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United States Patent Office Patented Mar. 30, 1965 LOADENG. HOPPER FOR A RANST MIXER Robert E. Jackso, Newport Beach, Calif., assignor to Challenge-Cook Bros., incorporated, La Mirada, Caif, a corporation of California Fied Apr. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 275,158 6 (Claims. (C. 259-162) This invention relates to a loading hopper for a transit mixer, which hopper is positioned closely adjacent the open end of the drum of the transit mixer when loading of aggregate mix cargo in the drum is to be accomplished, but which is automatically moved out of close proximity to the open end of the drum when cargo discharge is to be accomplished so as to be removed from the aggregate mix discharge flow line. The device of the present invention is especially adapt able for use with the Tiltable Transit Mixer which is the subject of a pending application, Serial No. 176,514, filed March 1, 1962, now Patent No. 3,131,913, in which there is disclosed a transit mixer in which the drum is tiltable from its normal, sharp angle of disposition in transit to a reduced angle of disposition when unioading is to be at tained, so that more rapid cargo discharge from the ele vated open end of the drum may be provided. To aid in this rapid cargo discharge, it is an object of the present invention to provide means for automatically moving the loading hopper away from the open end of the drum when the drum is tilted to discharge position, thereby removing it from its normal position relative to the open end of the drum, in which it would tend to inter fere with the free and rapid flow of the aggregate mix from the open end of the drum, and to provide a hopper which also automatically returns to its position in close proximity to the open end of the drum when the drum is again & lowered to its normal transit position. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a hopper which is freely movable upon tiltable movement of the drum without disturbing the cargo discharge ele ments of the transit mixer. It is still another object of the invention to provide such a hopper which may be readily installed on a transit mixer without substantial modification of the drum. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple, mechanical interlock system for automatically moving the hopper, thus virtually eliminating operating COStS. With these and other objects in view, the invention con sists of the construction, arrangement and combination of the various elements of the invention whereby the ob jects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transit mixer truck partially broken away, and showing the drum in Iowered, transit position, with the hopper of the present invention in close proximity to the open end of the drum; FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the drum in raised, discharge position, with the hopper of the present invention moved away from the open end of the drum; FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2. A truck body frame 10 is rearwardly supported by a rear wheel assembly 1. Said truck body frame i0 has a rear end 12, and said truck body frame 0 supports a sub-frame 3 which has a forward end 14 and a rear end 5. The sub-frame 3 is pivotally mounted on the truck body frame E0 adjacent the rear end 15 of the sub-frame E3 and adjacent the rear end 12 of the truck body frame O 5 20 25 30 3 5 40 50 55 2. 10. The sub-frame 13 is adapted to be seated on the truck body frame 0 when the truck is in transit, as illustrated in FiG. 1 of the drawings. Rotatably mounted on the sub-frame 3 is a rearwardly discharging transit mixer drum 20 having a forwardly dis posed closed end 21 and a rearwardly disposed open load ing and discharge end 22. Power driving means, gen erally designated 23, are mounted on the sub-frame 13 adjacent the forward end 14 thereof. A main bearing housing or block 26 is disposed adja cent the closed end 2 of the drum 26 and supports a rotatable shaft 27 angularly disposed and axially aligned with and mounted on the drum 20 substantially at the center of the closed end 21 of the drum. 20. Power is transmitted from the power means 23 to impart rotational movement to the drum 28 by any suitable means, such as an interconnection of said power means 23 with a chain and sprocket assembly 29, well known in the industry. The open end 22 of the drum 20 is rotatably supported in elevated position over the rear end 15 of the sub-frame 13 by stanchions 30, on each of which is mounted a roller 3 which bears on an annular ring 32 mounted on the drum 2 adjacent the open end 22 of the drum 20. As disclosed in said pending application Serial Number 176,514, hereinabove mentioned, in order to maintain a high discharge point of the drum 28, even when the closed end 21 of the drum 20 is elevated, as hereinafter described, the stanchions 30 are mounted closely adja 60 65 70 cent the rear end 5 of the sub-frame 13, and more particularly, closely adjacent the point of pivot of the sub-frame 3 on the body frame 10, and the open end 22 of the drum 20 is disposed substantially in the vertical plane of the axis of pivot of the sub-frame 13 on the body frame 10 so that, when the closed end 2 of the drum 29 is elevated, the lowering of the open end 22 will be relatively small. The stanchions 30 support a frame 40 which, prefer ably, is arcuate, having its open ends mounted on the stan chions 30, as best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the frame 46 being disposed