A guide jig for use in fitting a charge hopper onto a cement mixer truck

Abstract

A guide jig 100 for use in fitting a charge hopper 200 onto a cement mixer truck, comprises a support side (110, fig 1B) configured to, in use, rest on a portion of the mixer truck 320, jig guide mean

Description

Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates generally to a guide jig for use in fitting a charge hopper onto a cement mixer truck, a kit of parts comprising the guide jig and charge hopper, and a method of installing a charge hopper on a cement mixer truck and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in providing a method of installing a charge hopper with improved safety and reduced skill requirement. Background Cement mixer trucks, otherwise known as cement trucks or cement mixers are heavy-duty vehicles typically used in the constructions and landscaping industries to carry ready mixed concrete to a construction or landscaping site. Typically, a cement mixer truck includes a rotatable drum within which the concrete is held and continuously or semi-continuously mixed. The drum includes an open end and the drum is positioned in an inclined manner on the cement mixer truck such that the open end is positioned relatively higher than the other, closed, end. A charge hopper and a discharge hopper are typically provided at the open end. The charge hopper is used to charge or fill the drum with concrete or raw materials mixed to form concrete. The discharge hopper is used at the construction or landscaping site to discharge the concrete from the drum. Due to the requirements and typical arrangement of a cement mixer truck, the charge hopper is often placed above the discharge hopper. Therefore, during the manufacture or assembly of a cement mixer truck, it is typically necessary for or crane or other lifting equipment to be used to suspend the charge hopper over the discharge hopper whilst an operative secures the charge hopper in position on the cement mixer truck, with bolts and / or welds. It is not safe for an operative to work underneath the charge hopper whilst the charge hopper is suspended by the lifting equipment. However, due to the way in which the charge hopper must be attached to the cement mixer truck, it is necessary for the operative to come into close contact with the suspended charge hopper, which is considered dangerous. The risk of injury is typically reduced or mitigated by only allowing trained and / or experienced operatives to perform the task of attaching the charge hopper to the cement mixer truck. However, there is always a risk of the charge hopper shifting or moving during installation, which has the potential to cause serious injury to the operative. Aspects of the present disclosure seek to provide devices, systems and methods to alleviate or reduce the severity of the above-mentioned problems and in particular provide a method of installing a charge hopper with improved safety and reduced skill requirement. Summary According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a guide jig for use in fitting a charge hopper onto a cement mixer truck, the guide jig comprising: a support side configured to, in use, rest on a portion of the mixer truck; jig guide means configured to, in use, engage with mutually shaped mixer truck guide means; and releasable attachment means configured to, in use, releasably attach the guide jig to a charge hopper; wherein the guide jig is configured such that, in use with the guide jig fixed to the charge hopper, with the support side of the guide jig resting on the portion of the mixer truck, and with the jig guide means in engagement with the mixer truck guide means, the charge hopper is supported relative to the mixer truck in an assembly configuration. In this way, during installation of the charge hopper, the guide jig may be used to position and support the charge hopper relative to the cement mixer truck in the correct assembly configuration. Accordingly, a guide jig may be any ancillary component for use in fitting a charge hopper onto a cement mixer truck, and may be removed after the charge hopper is fitted to the cement mixer truck, for reuse in a subsequent charge hopper fitting. The guide jig may be a monolithic or multi-part, and may be formed of or comprise nylon, polyester, another polymer, a metal, a ceramic, and / or any combination thereof. The support side may be a part of the guide jig that is configured to rest upon the mounting bracket and support the weight of the charge hopper via the mounting bracket. The jig guide means may be any feature or component configured to guide or align the guide jig relative to the cement mixer truck such that actuation of the jig guide means may correctly position the charge hopper in the assembly position. The jig guide means being mutually shaped with the mixer truck