Charge hopper with liner for concrete mixer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440219-B2
Application number	US-202017062325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2020
Priority date	Oct 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A mixing drum assembly includes a frame, a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the frame, and a charge hopper coupled to the frame and positioned to direct material into the mixing drum. The charge hopper includes a hopper frame and a liner extending along an inner surface of the hopper frame and at least partially defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet. The hopper frame includes a first material and the liner includes a second material different from the first material. The liner is removably coupled to the hopper frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mixing drum assembly, comprising:
a frame;
a mixing drum rotatably coupled to the frame; and
a charge hopper coupled to the frame and positioned to direct material into the mixing drum, the charge hopper comprising:
a hopper frame;
a liner extending along an inner surface of the hopper frame and at least partially defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet; and
a top guard removably coupled to the liner and positioned adjacent the inlet, the top guard including a flange that at least partially covers both a top surface of the liner and a top surface of the hopper frame,

wherein the hopper frame includes a first material and the liner includes a second material different from the first material, and wherein the liner is removably coupled to the hopper frame.

2. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener extending through the liner and the hopper frame to removably couple the liner to the hopper frame.

3. The mixing drum assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fastener includes a head positioned adjacent the passage and a neck that is shaped to engage at least one of the hopper frame or the liner to limit rotation of the fastener relative to the hopper frame.

4. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top guard extends along an inner surface of the liner, further comprising a fastener extending through the top guard, the liner, and the hopper frame to removably couple the top guard and the liner to the hopper frame.

5. The mixing drum assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fastener includes a neck extending through an aperture defined by the top guard, and wherein the neck and the aperture are shaped such that the neck engages the top guard to limit rotation of the fastener relative to the hopper frame.

6. The mixing drum assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fastener includes a head extending along an inner surface of the top guard, further comprising a nut coupled to the fastener, wherein the top guard, the liner, and the hopper frame extend between the head and the nut.

7. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bracket fixedly coupled to the hopper frame, wherein the charge hopper is movably coupled to the frame; and
a sensor coupled to the frame and configured to indicate a position of the charge hopper based on a distance between the sensor and the bracket.

8. The mixing drum assembly of claim 7 , wherein the hopper frame includes a boss pivotally coupling the charge hopper to the frame, wherein the sensor is configured to indicate that the charge hopper is in a first position when the bracket engages the sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to indicate that the charge hopper is in a second position when the bracket is not engaging the sensor.

9. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material is a metal, and wherein the second material is a composite including at least two different materials.

10. The mixing drum assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least two different materials of the composite include woven fibers and a binder.

11. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mixing drum assembly is a concrete mixer vehicle, further comprising:
a cab coupled to the frame;
a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the frame; and
a primary driver configured to drive at least one of the tractive elements to propel the concrete mixer vehicle.

12. The mixing drum assembly of claim 1 , wherein the liner extends between the hopper frame and the top guard.

13. A charge hopper for a concrete mixer, the charge hopper comprising:
a hopper frame configured to be coupled to a frame of the concrete mixer;
a liner extending along an inner surface of the hopper frame and defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet;
a top guard positioned adjacent the inlet and extending along an inner surface of the liner such that the liner extends between the hopper frame and the top guard; and
a plurality of fasteners extending through the hopper frame and the liner to couple the liner to the hopper frame, wherein at least one of the fasteners extends through the top guard and the liner to removably couple the top guard and the liner to the hopper frame.

14. The charge hopper of claim 13 , wherein the top guard includes a flange extending away from the passage and over the hopper frame.

15. The mixing drum assembly of claim 13 , wherein the liner is removably coupled to the top guard.

16. A method of maintaining a charge hopper of a concrete mixer, comprising:
providing the charge hopper, the charge hopper including a hopper frame, a first liner coupled to the hopper frame, and a top guard coupled to the hopper frame and the first liner such that the first liner extends between the hopper frame and the top guard, wherein the first liner at least partially defines a passage through the charge hopper;
removing the first liner from the hopper frame and the top guard, wherein removing the first liner from the hopper frame comprises removing a first fastener that couples the first liner to the hopper frame;
coupling a second liner to the hopper frame using a second fastener, the second liner at least partially defining the passage through the charge hopper; and
coupling the top guard to the hopper frame and the second liner using the second fastener such that the top guard extends along an inner surface of the second liner and over the hopper frame.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the hopper frame is made from a metal, and wherein the second liner is made from a composite including at least two different materials.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Glunz Clint

Classifications

• B28C5/0818

  Charging or discharging gates or chutes; Sealing means · CPC title

• B28C5/4272

  with rotating drum rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis, e.g. comprising tilting or raising means for the drum (B28C5/4279 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B28C5/4237 Primary

  Charging, e.g. hoppers · CPC title