Tempering device for fresh concrete

Abstract

Tempering device for fresh concrete in a truck mixer drum (1), wherein the truck mixer drum (1) is arranged at an incline on a loading area (8) of a truck mixer (2), wherein the truck mixer (2) in the working position comprises a water tank (4) containing water (3), characterized in that the water tank (4) has a water discharge line (5), wherein the water discharge line (5) has a water discharge nozzle (6), wherein the water discharge nozzle (6) is aligned such that at least part of a surface (7) of the truck mixer drum (1) can be exposed to water and / or water mist.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a tempering device for fresh concrete according to the preamble of claim 1. State of the art

[0002] Such tempering devices for a truck mixer drum are already known and in use in a variety of forms and designs.

[0003] In this context, reference is made to DE 10 2015 004 123 A1. This discloses a mobile truck mixer cooling system for providing cooled fresh concrete, comprising a container for holding the fresh concrete and a means for introducing liquefied gas into the container to cool the fresh concrete contained therein. The truck mixer has a storage tank for storing liquefied gas, which is designed to be brought into flow communication with the means, so that liquefied gas can be introduced from the storage tank into the container via the means.

[0004] Furthermore, for example, EP 0 188 674 A1 discloses a truck mixer that transports a batch of building material in a mixing drum and mixes it thoroughly by rotation. The building material consists of a special dry mix, which, in addition to aggregates or sand and additives, usually contains hydraulic, but occasionally non-hydraulic cement, and water. As soon as the water comes into contact with the cement, a chemical process begins with most types of cement, releasing hydration heat, which must be considered as an additional heat source.EP 0 188 674 A1 describes a truck mixer that, due to its deliberate mixing action of circulating the building material batch during transport or at the site of use, allows the addition of mixing water at a time more or less shortly before the building material is used on the construction site. This allows the truck mixer to transport the dry mix and mix it thoroughly with the mixing water. The mixing water is transported along and, at the appropriate time, fed into the interior of the truck mixer drum. Object of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a temperature control device for a truck mixer drum is to be provided that keeps the fresh concrete at a preferred transport temperature regardless of the outside temperature, while preventing the fresh concrete from hardening prematurely or from hardening at critical points on the truck mixer drum, thereby impairing its functionality. Furthermore, costly cleaning processes inside the truck mixer drum are to be avoided. Solution to the task

[0006] The features of claim 1 lead to the solution of the problem.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0008] A tempering device for fresh concrete according to the invention is used for the indirect tempering of fresh concrete. In the working position, the fresh concrete is located in a truck mixer drum. The truck mixer drum is typically arranged at an incline on the loading area of a truck mixer. The truck mixer is usually a truck. In the working position, the truck mixer includes a water tank containing water.

[0009] The water tank is equipped with a water discharge line. This water discharge line, in turn, has a water discharge nozzle positioned so that at least part of the surface of the truck mixer drum can be targeted with water and / or water mist. "Dressing" means, among other things, that the water and / or water mist can be applied to the surface of the truck mixer drum in such a way that convection cooling is achieved, for example, through evaporative cooling and the air from the truck.

[0010] Convection cooling is defined as a type of heat dissipation in which heat is transported away from a warmer object by the movement of water.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively, cooling can be achieved by spraying the truck mixer drum with water, which then uses convection cooling as at least some of the water evaporates from the hot surface. This causes the evaporating water to carry away the evaporated moisture via an airflow (e.g., wind) – thus creating an efficient cooling effect through evaporation plus convection. This combined cooling method is energy-efficient, requires little technology, and works particularly well in dry, warm ambient air, as is often the case during the warmer months. And it is precisely during the warmer summer months that unwanted heating of the fresh concrete occurs because, in addition to the chemical processes taking place in the fresh concrete, the truck mixer drum is also additionally heated by, for example, sunlight.

[0012] Depending on the design, several water discharge lines may be present. Each of the water discharge lines can, in turn, have a plurality of water discharge nozzles. These water discharge nozzles can, in turn, discharge the water either in the form of a water jet or a water mist. Targeted humidification enables effective temperature control of the fresh concrete during transport. The water discharge lines and water discharge nozzles can also be used to clean the surface of the truck mixer drum from the outside.

