Agitating – Mortar mixer type – Movable chute
Reissue Patent
1999-02-25
2001-01-16
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Mortar mixer type
Movable chute
C366S044000, C193S006000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037018
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for use with cement trucks. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus used to prevent accidental discharge of cement from cement trucks.
Cement trucks typically have chutes which are used to pour cement at a construction site. Cement residue may form on the chute after the cement is poured. This cement residue may accidentally fall out of the chute while the truck is returning from the construction site. This may be a hazard to drivers behind the truck and may form undesirable deposits on the roads.
In order to avoid the cement residue from falling out of the chute while returning from the construction site, the chute is often washed off at the construction site. A disadvantage of this method is that a cement patch is formed at the site. For this reason, many cities and towns have laws preventing this practice.
One device that attempts to avoid this problem is described in Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,128, entitled “Concrete Mixture Chute Cap”. This patent describes a flexible material, such as canvas, that is attached to the back of a cement truck's chute with elastic straps. This device has two main disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that since the cap is made of a flexible material, the weight of the cement residue in the chute may be so great that the flexible material of the cap will begin to sag and possibly fall off the end of the chute. The second disadvantage of the flexible chute cap is that since it is not securely attached to the chute, the flexible chute cap needs to be separately stored and may get lost.
It is desired to have an apparatus that avoids these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a rigid cover or “flapper”. The advantage of using a rigid cover is that it can better hold up to the weight of the cement residue. The rigid cover will not bend under the pressure of the cement residue like an elastic canvas chute cap. The rigid cover is designed to hold back a substantial amount of cement residue.
Additionally, the rigid cover is attached to the chute so that it can not get lost or require storage. The rigid cover can be hinged to the chute such that it can be positioned to prevent concrete residue from exiting the chute of the cement truck or can be positioned so that cement can be poured through the chute.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is used with cement truck chutes which use an over-chute and a main chute portion. Many cement trucks use over-chutes which can be positioned on top of the main chute so that the cement can pour down this main chute or can be flipped down so that the over-chute and main chute form a longer chute.
In this preferred embodiment, the rigid cover is attached to the over-chute at a location so that when the over-chute is rested on the main chute, the rigid cover can be positioned to prevent the cement from accidentally discharging from the chute or the rigid cover can be flopped on top of the over-chute so that the cement can be poured through the main chute. When the over-chute is put down to form the longer chute, the rigid cover is automatically put underneath the chute and main chute.
The rigid cover can be attached with a hinge at a location near the curved edge of the over-chute which contacts a main chute when the longer chute is formed. This preferred location is best seen with the figures discussed below.
A latching device can be used to latch the rigid cover to the main chute. The rigid cover may have a flange positioned so that it will surround portions of the main chute when the cover is closed to help prevent cement from accidentally discharging from the chute. Additionally, a safety chain can be used to hold the rigid cover in position when the chute is used to pour concrete. The rigid cover also can have a handle which helps in its positioning.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2880997 (1959-05-01), Maxon
patent: 3334972 (1967-08-01), Levine et al.
patent: 3593502 (1971-07-01), Pelosi
patent: 4318621 (1982-03-01), Lawrence
patent: 4458800 (1984-07-01), Christenson
patent: 4688667 (1987-08-01), Peterson
patent: 4919249 (1990-04-01), Alexander
patent: 5186299 (1993-02-01), Stimson
patent: 5192178 (1993-03-01), Sibernagel
patent: 5354128 (1994-10-01), Lewis
Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & Doody, L.L.C.
Soohoo Tony G.
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