Concrete Mixer Additive Control for Drain and Clear Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete mixer vehicles lack an efficient system for adding additives, draining excess materials, and clearing stagnant fluid from the additive admixture system, leading to inefficiencies and potential clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
A concrete mixer vehicle equipped with a mixer drum, an additive admixture system, and a controller that operates the system to transition between additive addition mode, drain mode, and system clear mode, ensuring precise control and maintenance of the additive admixture system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an additive admixture system is integrated into the concrete mixer vehicle, then the functionality and versatility of the mixer are improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple valves, pumps, and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The additive admixture system integrates multiple functions (additive addition, draining, and clearing) into a single unified system that operates through a controller managing coordinated valve and pump operations, allowing one system to perform multiple tasks that would otherwise require separate mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the additive tank, pump, multiple valves (inlet valve, drain valve, air valve), and controller into an integrated assembly that works as a cohesive unit, merging components that could operate independently to reduce overall system complexity
2Productivity
If the mixer drum rotates at high speed for efficient mixing and transport, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of clogging and stagnant fluid accumulation in the additive system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic clearing cycles where the air valve opens at predetermined intervals to blow air through the additive system, preventing stagnant fluid accumulation during high-speed mixing and transport operations by creating regular flushing actions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary clearing actions by opening the air valve before additive addition to ensure clear passages, and subsequent clearing after addition to prevent clogging, proactively maintaining flow畅通 before problems occur
3Loss of time
If the additive system operates continuously without clearing cycles, then the loss of time for clearing operations is reduced, but stagnant fluid accumulates leading to clogging and system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically initiates clearing cycles at predetermined time intervals or after specific operating durations, performing brief air blowing operations to flush the system without requiring extended stopping or manual intervention, balancing continuous operation with maintenance needs
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing operation is integrated into the continuous operation sequence, where the air valve opens briefly during or between additive addition cycles to maintain flow畅通 without interrupting the overall productivity, keeping the system ready for continuous operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient addition of additives, effective drainage of excess materials, and thorough clearing of stagnant fluid, thereby maintaining system integrity and preventing clogging, which enhances the overall efficiency and reliability of the concrete mixer vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
an additive admixture system including a pump
Implementation Method 2
transition the additive admixture system into the system clear mode for a predetermined amount of time to clear stagnant fluid or built up mixture from the additive admixture system
Data Source
AI summary
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum, an additive admixture system, and a controller. The additive admixture system includes an air inlet valve, a fluid valve, an air valve, and a pump. The controller is configured to operate the additive admixture system to transition the additive admixture system between an additive addition mode, a drain mode, and a system clear mode. The controller transitions the additive admixture system into the additive addition mode and operates the pump until a desired amount of an additive is added to the mixer drum, transitions the additive admixture system into the drain mode for a predetermined amount of time in response to the desired amount of additive being added to the mixer drum, and transitions the additive admixture system into the system clear mode for a predetermined amount of time to clear stagnant fluid or built up mixture from the additive admixture system.