US841273A - Concrete-mixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. L. C. ROBERTS.

CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE.

APMIGMION` FILED MAR.6.1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Sum/nto@ Witnesses No. 841,273. PATENTED JAN. I5', 1907 L. o. ROBERTS. CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE.

APPLGAT-ION FILED MAR.6,1906.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET '2.

.NNIMNL No. 841,273. PATENTBD JAN. l5, 1907.

L. C. ROBERTS. Y

CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAR.6,1906.

' 4 SHEBTS-SHBET a.

*wil eases w e n L w m UNITED sTATns BATENT OFFCE.

LEONARD o. ROBERTS, or Nonna, New YORK. AssieNOR or oNR-TmRD To san URL e. MCTARNAGHAN AND ONE-THIRD To WILLIAM H; JEFES,

BOTH OF FzlLLMORE, NEW YORK.

Speecation of Letters Patent. y

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed March 6. 1906. Serial No. 304.568.

lo (tl/l, zak/120771, t 'mfr/y concern:

Be it known that l', LEONARD C. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nunda, in the county of Livingston vand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful 'improvements in Concrete- Mixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention contemplates certain new xo and useful improvements in concrete-mixing machines of that type which are provided with three hoppers for sand, stone, and cement, respectively, and a mixing-drum designed to receive the ingredients 'from the hop` pers and to thoroughly commingle the same,` first in a dry state and then wet, the mixed materials bei-ng nally discharged. from the mixing-drum either in acontinuous vflow or in batches of predetermined quantities. l

The Aobject of my invention is to provide an improved mixing-machine of this character which will embody characteristics of strength, lightness, durability, and efficiency of operation and which will be compara- 2 5 tively cheap to construct, and the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

For a full description of the invention and' the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of` construction of. the means for effecting the result, reference is -to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, inzivhich'- Figure l is a side elevation of my improvedy concrete-mixing machine, partly broken away. F'g. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 4. 4 of Fig. 2. Fig.. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view illustrating the shafts of the mixing-drum and the mixing-shovels carried thereby. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the shovels, the arm carrying the same being shown in section. Fig. 7 is adetail perspective view illustrating the batch-chamber. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view ol' the series of independently-adjustable spring-arms, which together constitute a. yielding gate for the discharge endsjof the stone and sand hoppers.

wheels, as shown, and serves 'as a platform for a motor 2, which in the present instance is a .steam-engine of the 'vertically-ieciprocat-ing type fed with steam from a generator or boiler 3. Extending across the side bars of the framework in spaced relation to each other are two cross-bars 4 and 5 in the form of castings, secured to the side bars of the framework by bolts or the like. These crossvbars 4 and 5 constitute the main supports for the sand, stone, and cement trays for theone end ofthe mixing-drum and for the three hoppers of the machine.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that two semicireular plates 6 are arranged side by side between the cross-bars or castings 4 and 5, with their outer flanged 8o edges resting upon and. riveted or otherwise secured to said cross-bars. These semicircular plates 6 extend longitudinally and are preferably of sheet-steel or similar lightr and strong metal or material and constitute the troughs or trays for the sand and stone. The adjacent or inner edges of said plates receive between them the downwardly-extending [lange 8 of a Y-shaped sheet-steel trough or tray i), being bolted to said flange, as shown. 9o The tray Q, as seen in Fig. 3, is smaller than the trays formed by the plates 6 and is 1ocated between and somewhat above said plates and is intended for the cement. Each of the trays constituted by the plates 6 and E) may be, if desired, and preferably are, covered with sheet-steel linings 7, intended to receive the wear of the materials, so that when they are worn out by the abrasive action they may be renewed and replaced by others without the necessity of replacing the enti re tray.

i lVhile I have shown the cement-tray, as Well as the oth/er trays, as provided with one IOO that this particular ,tray be with the lining! 'A oasting 11 is mounted upon the crossbaror y"bracket and with' said-bar 'is providedlwith three lower `bearings'or boxes 12a, intended to receive shafts, and with'an upper half-boxing 13a. The hoppers are intended to be .supported directlyl over the 4pers (designated A, B, and C) are in the presi cross-bars 4 and 5, With their discharge ends .directly .oyertl1e.,trays,7 and 8; The hopent instance composed of six pieces of suitably light and strong sheet-steel, which produt-.es a rigid structure which is possessed of the-[desirable 'characteristic of lightness.

