Concrete pump vehicle and method for suction and pumping external fluid using a concrete pump vehicle

Abstract

To avoid obstruction of fluidity of ready-mixed concrete even when using a normal concrete pump by needing only connecting an exhaust pipe to a suction end part of a pump tube so as to be changeable via a connecting pipe body of an auxiliary connecting instrument after moving a hopper to a retreat position when using the concrete pump to the suction and exhaustion of an external fluid, and thereby eliminating the need of special remodeling such as sealing of the hopper.SOLUTION: A concrete pump vehicle V comprises an auxiliary connecting instrument A which is used when a concrete pump CP is used as to a suction pump for sucking external fluid into a tube T from a transfer pipe 20 by reverse rotation of a roller support body RS. The auxiliary connecting instrument A includes a connecting pipe body Aw which is connectable to a suction end Ti of the tube T at one end and to which an upstream-side end of an exhaust pipe 80 is connectable at the other end part when the hopper H is in a retreat position HB.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention ,car A concrete pump vehicle equipped with a concrete pump mounted at the rear of the vehicle body, a hopper capable of storing fresh concrete, and a hopper frame connected to the rear end of the vehicle body to support the hopper, the concrete pump having a cylindrical pump case, a tube provided along the inner peripheral surface of the pump case, a plurality of rollers that squeeze the tube to cause the tube to exert a pumping action, and a roller support that supports the rollers so that they can rotate on their own axis and revolve around the central axis of the pump case, an outlet pipe provided in the hopper and capable of discharging fresh concrete from the hopper is detachably connected to a suction end of the tube extending rearward through a suction port provided at the bottom of the pump case, and an upstream end of a transfer pipe used to transport fresh concrete to a casting site is connected to a discharge end of the tube extending rearward through a discharge port provided at the top of the pump case, the hopper can be fixed on the hopper frame in a normal use position that allows the suction end and the outlet pipe to be connected to each other, and can be moved from the use position to a retracted position where the suction end can be opened rearward. And A connecting device for a discharge pipe used when converting a concrete pump into a suction pump that sucks external fluids such as slurry from a transfer pipe into a tube by reverse rotation of a roller support. Concrete pump truck equipped with ,and Applicable This invention relates to a method for suction and pumping an external fluid using a concrete pump vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The above-mentioned concrete pump vehicle is conventionally known, for example as disclosed in Patent Document 1, and can be used to pump ready mixed concrete to, for example, a high-altitude construction site. In addition, a technique for repurposing a concrete pump to pump an external fluid such as a slurry to a discharge location is conventionally known, as disclosed in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-148186 [Patent Document 2] JP 2007-278264 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the concrete pump of Patent Document 2, the hopper is modified to have a sealed structure and a suction pipe is connected to it, so that the concrete pump can suck external fluid into the tube through the suction pipe and the hopper, and discharge it to the discharge location through the transfer pipe. As a variation, Patent Document 2

[0008] suggests that by rotating the rotor of the concrete pump of the same embodiment in the reverse direction, external fluid is sucked into the tube from the transfer pipe at the tip of the boom, and the fluid is discharged to the discharge location from the suction pipe via the sealed hopper.

[0005] However, the technology of Patent Document 2 has a problem that the hopper structure becomes complicated to seal the hopper, which increases costs. Furthermore, when the concrete pump is used for its original purpose, the complicated modification of the hopper structure causes problems such as impeding the fluidity of the ready-mixed concrete in the hopper.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and provides a concrete pump that can solve the problems of the conventional structure with a simple structure. car, Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for suctioning and pumping an external fluid using a concrete pump truck. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a concrete pump equipped with a concrete pump mounted on the rear of a vehicle body, a hopper capable of storing ready mixed concrete, and a hopper frame connected to the rear end of the vehicle body to support the hopper, the concrete pump having a cylindrical pump case, a tube provided along the inner peripheral surface of the pump case, a plurality of rollers that squeeze the tube to cause the tube to exert a pumping action, and a roller support that supports the rollers rotatably and revolvably around the central axis of the pump case, and a roller support member provided on the hopper to support the hopper. A concrete pump vehicle in which an outlet pipe capable of discharging fresh concrete from a hopper is detachably connected to a suction end of a tube extending rearward through a suction port provided at the bottom of the pump case, and an upstream end of a transfer pipe used for transporting fresh concrete to a pouring site is connected to a discharge end of the tube extending rearward through a discharge port provided at the top of the pump case, and the hopper can be fixed on the hopper frame in a normal use position that allows the suction end and the outlet pipe to be connected to each other, and can be moved from the use position to a retracted position where the suction end can be opened rearward. And A connecting device for a discharge pipe used when converting the concrete pump into a suction pump that sucks external fluid from the transfer pipe into the tube by reverse rotation of the roller support. The exhaust pipe connection device comprises: The hopper of The retreat position In the above, the tube is separated from the outlet pipe of the hopper and opened backward. Connectable to the suction end The roller support has a reverse rotation, and the external fluid sucked into the tube through the transfer pipe is discharged to a predetermined discharge location. Upstream end of the discharge pipe Connected to Can be continued and the other end The first feature of the present invention is that it is equipped with a connecting pipe body.

[0008] In addition to the first feature, the present invention also provides: The exhaust pipe connector comprises: A second feature of the present invention is that it further comprises a support stay that is coupled to the connecting pipe and is detachably connectable to the vehicle body.

[0009] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a third feature in that the support stay is detachably connectable to the hopper frame and connectable to the vehicle body via the hopper frame.

[0010] Furthermore, in addition to any one of the first to third features, the present invention provides a hopper frame having an engagement portion that can be selectively engaged with first and second locking members that can be operated independently of each other, and that is provided between the hopper frame and the hopper frame and that can be selectively engaged with the first and second locking members that can be operated independently of each other, and that the first locking member is disposed at a lower portion of the hopper. and before A fourth feature is that the hopper can be locked in the use position by engaging with the engaged portion, and the second locking member can lock the hopper in the retracted position by engaging with a support member that supports the hopper in the retracted position on the hopper frame and the engaged portion.

[0011] The present invention also provides a concrete pump having the first characteristic. Car a suction and pumping method for sucking the external fluid with the concrete pump and pumping it to an external discharge location, the method comprising the steps of: disconnecting the outlet pipe from the suction end and moving the hopper from the use position to the retracted position; connecting one end of the connecting pipe body to the suction end and connecting an upstream end of the discharge pipe to the other end of the connecting pipe body; La The fifth feature of the present invention is that it includes a step of sucking the external fluid into the tube through the transfer pipe by rotating the support in the reverse direction, and further pumping it to the discharge location via the connecting pipe body and the discharge pipe.

