US1394160A - foote - Google Patents

Description

. Patented Oct: 18,

C. E. FOOTE.

POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE MIXERS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1920.

3 SHEET$-SHEET 1.

Inventor.

Char es E'lEbpte,

. c. E. FOOTE. POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE MIXERS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1920. 1,394,160. 7 1 atented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHE 2.

4 Invenzar:

Chaclesullihote,

c. E. FOOTE. POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONQRETE MIXERS.

APPLICATIQN FILED OCT. 1 1.920- 1,394,160. Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Inventor:

Chaz-Zes E 101012;,

I wfiw/ l j f UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. F OO'IE, 0F NUNDA, NEW? YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOOTE COMPANY, OF NUNDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

POWER-OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE-MIXERS.

To (1Z2 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLns E. FooTE, a citizen ofthe United States residing at Nunda, in the county of Livingston and State-of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- Operated Discharge Mechanism for Concrete-Mixers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in power operated discharge mechanism for concrete mixers and has for an object to provide a device that is .ex tremely. simple in construction and exceedingly efiicient in operation. I

As is well known to those familiar with the art some means has to be provided for operating the discharge mechanism of the mixer, that is when the mixer is of the type wherein the mixing drum is not tiltable, and this discharging means is generally manually operated and necessitates no little effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of my invention therefore is to provide a discharge mechanism that is operated wholly by power derived from the engine of the mixer, it being simply necessary to move or operate a hand lever, thereby bringing certain parts into cooper-avtion with a constantly revolving gear which will automatically revolve the discharge chute to its open or discharging position while a return of the lever to its former po sition will automatically {return the discharge chute to its closed position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a power operated discharge such that may be used with a discharge chute that is mounted at its one end in the opening of the mixing drum and which extends inwardly, upwardly and at a slight angle to the opening; and to provide means for automatically revolving this chute so that it will catch and discharge the tumbling mixture, or on the other hand be automatically revolved so that the mixture will continue to rise and fall in the drum rather than fall in thechute until the chute is again revolved to its discharging position.

With these and other objects in view which will be disclosed as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain new and novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter more Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed October 1, 1920. Serial 110. 414,065.

fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing a referred form of my invention;

i ure 1 is a front view of a portion of the mixer and of the power operated discharge mechanism, the chute being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view after the discharge mechanism has been operated the discharge chute beingshown in its open position;

F ig.-3 is a Side elevation showing a part of the mixer, the discharge chute being shown in its open position;

Fig. 4: is a front view of the spout of the discharge chute;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, a part broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same.

It might be here mentioned that only that part of the mixer is shown that is thought necessary to illustrate the location and operation of the power operated discharge mechamsm.

Referring now more in detail to the several figures there is shown a support in the form of a cross beam 1, one of two standards or uprights 2, a top cross beam 3 and a mixing drum at which drum is supported on the usual rollers 5. The drum is provided with the usual ring gears 6 and 7, ring gears 6 being driven by an intermediate gear 6 mounted on astub shaft 8, which shaft is mounted in the bearing 8 secured on one of the cross beams 1, the gear 6 being operated by a pinion secured to the end of the main countershaft 61, which shaft is mounted in a bearing 62 located on the cross beam 1. The stub shaft 8 revolves at all times that the mixer drum is operating. The other ring gear 7 is operated also by an intermediate gear and pinion (not shown) from the countershaft 61. On the end of the stub shaft 8 is a small gear 9 that re volves the discharge chute as will shortly be described. A countershaft 8 is shown which is driven at all times that the mixing is in operation and on the end of this shaft is a small gear 9-that revolves the discharge chute as will be hereinafter more fully described. r

A portion of a center cross beam 10 is shown which beam is secured to the uprights 2 and on this beam is secured the hanger 11 in which is mounted the shaft 12 the shaft extending centrally of the discharge opening 13 of the mixing drum 4.

Pivotally mounted on this shaft 12 is the discharge chute 14 which comprises the forward end or spout 15 on which a hub 16 is formed and behind the hub is the upwardly extending flange 17 having the groove 18 formed therein for the reception of the counter-weight arm 19 on which is mounted the weight 20.