Thesefsix pieces comprise two side plates 12,

edd platesl I13,v and: Aintermediate plates .14. The side'pl'ates 12 kare each provided with outwardly-extending angular ends 15,' and oneiof said side plate's is recessed-on its lower edgeto accurately fit the contour ofthe up' per edge of the casting 11, as best seen in Fig.

4, saidplate being directly thus supported on said.casting'.I The other side -plate is of exactly the' sameshap'e as-'fthe side'A plate sup.-

A portedon the castingl 1.; but its lower edge .stamped in riesame Share S0 t the f "outwardly-diverging vends of provides lfeed-openings'for the material to discharge fromthe hoppers into the mixingdrurr1`,'as bestse'enin'Fi'g. 3. This construction;'enablesbothbfthe side lates to be fiat by bending the ends' in opposite Adirections they may be used for either side .of the hop er con- "struction and the same dies used for oth. yThe end plates 13 are secured inv lace to the side lates by being flanged therearound and 4` tilted thereto, asf-best seen in Fig. 2. The intermediate platesjli are secured to the oppositev side yplates and extend acrossthe same with their lower endsconverging and spaced fromv 'each other to meetthe opposite edges fthe' tray 9, for .which they constitute thei 'seen that the hoppers' A and B, that are "inyter'ided'f'or vsand and stone, are each provide-'d` 'with a transversely-widened mouth lportiom I "enablingfthe 'wheell arrows to rea ly disl charge their contents intofsaid hoppers, and

that 'the intermediate hopperAC-'for the 'ceto lrefceiv'e Iits'contents an elevating-conveyer or anfel'evated' platform `would be necessary. 'Hence the' operation of discharging' the in- 'gredie'ntsV into the hoppers is'facilitated.

" 1n each' of the trays' 6 there is mounted a conveyer' infthe form of'a worm 16, mounted b'ri ash'aft 17, and inl 'the tray 9 there is mounted a conveyer composed of a series of blades 1 8; mounted upon a Yshaft y21, which also forms f' A'B y'fthe arrangementA described it will bef-'- of'these linings, v) do not dee-11iTiff",necessary?.iThe'shafts 17 .and 19 extend'outthroughthe boxes 12a, in which they are journaled, while the shaft 1-9 extends" out through-the halfboxing 13 of thecasting 11.y The ends of the said sh'afts are also journaled v in a.- cross-bar .or casting. 20, .provided with suitable boxings therefor,v and theboxing for the s haft 19 is formed in a vertically-extending standard ing of thethree on t ebracket orI cross-bar ,20, asbest seen in Fig. 4. In connection' with ythese three shafts-namely, the two shafts "17 andthe shaft 19-there is, another shaft, (desig`nated22,) which is .the main shaft ofthe machine and is connected at one end t'o they driving-shaft of the motor v2, as seen in Fig. 2. The shaft 22 is journaled inthe middle boxing of the three formed inthe crossbar 20, (shown in Fig. 4,) and it also passes through and is journal'ed in the middle boxing 121- of the castings 5 and 11. (Shown in Fig'. 10.) At its opposite end the shaft 22-is qiournaled in a boxing in an end cross-bar 23.