[0012] The present invention also provides a concrete pump having a second feature. Car a suction and pumping method for sucking the external fluid with the concrete pump and pumping it to an external discharge location, the method comprising the steps of: disconnecting the outlet pipe from the suction end and moving the hopper from the use position to the retracted position; connecting one end of the connecting pipe body to the suction end and connecting the upstream end of the discharge pipe to the other end of the connecting pipe body and connecting the connecting pipe body to the vehicle body; LaThe sixth feature of the present invention is that it includes a step of sucking the external fluid into the tube through the transfer pipe by rotating the support in the reverse direction, and further pumping it to the discharge location via the connecting pipe body and the discharge pipe.

[0013] In this invention and this specification, the term "external fluid" refers to the fluid to be sucked and pumped when the concrete pump is driven in reverse and converted into a suction pump, and is, for example, slurry such as sludge or wastewater stagnating in parts of rivers, ponds, swamps, sewers, sewers, etc. This external fluid is sucked in by the concrete pump from the stagnant place and pumped to the discharge place, where it is discharged. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the first feature, Concrete pump trucks are equipped with The discharge pipe connection device is of In the evacuation position In this case, the hopper is separated from the outlet pipe of the hopper and opened backward. Can be connected to the suction end of a tube The external fluid sucked into the tube through the transfer pipe by the reverse rotation of the roller support is discharged to a predetermined discharge location. Upstream end of the discharge pipe Connected to Can be continued and the other end Since the pump is equipped with a connecting pipe, when the concrete pump is used to suck in and discharge external fluids such as slurry, the hopper is simply disconnected from its outlet pipe and suction end, moved to a retracted position, and then the discharge pipe is connected to the suction end via the connecting pipe. This eliminates the need to make special modifications to the hopper, such as making it airtight, which reduces costs, and there is no risk of impeding the fluidity of the ready-mixed concrete in the hopper, even when used as a normal concrete pump.

[0015] According to the second feature, The exhaust pipe connection device is Since the connecting pipe further includes a support stay that is fixed to the connecting pipe and can be detachably connected to the vehicle body, the connecting pipe can be stably fixed and held to the vehicle body during use, thereby making it possible to accurately maintain the connection state between the discharge pipe and the concrete pump (specifically, the suction end of the tube).

[0016] According to the third feature, the support stay can be detachably connected to the hopper frame and can be connected to the vehicle body via the hopper frame, so that the support stay can be connected to a hopper frame close to the location where the connecting pipe is to be placed. Therefore, the support stay can be easily connected to the vehicle body via the hopper frame without having to be extended or bent toward the vehicle body, which contributes to improving the workability of the connection work and making the support stay smaller.

[0017] According to a fourth feature, the hopper frame has an engaged portion with which first and second locking members that can be operated independently of each other can selectively engage, and the first locking member can lock the hopper in the use position by engaging with the lower part of the hopper and the engaged portion on the hopper frame, and the second locking member can lock the hopper in the retracted position by engaging with a support member that supports the hopper in the retracted position on the hopper frame and the engaged portion. This allows the locking mechanism that locks the hopper in the use position and the locking mechanism that locks the hopper in the retracted position after forced movement to share a part of both locking mechanisms (i.e., the engaged portion), which contributes to simplifying the locking structure and ultimately reducing costs.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the method includes the steps of: disconnecting an outlet pipe from a suction end of a tube and moving a hopper from a use position to a retracted position; connecting one end of a connecting pipe body to the suction end of the tube and connecting an upstream end of a discharge pipe to the other end of the connecting pipe body; La Since the process includes a step of sucking the external fluid into the tube through the transfer pipe by rotating the support in the reverse direction, and then pumping it to the discharge location via the connecting pipe and the discharge pipe, the effect of the first feature can be easily and accurately achieved by simply performing a simple work procedure.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the method includes the steps of: disconnecting the outlet pipe from the suction end of the tube and moving the hopper from the use position to the retreat position; connecting one end of a connecting pipe body to the suction end of the tube and connecting an upstream end of a discharge pipe to the other end of the connecting pipe body and connecting the connecting pipe body to a vehicle body; LaSince the process includes a step of sucking the external fluid into the tube through the transfer pipe by rotating the support in the reverse direction, and then pumping it to the discharge location via the connecting pipe and the discharge pipe, the effect of the second feature can be easily and accurately achieved by simply performing a simple work procedure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall left side view of a concrete pump vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] Overall right side view of concrete pump truck [Diagram 3] A partially broken enlarged left side view showing the main parts of a concrete pump vehicle, particularly the concrete pump and hopper. [Figure 4] Rear view of the concrete pump and hopper and their peripheral equipment (view taken from the arrow 4 in Figure 1) [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views (enlarged sectional views taken along line 5A-5A in FIG. 3) of a main portion of a first locking mechanism that locks a hopper in a use position, in which (A) shows a locked state of the first locking mechanism, and (B) shows an unlocked state of the first locking mechanism. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 3 showing an example of using a concrete pump as a suction pump for discharging fluids to the outside [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the main part of the auxiliary connection device (enlarged cross-sectional view of line 7-7 in Figure 6) [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main portion showing a locking operation state of a second locking mechanism that locks the hopper in a retracted position (an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the attached drawings. First, in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a concrete pump vehicle V includes a concrete pump CP mounted and fixed on a vehicle body F, a hopper H capable of temporarily storing the ready-mixed concrete to be supplied to the concrete pump CP, a hopper frame 50 fixed to the rear end of the vehicle body F and extending rearward to fix and support the hopper H so that the front-rear position can be adjusted, a transfer pipe 20 for transferring the ready-mixed concrete discharged from the concrete pump CP to a pouring site, and a boom assembly B for connecting and supporting a downstream piping portion 20D of the transfer pipe 20 so that it can be driven up and down to deliver the ready-mixed concrete even to a high-altitude pouring site.

[0022] The boom assembly B mainly comprises a number of boom sections that are arranged in a series and pivotally connected to each other so that they can bend, and a number of hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the boom sections around the pivotal connections. The base boom section Bb of the boom assembly B is supported on a swivel base 11 mounted on the vehicle, and is supported on the vehicle body F via the swivel base 11 so that it can be raised and lowered and swivelled about a vertical axis.

