EP1775091A1 - Apparatus for processing an aggregate mix and cement - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a rigid chassis (11) supporting a concrete mixer (19), supplied by supply units (AM) discharging products necessary for the mixture, by gravity, in a regulated manner. A prepared mixture transferring unit (TR) transfers a prepared mixture to a distribution zone (D) in an upper part of the chassis. An upper receiving bin (25) is arranged in usage position in the upper part, where the bin has a filling orifice for continuous inlet of mixture from the unit (TR) and an evacuation orifice controlled to vary between the opening position and closing position.

Description

Technical field of the invention

• un malaxeur alimenté par des moyens d'alimentation déversant par gravité les produits nécessaires audit mélange de manière régulée,
• une zone de distribution du mélange préparé, aménagée dans la partie haute du châssis,
• et des moyens de transfert du mélange préparé jusqu'à la zone de distribution.

The invention relates to a device for preparing a mixture of aggregates and cement, especially for the preparation of concrete or mortar, comprising a rigid frame supporting:

• a kneader fed by a feed means that releases by gravity the products required for said mixture in a controlled manner,
• a distribution zone of the prepared mixture, arranged in the upper part of the chassis,
• and means for transferring the prepared mixture to the dispensing zone.

State of the art

In most known devices, the feed means and the mixer are arranged in line. The feed means conventionally comprise storage hoppers, the discharge orifice of which is connected to the mixer by transfer devices for delivering, in variable proportions, the products to be mixed. These products are mainly pulverulent materials such as sand, lime, cement, aggregates such as gravel of variable particle size. Water and possibly additives are added to the mixer. Transfer devices are commonly in the form of a worm for driving, said screw being enclosed in a guiding tunnel opening at the ends. The products are discharged at the outlet of the tunnel into the mixer which comprises for this purpose a cylindrical tank rotatable about a horizontal axis, and having an inlet in a first side wall. The other side wall of the tank has an orifice discharging the mixture prepared for dumping in a mobile dump. The mobile bin can be transportable by cable to the concrete use area, or can be placed on the rear deck of a construction truck. These devices have the disadvantage of a very large footprint with a large floor area, which can be constraining on a site of small dimensions. Moreover, the presence of transfer devices of the products to be mixed is another disadvantage by increasing manufacturing and maintenance costs, and by increasing the risk of breakdowns.

In order to overcome these drawbacks, more compact preparation devices have already been devised thanks to an improved arrangement of the elements. The feed means of the mixer are then arranged directly above it, and the mixer is located close to the ground. For a convenient and efficient supply of the mobile dump, transfer means make it possible to raise the mixture prepared by the mixer up to a height of at least 1 m 50 to allow the pouring of said mixture into the mobile dump at the outlet of the means. transfer. These are commonly achieved through an endless screw generally rotating continuously in a guide tunnel. Therefore, site personnel must continually ensure that the mobile body is actually disposed at the exit of the transfer means at the time of evacuation of the prepared mixture, which is particularly restrictive.

Some variants of such devices cause a stop of the transfer means of the prepared mixture when the mobile body is absent. Nevertheless, these stops have repercussions on the level of the mixer by compulsory idle time not to supply the means of transfer at a standstill. It is obvious that these frequent stops lowers the average flow rate of the mixture preparation device.

Object of the invention

The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a compact preparation device, simple design and inexpensive, simplified use, and having a continuous flow.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the preparation device comprises an upper waiting hopper arranged, in a position of use, in the upper part of the frame, said upper waiting hopper having an orifice of filling permitting continuous admission of the mixture from the transfer means, and an exhaust outlet controlled to vary between an open position allowing the supply of the dispensing area and a closed position.

Such an upper hopper makes it possible to collect the mixture coming from the transfer means as long as the mobile bin is not located near the distribution zone. The feeding of the distribution zone by the upper hopper is authorized for example when the mixture prepared and stored is in sufficient quantity and / or in the presence of the mobile dump. The control of this power supply is done manually or automatically. In parallel, the feeding of the upper hopper can be done continuously, so that the mixer and the transfer means have a regular operation, free of dead time, regardless of the presence or absence of the mobile bin near the distribution area.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transfer means comprise a lifting system for moving the mixer between a lower position in which it extends in the lower part of the chassis below the supply means, and an upper position in which said mixer is able to dump its contents into the upper hopper.

