Concrete Mixer Additive Dosing With Automatic Line Clearing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Concrete mixer vehicles face challenges in efficiently adding and managing additives within the mixer drum, including clogging and stagnant fluid, which affect the delivery efficiency and require manual intervention or costly sensors for buildup detection.

Innovation Solution

A concrete mixer vehicle equipped with an additive admixture system that includes an air inlet valve, fluid valve, air valve, and pump, controlled by a controller to transition between additive addition, drain, and system clear modes, using compressed air to clear clogs and manage fluid effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual intervention or costly sensors are used to detect buildup in the additive system, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuildup detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its own operational parameters (pump runtime, valve positions, air pressure) to detect and diagnose buildup conditions without external sensors. The controller monitors the additive system's self-behavior during operation to identify clogging or stagnant fluid conditions, eliminating the need for separate detection devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the additive system's operation and uses feedback from pump performance, valve responses, and air pressure changes to detect buildup. When abnormal patterns are detected, the system automatically adjusts operations or triggers clear modes to maintain optimal performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the additive system operates continuously without clearing, then productivity is improved, but clogging and stagnant fluid accumulate reducing system reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive addition efficiencyVSAvoidsystem operational reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically transitions between additive addition modes and clear modes at predetermined intervals or based on operational criteria. The controller schedules periodic clear operations to prevent buildup while maintaining high productivity during addition phases, creating a cyclical operation pattern that balances both objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary clearing actions before buildup becomes problematic by monitoring operational parameters and triggering clear modes proactively. The controller detects early signs of stagnation or clogging and initiates clear sequences before they severely impact system reliability or require manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If compressed air is used to clear clogs and stagnant fluid, then system reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operational reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses compressed air (pneumatics) to clear clogs and stagnant fluid from the additive system. Air valves and air lines deliver pressurized air through the additive lines to dislodge and remove buildup, providing an effective clearing mechanism that restores system reliability without requiring mechanical disassembly or manual cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes operational parameters (air pressure, valve positions, pump status) to optimize the clearing process. By adjusting air pressure levels and timing based on detected buildup conditions, the system achieves effective clearing while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures efficient additive addition, reduces clogging, and automatically detects and clears buildup, enhancing delivery efficiency and reducing manual intervention and sensor costs.

Implementation Method 1

using compressed air to clear clogs and manage fluid effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressed air: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12179384B2Additive system for a concrete mixer truck

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

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.