Composite concrete chute

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365544-B2
Application number	US-202117532607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 23, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A composite chute for a commercial vehicle includes a metal frame, and a pair of plastic sheets. The metal frame assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The pair of plastic sheets extend along the longitudinal axis and positioned on either side of the metal frame assembly. The metal frame assembly is sandwiched between the pair of plastic sheets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite chute for a commercial vehicle, the composite chute comprising:
a metal frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the metal frame assembly comprising:
a first structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a first end of the composite chute;
a second structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a second end of the composite chute; and
a plurality of elongated members extending between the first structural member and the second structural member along the longitudinal axis and fixedly coupled with the first structural member and the second structural member; and

a pair of plastic sheets extending along the longitudinal axis and positioned on either side of the metal frame assembly, wherein the metal frame assembly is sandwiched between the pair of plastic sheets, wherein the pair of plastic sheets comprise:
a first plastic sheet positioned on a first side of the metal frame assembly; and
a second plastic sheet positioned on a second side of the metal frame assembly;
wherein the first plastic sheet defines a concave surface of the composite chute, the concave surface configured to guide a slurry material along the composite chute;
wherein the second plastic sheet comprises a plurality of ribs extending in a longitudinal direction along the second plastic sheet, wherein each of the plurality of ribs define a channel configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of elongated members of the metal frame assembly.

2. The composite chute of claim 1 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets are bonded with each other with the metal frame assembly positioned between the pair of plastic sheets.

3. The composite chute of claim 1 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets are manufactured from a thermoplastic material.

4. A concrete mixer vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a plurality of tractive elements coupled with the chassis;
a mixer drum coupled with the chassis; and
a composite chute configured to facilitate discharge of a slurry material from the mixer drum, the composite chute comprising:
a metal frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the metal frame assembly comprising:
a first structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a first end of the composite chute;
a second structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a second end of the composite chute; and
a plurality of elongated members extending between the first structural member and the second structural member along the longitudinal axis and fixedly coupled with the first structural member and the second structural member; and

a pair of plastic sheets extending along the longitudinal axis and positioned on either side of the metal frame assembly, wherein the metal frame assembly is sandwiched between the pair of plastic sheets, wherein the pair of plastic sheets comprise:
a first plastic sheet positioned on a first side of the metal frame assembly; and
a second plastic sheet positioned on a second side of the metal frame assembly;
wherein the first plastic sheet defines a concave surface of the composite chute, the concave surface configured to guide a slurry material along the composite chute;
wherein the second plastic sheet comprises a plurality of ribs extending in a longitudinal direction along the second plastic sheet;
wherein each of the plurality of ribs define a channel configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of elongated members of the metal frame assembly.

5. The concrete mixer vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets are bonded with each other with the metal frame assembly positioned between the pair of plastic sheets.

6. The concrete mixer vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets are manufactured from a thermoplastic material.

7. A composite chute for a concrete mixer assembly, the composite chute comprising:
a metal frame assembly; and
a pair of plastic sheets positioned on either side of the metal frame assembly, wherein one of the pair of plastic sheets comprises a plurality of ribs extending in a longitudinal direction along the one of the pair of plastic sheets, each of the plurality of ribs defining a channel configured to receive a corresponding one of a plurality of elongated members of the metal frame assembly.

8. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets are bonded with the metal frame assembly.

9. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the metal frame assembly comprises:
a first structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a first end of the composite chute;
a second structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned at a second end of the composite chute;
the plurality of elongated members extending between the first structural member and the second structural member in the longitudinal direction and fixedly coupled with the first structural member and the second structural member; and
an intermediate structural member having an arcuate shape and positioned between the first end and the second end of the composite chute, the intermediate structural member fixedly coupled with each of the plurality of elongated members.

10. The composite chute of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of elongated members are received within openings of the first structural member and the second structural member.

11. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the pair of plastic sheets define a concave surface, the concave surface configured to guide a slurry material along the composite chute.

12. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the metal frame assembly further comprises a pair of hooks positioned on the metal frame assembly proximate a first end of the composite chute.

13. The composite chute of claim 12 , wherein the metal frame assembly further comprises a pair of coupling members positioned proximate a second end of the composite chute, the coupling members configured to interlock with a pair of hooks of an adjacent composite chute.

14. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the metal frame assembly is sandwiched between the pair of plastic sheets.

15. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the pair of plastic sheets comprise a thermoplastic material.

16. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of ribs each comprise a plurality of openings.

17. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of elongated members comprise rods.

18. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of elongated members comprise three elongated members.

19. The composite chute of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to couple at least one of the pair of plastic sheets with the metal frame assembly.

20. The composite chute of claim 7 , wherein the one of the pair of sheets comprises a flanged end.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Datema Bryan S
• Glunz Clint
• Jennings Chad
• Hoefker Jarud

Classifications

• B32B1/00

  Layered products having a non-planar shape · CPC title

• B32B2250/40

  Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA · CPC title

• B32B15/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B3/06

  for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support {, or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking} · CPC title

• B32B3/30

  characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)} · CPC title