[0023] On the other hand, the downstream end 20e of the transfer pipe 20 is supported on the tip boom section Ba, and the base end of a ready-mixed concrete blowing pipe (not shown) capable of blowing out ready-mixed concrete from the tip is detachably attached to the tip of this downstream end 20e. The ready-mixed concrete blowing pipe can be manually operated by an operator to point the pipe tip to an appropriate location.

[0024] The downstream piping section 20D of the transfer pipe 20 is disposed along the multiple boom sections of the boom assembly B, and has multiple joints along the way that can bend in response to the bending motion of the adjacent boom sections. In addition, multiple jacks J that can be extended and retracted up and down are disposed at least at the four corners of the vehicle body F, front, rear, left and right.

[0025] On the other hand, the upstream piping section 20U of the transfer pipe 20 has an upstream end connected to the discharge side of a tube T serving as a pumping tube of the concrete pump CP described next. The upstream piping section 20U includes a first pipe section 21 formed in a U-shape in a plan view and disposed on the rear side of the concrete pump CP, and a second pipe section 22 connected to the downstream end of the first pipe section 21 and extending to the front side of the vehicle body F along the side surface of the pump case C of the concrete pump CP.

[0026] The first pipe section 21 is fixed to and supported by a piping support 30 that protrudes rearward from the rear part of the pump case C, and the second pipe section 22 is fixed to and supported by a plurality of support frames 12 that are fixed at intervals to the vehicle body F. The downstream end of the second pipe section 22 is connected to the downstream piping portion 20D of the transfer pipe 20 via the inside of the swivel base 11.

[0027] The concrete pump CP has a pump case C formed in a cylindrical shape with a central axis extending in the left-right direction and fixed to a vehicle body F, a tube T that is U-shaped in a side view and is provided along the inner circumferential surface of at least the front half outer circumferential wall Ca of the pump case C, a pair of rollers R that squeeze the tube T to cause it to exert a pumping action, and a roller support RS that supports the rollers R rotatably and revolvably around the central axis of the pump case C. The pair of rollers R are arranged with a phase difference of 180 degrees in the rotational direction of the roller support RS.

[0028] The pump case C is divided into a cylindrical outer wall Ca and a pair of left and right disc-shaped outer plates Cs whose outer peripheries are detachably connected (e.g., bolted) to both left and right ends of the outer wall Ca, hermetically sealing the left and right open ends of the outer wall Ca.

[0029] The tube T is made of a strong elastic material that has flexibility and elasticity and will not break even when it is squeezed by the rollers R and performs a pumping function for a long period of time. An elastic pad P is attached to at least the inner peripheral surface of the front half of the outer peripheral wall Ca of the pump case C, and extends in the circumferential direction to clamp the tube T between the rollers R that revolve while rotating.

[0030] The elastic pad P is divided into an upper pad portion Pt, a first and second intermediate pad portion Pf1, Pf2, and a lower pad portion Pb, which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall Ca and are arranged in order from top to bottom, and each of the pad portions is molded into a predetermined shape from an elastic material (e.g., rubber material, etc.). The elastic pad P may be formed as a single pad.

[0031] 3, the elastic pad P is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall Ca of the pump case C via a band-shaped interior plate 37 curved along the inner peripheral surface. Each pad portion of the elastic pad P may be joined directly to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall Ca of the pump case C (i.e., without the interior plate 37).

[0032] The discharge end To of the tube T extends in a direction approximately tangential to (rearward of) the outer circumferential wall Ca through a discharge port Co provided in the upper part of the pump case C facing rearward, and is detachably connected to the upstream piping section 20U of the transfer pipe 20 by a conventionally known coupling means JT. The coupling means JT has, for example, a cylindrical socket 23 for fitting the discharge end To of the tube T to its outer periphery, a coupling (bolt and nut 25 in the illustrated example) for detachably coupling between a flange section 23f at the outer end of the socket 23 and a flange section 24 at the upstream end of the upstream piping section 20U, and a fastener for tightening the outer periphery of the discharge end To of the tube T in the diameter reducing direction.

[0033] The fastener has, for example, a pair of clamp members 26 that sandwich the outer periphery of the discharge end To between them, and a bolt and nut 27 that fastens the pair of clamp members 26 so as to attract each other. Note that the bolt and nut 27 in the embodiment is used to connect one end and the other end of the pair of clamp members 26, but instead of this structure, the bolt and nut 27 may connect only one end of the pair of clamp members 26 to each other, and the other end may be pivotally connected to each other by a connecting pin or the like so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

[0034] On the other hand, the suction end Ti of the tube T extends in a direction approximately tangential to the outer wall Ca (rearward) through an intake port Ci provided rearward in the lower part of the pump case C, and is connected to the downstream end of the outlet pipe Ho of the hopper H described later.

[0035] The roller support RS is rotatably supported on the left and right outer plates Cs of the pump case C, and is rotationally driven by a rotation drive device (not shown) provided between the pump case C and the roller support RS. A pair of guide rollers 35 are rotatably supported on the roller support RS, which are disposed forward of the rollers R in the forward rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) of the roller support RS and sandwich the tube T from the left and right, and these guide rollers 35 suppress meandering and lateral deviation of the tube T.

[0036] The hopper H is formed in a tank shape that is open at the top and extends in the left-right direction, and an outlet pipe Ho that can discharge the fresh concrete in the hopper H is connected and fixed to the bottom of the hopper H. Also, an agitator 28 (see FIG. 4) is disposed in the hopper H to agitate the fresh concrete charged therein to make it less likely to harden, and the agitator 28 includes a plurality of agitator blades 28b that can rotate within the hopper H and a rotary drive unit 28a that drives the agitator blades to rotate.

[0037] 4, the outlet pipe Ho of the hopper H extends downward from the bottom surface of the hopper H, then curves and extends forward, and its extending end, i.e., its downstream end, is detachably connected to the suction end Ti of the tube T by a conventionally known coupling means JT'. Note that the coupling means JT' in this embodiment has the same structure as the coupling means JT between the discharge end To of the tube T and the transfer pipe 20 described above, so a detailed description will be omitted and it will merely be given the same reference numeral as the coupling means JT.

