GB2526046A

GB2526046A - A roadworthy fully mobile batching plant for batching of cementitious material

Info

Publication number: GB2526046A
Application number: GB1403305.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seamus Mccrory
Original assignee: MCCRORY ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: MCCRORY ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-25
Filing date: 2014-02-25
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201403305D0

Abstract

A road worthy fully mobile batching plant for batching cement material has a transport configuration for allowing the fully mobile batching plant to be transportable, and an in use batching configuration for allowing production of batched cement material. An onboard integral drive arrangement for converting the fully mobile batching plant between the two configurations is included. Components include cement silos 51, delivery members / pipework 52, power generators 53, hand rail 62, walkway 60, pipe work storage arrangement 58, silos chassis 63, trailor support adjustable mounting bracket 82. Also include is conveyor (7, Fig 4), material mixing device (8), cement outlet (55), plant control system (34), trailer (5)wheel arrangement (81), admixture storage and dispenser (71), as well as elevating/ hydraulic members (14, 15, 16).

Description

A ROADWORTHY FULLY MOBILE BATCHING PLANT FOR BATCHING OF

CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL

The present invention relates to a road worthy fully mobile batching plant for batching cementitious material and in particular to a roadworthy mobile batching plant for batching concrete.

When concrete is produced, it typically involves the mixing of cement, aggregate of varying sizes, water, and admixture. These ingredients must be mixed in an accurate fashion to obtain a concrete with the desired properties. Batching is the general term given to the measuring and adding of the correct amounts of aggregates to concrete.

Typically, when the amount of concrete to be used on a project rises above a certain level, a batching plant is required to efficiently batch and produce concrete on site. These batching plants traditionally comprise large constructions designed to be in place for an extended period of time. As such they tend to take the form of a more permanent structure which takes a significant amount of time to erect, usually requiring cranes. The use of cranes significantly add to the overall setup process complexity and cost. The components of the batching plant arrive at the site in various sections and pieces which must be assembled into a functional stationary plant. This process is not a problem where the project requires the batching plant in place for extended periods. However, projects which are still significant enough in size to require an onsite plant but which have a smaller overall concrete volume requirement do not lend themselves to extended plant set-up and removal times which eat into the total project timeline and ultimately impact negatively on profit margin.

Some semi-mobile batching plants are known in the field where the semi-mobile batching plant is transportable to the jobsite in a limited number of component parts. These component parts are assembled in a shorter timeframe when compared to the more permanent batching plant solutions as mentioned above. However, this shorter timeframe for both assembly and disassembly still often extends beyond one day which can be a considerable delay and extension to the project depending on the timeframes of the project in question. Moreover, additional heavy construction equipment, most notably a crane, is required to construct the available semi-mobile batching plant solutions, which as explained adds expense, delay and complexity to the process.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problems associated with assembly and disassembly of permanent and semi-mobile batching plants.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a road worthy fully mobile batching plant for batching cementitious material, the fully mobile batching plant having a transport configuration for allowing the fully mobile batching plant to be transportable and an in use batching configuration for allowing production of batched cementitious material, the fully mobile batching plant having onboard integral drive means for converting the fully mobile batching plant between the two configurations.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a road worthy fully mobile batching plant for producing and dispensing cementitious material which is suitable for immediate road transport and which has a reduced erection and retraction time. The batching plant requires no cranes or other additional heavy machinery to convert the batching plant between the two modes of operation. The conversion of the batching plant between transport configuration and fully operational batching configuration is provided by the integral drive means onboard the batching plant. The drive means has been designed into the actual structure of the batching plant for the purpose of allowing self erection and self-retraction.

Ideally, a site serving vehicle is locatable below at least part of the batching plant in the batching configuration for receiving the batched cementitious material.

Preferably, the fully mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having an aggregate material receiving means.

Ideally, the fully mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having a material delivery means.

Preferably, the fully mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having a material mixing means.

Ideally, the fully mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having a mixed material dispensing means.

Preferably, at least the mixed material dispensing means being in a raised position in the in use configuration for allowing delivery of batched cementitious material into a vehicle located below the delivery means for serving the site.

Ideally, the drive means comprise means for elevating one end of the trailer relative to the other end of the trailer.

Preferably, the elevating means are hydraulic.

Ideally, the elevating means comprise a plurality of elevating stations spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the trailer.