in spaced relation to the drum 20, preferably adjacent the annular ring 32. Pro jecting rearwardly from the frame 49 is a plurality of support arms 42 which support an annular ring 44, which is also in spaced relation to the drum 20 and is disposed in alignment with the open end 22 of the drum 20. An annular ring 46 is supported in substantially hori zontal position by braces 48 abutting on and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the annular ring 44, and, if desired, by transverse cross-braces 49 disposed between the braces 48 and the ring 46. The ring 46 is aligned with, or slightly above, the top of the open end 22 of the drum 2. Mounted on and suspended from the ring 46 is a hop per 50, which in turn has a loading chute 52 mounted on its lower open end, the hopper 50 and the loading chute 52 being disposed so that, when the truck is in the transit position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the hopper 50 is in position to receive cargo and direct it, by means of the loading chute 52, into the drum, the free end of the loading chute 52 being positioned inside the open end 22 of the drum 20. A lever arm 54 is pivotally mounted intermediate its forward end 55 and its rear end 56 on the ring 44. The rear end 56 of the lever arm 54 is mounted on the ring 46. Pivotally mounted on the forward end 55 of the ever arm 54 is a tension member 60, which may be a rod (as illustrated), or a cable, chain or other tension inenber. The tension member 60 extends from the for ward end 55 of the lever arm 54 to the truck body frame 18, where the other end of the tension member 60 is pivotally connected to the truck body frame 10 at a point
62 which is located on the truck body frame 10 forward of the pivotal mounting of sub-frame 13 on the truck body frame 10. If desired, a wear plate 64 may be mounted on the tension member 60 in the area where the tension member 60 crosses over the frame 40. As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, although only one lever arm and tension member assembly is herein de scribed, it is preferred that two such assemblies be pro vided, one on each side of the truck body frame 10. A collector chute 70 is also mounted on the ring 44, the said collector chute 70 being disposed adjacent to and sightly below the bottom of the open end 22 of the drum 20 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The col lector chute 70 is, therefore, disposed to receive aggregate mix as it is discharged from the drum 20 through the open end 22. Pivotally supported below the collector chute 70, in the manner hereinafter described, is a downwardly directed discharge chute member 80, said chute member 80 being positioned so as to receive discharge cargo pouring from the open bottom of the collector chute 70. The chute 80 has an upper end 82 and a lower end 84. Upper end 82 of the chute 80 is pivotally supported by a Y-frame 86, the open ends of the Y-frame 86 being disposed on opposite sides of the chute 80. The leg of the Y-frame, 86 is pivotally mounted on and supported by a suitable plate or frame structure 88, itself pivotally mounted on a trunnion 89. Trunnion 89 is mounted on a tranverse frame disposed between the stanchions 30. Legs 90 are pivotally mounted on the plate 88 and the truck body frame 10 so as to additionally support the chute 80. A hydraulic jack 100 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the lower extremity of the leg of the Y-frame 86, which protrudes beyond the support plate 88, and said hydraulic jack 00 is pivotally mounted at its other end to the chute 80 adjacent the lower end 84 of the chute 80. Pivotally mounted on the truck body frame 10 and aligned with the block 26 is a telescoping hydraulic jack 110. The upper end of the jack 110 is also pivotally mounted on the block 26 in the preferred form of the invention, but it will be understood that in lieu of piv otally mounting the jack 110 on the block 26, it may be effectively pivotally mounted on the sub-frame 13. Articulated joints E20 are pivotally mounted on the truck body frame 20 at one end thereof and on the sub frame 13 at the other end thereof, preferably adjacent the sides of the truck body frame 10. Said articulated joints 120 act as stabilizers for the sub-frame 13 when the sub-frame 13 is elevated above the truck body frame 16. The articulated joints 20 are also preferably mounted rearwardly of the jack 110 in order to furnish greater stability to the sub-frame 13 in its elevated po sition. In operation, when in the transit position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the sub-frame 3 is seated on the truck body frame 10, with the jack 110 deacti vated and in collapsed position and with the articulated joints 20 folded in position substantially parallel with the truck body frame 10. In this condition, the hopper 50 and the loading chute 52 mounted thereon are in the loading position illus trated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. When cargo discharge is to be accomplished, the jack 110 is activated to elevate the forward end 14 of the sub frame 13 and, of course, to elevate the closed end 21 of the drum 20, with the articulated joints 120 being extend ed to stabilize the sub-frame 13. During this action, as the open end 22 of the drum 20 moves downwardly, the hopper 50 and the chute 52 will be swung outwardly and upwardly so that the chute 52 is completely removed from the open end 22 of the drum 20, and the hopper 50 and the chute 52 will, as il lustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, by reason of the interconnection of the tension member 60 with the 0. 