Improved concrete making and transmission

• US 4,106,111 A
• Filed: 04/07/1977
• Issued: 08/08/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airtech, Inc. (Conbraco Industries Incorporated), RAMS Corporation
• Original Assignee: Leo J. Rose
• Inventors: Rose, Leo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US05/785,716
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 259/147, 259/151, 259/4 R, 259/18, 259/36, 259/DIG. 43, 366/3, 366/5, 366/10, 366/11
• US Class Current: 366/3
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/32 by introducing solids in gas volumes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/39 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/56 by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/20 Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams using jets to create vortex flow B01F25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/27 Mixing by jetting components into a conduit for agitating its contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31242 the main flow being injected in the central area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the circumferential part of the conduit B01F25/31243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/84 for material continuously moving through a tube, e.g. by deforming the tube
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7173 using gravity, e.g. from a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71731 using a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/718 using vacuum, under pressure in a closed receptacle or circuit system
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754 characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/06 the mixing being effected by the action of a fluid in combination with driven mechanical means, producing cellular concrete B28C5/38
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/165 using a fluid, e.g. gas B28C5/06, B28C5/1261 take precedence

Abstract

Concrete is manufactured by mixing cement with substantially the exact precise quantities of water needed to produce a setting of the cement, agitating the mixture until its viscosity is substantially reduced, adding dry sand or other agrigate, mixing with a slurry, patting the mixture through a nozzle where air is introduced under a pressure and air is emitted in the form of jets into the tapering part of the nozzle, and the mixture is vibrated to achieve maximized distribution of its components while being blended and recombined during the process of gunning and feeding to the location of distribution. The concrete mix may be applied appropriately to a gun assembly or a gun type device designed dispense entrained granular materials in a compressed stream onto a work area.

Claims

1. Improved concrete making and transmission apparatus comprising a chamber, a hopper for receiving a blend of cement mix, water and aggregate in an amount to produce a setting of the cement, conduit means for conveying the blend of cement from the hopper to said chamber, a nozzle, a transmission conduit coupling said nozzle to said chamber, said chamber having a Venturi means having an orifice and centrally extending within said chamber with its orifice disposed at a location for exiting of the blend of cement from said chamber to said transmission conduit leading to said nozzle, an air compressor means, an air pump means for receiving air from said air compressor means, said air pump having first conveyance means connected thereto for feeding air to said Venturi means for the admixture of air and said blend of cement, a second conveyance means connected to said air pump for feeding air to said transmission conduit leading to the nozzle for pushing and aiding the conveyance of the admixture of air and said blend of cement along the transmission conduit leading to the nozzle, a vibrator element for mechanically vibrating the transmission conduit leading to the nozzle, and a third conveyance means connected to said air pump for feeding air from said air pump for driving said vibrator element.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a material control valve is interposed in the path between said hopper and said chamber within said conduit means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a flapper valve element is in said conduit means for preventing back flow of said blend of cement.

4. The invention of claim 3 where a material control valve is disposed operatively within said conduit means upstream of said flapper valve element.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein a window element of transparent material is mounted in the conduit leading to the nozzle for observing the degree of miscibility of the blend of cement mix and air within the conduit.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a plunger type valve being operable upon energization of a solenoid or free flow of the blend of cement is disposed in an entrance portion of the chamber for preventing back flow of the blend of cement.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said chamber is provided with a bladder valve for selectively closing and opening the chamber for passage of aggregate thereto and wherein air amplifier means controls the disposition and regulation of air passing through said chamber.

8. Improved method of making and transmitting concrete comprising receiving a blend of cement mix, water and aggregate in an amount to produce a setting of the cement, conveying the blend of cement to a chamber, said chamber having a Venturi means having an orifice and centrally extending within said chamber with its orifice disposed at a location for exiting of the blend of cement from said chamber to a transmission conduit leading to a nozzle, pumping compressed air by means of an air pump and a first conveyance means connected to said air pump to said Venturi means for the admixture of air and said blend of cement, passing the admixture to said transmission conduit, pumping compressed air by means of said air pump and a second conveyance means connected to said air pump to said transmission conduit for pushing and aiding the conveyance of the admixture of air and said blend of cement along said transmission conduit leading to the nozzle, and pumping compressed air by means of said air pump and a third conveyance means connected to said air pump to a vibrator element connected to said transmission conduit for driving said vibrator element to mechanically vibrate said transmission conduit.