[0038] Next, referring mainly to Figures 3 to 5, an example of the relationship between the hopper frame 50 and the hopper H will be described. The hopper frame 50 has a pair of left and right vertical frames 51 that are connected to the rear of the vehicle body F and extend so as to protrude rearward, and a horizontal frame 52 that integrally connects the rear ends of the left and right vertical frames 51 together, and is configured as a frame frame that is U-shaped and open at the front in a plan view, and a recess 52a is formed in the center of the upper surface of the horizontal frame 52.

[0039] Meanwhile, a pair of left and right support legs Ha extending in the front-rear direction are provided downwardly on the lower part of the hopper H. Each support leg Ha includes a support leg body 54 that is placed and supported on the upper surface of the corresponding vertical frame 51 of the hopper frame 50 so as to be slidable only in the front-rear direction, and a support plate portion 55 that is integrally connected to the outer portion of the support leg body 54 and slidably abuts on the outer surface of the vertical frame 51. Therefore, the hopper frame 50 (specifically, the left and right vertical frames 51) is slidably held between the support plate portions 55 of the left and right support legs Ha, so that there is no risk of the hopper H shifting laterally on the hopper frame 50.

[0040] A drive unit D is interposed between the hopper H and the hopper frame 50, which can drive the hopper H between a predetermined use position HA (position in FIG. 3) that allows the suction end Ti of the tube T to be connected to the outlet pipe Ho, and a predetermined retracted position HB (position in FIG. 6) tilted upward and rearward from the use position HA. When the hopper H is in the retracted position HB, the suction end Ti, which is separated from the outlet pipe Ho, can be opened widely to the rear, and a large working space can be secured between the hopper H and the rear of the pump case C.

[0041] Therefore, by utilizing this working space, it is possible to easily perform the replacement of the tube T and other maintenance work, as well as the connection work to the exhaust pipe 80 described later.

[0042] The drive device D includes a hydraulic cylinder 53 that forcibly slides the hopper H (support leg Ha) back and forth on the hopper frame 50, and a motion conversion mechanism 60 that pivotally connects the hopper H and the hopper frame 50 to each other in a detachable manner when the hopper H reaches a predetermined backward limit by a stopper means (i.e., backward limit regulating means) not shown, thereby tilting the hopper H backward in conjunction with the contraction of the hydraulic cylinder H.

[0043] The hydraulic cylinder 53 is pivotally connected at both ends to a bracket 68 fixed to the rear of one of the left and right support legs Ha and to the hopper frame 50 (specifically, a first bracket 65b1 fixed to a horizontal frame 65 fixed to one of the left and right vertical frames 51). The hydraulic cylinder 53 may be disposed on both the left and right sides of the hopper frame 50.

[0044] The motion conversion mechanism 60 also includes a first hinge bracket 61 protruding from the rear end of the hopper frame 50 (left and right vertical frames 51), a second hinge bracket 62 protruding from the rear parts of the left and right support legs Ha, and a manually operated connecting mechanism 63 with connecting pins that is attached to the second hinge bracket 62 and is inserted (i.e., pivotally connected) in a removable manner into each connecting hole of the first and second hinge brackets 61, 62. When the connecting mechanism 63 is not pivotally connected to the first and second hinge brackets 61, 62, the hopper H simply slides back and forth on the hopper frame 50 by the extension and contraction operation of the hydraulic cylinder 53.

[0045] 3, when the hopper H is in the most forward position on the hopper frame 50, that is, the use position HA, if the suction end Ti of the tube T is separated from the outlet pipe Ho and the hydraulic cylinder 53 is extended, the support leg Ha of the hopper H slides backward on the hopper frame 50. When the hopper H reaches the rear limit, the rearward sliding stops, but at this time, the connecting holes of the first and second hinge brackets 61, 62 are in a mutually aligned positional relationship, so that the two hinge brackets 61, 62 can be pivotally connected to each other via the connecting pin of the connecting mechanism 63. After the pivotal connection, if the hydraulic cylinder 53 is contracted, the hopper H can be tilted backward around the connecting pin of the connecting mechanism 63, and the most tilted position becomes the retracted position HB. To return the hopper H from this state to the use position HA, the above procedure is reversed.

[0046] Furthermore, between the hopper H and the hopper frame 50, there are provided a first locking mechanism LA for releasably locking the support legs Ha to the hopper frame 50 when the hopper H is in the use position HA in Fig. 3, and a second locking mechanism LB for releasably locking the support members 70 supporting the hopper H on the hopper frame 50 to the hopper frame 50 when the hopper H is in the retracted position HB in Fig. 6. Next, an example of the first locking mechanism LA will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5.

[0047] The first locking mechanism LA includes an outer locking hole 55h provided in the support plate portion 55 of the support leg Ha, an inner locking hole 51h provided in the vertical frame 51 so as to be coaxially aligned with the outer locking hole 55h when the hopper H is in the use position HA, a locking collar 56 arranged coaxially with the inner locking hole 51h and fixed (for example, by welding) to the inner surface of the vertical frame 51, a fixed boss 57 protruding from the outer surface of the support plate portion 55 so as to concentrically surround the outer locking hole 55h, a locking pin L1 slidably inserted into the fixed boss 57 and slidable between a locked position (see FIG. 5(A)) where the locking pin L1 engages with the inner and outer locking holes 51h, 55h and the locking collar 56 and an unlocked position (see FIG. 5(B)) where the engagement is released, and a locking spring 59 that constantly biases the locking pin L1 toward the locked position.

[0048] An operating knob 58 for manually operating the lock pin L1 is fixed (for example, welded) to the outer end of the lock pin L1, and a slit-shaped engagement recess 57a that can be inserted and engaged with the operating knob 58 is provided in the fixed boss 57 so as to open on its outer end side. Thus, when the operating knob 58 is located at the bottom of the engagement recess 57a as shown in Fig. 5(A), the lock pin L1 is resiliently held in the locked position by a lock spring 59, and when the operating knob 58 engages with the outer end of the fixed boss 57 as shown in Fig. 5(B), the lock pin L1 is held in the unlocked position against the biasing force of the lock spring 59.

[0049] Next, an example of the second lock mechanism LB will be described with reference mainly to Figures 6 and 8. The support member 70 is a functional component for holding the hopper H in the retracted position HB, and includes a tension link 71 extending in the vertical direction, an upper bracket 72 fixed to the underside of the front part of the support leg main body 54, and a lower bracket 73 detachably connected to the vertical frame 51. The upper and lower ends of the tension link 71 are detachably connected to the upper bracket 72 and the lower bracket 73 with bolts and nuts 76, respectively.

