Device For The Spreading Of Concrete

Abstract

A machine for delivering concrete from a vehicle to remote locations, which includes an articulated sectional mast having piston and cylinder assemblies enabling adjustment through an arc of 180.degree.. The concrete feed pipes or tubes are carried by the mast sections for conveying concrete from the vehicle to the outer end of the mast structure. The sections of the mast can be folded upon each other in a unique manner to enable convenient transportation thereof from place to place.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for the spreading of concrete with a concrete feed conduit, which is directed with a tiltable spreading mast consisting of several parts connected with one another by means of links, of which the basic arm and the arm branch part connected thereon are connected through a 180.degree. thrust-piston-pivot-drive.

Devices of this type are utilized together with concrete pumps mounted on a vehicle, for example, a motor freight car or truck. Their advantage as compared with the ordinary bucket feed lies above all therein, that they make possible a continuous supply of concrete with great differences in height. The great lengths of the masts necessitated by such differences in height require a multiple division of the spreading mast for the transportation of the device and the direction of the conduction of the supply of concrete in the operation of the device. Frequently a basic arm is utilized, which is pivoted about a central pivot rotatable column or upright and on which is arranged through a horizontal pivot the arm part element. Outside of the basic arm and the arm part element as a rule, however, only a mast section is required.

It is known to attach this mast section to the arm-part element and to bring it with a thrust-piston-drive assembly out of the transporting position into the operating position, as well as to adjust it during operation of the device. With these devices, the basic arm, the arm part-element and the mast section lie parallel to one another in a vertical plane. Then in any case, a thrust piston turning gear assembly becomes necessary whose field of traverse must extend over approximately 270.degree. .

Such turning gears can not be carried out with one thrust piston assembly. There are rather necessary at least two thrust pistons assemblies which take effect on an intermediary member, which must be connected between the two mast sections. The technical expenditure for such a turning gear is relatively great. This technical expenditure must furthermore be taken into account solely on account of the folding up or collapsing of the mast sections. It cannot be made use of in the operation of the device. In addition, the control of the turning gear is difficult because both thrust pistons, each according to load, are differentiatingly active.

It was, however, already suggested to fold the mast sections onto one another in horizontal planes and in this case only 180.degree. thrust-piston-turning gears are necessary. Therefore, in this manner the difficulties of the turning gears with more than 180.degree. pivoting capability may be avoided. The arrangement of the mast sections folded adjacent one another is in many cases not possible.

The invention furnishes a device which operates with a spreading mast, whose sections are folded on one another in a horizontal plane and which makes use of simple turning gears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, it is made possible, that the mast pivoted on the arm-part element is adjustable with the aid of an 180.degree. thrust piston turning gear assembly and is foldable between the arm part-element and the basic arm.

The invention attains in this manner, that the entire or all of the mast sections may be connected with 180.degree. piston and cylinder assemblies, which permit of being actuated each with a hydraulic thrust piston drive. Besides, it is possible thereby to make due with the pivotability of the drive couplings when the spreader mast is to be brought into a transporting position or shifted out of the same, so that drive and transporting couplings of the mast are identical.

On this rests substantially the advantage achieved by the invention, i.e. a decrease in the entire technical expenditure and a simplification of the control of the mast.

When the mast section linked to the arm piece possesses a relatively great length, care must be taken, that the thrust piston turning gear assembly between the basic arm and arm part-element does not disturb the connection of the mast sections. In accordance with the invention, this is achieved in that the mast section attached to the arm part element has two partial lengths, of which the connecting end on the arm piece is arranged in the same plane as the arm part element, while the other partial length is offset and directed past on the thrust piston turning-gear.

In this manner it permits of being attained that the mast section may have the same, or if need be a greater length than the arm part element. Besides, the pipe deflection arranged mainly on the mast end may be disposed directly adjacent the folded up or collapsed mast sections.

In any case, the mast, with the aid of the different turning gears may be brought kinematically into positions in which the entire arrangement becomes statically unstable. In order to prevent the danger of the tipping over of the mast or of the vehicle containing it, respectively, end switches must be installed, which limit the movements of the mast and exclude the dangerous ranges. Such end switches are found in the practice of building construction as subject to disturbance. They therefore do not reliably fulfill their object.

With known devices, attempt is made to avoid end switches, in that the device is so arranged that upon pivoting of the basic arm, all points of the mast move in circular arcs whose lengths are solely dependent upon their spacing from the pivot center-point. This has been found disadvantageous, because the vehicle then must always stand at a certain spacing from the structure wall and at a predetermined point in order to be able to pump the concrete to predetermined floors or stories.

These characteristics require particularly in the turning gears of the basic arm and of the connected shaft, appreciable moments, which must be equalized by means of a correspondingly great dimensioning of the thrust piston drive assembly and the links. This means an appreciable additional expenditure.

The invention excludes as compared therewith, in kinematic manner the dangerous ranges of the movements of the mast.