guide means may mean that a shape of the jig guide means matches or corresponds to a shape of the mixer truck guide means. For example, each of the guide means may include an angles surface as discussed herein, wherein the angles of the surface match. The releasable attachment means may be any means by which the guide jig may be releasably attached to the charge hopper. For example, the releasable attachment means may comprise bolts, pins, clips or other such fixings. The guide jig being configured such that, in use with the guide jig fixed to the charge hopper, with the support side of the guide jig resting on the portion of the mixer truck, and with the jig guide means in engagement with the mixer truck guide means, the charge hopper is supported relative to the mixer truck in an assembly configuration may mean that the entire weight of the charge hopper is supported and that no additional lifting equipment is required, once the guide jig and charge hopper have been suitably positioned. The assembly configuration may be the configuration in which the charge hopper must be placed so that the charge hopper can be fixed to the cement mixer truck. Once the charge hopper is placed in the assembly configuration, the charge hopper may be secured to the cement mixer truck. The support side may be substantially planar. Alternatively, the support side may be substantially concave or hooked. Any other shape or alternative arrangement may be provided, as well as any combination of such shapes. In this way, the support side may sit upon, or hook over, the portion of the cement mixer truck such as a mounting bracket as discussed herein, and temporarily support the weight of the charge hopper during installation. The jig guide means may comprise a first jig guiding side angled relative to the support side. The first jig guiding side may be configured to, in use, engage with a first mixer truck guiding side of the mixer truck guide means to adjust a lateral position of the guide jig relative to the mixer truck as the charge hopper is lowered into the assembly configuration. The first jig guiding side may engage with the first mixer truck guiding side to laterally move the guide jig and attached charge hopper. For example, the jig and mixer truck guiding sides may be similarly angled and, as the charge hopper is lowered into position, the guiding sides may engage and move the charge hopper laterally into the assembly position. The first jig guiding side may be angled relative to the support side by an angle greater than 90° and less than 180°. The first jig guiding side may be angled relative to the support side by an angle between 100° and 140°, between 110° and 130°, preferably approximately 120°. The guide jig may comprise a curved interface between the support side and the first jig guiding side. In this way, the guide jig may more easily move or slide over the portion of the cement mixer truck to which the guide jig is engaged. For example, the curved interface may allow the guide jig to more easily ride on or over a mounting bracket during aligning. The lack of a sharp interface or corner may prevent sticking and or catching of the guide jig on the cement mixer truck. The curved interface may be considered to be a rounded chamfer. The jig guide means may comprise a second jig guiding side angled relative to the support side. The second jig guiding side may be configured to, in use, engage with a second mixer truck guiding side of the mixer truck guide means to adjust a lateral position of the guide jig relative to the mixer truck as the charge hopper is lowered into the assembly configuration. The second jig guiding side may be arranged on a side of the guide jig that is substantially opposite to the first jig guiding side. The second jig guiding side may be angled relative to the support side by an angle greater than 90° and less than 180°. The second jig guiding side may be angled relative to the support side by an angle between 100° and 140°, between 110° and 130°, preferably approximately 120°. The second jig guiding side may be angled relative to the support side by an angle equal to that at which the first jig guiding side is angled relative to the support side. The guide jig may have a general trapezoid profile or cross-sectional shape. The guide jig may comprise a curved interface between the support side and the second jig guiding side. In this way, the guide jig may more easily move or slide over the portion of the cement mixer truck to which the guide jig is engaged. For example, the curved interface may allow the guide jig to more easily ride on or over a mounting bracket during aligning. The lack of a sharp interface or corner may prevent sticking and or catching of the guide jig on the cement mixer truck. The curved interface may be considered to be a rounded chamfer. The first jig guiding side