Mixing drum cleaning equipment for ready-mix concrete trucks

Abstract

The present invention is a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mix concrete truck, and comprises a telescopic, extendable multi-stage arm 10 whose base end is attached to the periphery of a hopper 4 and which can be selectively positioned inside or outside a mixing drum 2, a pulling wire 13 extending parallel to the multi-stage arm 10, a winch mechanism 12 which loosens or pulls the pulling wire 13 to extend or contract the multi-stage arm 10, and a cleaning water nozzle 20 which is located at the tip of the multi-stage arm 10 and moves together with the arm, spraying cleaning water forward, sideways and backward.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mixed concrete truck, and more particularly to a new structured mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mixed concrete truck that is simple in structure but can efficiently and cleanly clean the inside of the mixing drum of a ready-mixed concrete truck and is easy to store and keep. [Background technology]

[0002] Ready-mixed concrete used to pour concrete at construction sites is generally prepared by mixing aggregate, cement, water, and other materials in a predetermined ratio at a ready-mixed concrete manufacturing facility, then placing the mixture in the mixing drum of a ready-mixed concrete truck, which then rotates the mixing drum to mix the ready-mixed concrete while transporting it to the site, where it is poured.

[0003] In such ready-mix concrete trucks, the ready-mix concrete containing cement hardens rapidly over time, and if this concrete hardens while adhering to the mixing drum, hopper, or suit of the ready-mix concrete truck, the ready-mix concrete truck will not be able to function properly.Therefore, once the ready-mix concrete is poured on site, any ready-mix concrete that has adhered to the inside of the mixing drum, hopper, suit, or the body of the truck outside the drum must be washed away.

[0004] Conventionally, the main method for cleaning the inside of the mixing drum of a ready-mix concrete truck has been to fill the mixing drum with cleaning water, rotate the mixing drum, and remove the fresh concrete adhering to the inner wall of the mixing drum and the screw blades attached spirally to the inner peripheral surface of the drum, and then spray the cleaning water from a spray nozzle into the hopper side, which is the inlet. However, simply filling the mixing drum with washing water and rotating it like this does not easily remove the concrete that has adhered to the inner wall of the mixing drum or the screw blades. Furthermore, even if a nozzle is inserted from the hopper and pressurized washing water is sprayed, the spray pressure of the washing water does not reach the concrete remaining on the back of the screw blades or on the inner wall of the drum adjacent to the back of the screw blades when viewed in the direction of the washing water spray. Therefore, if concrete remains on the inner wall of the drum or on the back of the screw blades and hardens, the function of the mixing drum, which must quickly mix and discharge concrete, is impaired. Therefore, a driver is forced to enter the mixing drum and use a tool to hit and remove the hardened concrete that has adhered to the inner wall of the mixing drum or the screw blades, which is a hassle. In this process, the mixing drum or the screw blades may be damaged, resulting in a problem of shortening the life of the ready-mix concrete truck. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in response to the problems associated with maintenance such as cleaning the mixing drum of conventional ready-mixed concrete trucks as described above. The present invention aims to provide a new type of mixing drum cleaning device for ready-mixed concrete trucks that is simple in structure yet can efficiently and cleanly clean the inside of the mixing drum of a ready-mixed concrete truck, and is easy to store and keep. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one feature of the present invention, there is provided a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mixed concrete vehicle, which is mounted on or towed by a ready-mixed concrete vehicle (1) and includes a rotatable mixing drum (2) that is equipped with a hopper (4) into which ready-mixed concrete mixed at a ready-mixed concrete factory is fed, a screw blade (5) arranged spirally around the inner wall, and a suit (6) from which mixed ready-mixed concrete is discharged, the mixing drum cleaning device being characterized by comprising: a multi-stage arm (10) that is telescopically extendable and contractible and has its base end attached to the periphery of the hopper (4) and is selectively positioned inside or outside the mixing drum (2); a traction wire (13) extending parallel to the multi-stage arm (10); a winch mechanism (12) that loosens or pulls the traction wire (13) to extend or contract the multi-stage arm (10); and a cleaning water nozzle (20) that is arranged at the tip of the multi-stage arm (10), moves together with the arm, and sprays cleaning water forward, sideways, and backward.

[0007] According to another feature of the present invention, the multi-stage arm 10 is made up of a plurality of watertight, expandable pipes, and the cleaning water nozzles 20 are directly connected to the ends of the multi-stage arm 10, or a separate cleaning water line 16 is arranged inside or outside the multi-stage arm 10, and the cleaning water nozzles 20 are connected to the ends of the cleaning water line 16, thereby providing a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mix concrete truck.