[0013] The water discharge line is located between the truck mixer drum and the truck mixer's loading area. Specifically, this means that the water discharge line is positioned between the truck mixer drum and the truck mixer's loading area in such a way that precisely the part of the truck mixer drum where the fresh concrete is normally located in the working position is cooled. This is the lowest point of the rotating truck mixer drum, to which the fresh concrete repeatedly falls during rotation, also falling onto the externally cooled truck mixer drum. This arrangement also ensures unobtrusive integration of the water discharge line. At the same time, even humidification of the drum is ensured without unnecessarily blocking the work area. Consequently, the positioning between the truck mixer drum and the loading area allows for efficient use of the installation space while maintaining optimal functionality.

[0014] The water discharge line also runs along the slope of the truck mixer drum between the loading area and the truck mixer drum and is arranged accordingly. As the distance between the truck mixer drum and the loading area increases, the water discharge line detaches from the direct loading area and, through attachment to an existing structure on the loading area or an additional structure, moves closer to the truck mixer drum, thus following the slope of the truck mixer drum at least in sections, so that the distance between the water discharge line and the truck mixer drum remains essentially the same. The arrangement between the loading area and the truck mixer drum results in a protected route for the water discharge line. The advantage of this is that the risk of damage from external influences or driving operation is minimized.

[0015] In addition to the single water discharge line between the truck mixer drum and the loading area, at least one additional water discharge line can also be present, with the additional water discharge line arranged flanking the truck mixer drum on the side facing away from the loading area. This additional water discharge line is attached flanking the truck mixer drum on the side facing away from the loading area. This can be achieved, for example, by special structures on which the additional water discharge line can be arranged. This allows the opposite side of the truck mixer drum to be effectively tempered. The double-sided or multi-sided equipment significantly increases the cooling or heating capacity of the tempering device.

[0016] The temperature control device includes a pressure device. This pressure device is capable of applying an adjustable pressure to the water discharge line and the water discharge nozzle. The pressure control allows for flexible adjustment of the water discharge. The advantage of this adjustable pressure is that it enables demand-based and resource-efficient water use, allowing for the required amount of water to be adjusted even when it's not yet so hot in the morning, for example.

[0017] The water used has either a cooling or a warm-up temperature. Depending on requirements, the water can be used to cool or heat the fresh concrete. However, it is not the fresh concrete that is heated or cooled, but rather the surface or outer skin of the truck mixer drum. A key feature is that the temperature control device offers high flexibility for temperature adjustment in changing ambient conditions. The cooling temperature of x °C is lower relative to the ambient temperature, and the warm-up temperature of y °C is higher relative to the ambient temperature.

[0018] The temperature control device is equipped with a control panel. This control panel allows for programming, activating, and deactivating the water dispensing process. Furthermore, the remaining water quantity can be either read or electronically queried. The advantage of this simple control system is that it increases user-friendliness and facilitates precise control of water usage.

[0019] The control unit can also include a calculator. This calculator processes a first sensor reading on the temperature of the fresh concrete and a second sensor reading on the temperature of the water used. By comparing both sensor readings, the recommended or automatically activated water quantity for humidification can be calculated. The advantage of this automated calculation is that it optimizes water consumption and also supports consistent concrete quality.

[0020] The water tank features a refill nozzle. This allows for quick and easy refilling of water. The design facilitates access and speeds up the refilling process. The advantage of this easy access is that it reduces downtime and also increases the operational readiness of the temperature control device.

[0021] The tempering device is also available as a retrofit kit. It can be installed on an additional truck mixer. The additional truck mixer is defined in such a way that no tempering device is already installed at the factory. This allows for a cost-effective expansion of existing vehicle fleets. The retrofit option offers a flexible and economical solution for tempering fresh concrete in older truck mixers. Character description

[0022] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings; the single figure shows a side view of a truck mixer with the tempering device according to the invention.