(Shown best in Fig. 2.) The shaft 22 is prol vided with a loose pinion 24, meshing with a similar pinion 25 on one of the shafts 17, `and itmay be coupled to itsy pinion24 by means of a clutch 26. y Each of the shafts1 7 and 19 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 27, and a sprocket-chain 28-extends around all three 'sprocket-wheels. By this arrangement as the shaft 22 is rotated by the motor 2 it will drive one of the shafts 17 by means ofthe pinions 24 and 25, and the said driven shaft 17 will in turn drive the other two shafts 17 and 19 by means. of the sprocket wheels and chain.

part of the middle box- IOOv The material fed into the hoppers passe: i

into the bottoms of the hoppers constituted bythe three trays before described and by means of the revolving conveyers is carried f outwardly into the receiving end of the mix;- ing-drur'n 29, which is preferably of sheetsteel and is suitably supported in the framework 1 in a longitudinal position therein.

ln order to insure accuracy of feed, l provide a'spring-ate for the discharge ends of thek `hoppers and B, that are intended for the -'-Sandand-stne, said gate acting to properly crowd the materials down into t e conveyers to insure that the feed will be maintained at a.. uniform rate. This spring-gate, as best seen in Figs. 38, and 9, is composed oftwo lseries of vertically-extending spring-steel bars 30, the lower ends of which are curved to conform tothe cross-sectional contour 0f the conveyers. These spring-bars are all held with their lower ends slightly spaced from the upper Sides of the conveyers and below the lower edge of the rearniost side plate of thehopper construction, as best seen' in Fig. 3, by means of a transverse clamping` bar 31, which extends vacross the outer sides of the bars 30 neary their upper ends, and by means of bolts 32 .A extending between every IIS two bars and secured to tlie reariiiost end )late of the hopper construction, securely binds all of said bars in the proper position and at th:` same. time provides mea-ns whereby any one ol' the bars may be adjusted verticall independently ol the others or maybe removed and replaced by a fresh bar should any ol the bars become broken or need repair. As shown best in Fig. il, the inner side ol the castiiigllis provided with curved llanges 33, so that the material fed into the trays will not work into the beaings of the shafts t7, because said' tlanges 33 extend around the upper sides of the conveyors at one end thereol'.

The shaft 22: in addition to being the driving-shaft for the conveying mechanism that feeds the materials to the mixing-drum, is the shaft which carries the mixing devices. These in the present instance comprise shovels 34, carried on the ends of radial arms 35, which are secured to the shaft in any desired manner, as by the socket-pieces 35". As best seen in Fig.v 2, the shovels are arranged in a. pnrality of longitudinally-extending series, the slioves of one series being staggereil with reationto the other series. Each of the shovels 34 is of peculiar formation, as best seen in Fig. 6. Each shovel comprises two wings 36, extending on opposite sides ot" the arm 3.5, the rearmost Wing being approximately twice aslarge as the foremost wing, or that wing which is adjacent the receiving end of the mixing-drum. Each wing is slightly bent upwardly at its outer edge, as indicated at 37, and each wing is further provided at its rear corneror end with aportion slightly bent up, as indicated at 38. By means of this particular construc- X tion of shovel as the shovels revolve in the drum they will catch up the material and throw it inwardly away from the wall of the drum instead of scraping it alongsaid wall,

`while at the same timea large portion of the material acted upon by each shovel will be thrown rearwardly toward the discharge end of the drum, while the remainder will be thrown in the reverse direction toward the leed end or receiving end of the drum, so as to he acted upon again by the same shovel and succeeding.shovels llence it will be,

seen that a thorough coiiimingling ol' the iii-- gredieiits will be ell'ected, because the shovels f will not. scrape the material 1ear\\"a.rdly along the walls ol the drum. but will throw it upwardly and toward tlie center, where it will be caught by the succeeding shovel and a. thorough back-and-l'ortli agitation ellected.

ni.-it,er`ials are eommiiigled in a. dry state and then are preferably mixed wet by means ol a spray -pipe Bt), which may supply steam or water.

