Portable self-propelled concrete mixer
[111 3,879,020 1451 Apr. 22, 1975 1 1 PORTABLE SELF-PROPELLET) CONCRETE MIXER [75] lnventor: Sam Francis Ray, Madoc. Ontario.  
 Canada [73] Assignee: Secor Equipment Corporation, West Hartford, Conn.  
  221 Filed: Dec. 4, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 311,624  
 [52] US. Cl 259/177 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS United Kingdom 259/177 R 384,428 2/1908 France 259/177 R Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe Attorney, Agent. or F irm-Natter &amp; Natter. Esqs.  
 [57] ABSTRACT A&#39;portable self-propelled concrete mixer vehicle. A frame assembly having parallel frame members supports a platform and a mixing barrel which extends forwardly beyond the periphery of the frame assembly. An engine and counterweight are mounted rearwardly of the barrel and on the platform so as to provide a counterbalancing force whereby the mixer can easily be tilted to unload the barrel. The engine further supplies a power source for rotating the mixing barrel and for selectively driving the mixer vehicle. A pair of ground engaging drive wheels are adapted for unidirectional rotation to prevent accidental reverse movement of the mixer vehicle. The mixing barrel has plural blades defining irregularly shaped openings with the barrel wall and are designed to mix the materials to a uniform consistency.  
 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEB APR 2 2 19. 5  
 SHEET 3 BF 5 PORTABLE SELF-PROPELLED CONCRETE MIXER INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES This invention relates to a self-powered. portable. hand-guided machine for mixing, transporting and pouring cement, mortar and construction materials.  
  My machine has as its general objects and on-site mixing. transporting and pouring of cement and other construction materials by a single worker in a rapid, effieient and low cost manner.  
  A further object of my invention is to provide a single mixing barrel capable of mixing not only cement but also heavier material such as mortar and the like rapidly and efficiently.  
  A further object of my invention is to transport mixed materials under power so that the operator of my mixer does not become rapidly fatigued when transporting across irregular surfaces and hills found on construction sites. In order to achieve this object, my invention avoids the dependance which the prior art displays on the wheelbarrow type frame which requires the operator to lift the mixed load and push the load forward frequently encountering holes and other relatively small obstacles which require the load to be backed up and pushed forward and which cause occasional spilled loads.  
  These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following material.  
 PRIOR ART The prior art displays a close dependance on the traditional wheelbarrow type of frame comprising a single land engaging wheel at its forward end and two land engaging frame segments at its rearward end with mixing barrel and motor mounted on various portions thereof and at various upward angles from the horizontal.  
  All such prior art mixers depend on the strength of the operator for maneuverability in order to lift the mixed load free of the ground and move it around the construction site. All such prior art attempted to lessen this dependence by manipulating the center of gravity ofthe machines. placing the motors in various positions for this purpose and moving the mixing barrel forward to a position almost atop the land engaging wheel.  
  My machine comprises in part a new. invented frame comprising two land engaging wheels at its forward end and a single. rearward, pivotally disposed. land engaging wheel for steering.  
  The prior art did not have the capability to mix heavy, sticky materials such as mortar and plaster except by way of attachments or additional mixing blades. The prior art which did not utilize such attachments were not capable of efficiently mixing mortar due to mortars characteristic of sticking to the bottom-most portion of the barrel. My invention employs a barrel tapered toward each end and employs comb-like mixing paddles placed across the widest portion of the barrel. This shape causes the material to gather forward of the closed end of the barrel where it is then combed and mixed by the paddles.  
 DRAWlNGS FIG. 1 is a side view of my machine. HO. 2 is a view of the frame of my machine from a slightly elevated and frontward angle.  
  FIG. 3 is a top view of my machine without the mounted engine.  
 FIG. 4 is a top plane view of mixer without motor.  
  FIG. 5 is a perspective of my barrel viewed from the forward end along the center axis of my barrel without the paddles.  
  FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through the center of the barrel showing mixing paddles.  
  FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the front wheels and connecting axle elements.  
 FIG. 8 is the barrel shaft and bearings with platform.  
 DESCRIPTION The machine may be described as follows:  
  A frame assembly comprising two parallel frame members 1 utilized to steer, guide, and dump the machine which are grapsed by the operator by means of two rubber grips 52 affixed to two of the respective ends thereof. These frame members extend parallel to each other for their entire length and parallel to the surface on which the machine is operated for the first portion thereof, such portion being only slightly longer than the length needed to allow for comfortable holding thereof. then bending in adownward direction being supported at said angle by a transverse member 3 one end of which is welded or otherwise joined to each parallel frame member adding strength to and maintaining the alignment of said parallel frame members. On one end of said transverse member on the side of the parallel frame member opposite the joining of said transverse member with said parallel frame member. a short bolt is affixed to serve as a stop 4 for the shifting lever 5 hereinbelow described. Further down this same handle. another stop 53 is welded for the same purpose. Between these stops a bolt 54 is placed on which the shifting lever 5 is placed.  
