EMPTYING MECHANISM FOR A CONCRETE SKIP WITH A RECYCLING CUP FOR GREASE LETTER

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for emptying (30) a concrete skip, said mechanism comprising a vertical conduit (34) of rectangular cross-section having on its rear face (70) a horizontal slot (68) receiving a flap (52) movable between a position in which it totally closes the passage (56) inside said conduit (34) and a position in which the flap (52) disappears in order to allow free flow of the concrete stream via said passage (56).The mechanism according to the invention comprises an external spoiler (66) in the form of a receptacle, the bottom (60) and the two sides (64) of which are integral with the rear face (70) of the conduit (34), the bottom (60) originating below the slot (68) and extending upwards to a level higher than that of said slot (68), the rear face (70) further having, between the origin of the bottom (60) of the receptacle (66) and the slot (68), a bore (62) opening into the internal passage (56) and into the receptacle (66) below the movable flap (52).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a dumping mechanism intended to be fixed under a construction site concrete skip, as well as a concrete skip equipped with such a dumping mechanism. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Some construction sites using concrete, for example for the building of structures or civil engineering works, employ skips with a large opening at the top to receive the concrete. This large opening sits above a truncated conical or truncated pyramidal hopper-shaped body whose sloping edges converge downwards to direct the concrete towards the center, where a chute equipped with a closing flap forms a hatch that can be operated by a site manager. The operation of this flap results in the free flow of concrete into a flexible pipe located beneath the chute, which carries the concrete to a formwork, also called a formwork panel, where the concrete is shaped as desired.

[0003] Concrete skips generally have at the top means of attachment allowing them to be suspended from a crane, to successively present them to the device delivering the concrete, which can be a mixer truck or a concrete plant installed on the site, and then to present them above the formwork receiving this concrete flowing from the flexible hose.

[0004] A type of discharge mechanism known in particular by document FR-A1-2850692, a document disclosing the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1, comprises an upper flange which is screwed under the hopper of the skip and which extends below by a short vertical conduit, having a rectangular cross-section.

[0005] A closing flap, pivoting around a horizontal axis positioned above the aforementioned conduit and operated by an external lever, enters the conduit through a slot cut into its side face. It then fits into the conduit's internal passage, completely closing it. In the open position, also known as the rest or open position, the flap retracts outwards, fully clearing the passage within the conduit and allowing the concrete from the skip body to be poured down.

[0006] The aforementioned vertical conduit is entirely housed within a protective, conical outer casing forming a funnel. This funnel has a wide upper opening, and its base extends into a circular lower passage connected to the discharge pipe that carries the concrete directly into the formwork. This funnel-shaped outer casing, which contains the drainage mechanism, allows for the collection of any leaks originating from this mechanism, particularly those from the slot in which the flap pivots during its back-and-forth movement.

[0007] The base of this vertical conduit has a perimeter substantially fitted to the inner surface of the conical envelope, this construction allowing to create a continuous flow surface of the concrete sliding in the conduit and then in the lower part of the funnel.

[0008] Furthermore, because the duct's fit on the inner surface of the casing reduces the gap between these two parts, splashing and concrete projections are minimized when the flap is opened. Indeed, a rapid descent of the concrete placed in the skip body can cause a sudden compression of the air inside the flexible discharge hose if the end of this hose is immersed in concrete already poured into the formwork, thus obstructing it. In this case, highly compressed air rises in the hose, which can project droplets of cement slurry outwards, causing splashing if they find a sufficiently large opening in the discharge mechanism's duct.

[0009] Such a phenomenon of lateral leakage of laitance around the emptying mechanism is observed in particular at the slot receiving the closing flap, which has the effect of causing a progressive filling, by laitance, of the receptacle formed by the conical protective envelope around the conduit, a receptacle which must be emptied manually when the skip is placed on the ground, for example by tilting this envelope.

[0010] Furthermore, the casing is a separate part of the emptying mechanism and therefore represents additional manufacturing costs; similarly, the special operations required to empty it take time and also entail additional costs.