.\t the discharge end ol the mixing-drum l have provided a. batch-chamber, which in the present instance is composed of a sheetmetal angular body 40, boltedlto the end of' the drum and projected outwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2. The said body is intended to contain a batch of concrete ci predetermined size-say one-half of a yard* and is priniarilyintended for the top dressing. It is rectangular in shape, as shown, and is provided ,with abottom-discliarge opening the side walls oi which .are inclined. An end gate 4l is hinged at opposite sides bynieans of ears and studs to the opposite sides of the body portion 4() and is provided with an angular lower portion 42, terminating in a forwardly-extending angular edge 43. The end gate 4i may be swung toward the body portion and away fromthe same to close and open the discharge end of the body portion the end gate 41 is held in an open position, so

that the mixed materials may be. continuously discharged through the mouth o r disv charge-opening of the hatch-chamber ,1 but when it 1s desired'to operate the machine as a batch-miXer-#for top dressing, for instancethe end gate 41 is closed. By means of the angular portion 42 of the end gate with its angular edge 68 the closing movement of the end gate will bring said edge 43 underneath and past the lower rear edge of the mixing-drum, or rather the lower rear edge of the body portion 4() of the batch-chamber, with a somewhat shearing action, and this action will result in forcing the material upward and backward int-o the mixing-drinn and will avoid any clogging such as would result if it were atten'ipted to close the end gate merely with an abutting act-ion against the body portion of the liatcb-chamber.

As it is important that the top dressing shall contaiuiio lumpy substances and as such substances by their own weight tend to l lie along the bottom of the mixing-drum, I

l l l i g closure 47 iii a direction to close the lower .'\t thtI receiving end ol the mixing-drum the end of the opening iirst and thence. to the upperend, the closing movement being effected in an upward direction. Hence as the closure 47 is turned upwardly to close the opening 46 its advancing edge in the closing action will sweep upwardly through the outpouring materials and assist the easy closing IOO IIC

'of the said closure 47, Whereas if the closure l ,l 47 turned in tend: to clog".

y an' opposite direction it Would Asbest seenin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and as above described, the conveyer forr the cement embodiesl Va, seriesv of angular blades 18, mounted upon the shaft 19, insteadof a continuous Wormer screw. By the provision of a conveyer ofthisA character for the cement it is manifes'tjthat no matter how lumpy the cement maybe When it is received for action by the blade conveyer, as' it is most liable to be'luinpy in damp weather, for instance, the blades bein separatey from each other Willi effectively c o the cement and insure that 'it shall be disc arged into the mixing-drum in a comminuted or lulverized condition. i

Having` thus described the invention, what is claimed as newjisl y 1.y In a concrete-mixing machine, a mixing-drum, a shaft mounted yto rotate in said drum and extending lon itudinally thereof, arms extending radially arranged in a plurality ,of longitudinally-extending series the armslof one series' being vstaggered Wit relation to lthe arms o'fl the other series, `means for turning said shaft, and shovels on the outer :endof eachl arm, each"shovel embodying tWo oppositely-ex-I tending curvedwings of different sizes, Where` by a portion of the material acted upon by each shovel Willbe thrown inwardly and rear- Wardly for successive action thereon by. the same shovel, While the remainder of the material `acted upon by said shovel will be sapeva 'thrown in theo posite direction toward thel nextshovel oft e adjacent series.

2. In a concrete-mixing machine, the com- I lar edge flange, designed toL shutv across the oWer edge of the body portion, as and for the 4 purpose set forth.

3. In a concrete-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-drum,` mixing demixing devices,o'f a batch-chamber comprising a body portion` secured to and .projected from the rear end of themiXing-drum,

` -an end gate for said bodyy portion and deom said shaft and f signed -t0 close a discharge-opening therein,

"said end gate being formed with. a draw-ofi" opening, and a closure for said open1ng, sa1d closure being ,designed to close the opening from the lower end ofthe same, toward its upper end, as-and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof fl allx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

vices therein, and ymeanslfor actuating the LEONARD o. ROBERTS. [L 5,1, i A

' Witnesses: v

SAMUEL G, MCTARNAGHAN, WILLIAM H. JEFFs,

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