[0050] The lower bracket 73 has a bracket base 73w having an L-shaped cross section that abuts against the upper surface and outer surface of the vertical frame 51, and an upward bracket tip 73a that is fixed to the upper surface of the horizontal upper wall of the bracket base 73w, and the bracket tip 73a is bolted to the lower end of the tension link 71. In addition, an outer lock hole 74h through which the lock bolt L2 is inserted is provided in the side plate 74 of the bracket base 73w.

[0051] When the hopper H is in the retracted position HB, the shaft portion of the lock bolt L2 is inserted into the outer lock hole 74h, the inner lock hole 51h, and the lock collar 56, and the nut 75 is screwed onto the tip portion of the shaft portion from the inside side of the vertical frame 51. This makes it possible to fasten the lower bracket 73 to the vertical frame 51, and thus makes it possible for the support member 70 to lock the hopper H in the use position HA.

[0052] The support member 70 is not necessary when the concrete pump CP is in use, and is therefore removed from the hopper frame 50 and stored in an appropriate location. It is taken out when the hopper H is moved to and held at the retracted position HB, and is used to lock the retracted position HB.

[0053] In this embodiment, the lock pin L1 constitutes a first locking member for locking the hopper H in the use position HA, and the lock bolt L2 constitutes a second locking member for locking the hopper H in the retracted position HB in cooperation with the support member 70. The inner locking hole 51h and the locking collar 56 constitute a locking hole Lc as an engaged portion provided in the hopper frame 50.

[0054] The pump case C is equipped with a vacuum device (not shown) for creating a negative pressure in its internal space, and this negative pressure helps the tube T, located on the rear side of the discharge roller R in the revolution direction, to automatically restore itself by its own elastic restoring force (therefore, the fresh concrete in the hopper H is sucked into the tube T). And, at each of the adjacent portions of the pump case C to the suction port Ci and the discharge port Co, the base ends of conventionally known boot-shaped seal cylinders 29 for preventing the negative pressure from leaking from the suction port Ci and the discharge port Co are respectively airtightly fixed, and each seal cylinder 29 is configured so that its inner peripheral surface can be airtightly fitted and pressed against the outer periphery of the suction end Ti and the discharge end To of the tube T, respectively.

[0055] An operation panel 45 is provided on either the left or right side of the pump case C, allowing an operator outside the vehicle to issue operating commands to the concrete pump CP, boom assembly B, and other operating equipment mounted on the concrete pump vehicle V. A similar operation panel is also provided in the driver's seat.

[0056] Additionally, the base of a screen S, which is rotatable between a closed position that covers the open top surface of the hopper H and an open position that stands up from the closed position, is journaled on the upper part of the front wall of the hopper H. The screen S has a screen main body Sm formed in a lattice frame shape to prevent people and large foreign objects from falling into the hopper H, and a rotating support shaft Sj fixed to the base of the screen main body Sm. Both ends of the rotating support shaft Sj are detachably and rotatably fitted into and supported by clamp support mechanisms 46 provided on the upper parts of the left and right side walls of the hopper H.

[0057] Also, disposed on one front side of the hopper H is an opening / closing sensor 40 having a non-contact type detection unit 42 capable of detecting the rotation angle of the screen S (hence the open / closed state), and a sensor cover 41 fixed to the hopper H below the transfer pipe 20 and covering the detection unit 42. The sensor cover 41 is fixed and supported on a support base 43 fixed to the upper part of one side wall of the hopper H, and prevents ready mixed concrete scattered from inside the hopper H from getting on the detection unit 42.

[0058] A splash guard G for preventing the scattering of fresh concrete from inside the hopper H toward the pump case C is supported on the upper part of the front wall of the hopper H so as to be able to rotate up and down between an upright position where the splashing can be prevented and a lying-down position where the splash guard G is lying down on the open top side of the hopper H. A locking mechanism 100 is provided on the front wall of the hopper H for detachably locking the base of the splash guard G to fix the splash guard G in the upright position. The splash guard G has a cutout portion Gc that is open at the top so that the rearward extending pipe portion 21a and the piping support body 30 can pass through in the front-rear direction when the splash guard G is in the upright position.

[0059] Furthermore, when the hopper H is moved backward on the hopper frame 50 for replacing the tube T or the like, the splash guard G can be laid down and held in the closed position in advance to prevent interference with the upstream piping portion 20U of the transfer pipe 20. When laying down and rotating the splash guard G to the closed position, the screen S is removed from the hopper H in advance to prevent interference with the splash guard G.

[0060] Incidentally, the concrete pump vehicle V can be converted into a suction pump that sucks external fluid into the tube T through the transfer pipe 20 by rotating the roller support RS in the reverse direction (counterclockwise rotation in Figure 6).In this case, a discharge pipe connecting device A is used to connect the suction end Ti of the tube T to an external discharge pipe 80, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

[0061] This connection device A comprises a cylindrical connecting pipe body Aw, one end of which can be connected to the suction end Ti of the tube T while the hopper H is held in the retracted position HB, and the other end of which can be connected to the upstream end of the discharge pipe 80, and a horizontally elongated support stay As, the central portion of which is fixed (e.g., welded) to the outer periphery of the middle portion of the connecting pipe body Aw, so that it can be detachably connected to the hopper frame 50.

[0062] A flange portion Awf for detachably connecting to the suction end Ti of the tube T is integrally formed at the front end of the connecting pipe body Aw. This flange portion Awf has the same structure and function as the flange portion 24 (see Figure 3) on the outlet pipe Ho side of the above-mentioned connecting means JT' between the suction end Ti of the tube T and the outlet pipe Ho. In other words, it is butted against the flange portion 23f of the socket 23 airtightly connected to the suction end Ti and connected with bolts and nuts 25.

[0063] 7, both ends of the support stay As extend directly above the horizontal frame 65 fixed to the left and right vertical frames 51, and overlap the second bracket 65b2 that stands upright and is fixed on the horizontal frame 65, and is detachably joined with a number of bolts and nuts 69. A reinforcing stay 67 is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the connection pipe body Aw and the front surface of the support stay As, for reinforcing the space between them.

[0064] The discharge pipe 80 is used to transport the external fluid sucked and pumped by the concrete pump CP to a discharge location 90 (for example, a sludge transport vehicle, a sewer not clogged with the external fluid, a sewer system, a river, etc.), and is made of a flexible and foldable tube body. The discharge pipe 80 is placed on the ground between the concrete pump vehicle V and the discharge location 90 so as to connect them.