[0011] Another known splash protection device consists of metal sheets forming a rear tray positioned below the drainage system, on the side of the slot for the movable flap, to collect the slurry flowing through this slot. This also requires an additional assembly forming such a tilting rear tray for emptying, which is necessarily bulky, and this emptying operation must be performed periodically. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention aims in particular to eliminate all the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0013] It therefore proposes for this purpose a mechanism for emptying a concrete skip whose body forms a hopper which, in the working position, is generally arranged vertically, said mechanism, intended to be fixed below said body, comprising a vertical conduit with a rectangular cross-section having on its rear face a horizontal slot receiving a flap which is movable between a so-called working or closed position, in which it totally obstructs the internal passage of said conduit, and a so-called rest or open position in which the flap retracts to allow free flow of the concrete stream through the internal passage of the conduit, said emptying mechanism being characterized in that it further comprises an external spout in the form of a receptacle whose bottom and two sides are integral with the rear face of the vertical conduit,the base originating below the slot and extending upwards to a level higher than that of said slot so that the receptacle thus formed is suitable for receiving the slurry flowing through this slot, the rear face of the vertical conduit further having, at its base between the origin of the base of the receptacle and the slot, a hole opening into the internal passage and into the receptacle below the movable flap.

[0014] One advantage of this drainage mechanism is that the spout is a compact, simple and economical element, which can easily be attached to the side of the drainage system to form the receptacle for the laitance leaks, which leaks are then, through the aforementioned drilling, automatically directed downstream of the movable flap towards the drain pipe located below.

[0015] Furthermore, in the event of overpressure of air in the drain pipe below the flap, when it is opened, this air can easily rise and escape through the hole to open into the receptacle formed by the spout, which then receives the projected drops of laitance, preventing their dispersion to the outside.

[0016] The emptying mechanism according to the invention may further include one or more of the following features, which may be combined

[0017] Advantageously, each of the two sides of the spoiler is formed by a rim which is substantially arranged in the extension of one of the two lateral faces, respectively left and right, of the vertical conduit.

[0018] In this construction, the upper contour of each of the two edges is adjusted to come just below the travel of the movable flap.

[0019] Advantageously, the vertical conduit is extended below by inclined lower planes converging towards the vertical axis of symmetry of said conduit.

[0020] In this case, the bottom of the outer spoiler can constitute a rearward extension of one of the lower inclined planes.

[0021] According to a preferred construction, the drilling between the spoiler and the internal passage in the duct is formed in the immediate vicinity of the base of the rear face of the duct.

[0022] Preferably, the movable flap consists of a sheet of metal, each lateral end of which is directly fixed to the base of a pivoting bar arranged on one side of this mechanism.

[0023] Preferably also, the movable flap pivots around a transverse horizontal axis arranged above this mechanism in a plane substantially median to the emptying mechanism.

[0024] According to yet another particularly advantageous construction, the drilling between the spoiler and the internal passage to the conduit is made in the form of a light which extends parallel to the slot.

[0025] The invention also has as its second object a concrete skip whose body forms a hopper which, in working position, is arranged generally vertically and which has at its base an opening equipped with an emptying mechanism made in accordance with any one of the preceding characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The detailed specifications of the invention are given in the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings. It should be noted that these drawings are intended solely to illustrate the text of the description and therefore do not in any way limit the scope of the invention.

[0027] In these drawings: THE Figures 1 and 2are perspective views, presented from two different angles, of a concrete skip equipped with an emptying mechanism according to the invention; the Figure 3 is a perspective view of the emptying mechanism according to the invention; the Figure 4 is a view of the rear side of this emptying mechanism; the Figure 5 is a view along the axial cutting plane VV of this same emptying mechanism, the movable flap of this mechanism occupying its so-called working or closed position; the Figure 6 is a detailed view of the receptacle of the emptying mechanism shown in the Figure 5 , and the Figures 7 and 8 are views identical to Figures 5 and 6 , the movable flap of the emptying mechanism now occupying its so-called rest or open position. OF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] THE Figures 1 and 2These two different perspectives represent a concrete skip 2 with a rectangular upper section made up of vertical sheets 4, which extend below into four inclined faces that form the lower and essential part of the skip's body 2, shaped like a hopper 6, here truncated pyramidal but which could also be truncated conical. The walls of this hopper 6 converge downwards at a central opening surrounded by a flat lower fixing flange 8, made from a very thick sheet, rectangular or square, pierced near its four corners with holes for the passage of bolt shanks or other components 28 intended for fixing a discharge mechanism.

[0029] In working position, the body of the skip 2 is generally arranged vertically, that is to say that in its center the concrete it contains flows vertically and that the vein of concrete which crosses the central opening of which the hopper is equipped at its lower part also flows vertically.

[0030] A dumping mechanism 30, fixed below the lower flange 8, includes a vertical control rod 32 disposed on one side of the body of the skip which will be referred to as the "front side" throughout the description and which, on the Figures 1 and 2 is indicated by the arrow marked "AV".