may be arranged within a groove on the guide jig. The groove may be configured to, in use, receive a plate portion of the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck therein such that the charge hopper is supportable on the plate portion of the mounting bracket via the guide jig. The groove may be considered a recess. In other words, a portion of the guide jig may extend beyond the first jig guiding side to form an overlapping wing. The overlapping wing may be configured to overlap a mounting plate of the cement mixer truck and retain the mounting plate between the overlapping wing and the charge hopper. The second jig guiding side may be arranged within a further groove on the guide jig. The further groove may be configured to, in use, receive a plate portion of the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck therein such that the charge hopper is supportable on the plate portion of the mounting bracket via the guide jig. The groove and the further groove may be portions of a single groove that extends on and between the first and second jig guiding sides. Alternatively, the groove and further groove may be distinct. In other words, the first jig guiding side and / or the second jig guiding side may be recessed into the guide jig or otherwise stepped back from an exterior surface of the guide jig. As such, with the guide jig attached to the charge hopper and the plate portion of the mounting bracket arranged within the groove and / or further groove, a portion of the guide jig adjacent to the groove and / or further groove may overlap the plate portion of the mounting bracket and retain the plate portion of the mounting bracket within the groove and / or further groove. The guide jig may comprise a first face configured to, in use with the guide jig attached to the charge hopper, abut the charge hopper. The groove and / or further groove may be immediately adjacent the first face. In this way, the plate portion of the mounting bracket may be positioned, in use, between the charge hopper and an overlapping portion of the guide jig as described above. As such, the guide jig may be removed from the charge hopper without being retained or blocked by the mounting bracket. The guide jig may therefore be reused in a further assembly process. The releasable attachment means may comprise at least one through hole configured to, in use, receive a fixing therein. The through hole may have a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a plane in which the first jig guiding side is arranged. The through hole may have a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a plane in which the second jig guiding side is arranged. The releasable attachment means may comprise at least two through holes, each through hole configured to, in use, receive a fixing therein. In this way, rotation of the guide jig relative to the charge hopper may be prevented. According to a second aspect, there is provided a kit of parts comprising: the guide jig of the first aspect; and a cement mixer truck charge hopper comprising: a hopper body; and an attachment bracket positioned on the hopper body, the attachment bracket configured to be securable, in use, to a mounting bracket of a cement mixer truck such that the charge hopper is attached to the cement mixer truck; wherein the guide jig is configured to be fixed, in use, the to the attachment bracket of the charge hopper via the attachment means. The kit of parts may further comprise a cement mixer truck to which the charge hopper is to be attached. The cement mixer truck may comprise a mounting bracket including mixer truck guide means. The mixer truck guide means may be mutually shaped with the jig guide means, in the manner described herein. The guide jig, the charge hopper and the cement mixer truck may be mutually configured such that, with the guide jig attached to the charge hopper and with the jig guide means engaged with the mixer truck guide means, the charge hopper is supported relative to the cement mixer truck in the assembly configuration. In this way, the guide jig may retain the charge hopper relative to the cement mixer truck in the assembly configuration whilst an operative secures the attachment bracket of the charge hopper to the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck, The kit of parts may further comprise charge hopper attachment means configured to attach the charge hopper to the mounting bracket. The charge hopper attachment means may comprise through holes and fixings such as bolts, pins, clips, or the like, and / or welds. The kit of parts may further comprise a support hoop configured to attach the charge hopper to a discharge hopper of the cement mixer truck at a position spaced from the mounting bracket. Accordingly, the charge hopper may be supported and / or fixed in at least two positions, thereby