5 20 25 40 50 60 70 4. lever arm 54, then be out of the line of flow of aggre gate mix pouring from the open end 22 of the drum 20. When discharge has been accomplished and it is de sired to lower the closed end 2 of the drum 20 to tran sit position, the reverse action takes place, and the hop per 50 and the chute 52 will again, automatically, re turn to the loading position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. For the purposes of description and illustration, the invention has been herein described and illustrated in the drawings as applied to a rearwardly discharging drum: having power drive means for the drum disposed adja cent the closed end of the drum. It will be obvious, however, that the invention is equally adaptable for use: with a forwardly discharging drum, and to a drum hav ing power drive means disposed adjacent to the discharge: end of the drum, or anywhere intermediate the closed end and the open end of the drum. Additionally, tension members interconnecting the: truck body frame and the lever arm on which the hop per is mounted have been described and illustrated, al though it will be recognized that other means of sway ing the hopper, such as fluid means, may be utilized. Although the invention has been herein shown and de scribed in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it is recognized that de partures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent struc tures and devices. I claim: 1. A loading device for a tiltable transit mixer drum rotatably disposed on a sub-frame pivotally mounted on a truck body frame, which device comprises: (a) stanchions mounted on the sub-frame; (b) means on the stanchions for rotatably supporting the open end of the drum in elevated position sub stantially in the vertical plane of the axis of pivot of the sub-frame; (c) support means mounted on the stanchions and disposed adjacent to the open end of the drum in spaced relationship to the open end of the drum; (d) a hopper pivotally mounted on the support means externally of the open end of the drum; (e) a chute mounted on the hopper and freely dis posed within the open end of the drum when the open end of the drum is elevated; and (f) means for interconnecting the hopper and the truck body frame so that, when the sub-frame is piv otally elevated on the truck body frame and the open end of the drum is lowered, the hopper and the chute are pivoted on the support means to swing away from the open end of the drum. 2. A loading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the Support means comprises: (a) an arcuate frame having its open ends mounted on the stanchions; (b) support arms mounted on the frame and extend. ing rearwardly therefrom; (c) an annular ring mounted on the support arms and disposed in alignment with the open end of the drum; and (d) braces mounted on the hopper and abutting on the ring when the Sub-frame is lowered so as to support the hopper and position the chute in the open end of the drum. 3. A loading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for interconnecting the hopper and the truck body frame comprises: a tension member pivotally mounted at one end of the hopper, and pivotally mounted at the other end on the truck body frame. 4. A loading device as defined in claim 3, wherein the tension member is pivotally mounted on the truck body
S frame at a point forward of the point of pivot of the sub-frame on the truck body frame. 5. A loading device for a tiltable transit mixer drum rotatably disposed on a sub-frame pivotally mounted on a truck body frame, which device comprises: (a) stanchions mounted on opposite sides of the sub frame; (b) means on the stanchions for rotatably supporting the open end of the drum in elevated position sub stantially in the vertical plane of the axis of pivot of the sub-frame; (c) an arcuate frame having its open ends mounted on the stanchions, the frame circumferentially surround ing the drum in spaced relationship thereto; (d) an annular ring supported by the arcuate frame and disposed in alignment with the open end of the drum in spaced relationship thereto; (e) a lever arm having one end disposed rearwardly of the open end of the drum, and having its other end disposed forwardly of the open end of the drum, said lever arm being pivotally mounted on the an nular ring intermediate the ends of the lever arm adjacent the top of the open end of the drum; (f) a horizontally disposed annular ring mounted on the rear end of the lever arm; 0 6 (g) a hopper mounted on the horizontally disposed annular ring; (h) a chute mounted on the hopper and freely dis posed in the open end of the drum when the open end of the drum is elevated; and (i) rigid means pivotally interconnecting the forward end of the lever arm and the truck body frame so that, when the sub-frame is pivotally elevated above the truck body frame and the open end of the drum is lowered, the hopper and the chute are swung away from the open end of the drum. 6. A loading device as defined in claim 5, including: braces mounted on the horizontally disposed annular ring and abutting on the annular ring disposed in alignment 15 with the open end of the drum so as to maintain the chute 20 25 in position in the open end of the drum when the sub frame is in lowered position. References (Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,796 3/60 Martinson -------- 259-171 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.