As will be noticed in the several figures the spout is sharply flared and riveted to the rear portion thereof is the pan or trough 21 which extends upwardly, inwardly and at an. angle to the opening of the mixing drum as shown in Fig. 3-111 dotted hnes the pan being supported at its rear end by the arm 22 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 2 1- in a suitably supported bearing 24'.

Referring now to the mechanism for operating the discharge chute, it will be seen that the gear 9 on the constantly revolving stub-shaft 8 extends within a gear rack 25 which rack is provided with the sets of teeth 26 and 27 which are disposed on the opposite sides of the rack and in staggered re lation to each other. Formed on the top of this rack is the integral arm 28 in which is pivoted the one arm 29 of a bell crank 30 which crank is conveniently mounted on the shaft 31 in the bearing 32. Connected at one end to the other arm 33 of the bell crank is the angularly bent connecting bar or strap 34 which bar is pivoted at its other end to the aforementioned weight arm 19.

At one. side of the gear rack 25 is pivotally secured the clamp 35 which is designed to be slidingly mounted on the vertically extending slide bar 36 which is slightly bent near its upper end as at 37 the upper end of this bar being pivotally connected to the arm 88 of the operating lever 39, which lever is mounted on the bracket 4-0 secured on the upright or standard 2.

For the purpose of flexibility and for keeping the gear 9 in proper mesh with the teeth 26 Or 27 while operating the discharge chute la the lower end of the slide bar is pivoted to the short link 41 which in turn is oivoted to the lug 4.2 on the support 43. It is to he noticed that the length of the rack 25 is such that when it travels from its one limit to the other by contact with the gear 9 the discharge chute will revolve from its open position to its closed position or vice versa.

A. handle .44 is shown secured to the spout l5 and to the weight arm 19 so that the chute may be manually operated if the machine is not running or if for any other reason desired.

The operation of the device is exceedingly simple as will be seen from the following:

Presupposing that the mixer is in operation and the discharge chute 14 is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 1, the material being mixed will revolve in the drum 4 until it nearly approaches the top thereof where it will then fall to the bottom of the drum, the trough or pan 21 failing to catch any of the material as it extends when in this position to the left of the center of the drum and is so turned that the bottom of the pan is disposed to the falling material. After the material has been mixed to the proper consistency and it is desired to discharge the drum. a movement of the handle 39 rear wardlv (Fig. 2) will force the slide bar 37' inwardly so that the teeth 26 will engage the teeth of the revolving gear 9. As this gear 8) is revolving in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) it will force the gear rack 25 downwardly on the slide bar 37 and through the bell crank 30 and the strap 34 revolve the chute to its open position as shown in Fig. 2 thereby forcing the pan 21 to a central position in the drum which will now catch the falling material and which material will be discharged through the central opening 13 and out of the spout 15. When operating the lever 39 the slide bar 37 will also raise, it being connected at its lower end as heretofore mentioned to the pivotal link 4-1. The

rack 25 is of such length that when it is in its uppermost or lowermost position the gear 9 may be free to revolve without contacting with either of the teeth 26 or 27. The parts will now be in a position as shown in Fig. 2 and when it is desired to again close the drum it is only necessary to force the lever 39 to its former position which throws the teeth 27 in this instance in mesh with the gear 9 which will force the rack upwardly which in turn revolves the discharge chute l t to its closed position'the pan or trough now extending to the left and the bottom disposed to the falling mixture.

Should it be desired for any reason when the drum is not revolving to turn the discharge chute to its open position the handle 39 may be moved slightly so that the gear 9 would be disposed centrally of the teeth 26 and 27 and out of contact therewith when the hand lever 44: may be then forced downwardly.

In a separate application filed of even date herewith T have shown a somewhat similar construction as used with a pivotally mounted chute.