increasing stability and strength. The position spaced from the mounting bracket may be located on a side of the charge hopper opposite to a side of the charge hopper on which the attachment bracket is arranged. In this way, the charge hopper may be supported on two opposite sides. According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of fixing a charge hopper to a cement mixer truck, the method comprising: providing the kit of parts of the second aspect, wherein the kit of parts comprises the cement mixer truck; fixing the guide jig to the charge hopper via the releasable attachment means; positioning the guide jig on the mounting bracket such that the support side of the guide jig rests on the portion of the cement mixer truck; engaging the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means; and securing the charge hopper to the cement mixer truck by fixing the attachment bracket of the charge hopper to the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck. The method may further comprise releasing the releasable attachment means and removing the guide jig from the charge hopper after the charge hopper is fixed to the cement mixer truck. The guide jig may therefore be reused in a subsequent fixing of a charge hopper to a cement mixer truck. The jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means may be arranged such that the step of engaging the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means occurs when positioning the guide jig on the mounting bracket such that the support side of the guide jig rests on the portion of the cement mixer truck. For example, as the charge hopper is lowered onto the cement mixer truck, the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means may engage and laterally align the charge hopper. Said portion of the cement mixer truck upon which the support side of the guide jig rests may be a portion of the mounting bracket. As such, the guide jig may rest on and / or be supported by the mounting bracket to which the charge hopper is to be secured. Brief Description of the Drawings The disclosure will be further described in examples identified in the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1A is first perspective view of a guide jig; Figure 1B is a second perspective view of the guide jig shown in Figure 1 A; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a charge hopper with the guide jig shown in Figures 1A and 1B attached thereto; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the charge hopper shown in Figure 2 partially installed on a discharge hopper of a cement mixer truck; Figure 4A is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 with the charge hopper fixed to the discharge hopper; Figure 4B is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment arrangement shown in Figure 4A; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the charge hopper finally installed on the discharge hopper; Figure 6A is a first schematic view of the guide jig and mounting bracket of a cement mixer truck; Figure 6B is a second schematic view of the guide jig and mounting bracket shown in Figure 6A; Figure 7A is schematic plan view of the charge hopper with the guide jig attached thereto, and the mounting bracket of a cement mixer truck; Figure 7B is schematic plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7A with the guide jig positioned in the recess of the mounting bracket; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the charge hopper and discharge hopper as shown in Figure 3 with a support hoop. Detailed Description The following description presents exemplary embodiments and, together with the drawings, serves to explain principles of the disclosure. However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the embodiments, since variations will be apparent to a skilled person and are deemed also to be covered by the description. Terms for components used herein should be given a broad interpretation that also encompasses equivalent functions and features. In some cases, alternative terms for structural features may be provided but such terms are not intended to be exhaustive. Descriptive terms should also be given the broadest possible interpretation; e.g. the term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of" such that interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. Directional terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper” and “lower” are used for convenience of explanation usually with reference to the illustrations and are not intended to be ultimately limiting if an equivalent function can be achieved with an alternative dimension, orientation and / or direction. The description herein refers to embodiments with particular combinations of features, however, it is envisaged that further combinations and cross-combinations of compatible features