Such transfer means of the prepared mixture have the advantage of being simple and inexpensive with respect to the transfer means used in the known devices, namely worm or conveyors, for example treadmills. This arrangement also provides an improvement in the quality of the mixture leaving the dispensing zone by reducing the passage time of the mixture in the device before the exit of the transfer means. In the device according to the invention, this time is substantially equal to the mixing time required to obtain the desired consistency and homogeneity, since the mixing is carried out simultaneously with the transfer. With the devices of the prior art, the passage time of the mixture in the preparation device before leaving the transfer means was equal to the sum of the mixing time and the transfer time.

In addition, the characteristics of the mixture poured into the upper hopper are those that said mixture has at the output of the mixer, contrary to the prior art: in the known devices, the characteristics of the mixture prepared by the mixer were likely to change during transfer to the distribution zone, for example because of a beginning of drying or a variation of consistency and / or homogeneity.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective avant d'un exemple de dispositif de préparation conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective arrière du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente la face arrière du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective arrière du dispositif de la figure 1, le malaxeur étant en position intermédiaire,
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective arrière d'une deuxième variante de réalisation de dispositif selon l'invention.

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary preparation device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 represents the rear face of the device of FIG.
• FIG. 4 is a partial rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, the mixer being in the intermediate position,
• FIG. 5 is a view from above of the device of FIG. 1,
• Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Description of particular embodiments

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a device 10 for preparing a mixture of aggregates and cement comprises a frame 11 composed of a lower frame 12 resting on the ground and from which extend a plurality of vertical uprights 13 interconnected by cross members 14 to 18 at their upper end to form a rigid assembly.

The products necessary for the mixture are introduced into a mixer 19 integral with a carriage 20 adapted to translate along two parallel guide rails 21a and 21b, integral with the frame 11. The two slides 21a and 21b s' extend in an oblique direction and the translation of the carriage 20 is achieved by a lifting system 22 for moving the mixer 19 between a lower position (not shown in Figures 1 to 5) in which it extends in the lower part of the frame 11, and an upper position (shown in Figures 1 to 3). In the upper position, the mixer 19 extends above the level of the cross members 14 to 18. Figure 4 shows the mixer 19 in the intermediate position.

The mixer 19 is composed of a tank 23 of cylindrical shape, provided with an upper loading orifice 24 formed in the side wall of the cylinder. The tank 23 is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis connected to the carriage 20 and allowing a tilting movement for the spilling of its contents into a top hopper 25 (Figure 3). The vessel 23 contains mobile mechanical stirring means (not shown) comprising agitators driven in rotation about an axis coaxial with the axis of pivoting of the vessel 23. A first electric geared motor unit 26 allows the controlled tilting of the vessel 23 along its pivot axis and a second geared motor unit 27 drives the rotating stirring means. The two geared motor groups 26 and 27 are respectively disposed at the opposite ends of the tank 23 and are integral with the carriage 20.

In the lower position, the mixer 19 is located below two weighing hoppers 28 and 29 secured to the upper part of the frame 11. More specifically, their filling orifices respectively referenced 28a and 29a extend in the plane defined by the sleepers 14 to 18. Their discharge holes are located at half height of the frame 11 and are controlled by a control device (not shown). The weighing hopper 28 has two separate compartments for receiving two types of aggregates from, for example, bucket conveyors (not shown). The weighing hopper 29 is intended to receive the cement required for mixing and coming for example from a storage hopper resting on the crosspieces 14 and 18.

In the lower position of the mixer 19, the upper loading orifice 24 of the tank 23 is located below the discharge openings of the weighing hoppers 28 and 29 so that the aggregates and the cement fall by gravity into the tank 23. during the passage of the discharge openings in the open position. The control device manages and regulates the feed of the mixer 19 according to a programmer set by the user. The programmer indicates to the control device the desired amount of mixing per cycle of the mixer 19. The control device accordingly controls the admission of the products into the weighing hoppers 28 and 29 and the opening of the outlets for evacuating the hoppers. weighing 28 and 29.