[0008] According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mix concrete vehicle, characterized in that a rotating shaft 11 attached to the periphery of the hopper 4 is provided at the base end of the multi-stage arm 10, and the position of the multi-stage arm 10 is adjusted around this rotating shaft 11 between a first position in which it extends downward while contracted outside the hopper 4, and a second position in which it extends into the mixing drum 2 through the opening 8 of the hopper 4. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the base end of an extendable multi-stage arm 10 is attached to the periphery of the hopper 4 of the mixing drum 2 of the ready-mixed concrete truck 1, and this multi-stage arm 10 can be selectively positioned inside or outside the mixing drum 2. The tip of this multi-stage arm 10 is equipped with a vehicle-integrated ready-mixed concrete mixing drum cleaning device equipped with a cleaning water nozzle 20 that sprays cleaning water forward or backward. This makes it possible to clean the mixing drum of the ready-mixed concrete truck whenever necessary without having to travel to a ready-mixed concrete manufacturing plant or construction site that is equipped with a mixing drum cleaning device as a separate facility, and quickly cleans the mixing drum 2 so that any fresh concrete remaining in it does not adhere, thereby keeping the mixing drum 2 of the ready-mixed concrete truck 1 clean and durable. Furthermore, when cleaning is not being performed, the multi-stage arm 10 of the cleaning device is retracted outside the mixing drum 2 so as not to interfere with the process of loading ready-mixed concrete into the mixing drum 2 via the hopper 4 at the ready-mixed concrete plant, or while the mixing drum is being rotated and moving or via the suit 6, or while the mixing drum is being rotated and moving or while the ready-mixed concrete is being discharged from the site via the chute 6. When cleaning is performed, the position of the multi-stage arm 10 is adjusted to load the ready-mixed concrete into the mixing drum 2 for cleaning. This allows the cleaning device to be integrated into the ready-mixed concrete vehicle, improving the convenience of cleaning, while at the same time retracting the cleaning device outside the mixing drum 2 when performing tasks such as loading or pouring ready-mixed concrete, so that it does not get in the way of loading ready-mixed concrete or pouring at the site. Furthermore, by preventing such concrete from adhering to the cleaning nozzles of the cleaning device and causing malfunctions in the cleaning device, the cleaning device can be used for long periods of time without malfunction and its durability can be increased.

[0010] During cleaning, the multi-stage arm 10 is extended to spray cleaning water from inside the mixing drum 2. By spraying the cleaning water backward as well as forward and to the sides, the water pressure of the cleaning water causes the concrete remaining on the back of the screw blades 5 and in the deck space around it, which the cleaning water cannot reach when spraying forward, to fall off, and the concrete is discharged together with the cleaning water from the discharge port 8, thereby cleaning the inside of the mixing drum 2 thoroughly, thereby preventing the functionality of the ready-mix concrete truck from being impaired or its durability from being reduced.

[0011] The multi-stage arm 10 is made up of a plurality of watertight, extendable pipes, and a cleaning water nozzle 20 is connected to the tip of the multi-stage arm 10, or the cleaning water nozzle 20 is connected to the end of a cleaning water line 16, such as a hose, which is separately provided inside or outside the multi-stage arm 10 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the multi-stage arm 10. With this simple structure, the cleaning water line 16 moves, expanding and contracting, stretching and pulling in accordance with the extension and contraction of the multi-stage arm 10, and as it moves forward and backward inside the mixing drum 2, cleaning water can be sprayed not only onto the front surface but also onto the rear surface of any screw blade 5 at any position, thereby effectively and thoroughly cleaning it.

[0012] In addition, a rotary shaft 11 attached to the periphery of the hopper 4 is provided at the base end of the multi-stage arm 10, and the multi-stage arm 10 extends downward in a contracted state around this rotary shaft 11 to the outside of the hopper 4 in a first position, and the multi-stage arm 10 extends downward in a contracted state from the periphery of the hopper 4 through the opening 2 of the hopper 4 so as not to interfere with other parts when loading or moving ready-mixed concrete or when discharging ready-mixed concrete at the work site, thereby providing a mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mixed concrete truck that is compact and easy to store and keep. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing drum in use according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-stage arm of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing drum in use, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-stage arm. As shown in the figures, according to the present invention, a ready-mixed concrete truck 1 includes a hopper 4 into which ready-mixed concrete mixed at a ready-mixed concrete factory is fed, screw blades 5 arranged in a spiral around the inner wall, and a suit 6 from which the mixed ready-mixed concrete is discharged, and a mixing drum 2 is rotatably mounted thereon.

[0015] A bracket 9 is attached to the periphery of the hopper 4, and a pivot shaft 11 is connected to the bracket 9. The pivot shaft 11 is pivotally connected to the base end of a multi-stage arm 10, which is made up of multiple tubular bodies that telescope like a multi-stage boom. A winch mechanism 12 mounted on a support plate 17 is provided on the outer surface of a first arm 10a, which is located at the base end of the multi-stage arm 10. The winch mechanism 12 is composed of a motor, a reducer, and a pulley or drum, and can extend or retract the multi-stage arm 10 by winding or loosening a traction wire 13 that is tied to the most distal arm 10b via a ring 14 aligned on the outer periphery of the multi-stage arm 10. The winch 10 can extend under its own weight and retract by pulling the traction wire 13. However, depending on the structure of the winch mechanism 12 and the arrangement of the traction wire 13, both the extension and retraction of the multi-stage arm 10 can be achieved by adjusting the direction of pulling the traction wire 13.