between embodiments will be possible. Indeed, isolated features may function independently as an invention from other features and not necessarily require implementation as a complete combination. Figure 1A is first perspective view of a guide jig 100, and Figure 1B is a second perspective view of the guide jig 100 shown in Figure 1A. In use, the guide jig 100 is configured to be attached to a charge hopper (not shown in Figures 1A and 1B) to allow the charge hopper to be hooked onto a cement mixer truck (not shown in Figures 1A and 1B) in an assembly configuration such that the charge hopper may be fixed onto the cement mixer truck. The guide jig 100 includes two through holes 105, although any number of through holes may be provided. The through holes 105 allow for bolts or other fixings to be used to releasably attach the guide jig 100 to a charge hopper. Any other releasable attachments means may be used instead of through holes and fixings. The guide jig further includes a support surface 110 that is configured, in use, to rest upon a portion of the cement mixer truck. Accordingly, with the guide jig 100 attached to the charge hopper and the charge hopper and guide jig 100 arranged such that the support surface 110 is positioned on the portion of the cement mixer truck, the charge hopper is arranged in an assembly position. Further details are provided with reference to Figures 3 to 4B. Each side of the guide jig 100 includes angled surfaces 120, 130. The first angled surface 120 is on a side of the guide jig that is substantially opposite to the side on which the second angled surface 130 is provided. The first angled surface 120 extends from the support surface 110 by a first curved surface portion 140. The second angled surface 130 extends from the support surface 110 by a second curved surface portion 150. The first curved surface portion 140 and the second curved surface portion 150 may be considered a chamfer. The purpose and benefit of the first curved surface portion 140 and the second curved surface portion 150 is discussed with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Each angled surface 120, 130 is recessed into the side surfaces of the guide jig 100 such that overlapping wings 160, 170 are provided. The overlapping wings 160, 170 extend outward from the guide jig 100 to an extent beyondthatof the first 120 and second 130 angled surfaces. The purpose and advantage of the overlapping wings 160, 170 is discussed with reference to Figure 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a charge hopper 200 with the guide jig 100 shown in Figures 1A and 1B attached thereto. The charge hopper 200 has a charge hopper body 210 that defines a chute or passageway extending between an entrance 220 and an exit 225. The charge hopper 200 is to be arranged on a cement mixer truck (not shown) such that materials placed at the entrance 220 are conveyed by the charge hopper body 210 to the exit 225, where the materials are expelled into a mixer chamber of the cement mixer truck. Accordingly, the mixer chamber of the cement mixer truck may be filled via the charge hopper 200. The charge hopper 200 includes an attachment plate 230 attached to the charge hopper body 210, and an attachment bracket 240 attached to the attachment plate 230. The attachment bracket 240 is configured, in use, to be attached to the cement mixer truck such that the charge hopper 200 is held in the required position to be used to fill the mixer chamber. As shown in Figure 2, the guide jig 100 may be attached to the attachment bracket 240 via bolts 250. The bolts are arranged within the through holes 105 of the guide jig 100. The attachment bracket 240 is curved and defines a void between the attachment bracket 240 and the attachment plate 230. The void is used to give access to a free end of the bolts 250 to secure nuts thereon. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the charge hopper shown in Figure 2 partially installed on a discharge hopper 300 of a cement mixer truck. The discharge hopper 300 includes a discharge hopper body 310 that generally defines a passageway or chute through which materials within the mixer chamber of the cement mixer truck may be discharged. A cross member 320 is provided at an upper end of the discharge hopper body 310. A mounting bracket 330 is attached to the cross member 320 substantially ata middle of the cross member 320. The mounting bracket 330 includes a shaped recess and mounting through holes, each discussed in detail with reference to Figures 4B, 6A and 6B. The guide jig 100 fits into and covers the shaped recess of the mounting bracket 330. In particular, the angled surfaces 120, 130 of the guide jig 100 engage with mutually shaped side surfaces of the shaped recess of the mounting bracket 330, and the support surface 110 of the guide jig engages with a mutually