[0023] The figure shows a side view of a truck mixer 2 with a tempering device according to the invention for fresh concrete in a truck mixer drum 1, wherein the truck mixer drum 1 is arranged at a laterally visible slope on a loading area 8 of the truck mixer 2. The slope results from the truck mixer drum 1 rising away from the loading area 8. The lowest part of the truck mixer drum 1 facing the loading area 8 is located near the driver's cab (not further identified) and rises with increasing distance from the driver's cab.

[0024] The truck mixer 2 shown is in working position. This means that fresh concrete is in the truck mixer drum 1 and water 3 is in a water tank 4, allowing the fresh concrete to be transported from a production site to a site of use.

[0025] The water tank 4 has a water discharge line 5, wherein the water discharge line 5 in turn has a plurality of water discharge nozzles 6. The water discharge nozzles 6 are aligned such that at least a portion of a surface 7 of the truck mixer drum 1 can be exposed to water and / or water mist, which is indicated by the arrows.

[0026] In the embodiment shown, the water discharge line 5 is arranged essentially between the truck mixer drum 1 and the loading area 8 of the truck mixer 2.

[0027] In addition, the water discharge line 4 rises with the slope of the truck mixer drum 1 between the loading area 8 and the truck mixer drum 1.

[0028] Furthermore, a pressure device 9 is shown, which is suitable for applying adjustable pressure to the water in the water discharge line 5 and thus to the water discharge nozzles 6.

[0029] Additionally, a control element 10 is provided, which can be programmed, activated, and deactivated to dispense water 3 from the water dispensing nozzle 6, and a remaining amount of water 3 can be read and / or retrieved. The control element 10 can also be operated from the driver's cab via cable or radio.

[0030] Finally, the water tank 4 has a filling nozzle 11 for better filling of the water tank 4 with the water 3. List of reference symbols 1 truck mixer drum 2 truck mixers 3 Water 4 water tanks 5 Water discharge line 6 Water application nozzle 7 Surface 8 Loading area 9 Printing device 10 Control element 11 Filling nozzle QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2015 004 123 A1

[0003] EP 0 188 674 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Tempering device for fresh concrete in a truck mixer drum (1), wherein the truck mixer drum (1) is arranged in an incline on a loading area (8) of a truck mixer (2), wherein the truck mixer (2) in the working position comprises a water tank (4) containing water (3), characterized by in that the water tank (4) has a water discharge line (5), wherein the water discharge line (5) has a water discharge nozzle (6), wherein the water discharge nozzle (6) is aligned such that at least part of a surface (7) of the truck mixer drum (1) can be exposed to water and / or water mist. [2] Tempering device according to claim 1, characterized by that the water discharge line (5) is arranged between the truck mixer drum (1) and the loading area (8) of the truck mixer (2). [3] Tempering device according to claim 2, characterized bythat the water discharge line (4) is arranged in the slope of the truck mixer drum (1) between the loading area (8) and the truck mixer drum (1). [4] Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a further water discharge line is provided, wherein the further water discharge line is arranged flanking the truck mixer drum in the direction away from the loading area (8). [5] Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a pressure device (9) is provided, suitable for applying adjustable pressure to the water discharge line (5) and the water discharge nozzle (6). [6] Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the water (3) has a cooling temperature of x °C or a heating temperature of y °C. [7] Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat an operating element (10) is provided, wherein the operating element (10) for dispensing the water (3) from the water dispensing nozzle (6) is programmable, activatable and deactivatable, wherein a residual quantity of the water (3) is readable and / or retrievable. [8] Tempering device according to claim 7, characterized by that the control element comprises a computer, wherein the computer receives first sensor information on the fresh concrete temperature and second sensor information on the water temperature, wherein the first sensor information is compared with the second sensor information in order to calculate a recommended or automatically activated quantity of water (3) that is sprayed or atomized from the water application nozzle (6). [9] Tempering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the water tank (3) has a filling nozzle (11). [10] Retrofit kit of a tempering device according to one of claims 1 to 9 for attachment to another truck mixer.

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