In accordance with the invention, this is attained by having the arm pivoted to one arm of a two armed lever, whose other arm together with a part of the support forms for the basic arm and a pull or draw-rod a guide parallelogram, and that the arm and the part element are foldable from above on the side of the basic arm which lies opposite to the pull or draw rod.

In particular, the invention is achieved by having the thrust piston-drive serving for the pivoting of the basic arm pivoted to the column or support in the connecting link of the draw or pull rod and is pivoted on the basic arm between its two connecting links. Particular advantages result in any case, when the thrust piston drive serving for the pivoting of the arm is supported in the apex of a steering mechanism whose outer links lie in the center of rotation of the lever and in the arm.

In this device constructed according to the invention, the part elements of the mast connected to the basic arm are turned in or retracted from above or unfolded respectively. The parallel guidance is thereby limiting on the one hand the horizontal swing possibility of the basic arm to little more than one-fourth of a circular rotation in the vertical plane, and on the other hand, it guides the arm and mast or post part element connected to the same in such manner, that without actuation of the upper turning gear, this part of the mast covers similar arcuate paths.

Thereby, on the one hand, the dangerous pivotal positions of the mast are eliminated, and on the other hand, the mast upon varying spacing of the vehicle from the building may be swung to the wall of the building. There is thus a better utilization of the mast.

The load of the thrust piston in the lower pivot drive of the mast becomes substantially less than previously. The directing of the mast is simplified because the pivot path covered in the part of the mast to be observed corresponds to the pivot paths which are covered in the upper end of the range of the mast and not seen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in side view different positions which the sections of a spreader-mast may assume.

FIG. 2 shows in side view the spreader mast in transporting condition showing some details which are omitted from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section along the line A-B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the device according to the invention in side view for illustration of its details, and

FIG. 5 shows several of the possible pivot positions of the mast in the illustration according to FIG. 4, and its individual sections.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

On a motor car truck or freight car 1 is positioned at 2 a concrete pump, whose hopper 3 receives the concrete to be supplied to the pump. From the hopper the pumped concrete reaches the conduit 4 and through it a sectional spreading mast 5.

The sectional spreading mast 5 is mounted on a column 6, which is pivotal about a vertical pivot 7. The supports 8 make it possible to release the wheels 9 of the vehicle 1 and to give to the entire device a better emplacement-capability.

Through a horizontal link 11, the mast or post is pivoted to the column 6 and may be alined with respect to the column by means of a thrust piston 12. The lower part of the mast or post is formed by a basic arm 13, on which is laid the concrete-supply conduit 14. By a suitable coupling 15 an arm 17 is pivoted to the basic arm 13 and the connection between the arm 17 and the basic arm 13 is produced by a 180.degree. thrust-piston assembly 20.

The arrow 21 in FIG. 1 as well as the four fragments from left to right shown in FIG. 1 illustrate how the sectional spreading mast 5 is folded into its transporting position.

In the transporting position, the mast section 19 is folded between the arm element 17 and the basic arm 13. Besides, it is recognizable from FIG. 1, that the transporting links are identical with the operating links.

In the transporting position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, therefore, the front end of the post or mast section 19 pivoted to the arm element 17 is positioned in the direct vicinity of the 180.degree. thrust piston assembly 18, which connects the basic arm 13 with the arm element 17. In order here to attain a space-saving arrangement and to dispose a pipe deflection member 24 on the front end of the mast section 19, the following arrangement is carried out:

To the arm element 17 is connected a first partial length of the mast section 19, which extends into the vicinity of the 180.degree. thrust piston assembly 18 and is indicated at 26 in FIG. 2. At this point, the mast section 19 is displaced, that is, it possesses a U-shaped partial length 28 (FIG. 3) for the displacement of the concrete-supply conduit 30 and for the reception of the pipe deflection member 24.

With the embodiment shown by way of example, accordingly the partial length 14 of the concrete feed conduit correlated with the basic arm 13 is arranged adjacent the mast section 19, while the partial length 31 of the concrete feed conduit correlated with the arm element 17 lies under the post section. The partial length 30 of the concrete feed conduit lies on the opposite side, however, likewise, adjacent to the U-shaped portion of the mast section 28.

In this manner it is possible to dispose the thrust piston drive 18 between the individual mast sections.

Furthermore, outside of the described solid sections 14, 30 and 31 of the concrete feed conduit, also pipe sections 35 are utilized, in order to make the concrete feed conduit flexible. The outlet end of the concrete feed conduit is formed by a pipe or tube 36, for assisting in directing concrete feed conduit at the end of the mast.

As far as in the foregoing explanations the pivot ranges of the pivot drives are indicated, these figure values are to be regarded as approximate values, which can be varied as desired.

In the embodiment shown by way of example in FIGS. 4 and 5, the motor truck 100 carries on its base frame 102 a concrete pump 103 with a filler funnel 104, and offers at 105 the possibility of supporting the several sections of the mast. For enhancing the safety of position of the vehicle, extensible supports 106 are provided.