shaped bottom surface of the shaped recess of the mounting bracket 330. Furthermore, the overlapping wings 160, 170 of the guide jig 100 overlap the mounting bracket 330 such that the mounting bracket is retained between the overlapping wings 160, 170 and the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper. Positioning the charge hopper 200 relative to the discharge hopper 300 in this way, with the mounting bracket 330 of the discharge hopper 300 retained between the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper 200 and the guide jig 100, means that the charge hopper 200 is temporarily supported relative to the discharge hopper in the desired position. Furthermore, positioning the charge hopper 200 relative to the discharge hopper 300 in this way means that the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper 200 is positioned immediately adjacent to the mounting bracket 330 of the discharge hopper 300, such that the attachment bracket 240 may be secured to the mounting bracket 330 to secure the charge hopper 200 in the desired position relative to the discharge hopper 300. Figure 4A is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 with the charge hopper 200 fixed to the discharge hopper 300 via bolts 340. The bolts 340 are arranged to secure the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper 200 to the mounting bracket 330 of the discharge hopper. The void created by the curved attachment bracket 240 allows for access to both ends of the bolts 340. Although bolts 340 are shown, any known attachment means, such as a weld, may be used. Figure 4B is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment arrangement shown in Figure 4A. The arrangement of the guide jig 100, the attachment plate 230, the attachment bracket 240, the bolts 250 securing the guide jig 100 to the attachment bracket 240, the mounting bracket 330 and the bolts 340 securing the mounting bracket 330 to the attachment bracket 240 are more easily seen. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 4B, the mounting bracket 330 includes a shaped recess into which the guide jig 100 is received. The shaped recess has a shape that mutually corresponds to the shape of the guide jig 100 defined by the support surface 110 and the angled surfaces 120, 130 such that the guide jig fits snugly within the shaped recess. A width of the angled surfaces 120, 130 of the guide jig 100 is substantially the same as a thickness of the mounting bracket 330, with the necessary clearances provided, such that the mounting bracket 330 is held snugly between the overlapping wings 160, 170 of the guide jig 100 and the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper 200. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the charge hopper 200 finally installed on the discharge hopper 300. As can be seen in Figure 5, the guide jig has been removed. The charge hopper 200 is attached to the discharge hopper 300, via the attachment bracket 240 and the mounting bracket 330, such that the charge hopper 200 is supported by and above the discharge hopper 300. The arrangement shown in Figure 5 is the final in use arrangement of the charge hopper 200. The guide jig (not shown) may then be reused to assemble a further cement mixer truck. Figure 6A is a first schematic view of the guide jig 100 and mounting bracket 330 of the cement mixer truck. The schematic view shown in Figure 6A shows a cross-section of the guide jig at a plane passing through the angled surfaces 120, 130. Accordingly, the overlapping wings 160, 170 are not shown. The through holes 105 are also not shown, for clarity. The mounting bracket 330 includes a shaped recess 335, into which the guide jig 100 may be received. The shaped recess 335 is generally wider at an opening thereof, when compared to a root portion thereof. With the guide jig 100 attached to the charge hopper (not shown), the charge hopper may be lowered by crane or otherwise into position relative to the discharge hopper. The shaped recess 335 includes a lower surface 336 that is mutually shaped with the support surface 110 of the guide jig 100. The shaped recess 335 includes a first angled surface 337 that is mutually shaped with the first angled surface 120 of the guide jig 100. The shaped recess 335 includes a second angled surface 338 that is mutually shaped with the second angled surface 130 of the guide jig 100. Lowering the charge hopper into position will cause the guide jig 100 to be received within the shaped recess 335 until the support surface 110 of the guide jig engages with the lower surface 336 of the shaped recess 335. The support surface 110 resting upon the lower surface 336 of the shaped recess 335 allows the guide jig 100 to temporarily support the charge hopper relative to the discharge hopper such that the crane or other equipment used to lift the charge