  The handles continue downward from the horizontal for approximately one-half of the their total length after which they bend forward to the horizontal. Approximately midway in the downward bending portion of the handles is welded a horizontal U-shaped cross member 6 of smaller diameter than the above described transverse member 3 with the open end of the U toward the operator.  
  At the second angle above described in the parallel frame members, where the downward direction thereof returns to the horizontal is joined a second transverse member 8 of the same diameter as the first above described transverse member 3 which second transverse member 8 adds strength to and maintains the alignment of the parallel frame members 1.  
  Continuing along the horizontal, the parallel frame members 1 bend slightly downward 10 near their lower ends and insert into tees 9 at their respective ends. Before the slight downward bend 10 from the horizontal is welded or otherwise affixed a second U-shaped cross member 11 of the same diameter of the above mentioned first 3 and second 8 transverse members. said second U-shaped cross member 1] being at an angle tilted slightly backwards from the vertical with the closed portion of the U-directed upwards.  
  Through the tee 9 on the terminal of each parallel frame member is passed an axle l2 connecting two front land engaging wheels 13 and tires, which wheels are of a diameter larger than the rear wheel 14. These front wheels are of such size as to support a heavy load and provide stability and control for maneuvering my machine.  
  On the left axle end is placed a pulley l7 followed by a dog 36 and the left front wheel. A collar 55 holds the wheel on the axle. The collar is retained by an allen screw. To the inside facing side of each wheel is welded a sleeve which cover the dogs. Each sleeve is topped by an alemite fitting l6 and has a cylinder 56 containing a spring and metal rod to engage the dog when the dog is rolled in a reverse direction thus making safer handling for heavy loads. On the right axle end is placed a washer 34 and a further dog and wheel assembly as described for the left axle end. Both dogs are secured by allen fittings to the axle. depressions being drilled into the axle to assure proper seatings of these fittings.  
  Supported by the two above mentioned U-shaped cross members 6, 11 and the second transverse member 8 is a platform constructed of four plates. The bottom plate 18 is attached at its uppermost point 19 to the second U-shaped member 11 and at its lowermost point 20 to the second transverse member 8 having a bend 21 along its length. The platform&#39;s top plate 22 is joined to the first U-shaped cross member 6 and is made level to support the air cooled gasoline powered engine 23 supplying the drive for both the front wheels 13 and mixing barrel 24. To achieve the proper balance between the loaded barrel and the engine. this top plate supports a cast iron base 25 on which the air cooled gasoline powered engine is placed. This base helps prevent the fully loaded machine from tipping forward and allows the emptied machine to be returned to its standing position with very little effort from the operator. From the front portion of the top plate is cut out a rectangular shape 26 topped by a semi-circular shape 27 to accommodate the barrel shaft 28 and helico gear and pinion gear 32. Affixed to the left sidewall is a small platform 16 for support of the bearing housing 59 of the pinion gear drive shaft 31. The small platform is secured to the second U-shape cross member 11 by a support arm 60.  
  The above described frame assembly serves as a support for the barrel assembly and engine and gives the machine a shape and form so as to enable the machine to pass through doorways and locations otherwise not easily accessible for powered materials mixers.  
  Mounted on the above described cast iron base 25 is an air cooled gasoline engine 23 which serves as the source of power for mixing independently or in conjunction with locomotion of the machine.  
  Said mixing is accomplished by transmission of power from the engine by means of a chain 29 driving a sprocket 30 attached to the pinion gear drive shaft 31 which is in turn attached at one end to a pinion gear 34. The helico gear 33 is affixed to the rear of the barrel by suitable welds, bolts 52 or other means. A pinion gear 32 is affixed to the end of the pinion gear drive shaft 31 which meshes with two and one-half teeth of the helico gear 33 at any particular moment of operation and thereby insures greater efficiency and safety from broken teeth in mixing the heavy loads under which my machine will operate.  
  The mixing barrel 24 to which the helico gear 33 is affixed is a cylinder tapered at both ends from its widest portion 35 close to the closed end of the barrel. The barrel is installed at an angle facing with its open end upward from the horizontal in order that loads remain undisturbed during the transport and mixing operation. In mixing heavier materials such as mortar it is necessary to insure that materials do not accumulate at the rear of the barrel. The tapering has been designed in such a way that materials are thrown forward to the widest section of the barrel 35 during the mixing operation. Because conventional mixing blades were not found to adequately mix such heavier materials. it was necessary to invent the paddle 37 contained in my machine which paddle employs five straight sides and a sixth side of comblike teeth 38 placed across the widest portion of the barrel where materials to be mixed are thrown during the rotation of the barrel. The shape of the barrel and configuration of the paddles allow a variety of materials to be efficiently and rapidly mixed with a high degree of consistency in mix quality. My machine is emptied by tilting the machine forward on its front land engaging wheels until the barrel has poured its contents. The front rim 6] of the barrel is rolled back over a length of rolled steel 62 to add strength to the rim.  
