Portable cement mixer
This invention relates to a mixer and particularly to a cement mixer for light, domestic use. 
     While the mixer is usually employed for mixing cement, it can also be used for other domestic applications, such as mixing soil or dirt for gardening. 
     The mixer incorporates several unique features. The mixer includes a base frame upon which a mixing drum is rotatably mounted so that the removal of one pin can enable the drum to be separated from the base frame. The drum is mounted on the base frame with a three-point suspension, including an axle located on the axis of rotation of the drum and rotatably held by the base frame with the aforesaid pin. The base frame also has two rollers which engage the drum on a circular line lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, at a location spaced from the axle toward the charge and discharge opening of the drum. The handle can also be readily removed from the base frame for easier transportation and storage. 
     The drum of the mixer is of one piece, plastic construction except for an axle affixed thereto and mixing paddles mounted therein. The mixer even has a ring gear with structurally-integral teeth by means of which the drum is driven and rotated. 
     The mixing drum is driven by a pinion gear and an electric motor located directly under the drum, with the drum being readily separable from the pinion gear simply by removing the drum from the base frame. 
     It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved mixer for cement and the like having the unique features and advantages discussed above. 
    
    
     Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a mixer in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged side view in elevation of the new mixer and showing a tilted position thereof in dotted lines; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view in elevation of the mixer; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view in elevation of the mixer; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded side view in elevation of the mixer, showing many of the parts in disassembled relationship; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in side elevation, with parts broken away and with parts in section, of part of the base frame and drive unit of the mixer; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2 of a mixing drum axle and support on the base frame; 
     FIG. 8 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 7 and further showing the drum axle and support; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of a drum-supporting roller assembly with a strut shown in cross section; 
     FIG. 10 is a view in section, taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 9, of the drum-supporting roller assembly; 
     FIG. 11 is a view in transverse cross section taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 6 of a portion of the base frame and drum drive; 
     FIG. 12 is a view in perspective of a motor-supporting bracket; and 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a joint between a handle and the base frame of the mixer. 
    
    
     A mixer in accordance with the invention is indicated at 20 and includes a base frame 22, a handle 24, and a mixing drum 26. The base frame 22, which is of tubular construction, includes two arcuate frame members 28 and 30 which enable the entire mixer 20 to be tilted to a dumping position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, for discharging the contents of the drum 26. Upper ends of the arcuate frame member 28 and 30 are held in spaced relationship by a transverse strut 32 having flattened and U-shaped ends 34 to fit closely with the outer surfaces of the arcuate frame members 28 and 30. The strut is affixed by bolts 36, as seen in FIG. 13, which have threaded shanks 38 and arcuate heads 40. The bolts are secured through nuts 42 and arcuate washers 44 having flat central portions which the nuts abut. 
     The lower, rear portions of the arcuate frame members 28 and 30 terminate in flattened ends 46 (FIG. 6) and are affixed by fasteners 48 to legs of V-shaped brackets 50. The brackets 50 have side flanges 52 and 54 cooperating with the edges of the flattened ends 46 of the frame members 28 and 30 to prevent pivotal movement of the frame members relative to the brackets. An intermediate portion 56 of each of the brackets 50 has an outwardly extending non-threaded stud or axle 58 (FIG. 2) and a push nut 60 to rotatably hold wheels 62 and 64 relative to the base frame 22. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, two generally L-shaped frame members 66 and 68 have outer, lower flattened ends 70 received in the other legs of the V-shaped brackets 50. The upper ends of the L-shaped frame members are held in spaced relationship by a bearing plate 72 (FIGS. 4, 7, and 8) which is affixed to the upper ends of the frame members 66 and 68 by round head bolts 74, and nuts 76, and the arcuate washers 44. A bearing sleeve 78 is centrally located in the plate 72. 
     Lower portions of the generally L-shaped members 66 and 68 are also held in spaced relationship, in this instance, by a generally U-shaped frame member 80 (FIGS. 3 and 6), including legs 82 and 84 and a web 86. The lower portions of the legs 82 and 84 of this member are affixed to the L-shaped frame members 66 and 68 by the bolts 36 (FIG. 6) and the nuts and washers 42 and 44. Upper ends 86 (FIG. 3) of the legs 82 and 84 of the U-shaped member 80 are flattened and curved to be received on the transverse strut 32. The ends are affixed to the transverse strut 32 by suitable fasteners, such as the bolts 36 and the washers 42 and 44. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3, 9, and 10, roller assemblies 88 and 90 are also mounted on the transverse strut 32. The roller assemblies include generally U-shaped brackets 92 having lower edge portions affixed to the transverse strut 32 by suitable fasteners, such as the bolts 74 and the nuts 76. The brackets include side walls or legs 94 with curved upper edges and a connecting web 96. Rollers 98 are rotatably carried by the side walls 94 by shoulder bolts 100 and nuts 102, with the extremities of the rollers 98 projecting beyond the curved edges of the side walls 94. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6, 11, and 12, a motor mounting bracket 104 is used to position and support a drum driving motor 106 and a gear reducer 108 on the base frame 22 of the mixer 20. The mounting bracket 104 includes a main upright plate 110 with side walls 112 with fastener holes 114, 116, and 118. The side walls 112 are affixed to the legs 82 and 84 of the U-shaped member 80 by suitable fasteners, such as bolts and nuts 36 and 42 through the holes 114, and by similar but longer bolts 120 and nuts (not shown), through the holes 116. The bolts 36 and the nuts 42 can also be used with the holes 118. 
     The plate 110 has a lower tab 120 which abuts the front of the gear reducer 108. A drive shaft 122 extends through a bushing 124 in the plate 110 and an intermediate shaft (not shown) of the gear reducer 108 extends through a hole 126 and is held by a snap ring (not shown) which further aids in supporting the motor. Bolts 128 and nuts 130 also affix the motor 106 to the plate 110 through holes 132. 
     A plastic pinion gear or cog 134 is suitably mounted on the drive shaft 122 and has teeth 136 molded therein in a one-piece construction, the gear preferably being hollow. 
     A plastic motor cover 138 is positioned over the motor 106 and the mounting bracket 104 and can be suitably attached thereto. A front upper wall 140 of the cover has an opening 142 through which the teeth 136 of the gear 134 extend. A motor switch 144 is suitably mounted in a rear portion of the cover 138 above the motor 106. The switch has a handle 146 extending through an opening 148 in the cover. The sides of the cover 138 also have openings through which the bolts 36 for the bracket openings 118 also extend. 
     The mixing drum 26 is basically of a one-piece construction, having a truncated elliptical portion 150 and an integral, shallow, dish-shaped bottom portion 152. A circumjacent ring gear 154 having structurally integral teeth 156 (FIG. 11) is formed at the larger end of the elliptical portion 150 at the juncture with the bottom portion 152. The drum 26 is positioned so that the teeth 156 engage the teeth 136 of the pinion gear 134 but the drum is not supported by the pinion gear. Rather, the elliptical portion 150 of the drum has a generally cylindrical band 158 formed thereon which is engaged by the rollers 98 to support much of the weight of the drum. 
     In addition, the shallow bottom portion 152 has a stub axle 160 (FIGS. 7 and 8) extending therefrom, being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drum. The axle extends through a flanged bushing 162 in the sleeve 78 having an outer flange 164 and through a washer 166 on the inner side of the bearing plate 72. The outer end of the axle 160 beyond the flange 164 has a transverse bore therein through which a pin 168 also (FIG. 8) extends. The pin is connected to a ring 170 which slips over the end of the axle 160 when the pin is inserted therein to hold the pin in position. The pin and ring are a commercially-available item, with the ring being mounted in an over-center condition in the pin so as to stay around the axle when moved to that position. The axle 160 is affixed to an inner reinforcing plate 172 which is connected to an outer reinforcing plate 174 by bolts and nuts 176, 178. Paddles 180 (FIG. 5) are located within the drum, being mounted on the interior surface by brackets 182, 184. 
     The handle 24 is of inverted, square U-shaped configuration with legs 186 and 188 and a wide web 190. The web spaces the legs sufficiently far apart that the drum 26 can be removed from the base frame without removing the handle. However, the handle can also be removed to further provide a compact volume for transportation or storage. Referring to FIG. 13, the upper ends of the frame members 28 and 30 are reduced in diameter at 192 so as to telescope within the lower ends of the handle legs 186 and 188. These have openings which are aligned when the members are in telescoping relationship to receive the bolt 36 to hold the handle on the base frame. If desired, wing nuts can be employed in place of the nuts 42 so that the handle can be removed without the use of tools. 
     Various modifications of the above-described embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and the tenor of the accompanying claims.