In the example of FIGS. 1 to 5, the lifting system 22 comprises a third geared motor unit 30 whose output shaft, parallel to the axis of pivoting of the tank 23, drives a toothed wheel 31. toothed wheel 32 secured to a horizontal transmission shaft 33 rotatably mounted relative to the carriage 20. Each end of the transmission shaft 33 is provided with a toothed wheel 34 meshing on a rack 35a, 35b integral with a slideway guide 21a, 21b. The carriage 20 comprises two pairs of rollers 36 mounted to roll within the first set of guide rails 21a, 21b. Other lifting systems 22 may be envisaged such as, for example, a winch secured to the upper part of the frame 11 and actuating a traction cable hooked to the carriage 20 (see Figure 6).

The upper hopper 25 can vary between a position of use (FIGS. 1 to 3) projecting from the frame 11 and a retracted position (see FIG. 6) for storing the chassis 11 at the bottom, next to the mixer 19. It is slidably mounted, by means of a carriage or not, along a second set of guide rails 37a, 37b extending parallel below the first set of guide rails 21a, 21b. Any type of adapted slide can be envisaged for the two sets of guide rails 21a, 21b, 37a, 37b. In some embodiments, the exhaust port 38 of the upper hopper 25 is remotely operable by a remote control device. In the use position, the upper hopper 25 is supported by two legs 39 integral with the frame 11, for example respectively on a vertical post 13 according to a pivot joint.

A second variant embodiment of a preparation device 10 is shown in FIG. 6, in combination with a cement storage hopper 41 placed in abutment on the cross-members 14 and 18. The hopper of FIG. storage 41 supplies the weighing hopper 29 through its feed port 29a. In this variant, the two sets of guide rails 21a, 21b, 37a, 37b extend inside the frame 11 for a gain in compactness. The lifting system 22 comprises a winch 42 for actuating a cable connected to the carriage 20. The winch 42 is secured to the upper part of the frame 11, at the rear of the latter. In Figure 6, the mixer 19 is in the lower position and the upper hopper 25 is in retracted storage position.

Whatever the embodiment variant, and not shown, the preparation device 10 may include an additional lifting system allowing the upper hopper 25 to translate along two additional parallel guiding slides, integral with the frame 11. These two slides extend in an oblique direction and the translation of the waiting hopper 25 allows to selectively move between the use position and a lifting position in which it extends widely above the frame 11, for example 2 meters from the upper cross members 14 to 18, and offset from the frame 11, that is to say without being vertical. For example these additional slides may consist of an extension of the guide rails 37a, 37b. On the other hand, like the lifting system 22, the additional lifting system can be of any type, as well as the additional slides. Such an arrangement makes it possible to guarantee that the evacuation orifice 38 can be positioned in line with transport trucks of the delivered products, such as, for example, dump trucks, lifting trucks or top trucks.

The operation of a preparation device 10 according to the invention is as follows: the operator acts on the programmer to adjust the amount of mixing desired at each cycle of the mixer 19. The weighing hoppers 28 and 29 are then filled with the corresponding amount of cement and aggregates such as lime, sand or gravel with variable grain size. At the beginning of the cycle, the mixer 19 is in the lower position. During the passage of the outlets of the weighing hoppers 28 and 29 in the open position, the products required for mixing fall by gravity into the mixer 19 through the upper loading orifice 24. A feed ramp ( not shown) of liquid products such as water or admixtures is provided to deliver these products in the mixer 19. The weighing hoppers 28 and 29 and the feed ramp belong to the feed means AM of the mixer 19, discharging in a regulated manner and dosed the products necessary for the mixture to be prepared.

The mixing means of the mixer 19 are then rotated by actuation of the second geared motor unit 27. This operation can be extended simultaneously with the movement of the mixer 19 to the upper position thanks to the lifting system 22. According to the variants, this The mixer 19 is moved as soon as the second geared motor unit 27 is actuated or after a predetermined time delay. Simultaneously, the weighing hoppers 28 and 29 are filled again, waiting for a new cycle of the mixer 19.