Preferably, the elevating means comprises a front elevating station proximal to the front of the trailer. By front of the trailer we mean the part of the trailer to be coupled to a towing tractor/lorry.

Ideally, the front elevating station is spaced a sufficient distance from the front end of the trailer so as to avoid interfering with a vehicle to be positioned below the dispensing means.

Preferably, the elevating means comprises an intermediate elevating station between the front elevating station and the rear end of the trailer. Advantageously, this intermediate elevating station shares the load of the trailer with the front elevating station preventing any unsupported long span of trailer mitigating against bowing of the trailer components.

Ideally, the elevating means comprises a rear end stabilising station proximal to the rear end of the trailer. By rear end of the trailer we mean the end of the trailer distal to a towing tractor/lorry.

Preferably, the rear end stabilising station is designed to engage the support surface/ground when the front elevating station is at maximum extension.

Preferably, the elevating means comprises a rear end elevating station for levelling the aggregate receiving means in the in use batching configuration of the batching plant.

Ideally, the elevating means comprise one or more rams, most preferably hydraulic.

Ideally, the elevating means comprise one or more hydraulic rams integrally formed with trailer support means.

Ideally, the trailer support means are located proximal to both lateral edges of the trailer.

Preferably, the one or more hydraulic rams and the trailer support means are extendable between the trailer and a support surface/ground.

Preferably, trailer support means are one or more hollow tubular members for receiving a hydraulic ram.

Ideally, the one or more hollow tubular members are telescopically extendible via the hydraulic ram.

Ideally, the hollow tubular members have feet contactable with the ground.

Preferably, the feet are movably mounted to the hollow tubular members.

Advantageously, this allows the feet to adjust their angular orientation relative to the ground/support surface and hollow tubular members thereby providing the best contact and greatest stability for the trailer in an elevated in use batching configuration.

Ideally, the elevating means comprises stabilising means extending between the trailer and the elevating means.

Preferably, the front elevating station comprises support struts extending between the hollow tubular members and lateral edges of the trailer.

Ideally, the elevating means comprise reinforcing means extending between the trailer support means.

Preferably, the elevating means comprise cross members extending between the trailer support means.

Ideally, the elevating means comprises locking means for locking the elevating means in a retracted or elevated position. Advantageously, the locks mitigate against the risk of injury to operators in the event of hydraulic failure of rams.

Ideally, the aggregate receiving means are located at one end of the trailer and the mixing and dispensing means are located on the other end of the trailer with a conveying means conveying aggregate from the aggregate receiving means to the mixing and dispensing means.

Preferably, the aggregate receiving means are located at the rear end of the trailer.

Ideally, the mixing and dispensing means are located at the front end of the trailer.

Ideally, the aggregate material receiving means comprises at least one outlet for dispensing aggregate material onto a conveying means.

Ideally, the aggregate material receiving means is a hopper.

Preferably, the aggregate material receiving means is split into multiple receiving compartments, each having their own outlet. Advantageously, various components of concrete such as aggregate can be added to the various compartments.

Ideally, the aggregate material receiving means is split into four compartments.

Preferably, the compartments of the aggregate material receiving means are for receiving aggregate of varying size dependent on the output requirement of the concrete.

Ideally, the at least one outlet has an actuatable closure member for controlling the is dispensing rate of aggregate material. Advantageously, this allows for control of the composition of the concrete.

Preferably, the actuatable closure member of the at least one outlet is in operable engagement with an outlet control means.

Ideally, the outlet control means is in operable communication with an overall apparatus control system or is integral of an overall control system.

Preferably, the outlet control means of the actuatable closure member controls the output of aggregate material by controlling the size of the opening subject to pre-programmed constraints.

Ideally, the outlet control means comprises a computerized control means Preferably, the outlet control means comprises a Programmable Logic Control means.

Ideally, the outlet control means has means for sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of aggregate material dispensed from the opening.

Preferably, each outlet of the aggregate material receiving means is independently controllable.

Advantageously, different aggregates can be stored in the receiving compartments and pre-determined amounts of each type of aggregate can be dispensed onto the conveying means.

Preferably, the batching plant for the production of cementitious material has an aggregate material conveying means.

Ideally, the aggregate material conveying means extends from a location beneath the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing means.

Preferably the aggregate material conveying means is configured to convey aggregate material dispensed from the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing portion.

Preferably, in the in use configuration, the aggregate material conveying means extends in an upward sloping fashion from the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing means.

Ideally, the slope of the aggregate material conveyance means is dictated by the difference in height of the material mixing means and the outlet of the aggregate material receiving means when the batching plant is in the in use configuration.

Preferably, the aggregate material conveying means is a conveyor belt and drive means.

Ideally, the aggregate material conveying means is a chevron belt.

Preferably, the aggregate material conveying means is in operable engagement with a conveying control means.

Ideally, the conveying control means is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system or is integral with the overall batching plant control system.

Ideally, the conveying control means controls the speed of the aggregate material conveying means and hence the rate at which it delivers material to the material mixing portion.

Ideally, the elevating means are in operable engagement with a hydraulic system.

Preferably, the hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid to hydraulic rams.

Preferably, the hydraulic pump is powered by an on board power pack.

Ideally, the on board power pack is powered by an on board petrol engine.

Alternatively, the hydraulic pump is powered by an electric motor.

Ideally, the hydraulic system has user operable means for controlling the operation of the elevating means.

Preferably, the user operable means are lever means for directly controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic rams.

Alternatively, the hydraulic system is operated automatically according to pre-programmed constraints which raise the raising means to pre-determined positions.

Ideally, cement silos are operably couplable to the material conveyor means of the road worthy fully mobile batching plant via cement delivery means, most preferably pipework.

Preferably, the cement silos are road worthy fully mobile cement silos.

Ideally, the pipework comprises a means for urging cement from the silo along the pipework to the material conveyor means.

Preferably, the pipework comprises an outer casing and an internal auger.

Ideally, the internal auger is rotatable such that it urges cement to travel along the piping.

Preferably, the cement silos have cooperating power generation means for providing power to the means for urging cement through the pipework.

Ideally, the power generating means is provided by an onboard combustion fuel generator.

Ideally, the cement silos have control means for controlling the rate at which the means for urging cement through the pipework onto the material conveyor means.

Ideally, the control means of the cement silos is in communication with the overall control means of the batching plant for the production of cementious material.

Ideally, control of the augers is carried out by the overall control means of the batching plant for the production of cementitious material.

Ideally, the control means of the cement silos also has means for sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of cement dispensed from the silo.

Preferably, the pipework is detachable from the cement silo and the material mixing means.

Ideally, the cement silos have means for storing the pipework for transportation and/or when the pipework is not in use.

Preferably, the means for storing the pipework comprises separable collars for enclosing the pipework for releasably fixing the pipework to the cement silos.

Ideally, the cement silos and/or the batching plant have means for manipulating and installing the pipework.

Preferably, the means for manipulating and installing the pipework is a winch, most preferably hydraulic.

Ideally, the silo chassis has a specially designed conduit for carrying power cables from the generator to drive means for an augel/screw within the pipework.

In an alternative arrangement, the cement is provided by a cement storage tank locatable proximal to the material conveyor means.

Ideally, the cement storage tank has an outlet for dispensing cement into the material conveyor portion.

Ideally, the outlet has an actuatable closure member for sealing and opening and outlet of the cement silo for dispensing cement in a controlled manner.

Preferably, the actuatable closure member is in operable engagement with a cement silo control means.

Ideally, the cement silo control means is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system or is integral of the overall batching plant control system.

Preferably, the cement silo control means controls the output of cement by controlling the actuatable closure member of the cement storage tank subject to pre-programmed constraints.

Ideally, the cement silo control means is a computerized control means.

Preferably, the cement silo control means is a Programmable Logic Control means.

Ideally, the cement silo control means has means for sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of cement dispensed from the opening.

Ideally, the fully mobile batching plant for the production of cementitious material has an admixture storage and/or dispensing means.

Preferably, the admixture storage and/or dispensing means is locatable proximal to the material mixing portion.

Ideally, the admixture storage and/or dispensing means has an outlet for dispensing admixture into the material mixing portion.

Preferably, the outlet of the admixture storage and/or dispensing means is a metered outlet.

Ideally, the outlet of the admixture storage and/or dispensing means has an actuatable closure member sealing and opening an outlet for dispensing admixture in a controlled manner.

Preferably, the actuatable closure member of the outlet of the admixture storage and/or dispensing means is in operable engagement with an admixture control means.

Ideally, the admixture control means is in wider communication with the overall fully mobile batching plant control system or is integral of the overall batching plant control system.

Preferably, the admixture control means controls the output of admixture by controlling the actuatable closure member of the admixture storage and/or dispensing means subject to pie-programmed constraints.

