle assemblies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3, which further includes a communication pathway for transporting said signal from each of said plurality of sensors to said central processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pressure in each of said plurality of air springs is adjustable independent of one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4, which further includes an operator interface adapted to enable the operator to monitor the pressure at each axle assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said interactive interface is coupled to said central processor and is adapted to enable an operator to determine the weight of material and the load on the respective plurality of axle assemblies of the apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of axle assemblies includes a front axle assembly, and said interactive interface includes a first interactive point for providing the tare weight of the front axle assembly and the total of any additional weight that is added to the front axle as the apparatus is loaded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of axle assemblies includes a rear axle assembly, and said interface includes a second interactive point for providing the tare weight of the rear axle assembly and the total of any additional weight that is added to the rear axle assembly as the apparatus is loaded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the material mixing drum is adapted to receive concrete, and wherein said plurality of axle assemblies includes at least one auxiliary axle, and said interface includes a third interactive point for providing the tare weight and the total of any additional weight that is added to the auxiliary wheel assembly as the apparatus is loaded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the material mixing drum is adapted to receive concrete, and wherein said interface includes a fourth interface point adapted for providing an indication to an operator of the slump of the concrete in the mixing drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the material is defined by concrete, and wherein said plurality of axle assemblies includes a front axle assembly, a pusher axle assembly, a first tandem axle assembly, a second tandem axle assembly and a tag axle assembly, and wherein said interface is coupled to said central processor and is adapted to enable the operator to determine from the actual load values for each of said plurality of axle assemblies the tare weight and the weight of any additional material that is added to the apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 1: wherein the material mixing drum is adapted to receive concrete; wherein said at least one ground engagement member is defined by at least one wheel coupled to each of said plurality of axle assemblies; which further includes a communication pathway for transporting the signal from each of said plurality of sensors to said central processor; and which further includes an interactive interface, said interactive interface allows the operator to view the weight of material and the load on the respective plurality of axle assemblies of the apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 13: wherein the pressure in each of said plurality of air springs is adjustable independent of one another; and which further includes an operator interface for allowing the operator to monitor the pressure at each axle assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 13: wherein the pressure in each of said plurality of air springs is adjustable independent of one another; and which further includes an operator interface for allowing the operator to monitor the load on each axle assembly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |