Fluid handling – Systems – Articulated or swinging flow conduit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2001-04-24
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Articulated or swinging flow conduit
C137S355160, C141S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220292
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a concrete pump apparatus and more particularly to a concrete pump apparatus which is mounted on a truck crane.
2. Description of the Related Art
Concrete is sometimes pumped to locations where it is difficult or impossible for a concrete mixer truck to gain access thereto. Such is the case where concrete is to be poured behind a house or the like where it is impossible to drive the concrete mixer truck. One alternative to such a situation is to use wheelbarrows to transport the concrete to the location where it is to be placed. Another solution has been to utilize a telescoping or articulated boom assembly which is mounted on a truck. In some cases, a concrete pump is positioned on the truck and a concrete conduit, such as a flexible hose, is extended from the pump, along the length of the telescoping boom, at the exterior surface thereof, to a discharge conduit from which the concrete is discharged. The telescoping boom is extended and maneuvered to position the discharge conduit at the proper location. Although concrete pumpers of the type described do work quite satisfactorily, the boom assemblies thereof have no use other than for pumping concrete. In other words, the boom assembly cannot be used as a crane during those times when concrete is not being pumped. If the boom assembly does not have an aerial platform thereon, it is impossible for an operator to be therein for pumping and spraying concrete. Usually, the spraying of concrete is called shotcrete. Shotcrete is the spraying of concrete on wire mesh for texturing surfaces similar to stucco. If one does not have an aerial lift, then the person must walk on scaffolding and manhandle the hose to shotcrete. To the best of applicants' knowledge, the invention disclosed in the parent application, Ser. No. 09/548,103, is the only aerial lift unit that allows a person to pump concrete from the aerial platform.
In the above-identified parent patent application, a flexible hose extends between the discharge side of the concrete pump and the rearward end of the concrete conduit positioned within the telescopic boom assembly. The flexible hose is coiled on the crane platform when not in use. As the telescopic boom is extended, the flexible hose is pulled from the coil into the interior of the boom assembly. When the boom assembly is retracted, it is necessary to pull the hose rearwardly from the interior of the boom assembly and position the same on the crane platform. Although the apparatus disclosed in the above-identified application performs exceptionally well, the instant invention overcomes the need to coil the flexible hose on the crane platform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus is provided with the apparatus being mounted on a truck having a rotatable pedestal assembly mounted thereon rearwardly of the cab of the truck. A telescoping boom assembly is pivotally secured to the pedestal and extends outwardly and normally upwardly therefrom. A hydraulic cylinder pivotally connects the telescoping boom assembly to the pedestal for pivotally moving the telescoping boom assembly with respect to the pedestal. The telescoping boom assembly preferably comprises an outer boom section, an intermediate boom section slidably mounted in the interior of the outer boom section, and an inner boom section slidably mounted in the interior of the intermediate boom section.
A concrete conduit is positioned in the interior of the boom assembly and has an intake end positioned adjacent the rearward end of the boom assembly and a discharge end positioned at the outer end of the boom assembly. A concrete pump is mounted on the truck and is operatively connected to the intake end of the concrete conduit by means of a flexible hose for supplying concrete to the concrete conduit. The flexible hose connecting the concrete pump with the concrete conduit within the boom assembly is wound upon a powered hose reel rotatably mounted on the rearward end of the boom assembly. The outer end of the boom assembly has conventional crane attachments mounted thereon such as hoist cable pulleys, aerial platform, etc., so that the apparatus may be used as a conventional crane when the apparatus is not being used to pump concrete. The provision of the aerial platform on the outer end of the boom assembly also permits an operator to spray or pump concrete from the aerial platform. An elongated extension boom section is pivotally mounted at the side of the boom assembly and may the pivotally moved from an inoperative stored position to an extension position wherein one end of the extension boom is in abutting relationship with the outer end of the boom assembly with the longitudinal axis of the extension boom being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom assembly. The concrete conduit is preferably positioned in the interior of the extension boom, but may be mounted on the exterior thereof if desired, and has an intake end in communication with the discharge end of the concrete conduit in the boom assembly and has a discharge end positioned at the outer end of the extension boom so that concrete may be placed considerable distances from the truck or at considerable heights above the truck. As the boom assembly is extended, the flexible hose is unwound from the hose reel. As the boom assembly is retracted, the hose reel is rotated to wind the flexible hose thereon.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved concrete pumping apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus wherein the telescoping boom assembly thereof may be used as a crane during those times when concrete is not being pumped.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus wherein an aerial platform is provided on the boom assembly to enable an operator to pump or spray concrete from the aerial platform.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus wherein concrete conduit is positioned within the interior of a telescoping boom assembly.
Still another ob ect of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus wherein a concrete conduit is positioned on the telescoping boom assembly and wherein a flexible hose interconnects a concrete pump and the concrete conduit with the flexible hose being wound on a hose reel mounted on the inner end of the boom assembly.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus wherein a concrete conduit is positioned on the telescoping boom assembly and wherein a flexible hose interconnects a concrete pump and the concrete conduit with the flexible hose being wound on a hose reel mounted on the inner end of the boom assembly with the hose reel being powered by a hydraulic motor which may be placed in a “freewheeling” condition as the flexible hose is being unwound therefrom as the boom assembly is being extended.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a crane-mounted concrete pump apparatus including an extension boom which may be stored in a folded position adjacent the side of the telescoping boom assembly thereof when the extension is not needed, but which may be pivotally moved to a position wherein it forms an extension of the telescoping boom assembly.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3712330 (1973-01-01), Davis
patent: 3893480 (1975-07-01), Dunbar
patent: 4262696 (1981-04-01), Oury
patent: 4488683 (1984-12-01), Chiel
patent: 4502505 (1985-03-01), Moller
patent: 4708533 (1987-11-01), Leppanen
patent: 5823218 (1998-10-01), Schlecht et al.
patent: 5913323 (1999-06-01), Hudelmaier
patent: 6142180 (2000-11-01), Woodling et al.
Bond Anthony E.
Woodling Roger M.
Glazer Enterprises
Lee Kevin
Thomte Dennis L.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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