About a center vertical pivot 107 rotates a column 108, on which at 109 a base arm 110 and at 111 a pull or draw bar 112 are connected. A thrust piston drive assembly 113 is mounted at 114 on the lower side 115 of the base arm 110 and is connected at 111 to the column 108.

On the base arm 110 is pivoted at 115' the center of a two armed lever 116. The pull or draw bar 112 is pivoted at the lower end of the one lever arm 116 at 117, while at the end of the other lever arm at 118 an arm 119 is pivoted. At the apex 120 of a drive consisting of two links 121 and 122 is pivoted a thrust piston drive assembly 123, which is pivoted at 124 on the lower side 125 of the arm 119.

The outer links of the drive consisting of the two links 121 and 122 lie on the one hand at 126 in the arm 119 and on the other hand at 115 in the flexible bearing of the basic arm 110 or of the lever 116, respectively.

On the lower side 125 of the arm 119 is pivoted at 129 a thrust piston drive assembly 130. This thrust piston drive assembly is supported in the apex 131 of a drive consisting of two links 133 or 134, respectively, whose outer link is disposed at 135 in the arm 119 and at 126 in an arm 137 connected to the arm 119.

The concrete introduced at 104 to the pump 103 and is then pumped through pipes, not shown, to the connection 140. It passes from there into a flexible tube 142, out of whose end 143 the concrete is discharged. The pipe support member 141 prevents a kinking of the pipe.

As apparent from FIG. 4, the arm 119 is pivoted to the upper arm of the two armed lever 116, whose lower arm forms together with the part of the column 108 lying between the points 109 and 111, as well as the base arm 110 and the pull rod 112 a guide parallelogram. The arm 119 and the arm 137 are folded from above upon the side 150 of the base arm 110 lying opposite the pull rod 112, when the entire arrangement is in its transporting position.

Upon initiation of the arrangement, the individual mast arms are opened up. Then the mast may by way of example assume one of the positions illustrated in FIG. 5.

From FIG. 5, it is apparent that the outermost inclined position of the base arm 110 cannot endanger the stability of the vehicle, because the movement of the base arm 110 is limited to the front or forward end. Besides, it is to be noted from FIG. 5, that upon pivoting of the base arm 110 without actuation of the thrust piston drive 123, the connecting link of the arm 119 covers the same arc a as the connecting link 151 of the arm 137; this arc being indicated at b. On account of the parallel guidance of the arms 119 and 137, there accordingly results that upon lowering of the base arm 110 from its vertical position into the transporting position, the angular position of the arms 119 and 137 is maintained. In order to prevent an undesired tilting movement rearward, the thrust piston drive assembly 123 may therefore be laid out so that an inclination of the part 119 rearwardly is impossible. In addition, the following results:

While, the mast arm 137 through actuation of the thrust piston drive assembly 130 is swung about the arc c, each deflection leads about the arc a or b, respectively to a deflection of the pipe support member 141 about the arc d, which is exactly as large as the arc b or a. In view thereof, by means of observation of the pivoting movement of the visible parts about the arcs a and b, it may be very accurately estimated how the member 141 moves about the arc d, which mainly cannot be directly understood. The horizontal movement of the pipe 142 necessary for the optimum distribution of concrete on a ceiling will be attained already approximately through the arc d upon movement or actuation of the thrust piston drive assembly 113 alone.

Finally, it is to be recognized that the thrust piston drive 123 is loaded independently of the position of the base arm 110 in dependence solely on the positions of the arm parts 119 and 137. This makes possible a correspondingly economical dimensioning.

Also the thrust-piston drive assembly 113 may be dimensioned substantially more weakly than with embodiments without parallel guidance, because the tilting moments are conducted mainly through the parts 110 and 112 into the column 108.

It is finally of particular advantage that the mast in its end position b swung farthest forward, may assume the two positions illustrated to the left, outside in FIG. 5, when lower floors of the building are to be concreted.

Claims

We claim:

1. Apparatus for delivering concrete to remote locations comprising an articulated section mast having a basic arm, an intermediate arm section, and an outer mast section, conduit means for concrete carried by said mast means for forcibly feeding concrete through said conduit means, piston and cylinder assemblies arranged respectively at the joints of said mast sections and directly connected thereto with a cylinder connected to one arm section and its piston connected to another arm section for actuating the sections thereof through an arc of 180.degree. for enabling extension or retraction of selected mast sections, and pivotal connections between said mast sections respectively enabling said outer mast section to be folded between said basic arm and intermediate arm section, and with a substantial portion of the length of said outer arm section wholly offset laterally of the adjacent arm section.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said conduit means is in the form of a continuous flexible tube disposed, as viewed with the mast sections in extended position, with a length thereof along one side of said basic arm, a length thereof along the upper edge of said intermediate arm section, and another length thereof along an opposite side of said outer arm section, the tube arrangement being such that the arm sections can be folded together with the outer arm section disposed between said basic arm and said intermediate arm section.