[0031] Traditionally, the top of the skip 2 has, in the middle of each of its front and rear faces, a vertical bar 18 whose upper end terminates in a lifting loop 10 designed to secure the skip to a crane. The upper opening of the skip 2 is closed on the left side by an inclined plate 20, and on each front and rear face by a vertical plate 22, leaving only the right side open for the concrete to enter 14.

[0032] In the example shown, the left side of the skip 2 receives a frame comprising two parallel support bars 12 which are arranged in a vertical plane, inclined towards the right side downwards, and which form a curve downwards to end in a part which is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and which is arranged below the emptying mechanism 30. The two support bars 12 are connected to each other at their lower ends by a reinforcing bar 16 forming an inverted "U" and they are also connected to each other, in their straight parts, by a stiffening plate 26 which extends to the trunk-pyramidal part of the body of the skip, slightly above the fixing flange 8.

[0033] The chassis allows the skip 2 to be placed on the ground with the crane, by tilting it to the side following the curve of its two support bars 12, in order to clean or store it while protecting its emptying mechanism 30 as well as the control device which it has in the lower part.

[0034] THE Figures 3 to 8present in more detail the emptying mechanism 30, which includes in a known way a vertical conduit 34 of rectangular section formed by four welded sheets which terminate at the top by a flat upper rectangular fixing flange 36 intended to be fixed, for example by four bolts 28 arranged in the corners, to the fixing flange 8 provided at the bottom of the hopper 6 of the skip 2, and which terminate at the bottom by an outlet 40 of circular section receiving on its outer contour a flexible concrete evacuation pipe 24 which will be held around the outlet conduit 40 by a clamping collar, in order to be able to adjust the lower end of the pipe 24 in a formwork or formwork into which the concrete contained in the skip 2 will be poured.

[0035] In the construction shown, the vertical conduit 34 extends downwards by four inclined planes 38 converging towards the vertical axis of symmetry 54 of said conduit 34, which planes 38 terminate with the vertical cylindrical outlet 40 provided to receive the concrete evacuation pipe 24.

[0036] In the middle of each of its lateral faces, respectively right and left, the vertical conduit 34 receives on the outside a fixed bar 42 which is welded and which rises vertically away from the axis 54 to escape the lower volume of the skip 2. A movable bar 44, arranged substantially parallel to each fixed bar 42, outside of it, is connected to said fixed bar by a top articulation with horizontal axis 46.

[0037] Each movable bar 44 has a wide base receiving a control arm 48 turned towards the front of the skip 2. The front ends of the two control arms 48 are connected by a crossbar 50 which receives in its middle the vertical control rod 32 allowing, by pulling on it, to rotate the movable bars 44 around the horizontal transverse axis 46 of their upper joints.

[0038] The two wide bases of the movable bars 44 also support, at their rear ends, a transverse flap 52 for closing the vertical conduit 34. This flap constitutes a hatch with a longitudinal cross-section in the shape of an arc, formed by a curved sheet metal plate with a constant radius of curvature centered on the axis 46 of the upper joints. The flap 52 for closing the conduit 34 enters the inside of said conduit through a horizontal slot 68 located on the rear face 70 of the conduit 34, and it fits between the two lateral faces of said conduit 34 to come, in a so-called working, or closed, position, up to the front face, a position which is shown in the Figure 5 and in which it completely blocks the internal passage 56 of this conduit 34.

[0039] Advantageously, the closing flap 52 consists of a sheet of metal, each of the two rear lateral ends of which is directly fixed to the base of a movable bar 44, which simplifies manufacturing.

[0040] If the operator lowers the control rod 32 sharply, the movable bars 44 are raised by pivoting them backwards, which has the effect of moving the closing flap 52 back and thus fully opening the vertical conduit 34. This completely clears the internal passage 56 of the vertical conduit 34, which then only has smooth walls, allowing the concrete contained in the body of the skip 2 to slide towards the discharge pipe 24.

[0041] The rear face 70 of the vertical conduit 34 is also fitted over its entire width with a sheet metal inclined towards the rear and upwards, in order to form a U-shaped spoiler 66 whose bottom 60 rises upwards and ends slightly above the slot 68 receiving the movable flap 52.

[0042] The upper end of each of the two sides 64 of the spoiler 66, advantageously arranged in the extension of a lateral face, respectively left and right, of the vertical conduit 34, has a sheet metal rim, said rim 64 having a rounded upper contour to come exactly below the clearance of the closing flap 52. The bottom 60 and the two sides 64 of the spoiler 66 thus constructed will therefore constitute, with the rear face 70 of the conduit 34, a receptacle fitted below this flap.