Ideally, the admixture control means is a computerized control means Preferably, the admixture control means is a Programmable Logic Control means.

Ideally, the admixture control means has means for sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of admixture dispensed from the outlet.

Ideally, the material mixing portion has a mixing means.

Preferably, the mixing means mixes any combination of aggregate material, cement, admixture, water, or any other additive that may be required to produce a desired cementitious material.

Ideally, the mixing means is a twin shaft mixing means.

Preferably, the mixing means is in operable engagement with a mixing control means.

Ideally, the mixing control means is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system or is integral with the overall batching plant control system.

Ideally, the mixing control means controls the speed of the mixing means.

Ideally, the overall fully mobile batching plant control system controls any or all of the rate of dispense from the aggregate material loading portion, the rate of addition of cement, the rate of addition of admixture, the rate of addition of water, the speed of the aggregate material conveying means, the speed of the mixing means, and the rate atwhich mixed cementitious material is dispensed from the mixed material dispensing portion.

Ideally, the overall batching plant control means is a computerized control means Preferably, the overall batching plant control means is a Programmable Logic Control means.

Ideally, the overall batching plant control means is locatable in a control room.

Preferably, the control room is movably mountable on the batching plant for the production of cementitious material.

Ideally, the control room is mountable on the front elevating station.

Preferably, the trailer has a bed having an aperture formed for receiving the control room in the transport configuration.

Preferably, the control room remains in place in both the transport configuration and the in use configuration.

Ideally, the batching plant for the production of cementitious material is integrally manufactured into a road worthy trailer with a wheeled carriage.

Preferably, in the transport configuration, at least the aggregate material loading portion, aggregate material conveying means, material mixing portion, and material dispensing portions are positionable on the wheeled carriage such that the overall dimensions and weight are fully compliant with road regulations and non-notifiable to the road authorities.

Ideally, the trailer is a tandem axle wheeled carriage.

Preferably, the trailer is readily attachable to a standard truck cab for transport.

Ideally, the cement silo has an adjustable mounting bracket for supporting rear end light indication systems and vehicle registration plates, the bracket being adjustable between a transport position where the bracket is mounted on the rear of the cement silo for complying with road regulations and an in use cement delivery position where the mounting bracket is adjustable so as to be stored out of the way during delivery.

Ideally, the dispensing means comprises a dispensing funnel for delivering mixed cementitious material from the mixing means to a vehicle.

Preferably, the dispensing funnel is movable between an in use dispensing position and an out of use transport position. Advantageously, the dispensing funnel is movable from the dispensing position into the out of use position to prevent any contact with the tractor of the batching plant during trailer hitching.

Ideally, the dispensing means is pivotally coupled to the underside of the trailer.

Preferably, the batching plant for the production of cementitious material has access means for accessing the upper portions of the batching plant when in the in elevated in use configuration.

Ideally, the access means comprises at least one staircase.

Preferably, the access means comprises at least one walkway.

Preferably, the at least one staircase and/or the walkway is foldable between an in use position and an out of use position.

Ideally, the foldable staircase is foldable between a first in use position extending laterally along the trailer inclined upwardly from the ground to the walkway and a second transport configuration under the trailer.

Preferably, the trailer has means for storing handrails for the staircase and/or walkway during transport.

Ideally, the foldable staircase and/or walkways have means for supporting the handrails in an in use position for preventing operators accidentally falling off the side of the staircase and/ol walkways.

Ideally, the batching plant for the production of cementitious material has a means for washing the components thereof after use.

Preferably, the means for washing is a pump having a water supply and a user operated lance for washing of the batching plant components for the production of cementitious material.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows by way of example only one embodiment of a fully mobile road worthy batching plant in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the mobile batching plant in an in use configuration; Figure 2 is a rear view of the mobile batching plant in an in use configuration; Figure 3 is a front view of the mobile batching plant in an in use configuration; Figure 4 is a side view of the mobile batching plant in a transport configuration; Figure 5 is a front view of the mobile batching plant in a transport configuration; Figure 6 is a side view of the mobile cement silo in a partly prepared in use configuration; Figure 7 is a front view of the mobile cement silo in an in use configuration; Figure 8 is a rear view of the mobile cement silo in a partly prepared in use configuration; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fully mobile batching plant and the fully mobile cement silo in an in use configuration; Figure 10 is a second perspective view of the fully mobile batching plant and the fully mobile cement silo in an in use configuration; Figure ills a side view of the fully mobile batching plant and the fully mobile cement silo in an in use configuration; Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures ito 5, there is shown a fully mobile road worthy batching plant indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for batching cementitious material. The fully mobile batching plant i has a road transport configuration see Figures 4 and 5 for allowing the fully mobile batching plant ito be transported between worksites and an in use batching configuration see Figures 1 to 3 for allowing delivery of batched cementitious material into a vehicle, not shown, serving the site. The fully mobile batching plant i has an onboard integral drive arrangement 2, 3, 4 for converting the fully mobile batching plant i between these two configurations. Advantageously, the present invention provides a road worthy fully mobile batching plant i for producing and dispensing cementitious material. The batching plant i is suitable for immediate road transport and which has a reduced erection and retraction time. The batching plant i requires no cranes or other additional heavy machinery to convert the batching plant 1 between the two modes of operation. The conversion of the batching plant 1 between road transport configuration and fully operational batching configuration is provided by the integral drive arrangement 2, 3, 4 onboard the batching plant i. The integral drive arrangement 2, 3, 4 has been designed into the actual structure of the batching plant i for the purpose of allowing self erection and self-retraction. A site serving vehicle, not shown, is located below at least part of the batching plant 1 in an area indicated by the letter A in Figure 1, in the batching configuration for receiving the batched cementitious material, most likely concrete.

The fully mobile batching plant 1 has a trailerS carrying an aggregate material receiving assembly 6. The fully mobile batching plant 1 has a material delivery member 7, see Figures 1 and 4. The fully mobile batching plant 1 has a material mixing device 8 and a mixed material dispensing device 9. The material mixing device 8 and the mixed material dispensing device 9 are in a raised position in the in use configuration for allowing delivery of batched cementitious material into a vehicle located in the area A below the dispensing device 9 for serving any site.

The drive arrangement 2, 3, 4 has elevating members 14, 15 16 for elevating one end 17 of the trailerS relative to the other end 18 of the trailerS in the batching configuration, see Figure 1. The elevating members 14, 15 and lOuse hydraulic devices such as hydraulic rams. The elevating members 14, 15, 16 are three elevating stations 14, 15 and 16 spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the trailerS. The elevating stations 14, 15 and 16 have a front elevating station 14 proximal to the front of the trailer 5. By front of the trailerS we mean the part of the trailer to be coupled to a towing tractor/lorry for transporting the batching plant between sites or to various different locations on a worksite dependent on bespoke requirements.

The front elevating station 14 is spaced a sufficient distance from the front end 17 of the trailer 5 so as to avoid interfering with a vehicle to be positioned in the area A below the dispensing device 9. The elevating members 14, 15 and 16 also have an intermediate elevating station 15 between the front elevating station 14 and the rear end 18 of the trailerS.

Advantageously, this intermediate elevating station 15 shares the load of the trailerS with the front elevating station 14 preventing any unsupported long span of trailer 5 mitigating against bowing of the trailer chassis components. The elevating members 14, 15 and 16 also have a rear end stabilising station 16 proximal to the rear end 18 of the trailerS. By rear end of the trailer 5 we mean the end of the trailer 5 distal to a towing tractor/lorry. The rear end stabilising station 16 is designed to engage the support surface/ground when the front elevating station 14 is at maximum extension as illustrated in Figure 1. The rear end elevating station 16 also doubles as a station 16 for levelling the aggregate receiving members 6 in the in use batching configuration of the batching plant 1.

The elevating members 14, 15 16 have hydraulic rams, not shown. The hydraulic rams are integrally formed with the trailer support members 14, 15 and 16. The trailer support members 14, 15 and 16 are located proximal to both lateral edges of the trailerS.

The hydraulic rams and the trailer support members 14, 15 and 16 are extendable between the trailer 5 and a support surface/ground on which the batching plant 1 is sitting. The trailer support members 14, 15, 16 are provided by hollow tubular members for receiving a hydraulic ram. The hollow tubular members 14, 15 and 16 are telescopically extendible via the hydraulic rams. The bottom hollow tubular members 14, 15 and 16 have feet 21, 22 and 23 in contact with the ground in the in use configuration for batching. The feet 21, 22 23 are movably mounted to the bottom hollow tubular members 14, 15 and 16. Advantageously, this allows the feet 21 to 23 to adjust their angular orientation relative to the ground/support surface and hollow tubular members 14 to 16 thereby providing the best contact and greatest stability for the trailer 5 in an elevated in use batching configuration. The elevating members 14 have stabilising members 24 extending between the trailerS and the elevating members 14. The front elevating station 14 has support struts 24 extending between the hollow tubular members 14 and lateral edges of the trailerS. The elevating members 14 to 16 have reinforcing members 26 to 28 extending between the hollow tubular members 14 to 16. The elevating members 14 to 16 have locks for locking the elevating members in extended or retracted positions.

The aggregate receiving assembly 6 is located at one end 18 of the trailerS and the mixing and dispensing devices 8 and 9 are located on the other end 17 of the trailerS with a conveying member 7 conveying aggregate from the outlet of the aggregate receiving assembly 6 to the mixing and dispensing devices 8 and 9. The aggregate receiving assembly 6 is located at the rear end 18 of the trailerS and the mixing and dispensing devices 8 and 9 are located at the front end of the trailer S relative to the direction of forward travel of the trailer S. The aggregate material receiving assembly 6 has four outlets 31 see Figure 1 for dispensing aggregate material onto a conveying member 7. The aggregate material receiving assembly is a hopper arrangement 6. The aggregate material receiving assembly 6 is split into four receiving compartments 6a to 6d, each having their own outlet 31. Advantageously, various components of concrete such as aggregate can be added to the various compartments. The compartments 6a to 6d of the aggregate material receiving assembly 6 are for receiving aggregate of varying size dependent on the output requirement of the concrete. Each outlet 31 has an actuatable closure member 32 see figure 2 for controlling the dispensing rate of aggregate material. Advantageously, this allows for control of the composition of the concrete. The actuatable closure member 32 of each outlet 31 is in operable engagement with an outlet control member 33. The outlet control member 33 is in operable communication with an overall apparatus control system 34 housed in a control room 35. The outlet control member 33 of the actuatable closure member 32 controls the output of aggregate material by controlling the size of the opening subject to pre-programmed constraints. The outlet control member 33 operates under computerized control such as a Programmable Logic Control arrangement. The outlet control is capable of sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of aggregate material dispensed from the opening 31. Each outlet 31 of the hopper assembly 6 is independently controllable. Advantageously, different aggregates can be stored in the receiving compartments 6a to 6d and pre-determined amounts of each type of aggregate can be dispensed onto the conveyor 7.

The mobile batching plant 1 has an aggregate material conveying member 7 which extends from a location beneath the hopper assembly 6 to the material mixing device 8. The aggregate material conveying member 7 is configured to convey aggregate material dispensed from the hopper assembly 6 to the material mixing device 8. In the in use configuration, the aggregate material conveying member 7 extends in an upward sloping fashion from below the hopper assembly 6 to the material mixing device 8. The slope of the aggregate material conveyor member 7 is dictated by the difference in height of the material mixing device 8 and the outlet of the hopper assembly 6 when the batching plant 1 is in the in use configuration. The aggregate material conveyor 7 is a conveyor belt 7 such as a chevron belt and drive arrangement, not shown.

The drive arrangement is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system 34 or is integral with the overall batching plant control system 34. The drive arrangement controls the speed of the conveyor belt 7 and hence the rate at which it delivers material to the material mixing device 8.

The elevating members 14 to 16 are in operable engagement with the hydraulic system which has a hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid to hydraulic rams. The hydraulic pump is powered by an on board power pack. The on board power pack is powered by an on board petrol engine. The hydraulic system has user operable levers 41 for controlling the operation of the elevating members 14 to 16. The user operable levers 41 are for directly controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic rams allowing an operator to erect and retract the fully mobile batching plant 1 from the side of the trailer 5 without requiring any other ancillary lifting gear.

Referring to the drawings and now more specifically to Figures 6 to 8, cement silos indicated generally by the reference numeral 51 are operably couplable to the material conveyor 7 of the road worthy fully mobile batching plant 1 via cement delivery members 52, most preferably elongate hollow tubular pipework 52. The cement silos 51 are road worthy fully mobile cement silos 51. Each piece of pipework 52 has an urging member not shown for urging cement from the silo 51 along the pipework 52 to the material conveyor 7. The pipework 52 has an outer casing and the urging member is provided by an internal elongate auger or screw. As the screw or auger rotates the helical drive blade on the auger drives the cement through the pipe from the silo 51 to the conveyor 7. The cement silos 51 have cooperating power generators 53 for providing power to the drive for the auger or screw in each pipe for urging cement through the pipework 52. The power generator 53 is provided by an onboard combustion fuel generator such as a diesel generator. The power generator 53 has an access for operators made up of a staircase 59 and handrail 61 and a walkway 60 and handrail 62. The handrails are detachable and storable on the chassis 63 of the silo 51.

The staircase 59 is foldable between an in use position as illustrated in the drawings allowing user access and a transport position where the staircase 59 is folded within the confines of the chassis 63 of the silo 51. The silo chassis 63 has a specially designed conduit for carrying power cables from the generator 53 to the drive means for the augers/screws within the pipework 52 i.e. from the front to the rear of the cement silo 51.

The pipework 52 is connected to a cement outlet 55 see Figure 8 on the cement silos 51. The cement outlet 55 is controllable by the control system of the silo 51 and is operably engageable with the overall batching plant control system 34. The cement silos 51 have control systems for controlling the rate at which the auger urges cement through the pipework 52 onto the material conveyor 7. A special housing 56 see Figure 9 is designed for receiving the cement from two or more pipes 52 from two or more silos 51. The special housing 56 delivers the cement at a controlled rate onto a second portion of the conveyor 7 specially adapted for receiving and delivering the more flowable cement. The control system of the cement silos 51 is in communication with the overall control system 34 of the batching plant 1 for the production of cementious material. The control of the speed of the augers is carried out by the overall control system 34 of the batching plant 1 for the production of cementitious material. The control system of the cement silos 51 is also capable of sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of cement dispensed from the silo.

The pipework 52 is detachable from the cement silo 51 and from the housing 56. The cement silos 51 have an arrangement 58 see Figure 8 for storing the pipework 52 for transportation and/or when the pipework 52 is not in use. The arrangement 58 for storing the pipework 52 is provided by a number of separable collars 58 spaced apart along one or both lateral edges of the trailer of the silos 51 for enclosing the pipework 52 for releasably fixing the pipework 52 to the cement silos 51. The cement silos 51 and/or the batching plant 1 have an arrangement for manipulating and installing the pipework 52. The arrangement for manipulating and installing the pipework 52 is a winch, most preferably hydraulic mounted on the batching plant 1 or silo 51. The cement silo 51 have stabilising members 64 extending between the chassis 63 and the ground.

The silo 51 has an adjustable mounting bracket 82 for supporting trailer rear end light indication systems and vehicle registration plates, the bracket 82 being adjustable between a transport position where the bracket 82 is mounted on the rear of the silo 51 for complying with road regulations and an in use position where the mounting bracket 82 is adjustable so as to be stored out of the way during cement delivery.

The fully mobile batching plant 1 has an admixture storage and dispenser 71. The admixture storage and dispenser 71 is located on the chassis of the trailer. The admixture storage and dispenser has a pump and an outlet for dispensing admixture into the material mixing device 8. The outlet of the admixture storage and dispenser is a metered outlet. The outlet of the admixture storage and dispenser 71 has an actuatable closure member sealing and opening an outlet for dispensing admixture in a controlled manner. The actuatable closure member of the outlet of the admixture storage and dispenser is in operable engagement with an admixture control system. The admixture control system is in wider communication with the overall fully mobile batching plant control system 34 or is integral of the overall batching plant control system 34. The admixture control system controls the output of admixture by controlling the actuatable closure member of the admixture storage and dispenser subject to pre-programmed constraints. The admixture control system is capable of sensing or detecting the volume, weight, or other metric of total amount of admixture dispensed from the outlet.

The material mixing device 8 has a mixing arrangement such as mixing paddles or blades. The mixing device 8 mixes any combination of aggregate material, cement, admixture, water, or any other additive that may be required to produce a desired output cementitious material. The mixing device 8 is a twin shaft mixer. The mixing device is also in operable engagement with a mixing control system. The mixing control system is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system 34 or is integral with the overall batching plant control system 34. The mixing control system controls the speed of the mixing arrangement. The overall fully mobile batching plant control system 34 controls any or all of the rate of dispense from the aggregate material loading hopper 6, the rate of addition of cement, the rate of addition of admixture, the rate of addition of water, the speed of the aggregate material conveyor 7, the speed of the mixing arrangement, and the rate at which mixed cementitious material is dispensed from the mixed material dispensing device 9. The overall batching plant control system 34 is a computerized control system. The overall batching plant control system 34 is a Programmable Logic Control means.