[0065] The rear end of the connecting pipe Aw and the discharge pipe 80 are detachably connected by a conventionally known connecting means JT". This connecting means JT" comprises, for example, a cylindrical socket 81 fitted onto the outer periphery of the upstream end of the discharge pipe 80, a pair of clamp members 82 that span and connect the socket 81 and the rear end of the connecting pipe Aw, and bolts and nuts 83 that fasten the flange portions 82f of both clamp members 82 together. Annular engagement grooves 81a, Awa are recessed into the outer periphery of the socket 81 and the connecting pipe Aw, respectively, and inward annular protrusions protruding from the inner periphery of both axial ends of both clamp members 82 engage with these engagement grooves 81a, Awa so as to be immovable in the axial direction.

[0066] In addition, the bolts and nuts 83 in the embodiment are used to connect one ends and the other ends of the pair of clamp members 82 to each other, but instead of this structure, the bolts and nuts 83 may be used to connect only one ends of the pair of clamp members 82 to each other, and the other ends may be pivotally connected to each other by a connecting pin or the like so that they can rotate relative to each other.

[0067] An annular space is defined between the inner peripheral surfaces of both clamp members 82 and the outer peripheral surfaces of the socket 81 and the connecting pipe Aw, and a seal ring 85 that airtightly connects the socket 81 and the connecting pipe Aw is housed therein. A fastener such as a fastening band 84 that is fastened radially inward from the outer periphery of the discharge pipe 80 and pressed against the outer periphery of the socket 81 is wrapped around the upstream end of the discharge pipe 80, thereby improving the sealing performance of the connection between the discharge pipe 80 and the socket 81.

[0068] Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

[0069] In the normal use state of the concrete pump CP, the hopper H is fixed on the hopper frame 50 in the use position HA shown in Fig. 3, i.e., the most forward position, and this fixation is maintained by the locking action of the first locking mechanism LA. At this time, the hydraulic cylinder 53 in the hopper frame 50 is in a contracted state, and the suction end Ti of the tube T is connected to the outlet pipe Ho of the hopper H, and the discharge end To is connected to the upstream end of the transfer pipe 20.

[0070] Then, ready mixed concrete is poured into the hopper H by a mixer truck or the like, where it is temporarily stored while being agitated by the agitator 28. In this state, when the roller support RS is rotated forward (clockwise in FIG. 3), the pair of rollers R rotate in conjunction with this and revolve around the central axis of the pump case C. As a result, each roller R rolls in the circumferential direction while squeezing the tube T between itself and the inner peripheral surface (more specifically, the elastic pad P) on the front half side of the outer peripheral wall Ca of the pump case C, and at this time, the pump action (i.e., the action of pushing ready mixed concrete out of the tube T) is continuously repeated at the pressing timing such that one roller R releases the pressure on the tube T and the other roller R starts pressing the tube T at the same time.

[0071] Thus, the ready-mixed concrete discharged from the tube T is pumped through the transfer pipe 20 and can be blown out from a ready-mixed concrete blowing pipe (not shown) attached to the downstream end 20e of the transfer pipe 20. Therefore, by appropriately bending and extending each boom section of the boom assembly B to move the ready-mixed concrete blowing pipe together with the downstream piping section 20D of the transfer pipe 20 to the ready-mixed concrete pouring location at the construction site, the concrete pump CP can pump and supply the ready-mixed concrete even if the pouring location is at a high altitude.

[0072] Incidentally, the concrete pump CP of the embodiment may be converted into a suction pump that sucks an external fluid, for example, a slurry such as sludge or wastewater, into the tube T through the transfer pipe 20 by reverse rotation of the roller support RS (counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 6). In that case, the suction end Ti of the tube T is connected to an external discharge pipe 80 using a discharge pipe connecting device A as exemplified in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the external fluid is sucked in by the concrete pump CP and pumped to a discharge location 90.

[0073] This series of work processes includes, for example: [1] A first step of disconnecting an outlet pipe Ho of a hopper H from a suction end Ti of a tube T and moving the hopper H from a use position HA in FIG. 3 to a retracted position HB in FIG. 6; [2] A second step of connecting the front end of the connecting pipe body Aw to the suction end Ti of the tube T and connecting the upstream end of the exhaust pipe 80 to the rear end of the connecting pipe body Aw; [3] A third step of connecting and fixing the support stay As fixed to the connecting pipe body Aw to the hopper frame 50; [4] A fourth step of rotating the rotor support RS of the concrete pump CP counterclockwise in FIG. 6 to switch the pump CP to a suction pump, thereby sucking the external fluid into the tube T through the transfer pipe 20, and then pumping it through the connecting pipe body Aw and the discharge pipe 80 to the discharge location 90; Includes:

[0074] Next, each of the above steps will be described in more detail.

[0075] First, in the first step, the lock pin L1 of the first lock mechanism LA is pulled out to the unlocked position (see FIG. 5(B)), and then the hydraulic cylinder 53 is extended to slide the hopper H backward on the hopper frame 50 to a predetermined backward limit, at which the first hinge bracket 61 on the hopper frame 50 side and the second hinge bracket 62 on the hopper H side are pivotally connected to each other. In this state, the hydraulic cylinder 53 is contracted to tilt the hopper H to the retracted position HB, and then the support member 70 is interposed between the support leg Ha of the hopper H and the hopper frame 50 to perform a bracing function therebetween. Then, the lock bolt L2 that penetrates and engages with the lower bracket 73 of the support member 70 is tightened to the vertical frame 51 of the hopper frame 50 in cooperation with the nut 75, so that the second lock mechanism LB is in the locked operating state shown in FIG. 8, and the hopper H is fastened to the retracted position HB.

[0076] In addition, in the second step, the hopper H is retracted to and held in the retracted position HB, thereby ensuring a wide working space between the hopper H and the pump case C. In this wide working space, the first connection operation between the suction end Ti of the tube T and the front end of the connecting pipe Aw, and the second connection operation between the socket 81 previously connected to the upstream end of the discharge pipe 80 and the rear end of the connecting pipe Aw can each be easily performed without difficulty.

[0077] In addition, in the third step, the fixing work of connecting and fixing the support stay As fixed to the connecting pipe body Aw to the second bracket 65b2 fixed to the vertical frame 51 of the hopper frame 50 with bolts and nuts 69 can be easily performed in the large work space described above.