hopper into position may be removed. If the charge hopper is lowered onto the discharge hopper with perfect lateral alignment (left-right direction shown in Figure 6A), the first angled surface 120 of the guide jig 100 will come into contact with the first angled surface 337 of the mounting bracket 330, and the second angled surface 130 of the guide jig 100 will come into contact with the second angled surface 338 of the mounting bracket 330 at the same time that the support surface 110 of the guide jig 100 comes into contact with the lower surface 336 of the mounting bracket 330. However, if the charge hopper is lowered onto the discharge hopper without perfect lateral alignment the surfaces engage differently as shown in Figure 6B. Figure 6B is a second schematic view of the guide jig 100 and mounting bracket 330 shown in Figure 6A. Figure 6B shows an example of the charge hopper being lowered onto the discharge hopper without perfect lateral alignment. In particular, the guide jig 100 is shown to be too far rightwards (in the arrangement shown in Figure 6B). As the charge hopper is lowered onto the discharge hopper as shown in Figure 6B, the second angled surface 130 of the guide jig 100 makes contact with the second angled surface 338 of the shaped recess 335. Due to the mutual shaping and angles of the second angled surface 130 of the guide jig 100 and the second angled surface 338 of the shaped recess 335, lowering the charge hopper from the arrangement shown in Figure 6B will cause the guide jig 100, and the charge hopper attached thereto, to be moved leftwards (in the arrangement shown in Figure 6B). The charge hopper continues to be moved leftwards by the shaped recess 335 until the support surface 110 of the guide jig 100 comes into contact with the lower surface 336 of the shaped recess 355 and the first angled surface 120 of the guide jig 100 comes into contact with the first angled surface 337 of the shaped recess. Accordingly, lowering the charge hopper onto the discharge hopper, with the guide jig 100 within the shaped recess 335, with automatically laterally align the charge hopper and discharge hopper. The curved portions 140,150 of the guide jig 100 between the first 120 and second 130 angled sides and the support surface 110 means that, as the guide jig 100 is lowered into the shaped recess 335 in lateral misalignment, the curved portions 140, 150 allow the guide jig to more easily ride over the surface of the shaped recess 335 into a correctly aligned position. Figure 7A is schematic plan view of a charge hopper 200 with a guide jig 100 attached thereto, and a mounting bracket 330 of a cement mixer truck. In the arrangement shown in Figure 7A, the charge hopper 200 is not yet in the assembly position, and the guide jig 100 and attachment bracket 240 are spaced from the mounting bracket 330. As discussed above, the guide jig 100 is configured to be received within the shaped recess 335 of the mounting bracket 330 such that the mounting bracket 330 is sandwiched between the overlapping wings 160, 170 of the guide jig and the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper. Figure 7B is schematic plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7A with the guide jig 100 positioned in the shaped recess of the mounting bracket 330. As shown in Figure 7B, the mounting bracket 330 fits snugly between the overlapping wings 160, 170 of the guide jig 100 and the attachment bracket 240 of the charge hopper 200. Accordingly, the guide jig 100 is arranged to support and hold the charge hopper 200 in an assembly position whilst bolts or other attachment means are used to secure the mounting bracket 330 to the attachment bracket 240 and thereby secure the charge hopper 200 in position relative to the discharge hopper. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the charge hopper 200 and discharge hopper 300 as shown in Figure 3 with a support hoop 400. Once the charge hopper 200 has been arranged in the assembly position as shown in Figure 3, wherein the charge hopper 200 is supported on the discharge hopper 300 by the guide jig 100, the support hoop 400 may be positioned over both the charge hopper 200 and discharge hopper 300. The support hoop 400 is a curved member, which is configured to attach, at each free end of the curved member, to an upper portion of the discharge hopper 300. The support hoop accordingly includes end plates 410 that may be bolted or otherwise attached to the discharge hopper 300. The support hoop 400 also includes a plurality of attachment brackets, such as 5 attachment bracket 420 configured to be bolted or otherwise attached to an upper portion of the charge hopper 200. The charge hopper 200 may therefore be attached, in use, to the discharge hopper 300 via the support hoop 400, as well as the attachment bracket 240 and the mounting bracket 330.

