Portable Cement Mixer Auger Hydration
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional concrete mixing techniques often result in inconsistent slurry consistency due to skill dependence, laborious cleanup, and the inability of continuous process mortar mixers to handle concrete mixes with gravel aggregates, leading to inefficient and labor-intensive processes.
Innovation Solution
A portable mixer designed to hydrate and mix prepackaged cementitious mixes, including those with gravel aggregates, using a frame, hopper, chute, auger, and water supply system, with a motor-driven auger for continuous mixing and easy cleanup features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional batch mixing methods are used, then flexibility for small jobs is maintained, but mixing consistency and productivity are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous mixing by feeding dry cementitious mix through a hopper into a rotating drum mixer where water is continuously added and mixing occurs along the length of the drum, producing consistent slurry without batch interruptions. This continuous process eliminates the inconsistency of manual batch mixing while maintaining high productivity.
2Ease of operation
If drum mixers are used for mixing concrete, then mixing capability is achieved, but cleanup labor and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer is divided into distinct functional segments: a hopper for dry material feeding, a rotating drum mixing chamber, and a discharge section. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier cleaning by isolating the mixing zone from other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mixing function from a complex enclosed drum system to a simpler open-chamber design with a rotating drum that can be easily accessed for cleaning. The mixing action is achieved through the drum rotation and paddle configuration without requiring complex sealed mechanisms that would be difficult to maintain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If continuous process mortar mixers are used, then continuous mixing is achieved, but adaptability to concrete mixes with gravel aggregates is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is designed with specific local characteristics including a rotating drum with paddles configured to handle larger gravel aggregates. The drum rotation speed and paddle arrangement are optimized locally within the mixing zone to effectively mix concrete with gravel while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixer employs a rotating drum mechanism that provides dynamic mixing action, allowing the mixing intensity and pattern to vary throughout the drum rotation. This dynamic action enables the mixer to accommodate different aggregate sizes including gravel while maintaining continuous productivity, unlike static mortar mixers.
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 portable mixer achieves consistent concrete or mortar production with reduced labor and cleanup efforts, accommodating mixes with larger aggregates, and producing approximately 1 cubic yard per hour, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a motor coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger to mix the dry cementitious mix with the water
Implementation Method 2
a water supply system configured to apply water to cementitious mix
Data Source
AI summary
A portable mixer includes a frame, a hopper for receiving therein dry cementitious mix, and a chute rigidly coupled to the hopper that communicates with the hopper via an aperture. The hopper and chute are pivotally coupled to the frame. The portable mixer further includes an auger extending from the hopper into the chute via the aperture, a water supply system configured to apply water to cementitious mix, and a motor coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger to mix the dry cementitious mix with the water.