[0078] The order of the first and second connection operations in the second step and the fixing operation in the third step may be changed as appropriate. In particular, during the second connection operation, the recess 52a provided on the upper part of the horizontal frame 52 of the hopper frame 50 makes it easier for the discharge pipe 80 and the socket 81 to pass over the horizontal frame 52. After the connection operations are completed, the recess 52a effectively prevents the discharge pipe 80 from shifting sideways.

[0079] In the fourth step, the downstream end 20e of the transfer pipe 20 or the open end of the ready-mixed concrete blowout pipe fixed thereto is immersed in a stagnant place (not shown) of the external fluid (for example, a part of a river, a pond, a swamp, a sewer, a sewer, etc.). Meanwhile, the discharge pipe 80 is laid on the ground between the concrete pump CP and the discharge place 90 so that the downstream end of the discharge pipe 80 faces the discharge place 90 (for example, a sludge transport vehicle, a sewer not clogged with external fluid, a sewer, a river, etc.).

[0080] Then, when the rotor support RS of the concrete pump CP is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 6, the concrete pump CP sucks the external fluid in the stagnant place into the tube T through the transfer pipe 20, and further pumps the sucked external fluid through the connecting pipe body Aw and the discharge pipe 80 to the discharge place 90. Thus, the external fluid is discharged or stored at the discharge place 90.

[0081] As explained above, the discharge pipe connector A has a connecting pipe body Aw, one end of which can be connected to the suction end Ti of the tube T while the hopper H is held in the retracted position HB, and the other end of which can be connected to the upstream end of the discharge pipe 80, so that when the concrete pump CP is used to suck in and discharge an external fluid, the hopper H is moved to the retracted position HB while its outlet pipe Ho and suction end Ti are separated, and then the suction end Ti is simply reconnected to the discharge pipe 80 via the connecting pipe body Aw. This eliminates the need to make special modifications to the hopper H, such as making it airtight, thereby reducing costs, and there is no risk of impeding the fluidity of the ready-mixed concrete in the hopper H, even when it is used as the original concrete pump CP.

[0082] Furthermore, the connecting device A is equipped with a support stay As that is fixed to the connecting pipe Aw and can be detachably connected to the hopper frame 50, so that the connecting pipe Aw can be stably fixed and held to the hopper frame 50 during use, making it possible to accurately maintain the connection state between the discharge pipe 80 and the concrete pump CP (specifically, the suction end Ti of the tube T).

[0083] The hopper frame 50 of the embodiment has a lock hole Lc as an engaged portion with which a lock pin L1 (first lock member) and a lock bolt L2 (second lock member) that can be operated independently of each other can selectively engage, and the lock pin L1 can lock the hopper H in the use position HA by engaging with a support leg Ha at the bottom of the hopper H and the lock hole Lc on the hopper frame 50 side. The lock bolt L2 can lock the hopper H in the retracted position HB by engaging with a support member 70 that supports the hopper H in the retracted position HB on the hopper frame 50 and the lock hole Lc.

[0084] As a result, the first locking mechanism LA that locks the hopper H in the use position HA and the second locking mechanism LB that locks the support member 70 to hold the hopper H in the retracted position HB can share a part of both the locking mechanisms LA, LB (i.e., the locking hole Lc as the engaged part), which makes it possible to simplify the locking structure and thereby reduce costs.

[0085] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various embodiments can be implemented within the scope of the present invention.

[0086] For example, in the embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 53 of the drive unit D capable of driving the hopper H between the normal use position HA and the retracted position HB is exemplified as sliding the hopper H backward on the hopper frame 50 from the use position HA to its rearmost position, and then tilting it backward to forcibly move it to the retracted position HB, similar to that shown in JP 10-148186 A. However, in the present invention, it is sufficient that the hopper H can be fixed on the hopper frame 50 in the normal use position HA and can be moved from the use position HA to the retracted position HB, and there are various variations in the manner of movement to the retracted position HB.

[0087] As a variation thereof, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-74751, the hopper may be forcibly moved up and down on the hopper frame from the use position to an upper retracted position HB. Alternatively, as another variation, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-58431 and No. 10-58433, the hopper may be forcibly swung left and right on the hopper frame from the use position to one of the left and right retracted positions.

[0088] Alternatively, as another variation, the hopper may be detached from the hopper frame and moved manually or by a mechanical device such as a forklift to a retracted position away from the hopper frame.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the connection tool A includes the support stay As in addition to the connection pipe Aw, but the support stay As may be omitted in the present invention. In this case, the connection pipe Aw may be detachably connected to the suction end Ti of the tube T so that the tube T itself supports the connection pipe Aw, or the connection pipe Aw may be detachably connected to and supported by the vehicle body F or a fixed object thereto (e.g., the hopper frame 50, etc.).

[0090] When the support stays As are omitted and the connecting pipe body Aw is supported by the tube T itself as described above, the third step of the above embodiment (i.e., the step of fixing the support stays As to the hopper frame 50) can be omitted. When the support stays As are omitted and the connecting pipe body Aw is supported by the vehicle body F or a fixed object thereto as described above, the third step is replaced by a task of fixing the connecting pipe body Aw to the vehicle body F or a fixed object thereto.

[0091] In addition, in the above embodiment, the support stay As is extended to the side of the connecting pipe body Aw and removably connected to the hopper frame 50, but the support stay As may be bent and extended forward from the side of the connecting pipe body Aw and directly connected (for example, by bolt connection, pin connection, etc.) to the rear end of the vehicle body F.

[0092] Alternatively, the support stay As may be indirectly connected to the vehicle body F (for example, via a fixed object of the vehicle body F) rather than directly connected to the vehicle body F. In this case, the fixed object may be the hopper frame 50 of the embodiment, as well as the hopper case C (the area surrounding the suction port Ci) or the hopper H, etc., and in this case, the support stay As is detachably connected to the hopper case C (the area surrounding the suction port Ci) or the hopper H, etc.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the lock hole Lc as an engaged portion provided in the hopper frame 50 for engaging the support member 70 for holding the hopper H in the retracted position HB is also used as a lock hole for holding the hopper H in the use position HA (i.e., for the first lock mechanism LA). However, instead of using this dual-purpose hole, the lock hole Lc for engaging the support member 70 (i.e., for the second lock mechanism LB) and the lock hole Lc for the first lock mechanism LA may be provided individually in the hopper frame 50 as separate dedicated holes.