Claims

1. A guide jig for use in fitting a charge hopper onto a cement mixer truck, the guide jig comprising:a support side configured to, in use, rest on a portion of the mixer truck;jig guide means configured to, in use, engage with mutually shaped mixer truck guide means; andreleasable attachment means configured to, in use, releasably attach the guide jig to a charge hopper;wherein the guide jig is configured such that, in use with the guide jig fixed to the charge hopper, with the support side of the guide jig resting on the portion of the mixer truck, and with the jig guide means in engagement with the mixer truck guide means, the charge hopper is supported relative to the mixer truck in an assembly configuration.

2. The guide jig of claim 1, wherein the support side is substantially planar.

3. The guide jig of claim 1, wherein the support side is substantially concave or hooked.

4. The guide jig of any preceding claim, wherein the jig guide means comprise a first jigguiding side angled relative to the support side, wherein the first jig guiding side is configured to, in use, engage with a first mixer truck guiding side of the mixer truck guide means to adjust a lateral position of the guide jig relative to the mixer truck as the charge hopper is lowered into the assembly configuration.

5. The guide jig of claim 4, wherein the first jig guiding side is angled relative to the support side by an angle greater than 90° and less than 180°.

6. The guide jig of claim 5, wherein the first jig guiding side is angled relative to the support side by an angle between 100° and 140°.

7. The guide jig of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the guide jig comprises a curved interface between the support side and the first jig guiding side.

8. The guide jig of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the jig guide means comprise a second jig guiding side angled relative to the support side, wherein the second jig guiding side is configured to, in use, engage with a second mixer truck guiding side of the mixer truck guidemeans to adjust a lateral position of the guide jig relative to the mixer truck as the charge hopper is lowered into the assembly configuration, further wherein the second jig guiding side is arranged on a side of the guide jig that is substantially opposite to the first jig guiding side.

9. The guide jig of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein first jig guiding side is arranged within a groove on the guide jig and the groove is configured to, in use, receive a plate portion of the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck therein such that the charge hopper is supportable on the plate portion of the mounting bracket via the guide jig.

10. The guide jig of claim 9, wherein the guide jig comprises a first face configured to, in use with the guide jig attached to the charge hopper, abut the charge hopper, wherein the groove is immediately adjacent the first face.

11. The guide jig of any preceding claim, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises at least one through hole configured to, in use, receive a fixing therein.

12. The guide jig of claim 11, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises at least two through holes, each through hole configured to, in use, receive a fixing therein.

13. A kit of parts comprising:the guide jig of any preceding claim; anda cement mixer truck charge hopper comprising:a hopper body; andan attachment bracket positioned on the hopper body, the attachment bracket configured to be securable, in use, to a mounting bracket of a cement mixer truck such that the charge hopper is attached to the cement mixer truck;wherein the guide jig is configured to be fixed, in use, the to the attachment bracket of the charge hopper via the attachment means.

14. The kit of parts of claim 13, further comprising a cement mixer truck to which the charge hopper is to be attached, the cement mixer truck comprising a mounting bracket including mixer truck guide means, wherein the mixer truck guide means are mutually shaped with the jig guide means, and further wherein the guide jig, the charge hopper and the cement mixer truck are mutually configured such that, with the guide jig attached to thecharge hopper and with the jig guide means engaged with the mixer truck guide means, the charge hopper is supported relative to the cement mixer truck in the assembly configuration.

15. The kit of parts of claim 14, further comprising charge hopper attachment means configured to attach the charge hopper to the mounting bracket.

16. The kit of parts of claim 14 or 15, further comprising a support hoop configured to attach the charge hopper to a discharge hopper of the cement mixer truck at a position spaced from the mounting bracket.

17. The kit of parts of claim 16, wherein the position spaced from the mounting bracket is located on a side of the charge hopper opposite to a side of the charge hopper on which the attachment bracket is arranged.

18. A method of fixing a charge hopper to a cement mixer truck, the method comprising: providing the kit of parts of any of claims 14 to 17;fixing the guide jig to the charge hopper via the releasable attachment means;positioning the guide jig on the mounting bracket such that the support side of the guide jig rests on the portion of the cement mixer truck;engaging the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means; andsecuring the charge hopper to the cement mixer truck by fixing the attachment bracket of the charge hopper to the mounting bracket of the cement mixer truck.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising releasing the releasable attachment means and removing the guide jig from the charge hopper after the charge hopper is fixed to the cement mixer truck.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means are arranged such that the step of engaging the jig guide means and the mixer truck guide means occurs when positioning the guide jig on the mounting bracket such that the support side of the guide jig rests on the portion of the cement mixer truck.

21. The method of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein said portion of the cement mixer truck upon which the support side of the guide jig rests is a portion of the mounting bracket.

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