[0043] The receptacle-shaped spout 66 is thus designed to collect products that may flow through the slot 68, in particular concrete laitance.

[0044] Furthermore, the base of the rear face 70 of the vertical conduit 34, which is thus equipped with the receptacle 66, has a hole 62 allowing the natural flow of the cement slurry into the receptacle 66. This hole 62 is advantageously shaped as a horizontal opening that therefore extends parallel to the slot 68. The cement slurry descends along the inclined bottom 60 of the spout 66 and thus reaches the opening 62, which it passes through to finally descend into the discharge pipe 24. During the emptying of the skip into the discharge pipe, when the discharge mechanism 30 is open, this results in both the direct descent of the concrete into the discharge pipe 24 and the recovery in this same pipe 24 of the cement slurry that has passed through the slot 68 to the outside of the conduit 34.

[0045] Furthermore, in the event that, at the beginning of the descent of the concrete in the drain pipe 24, the lower end of this pipe was obstructed by concrete in the formwork to be filled, all the laitance driven out by the compressed air which rises violently and exits through the light 62 or the slot 68 is collected in the receptacle 66 and then descends again into this pipe 24. This avoids projections and splashes to the outside which would soil the site and require cleaning.

[0046] It should also be noted that, at the end of emptying skip 2, there is no special operation to be carried out to empty receptacle 66 since it has emptied continuously through light 62.

[0047] The receptacle 66 has the advantage of increasing the size of the emptying mechanism 30 only very slightly. In addition, it can be formed economically, its base 60 being for example a simple sheet extending the inclined rear face of a lower plane 38.

[0048] As can be expected, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above.

[0049] On the contrary, it embraces all possible embodiments, provided that these do not fall outside the scope defined by the attached claims which define the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Discharging mechanism (30) for a concrete bucket (2) the body of which forms a hopper (6) which, in the working position, is disposed generally vertically, the said mechanism, designed to be fixed under the said body, comprising a vertical conduit (34) of rectangular transverse section having on its rear face (70) a horizontal slot (68) receiving a shutter (52) which is able to move between a so-called working or closed position, in which it totally blocks the internal passage (56) of the said conduit (34), and a so-called resting or open position in which the shutter (52) is withdrawn in order to allow free flow of the stream of concrete via the internal passage (56) of the said conduit, characterised in that it additionally comprises an external projection (66) in the form of a receptacle of which the bottom (60) and the two flanks (64) are formed integrally with the rear face (70) of the vertical conduit (34), the bottom (60) starting under the slot (68) and extending upwards to a level above that of the said slot (68) so that the receptacle (66) so formed is capable of receiving the cement slurry flowing through this slot, the rear face (70) of the vertical conduit (34) additionally having at its base between the start of the bottom (60) of the receptacle (66) and the slot (68) an opening (62) debouching into the internal passage (56) and into the receptacle (66) under the movable shutter (52).

2. Discharging mechanism according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the two flanks (64) of the projection (66) is formed by a lip which is substantially disposed in the extension of one of the two side faces, respectively on the left and the right, of the vertical conduit (34).

3. Discharging mechanism according to claim 2, characterised in that the upper contour of each of the two lips (64) is adjusted to just clear the underside of the movable shutter (52).

4. Discharging mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the vertical conduit (34) is extended underneath with lower walls (38) which are inclined and converge towards the vertical axis of symmetry (54) of the said conduit.

5. Discharging mechanism according to claim 4, characterised in.that the bottom (60) of the external projection (66) forms an extension towards the rear of one of the lower walls (38).

6. Discharging mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the opening (62) is formed in the immediate vicinity of the base of the rear face (70) of the conduit (34).

7. Discharging mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the movable shutter (52) is formed by a sheet each side end of which is fixed directly to the base of a pivoting bar (44) disposed on one side of this mechanism.

8. Discharging mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the movable shutter (52) pivots around a transverse horizontal axis (46) disposed above this mechanism in a substantially median plane of the discharging mechanism (30).

9. Discharging mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the opening (62) is embodied in the form of a slit which extends parallel to the slot (68).

10. Concrete bucket (2) the body of which forms a hopper (6) which, in the working position, is disposed generally vertically, the said hopper having at its base an opening fitted with a discharging mechanism (30), characterised in that this discharging mechanism (30) is embodied according to any one of the preceding claims.