[0016] A wash water nozzle 20 is provided at the tip of the multi-stage arm 10. This wash water nozzle 20 is formed with nozzle holes 21 that spray wash water forward, sideways, and backward. Here, "forward" refers to the direction in which the multi-stage arm 10 extends, and "backward" refers to the direction in which the multi-stage arm 10 retracts, and includes tilted forward and tilted backward. In this way, the present invention can spray wash water in all directions around the wash water nozzle 20, including forward, sideways, and backward. When wash water is sprayed forward near the inlet 7 of the hopper 4 facing the inlet of the mixing drum 2, the water pressure of the wash water causes concrete remaining behind the screw blades 5 and in the dead space around them, which the wash water does not contact, to fall off and be discharged together with the wash water through the outlet 8, thereby cleaning the inside of the mixing drum 2 cleanly and preventing damage to the functionality and durability of the ready-mix concrete truck.

[0017] According to the present invention, the multi-stage arm 10 can also function as a telescopic flushing water supply pipe, with multiple telescopically extending and retracting pipes connected watertight via a seal ring (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, however, a flushing water line 16 consisting of an extendable hose is housed inside the multi-stage arm 10, which is made up of multiple pipes, and the flushing water nozzle 20 described above is connected to the end of this flushing water line 16. As a result, as the multi-stage arm 10 extends and retracts, the flushing water line 16 housed inside the multi-stage arm 10 also extends and retracts accordingly. Alternatively, the flushing water line 16 does not extend and retract along its length, but is simply made of a flexible hose or tube. The flushing water line 16 can also move forward and backward, being pulled and extended in response to the extension and retraction of the multi-stage arm 10. The flushing water line 16 is connected to a flushing water supply device 22 and a flushing water supply line 24, both of which are provided outside the mixing drum 2. This wash water supply device 22 may be mounted on the ready-mix concrete truck 1 or provided separately.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a bracket 9 is attached to the base end of the multi-stage arm 10 around the periphery of the hopper 4, and the base end of the multi-stage arm 10 is rotatably disposed on this bracket 9 via a rotation shaft 11. The position of the multi-stage arm 10 is adjusted around this rotation shaft 11 between a first position where the multi-stage arm 10 extends downward while contracted to the outside of the hopper 4, and a second position where the multi-stage arm 10 extends into the mixing drum 2 through the opening 8 of the hopper 4. When the multi-stage arm 10 is in the second position where it extends into the mixing drum 2, the multi-stage arm 10 extends due to the operation of the winch mechanism 12 or its own weight, and can penetrate deep into the mixing drum 2 together with the cleaning water nozzle 20, so that the interior of the mixing drum 2 can be cleaned by spraying cleaning water.

[0019] According to the present invention described above, the mixing drum of a ready-mixed concrete vehicle can be washed whenever necessary without traveling to a ready-mixed concrete manufacturing plant or construction site equipped with a separate mixing drum washing device. The mixing drum 2 can be washed quickly so that any fresh concrete remaining inside the mixing drum 2 does not get stuck, keeping the mixing drum 2 of the ready-mixed concrete vehicle 1 clean and durable. When washing is not in progress, the multi-stage arm 10 of the washing device can be retracted to the outside of the mixing drum 2, preventing it from interfering with the loading of ready-mixed concrete into the mixing drum 2 via the hopper 4 at the ready-mixed concrete plant, or when the mixing drum is being rotated and moved or when ready-mixed concrete is being discharged from the site via the suit 6. This prevents concrete from adhering to the washing nozzle of the washing device, causing the device to malfunction, and improves the durability of the washing device.

Claims

1. The ready-mixed concrete vehicle is mounted on or towed by a ready-mixed concrete vehicle (1) and includes a rotatable mixing drum (2) including a hopper (4) into which ready-mixed concrete mixed at a ready-mixed concrete plant is fed, screw blades (5) arranged spirally around the inner wall, and a suit (6) from which the mixed ready-mixed concrete is discharged. The ready-mixed concrete vehicle has a base end attached to the periphery of the hopper (4) and selectively positioned inside or outside the mixing drum (2), a telescopic, extendable multi-stage arm (10), a pulling wire (13) extending parallel to the multi-stage arm (10), and the multi-stage arm (10) can be moved by loosening or pulling the pulling wire (13). a winch mechanism (12) for extending or retracting the multi-stage arm (10); and a cleaning water nozzle (20) disposed at the tip of the multi-stage arm (10) and moving together with the arm to spray cleaning water forward, sideways, and backward, the multi-stage arm (10) having a pivot shaft (11) attached to the periphery of the hopper (4) at its base end, the multi-stage arm (10) being positioned about the pivot shaft (11) between a first position where the multi-stage arm (10) extends downward in a contracted state outside the hopper (4) and a second position where the multi-stage arm (10) extends into the mixing drum (2) through an opening (8) in the hopper (4).

2. 2. The mixing drum cleaning device for a ready-mix concrete vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the multi-stage arm (10) is made up of a plurality of watertight, expandable pipes, and the cleaning water nozzle (20) is directly connected to the end of the multi-stage arm (10), or a separate cleaning water line (16) is arranged inside or outside the multi-stage arm (10), and the cleaning water nozzle (20) is connected to the end of the cleaning water line (16).

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