[0094] The lock holes Lc may be provided in the vehicle body F or a fixed object of the vehicle body F other than the hopper frame 50, instead of being provided in the hopper frame 50 as in the embodiment.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the support member 70 is removed from the hopper frame 50 and stored in an appropriate location when the concrete pump CP is in use, and is taken out and used when moving and holding the hopper H to the retracted position HB. However, when the lock hole Lc is used specifically as the above-mentioned dedicated hole, this may be utilized to constantly connect the support member 70 to the hopper frame 50 or the vehicle body F or a fixed object thereto, and the support member 70 may be folded and stored when not in use.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the upstream end of the connecting pipe Aw is connected to the suction end Ti of the tube T via the socket 23 into whose outer periphery the suction end Ti is inserted, but the socket 23 is not necessarily an essential connecting part, and even if it is omitted, it is sufficient as long as the structure can at least liquid-tightly connect the upstream end of the connecting pipe Aw to the suction end Ti of the tube T. For example, if the shape and structure of the upstream end of the connecting pipe Aw is such that the suction end Ti of the tube T can be inserted therein to connect it liquid-tight, the socket can be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] A... For discharge pipe Connection equipment Aw...Connecting pipe As... Support stay CP····Concrete pump C·····Pump case Ci...Inhalation port Co...Discharge port D Hopper drive unit F... Body H·····Hopper Ho... Outlet pipe HA... Usage position HB...Evacuation position L1: Lock pin as the first locking element L2: Lock bolt as the second locking member Lc....Lock hole as the engaged part R...Roller RS...Roller support body T ······tube Suction end of Ti···· tube To...the discharge end of the tube V·····Concrete pump vehicle 20...Transfer pipe 50 Hopper frame 70... Support member 80·····Discharge pipe 90·····Discharge location

Claims

1. The concrete pump (CP) is equipped with a concrete pump mounted on the rear of a vehicle body (F), a hopper (H) capable of storing fresh concrete, and a hopper frame (50) connected to the rear end of the vehicle body (F) to support the hopper (H). The concrete pump (CP) has a cylindrical pump case (C), a tube (T) provided along the inner peripheral surface of the pump case (C), a plurality of rollers (R) for squeezing the tube (T) to cause the tube (T) to exert a pumping action, and a roller support (RS) for supporting the rollers (R) rotatably and revolvably about the central axis of the pump case (C). An outlet pipe ( a hopper (H) having a suction end (Ti) of a tube (T) extending rearward through a suction port (Ci) provided in the lower part of the pump case (C) in a detachable manner, and an upstream end of a transfer pipe (20) used for transporting fresh concrete to a pouring site is connected to a discharge end (To) of the tube (T) extending rearward through a discharge port (Co) provided in the upper part of the pump case (C); the hopper (H) is fixable on the hopper frame (50) in a normal use position (HA) that allows the suction end (Ti) and the outlet pipe (Ho) to be connected to each other, and is movable from the use position (HA) to a retracted position (HB) where the suction end (Ti) can be opened rearward, a discharge pipe connecting device (A) for converting the concrete pump (CP) into a suction pump that sucks an external fluid into the tube (T) through the transfer pipe (20) by reverse rotation of the roller support (RS); The discharge pipe connection device (A) is characterized in that it is equipped with a connecting pipe body (Aw) having one end that can be connected to the suction end (Ti) of the tube (T) that is separated from the outlet pipe (Ho) of the hopper (H) and open to the rear when the hopper (H) is in the retracted position (HB) of the hopper (H), and the other end that can be connected to the upstream end of a discharge pipe (80) that discharges the external fluid sucked into the tube (T) through the transfer pipe (20) by the reverse rotation of the roller support body (RS) to a predetermined discharge location (90).

2. A concrete pump truck as described in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge pipe connecting device (A) further comprises a support stay (As) that is coupled to the connecting pipe body (Aw) and can be detachably connected to the vehicle body (F).

3. The concrete pump vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the support stay (As) is detachably connectable to the hopper frame (50) and connectable to the vehicle body (F) via the hopper frame (50).

4. A drive device (D) is interposed between the hopper frame (50) and the hopper (H) for forcibly moving the hopper (H) between the use position (HA) and the retracted position (HB), The hopper frame (50) has an engaged portion (Lc) with which first and second locking members (L1, L2) that can be operated independently of each other can selectively engage, A concrete pump truck as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first locking member (L1) is capable of locking the hopper (H) in the use position (HA) by engaging with the lower part of the hopper (H) and the engaged portion (Lc), and the second locking member (L2) is capable of locking the hopper (H) in the retracted position (HB) by engaging with a support member (70) that supports the hopper (H) in the retracted position (HB) on the hopper frame (50) and the engaged portion (Lc).

5. A suction and pumping method for sucking the external fluid by the concrete pump (CP) and pumping it to an external discharge location (90) using the concrete pump vehicle according to claim 1, a step of disconnecting the outlet pipe (Ho) from the suction end (Ti) and moving the hopper (H) from the use position (HA) to the retracted position (HB); a step of connecting one end of the connecting pipe body (Aw) to the suction end portion (Ti) and connecting an upstream end of the discharge pipe (80) to the other end of the connecting pipe body (Aw); A method for suction and pumping an external fluid using a concrete pump truck, comprising the steps of: rotating the roller support (RS) in the reverse direction to suck the external fluid into the tube (T) through the transfer pipe (20), and then pumping it to the discharge location (90) via the connecting pipe body (Aw) and the discharge pipe (80).

6. A suction and pumping method for sucking the external fluid by the concrete pump (CP) and pumping it to an external discharge location (90) using the concrete pump vehicle according to claim 2, a step of disconnecting the outlet pipe (Ho) from the suction end (Ti) and moving the hopper (H) from the use position (HA) to the retracted position (HB); a step of connecting one end of the connecting pipe body (Aw) to the suction end portion (Ti) and connecting the upstream end of the exhaust pipe (80) to the other end of the connecting pipe body (Aw) and also connecting the connecting pipe body (Aw) to the vehicle body (F); A method for suction and pumping an external fluid using a concrete pump truck, comprising the steps of: rotating the roller support (RS) in the reverse direction to suck the external fluid into the tube (T) through the transfer pipe (20), and then pumping it to the discharge location (90) via the connecting pipe body (Aw) and the discharge pipe (80).

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