From the foregoing it will be seen that T have provided means for operating the discharge by power which will greatly lighten the labor of the operator while at the same time I have provided an arrangement that is highly eflicient in service and positive in operation. It is to be understood that many changes might be made without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a discharge chute extending within nism for rotary drum concrete mixers, comprising a movably mounted chute extending into the drum of the mixer and at an angle to the central axis thereof, a rotating gear for said drum, means connected to said chute and having on its opposite side means for moving the same when brought into contact with said gear to thereby brin the same to its operativeland inoperative positions.

3. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a chute adapted to be moved into and out of operating position, a continuously revolving gear for said drum, a. rack connected to said chute and provided with two sets of teeth and in staggered relation, means for forcing either set of teeth of said rack into cooperation with said gear to thereby raise and lower said rack to move said chute to its operative and inoperative positions.

4. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a rotatably mounted chute extending into the drum of the mixer and at an angle to the opening therein, a continuously revolving gear for said drum, a rack connected to said chute and normally out of contact with said gear and means for forcing the rack into contact with said gear to thereby revolve the chute to catch the tumbling material and discharge the same.

5. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a rotatably mounted discharge chute extending through an opening in the drum and disposed at an angle to the central axle of the drum, a continuously revolving gear for said drum, a rack connected to said chute provided with two sets of teeth, one. on each side, means for forcing the gear into contact with the teeth on one side of the rack to move the chute to its discharging position and to then force the teeth on the opposite side of the rack into mesh w1th the said gear to thereby move the chute to its closed or inoperative position.

6. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a movably mounted discharge chute extending within the drum of the mixer, a continuously revolving gear for said drum. a slide bar, a rack slidingly mounted on said slide bar, means connecting said chute with said rack, a set of teeth on each side of said rack, a lever connected to said slide bar to move said rack so that when one set of teeth engage said gear the rack will be forced downwardly to move the discharge chute to its operative position, and so that when the rack is again moved the other set of teeth will engage the gear to force the rack upwardly and thereby move the chute to its closed or inoperative position.

7. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a rotatably mounted discharge chute, a suitably positioned bell crank, a bar connecting said chute with one of the arms of said bell crank, a pivotally mounted gear rack on the other arm of said bell crank and provided with sets of teeth on its opposite sides, a slide bar pivotally mounted at its lower end and said gear rack slidingly mounted on said bar, a continuously revolving gear extending within said rack and out of mesh with both sets of teeth when said rack is in its upper and lowermost positions, means connected to said slide bar to force the rack inwardly and outwardly to selectively engage either of the said sets of teeth to thereby raise and lower the rack and revolve the chute to its operative and inoperative positions.

8. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixers comprising a movably mounted discharge chute, said chute extending up into the drum of themixer, a gear for said drum rack and means operatively connecting said chute with said rack, a slide bar pivotally mounted at its lower end and a lever for moving said slide bar pivoted to its upper end, said gear rack slidingly mounted on said bar, a continuously revolving gear extending within said rack, two sets of teeth on said rack and so positioned that the gear is out of mesh with both sets of teeth when said rack is in its upper and lowermost positions, and engaging one set of teeth when said lever is forced outwardly to thereby lower the rack and force the chute to its discharging or operative position and to engage the other set of teeth when said lever is moved inwardly to thereby raise the rack and force the chute to its inoperative position.

9. In combination, a mixer drum, means for rotating said drum, a chute supported at each of its ends and leading from said drum, means connected with said chute and detachably connected with said drum rotating means, and manually operated means for adjustably connecting said connecting means with said drum rotating means for partially rotating said chute in either of two opposite directions.

10. A power operated discharge mechanism for concrete mixers comprising a rotatably mounted discharge chute extending within the drum of the mixer, upwardly inclined and also normally inclined at an angle to the central axis of the mixing drum, a continuously revolving gear, a slide bar, :1

rack slidingly mounted on said slide bar, means connecting said chute with said rack, a set of teeth-on each side of said rack, a lever connected to said slide bar to move said rack so that when one set of teeth engage said gear the rack will be forced downwardly to revolve the discharge chute to its operative position, and so that when the rack is again moved the other set of teeth will engage the gear to force the rack upwardly and thereby revolve the chute to its closed or inope 'ative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. FOQTE.

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