When the mixture is prepared and the mixer 19 is in the upper position, the tank 23 switches by actuation of the first gear motor unit 26 and the mixture flows into the upper hopper 25 through the upper loading port 24. The filling port 40 of the hopper 25 continuously allows admission of the mixture from the mixer 19. Its outlet port 38 is in the closed position. The upper hopper 25 provides storage means ST of the prepared mixture.

The vacuum mixer 19 then moves to the lower position, and the tank 23 again pivots on itself until the original configuration, these two operations are performed simultaneously or in any order. A new cycle of the mixer 19 can then begin.

The lifting system 22 and the mixer 19 itself constitute TR transfer means of the prepared mixture up to the upper waiting hopper 25. Without departing from the scope of the invention, other transfer means TR may be used such as treadmill conveyors or guiding tunnels comprising inside a worm for driving the prepared mixture. In the two previous cases, the mixer 19 is fixed in the lower position.

The discharge port 38 of the upper hopper 25 is controlled to vary between an open position and a closed position. The open position authorizes the pouring of the stored mixture for its distribution through the discharge orifice 38. The space located below the discharge orifice thus constitutes a distribution zone D of the mixture prepared by the preparation device 10, whose power supply is controlled. The passage in the open position, performed manually or automatically, is authorized under predetermined conditions, for example when the mixture prepared and stored is in sufficient quantity and / or in the presence of a mobile body. A control device (not shown) of the discharge port 38 of the upper hopper 25 can be provided for this purpose, to interact also with the remote control device.

In the prior art, the mobile dump (not shown) should be located near the distribution zone D at each cycle of the mixer 19 at the moment when the prepared mixture reached said zone D. The preparation device 10, thanks to the upper hopper 25, reduces the number of rotation of the crane (not shown) supporting the mobile bucket, which provides a significant gain of time and energy.

Finally, the mixer 19 can be of any known type. The person skilled in the art can also envisage an automation system (not shown) integrated in the preparation device 10, making it possible to control and control the programmer, the control device of the feed means AM of the mixer 19, and possibly the device for controlling the discharge orifice 38 of the upper hopper 25.

Claims (9)

Device for preparing (10) a mixture of aggregates and cement, especially for the production of concrete or mortar, comprising a rigid frame (11) supporting: - a mixer (19) fed by feed means (AM) discharging by gravity the products required for said mixture in a controlled manner, - a distribution zone (D) of the prepared mixture, arranged in the upper part of the frame (11), and transfer means (TR) of the prepared mixture up to the distribution zone (D), characterized in that it comprises an upper hopper (25) arranged in a position of use in the upper part of the frame (11), said upper hopper (25) having a filling opening ( 40) continuously allowing admission of the mixture from the transfer means (TR), and a discharge orifice (38) controlled to vary between an open position allowing feeding of the distribution zone (D) and a closed position. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transfer means (TR) comprise a lifting system (22) for moving the mixer (19) between a lower position in which it extends in the lower part of the frame (11). ) below the feed means (AM), and an upper position in which said mixer (19) is adapted to dump its contents in the upper hopper waiting (25). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the mixer (19) is composed of a tank (23) containing mechanical means of movable stirring, and an upper loading port (24), the tank (23) being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis to dump its contents by tilting in the upper hopper (25). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mechanical stirring means comprise agitators driven in rotation about a horizontal axis. Device according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the mixer (19) is slidably mounted along at least one first guide rail (21a, 21b) by actuating the lifting system (22). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper hopper (25) is slidably mounted along at least one second guide rail (37a, 37b) to vary between the position use where it is projecting from the frame (11) and a retracted storage position at the bottom of the frame (11), next to the mixer (19). Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the outlet (40) of the upper hopper (25) is remotely operable. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed means (AM) of the mixer (19) comprise two weighing hoppers (28, 29) of the products necessary for mixing, said weighing hoppers (28, 29) delivering at each cycle of the mixer (19) a predetermined amount according to a programmer. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a lifting system for moving the upper hopper (25) between the use position and a lifting position above the frame (11). ).

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