  Affixed to and extended from the rear of the barrel along its lengthwise axis is a shaft 28 of rolled steel seated in bearing housings at the front 63 and rear 64 of the bottom plate of the platform. The shaft 28 is of sufficient length to prevent the barrel from being displaced by the stress to which it is subjected during operation.  
  At the end of the above described pinion gear drive shaft 31 is installed a pulley 39 and ring 40. Attached in turn to the ring 40 is a short arm 41 to the end of which is affixed a free moving cylinder 42 by means of a shaft 2 which engages a V-belt 43 transmitting power from the chain driven sprocket 30 and pulley 39 to the front wheel axle pulley 17. The transport function is performed simultaneously with the mixing function or. alternatively. mixing can be done in the stationary position by disengaging the V-belt 43.  
  Also attached to the ring 40 which is installed at the end of the pinion gear drive shaft 31 is a longer arm 44 at the end of which is in turn attached a connecting rod 45 leading to the shifting lever 5 having a ball handle 66 installed on the machine handle. This shifting lever is readily available for the operator for shifting the V- belt 43 into the out of an engaged position and is adjustable by holes 46 in the lever into which the connecting rod 45 is inserted and also by virtue of a spring loaded tension adjusting mechanism 47 located approximately midway in the connecting rod 45 which contains a spring and is threaded in such a way so as to shorten and lengthen the connecting rod 45 by screwing the tension adjusting mechanism.  
  To the bottom plate 18 of the frame assembly is affixed a bearing housing 65 for the rear wheel shaft 48 extending downward and welded to a horizontal plate 49 to which horizontal plate are in turn welded on two opposite sides thereof vertically placed quadrilateral metal pieces 50 along the bottom of which and off center is placed a bolt 51 or other suitable device serving as the axle for the single rear wheel 14 and tire for steering my machine. The off center axle arrangement 51 allows the wheel 14 to turn freely and provides my machine with greater maneuverability and controlability important in handling heavy loads on irregular surfaces over which my machine is specifically designed to travel.  
  It will now be seen how my invention accomplishes the various objects and its advantages are readily apparent. It can be understood that the preferred embodiments herein are susceptible to changes and modifications by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the inventive concept, the scope of which is contained in the following claims:  
 What I claim is:  
  l. A portable self-propelled hand guided concrete mixer vehicle comprising a frame assembly having parallel frame members including hand level grasping means at one of the respective ends of the frame members for guiding movement of the mixer. the frame members depending downwardly from the grasping means toward a lower respective end of the frame members, cross members including platform means between the frame members, an axle journalled through the lower ends of the frame members, forward ground engaging wheels attached to the axle, a rearward ground engaging wheel pivotally affixed to the frame assembly, a mixing barrel rotatably supported on the frame assembly, said mixing barrel extending forwardly beyond the forward ground engaging wheels and the periphery of the frame assembly at the lower end of the frame members and having an open end for permitting access interior-ally within the barrel. an integral drive shaft projecting rearwardly from an opposed closed end of the barrel, said barrel drive shaft being journalled for rotation within said platform means, an engine mounted on the platform means and positioned on the frame assembly rearwardly of the mixing barrel.  
 Lil  
 LII  
 counterbalancing means including a counterweight integral with the platform for providing additional weight and stability to the mixer vehicle whereby the barrel can be optionally tilted forwardly by lifting the hand level grasping means to pivot the mixer about the axle and pour the contents from the mixing barrel, and further including drive means for transmitting power from said engine to rotate the barrel shaft and power take-off means for selectively transmitting power to said forward ground engaging wheels to thereby propel the mixer vehicle.  
  2. A portable self-propelled concrete mixer vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mixing barrel has a conically shaped wall being tapered toward the two opposed ends from a point of its greatest circumference, further including a plurality of spaced mixing paddles mounted longitudinally to said interior barrel wall at the point of its greatest circumference, each of said mixing blades defining an irregular shaped opening with said barrel wall whereby the materials are mixed with a uniform consistency.  
  3. A portable self-propelled concrete mixer vehicle as claimed in claim I wherein the power take-off means is adapted to drive the axle and rotate the forward ground engaging wheels. said axle further including unidirectional rotation means having a dog affixed to said axle and a spring-urged pin affixed to the wheel for cooperative engagement with the dog to prevent movement of the mixer vehicle.