The overall batching plant control system 34 is in a control room 35. The control room 35 is movably mounted on the batching plant 1. The control room 35 is mounted on the front elevating station 14. The trailer 5 has a bed having an aperture formed for receiving the control room 35 in the transport configuration so that the control room 35 remains in place in both the transport configuration and the in use configuration.

The batching plant 1 is integrally manufactured into a road worthy trailer 5 with a tandem axle wheel arrangement 81. In the transport configuration, at least the aggregate material loading hopper 6, aggregate material conveyor 7, material mixing portion 8, and material dispensing portions 9 are positioned on the trailer 5 such that the overall dimensions and weight are fully compliant with road regulations and requires no notification to the road authorities. The trailer 5 is readily attachable to a standard truck cab for transport.

The dispensing device 9 has a dispensing funnel 83 for delivering mixed cementitious material from the mixing device 8 to a delivery vehicle. The dispensing funnel 83 is movable between an in use dispensing position and an out of use transport position. Advantageously, the dispensing funnel 83 is movable from the dispensing position into the out of use position to prevent any contact with the tractor of the batching plant 1 during trailer hitching. The dispensing device 9 is pivotally coupled to the underside of the trailer 5. The batching plant 1 has access assembly 85 see Figures 9 and 10 for accessing the upper portions of the batching plant 1 when in the elevated in use configuration. The access assembly 85 has a staircase 86 and a walkway 87. The staircase 86 and the walkway 87 are foldable between an in use position and an out of use position. The foldable staircase 86 is foldable between a first in use position extending laterally along the trailer 5 inclined upwardly from the ground to the walkway 87 and a second transport configuration within the confines of the trailer 5. The trailer 5 has an arrangement for storing handrails 88 for the staircase 86 and walkway 87 during transport. The foldable staircase 86 and walkways 87 have an arrangement for supporting the handrails 88 in an in use position for preventing operators accidentally falling off the side of the staircase and/or walkways.

The batching plant 1 has washing equipment for washing the components thereof after use. The washing equipment is a pump having a water supply and a user operated lance for washing of the batching plant components for the production of cementitious material.

In the preceding discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of the said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A road worthy fully mobile batching plant for batching cementitious material, the fully mobile batching plant having a transport configuration for allowing the fully mobile batching plant to be transportable and an in use batching configuration for allowing production of batched cementitious material, the fully mobile batching plant having onboard integral drive means for converting the fully mobile batching plant between the two configurations.
2. A batching plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integral drive means has been designed into the actual structure of the batching plant for the purpose of allowing self erection and self-retraction.
3. A batching plant as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a site serving vehicle is LI') locatable below at least part of the batching plant in the batching configuration for receiving the batched cementitious material. (4
4. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fully U") mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having an aggregate material receiving means.
5. A batching plant as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fully mobile batching plant comprising the trailer having a material delivery means.
6. A batching plant as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the fully mobile batching plant comprising a trailer having a material mixing means.
7. A batching plant as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the fully mobile batching plant comprising the trailer having a mixed material dispensing means.
8. A batching plant as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least the mixed material dispensing means being in a raised position in the in use configuration for allowing delivery of batched cementitious material into a vehicle located below the delivery means for serving the site.
9. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the integral drive means comprise means for elevating one end of the trailer relative to the other end of the trailer.
10. A batching plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elevating means are hydraulic.
11. A batching plant as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the elevating means comprise a plurality of elevating stations spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the trailer.
12. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 11, wherein the elevating means comprises a front elevating station proximal to the front of the trailer.
13. A batching plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the front elevating station is spaced a sufficient distance from the front end of the trailer so as to avoid interfering with a vehicle to be positioned below the dispensing means.
14. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 13, wherein the elevating LI') means comprises an intermediate elevating station between the front elevating station and the rear end of the trailer. (4
15. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 14, wherein the elevating U") means comprises a rear end stabilising station proximal to the rear end of the trailer.
16. A batching plant as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rear end stabilising station is designed to engage the support surface/ground when the front elevating station is at maximum extension.
17. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 16, wherein the elevating means comprises a rear end elevating station for levelling the aggregate receiving means in the in use batching configuration of the batching plant.
18. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 17, wherein the elevating means comprise one or more rams, most preferably hydraulic, most preferably integrally formed with trailer support means.
19. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 18, wherein the trailer support means are located proximal to both lateral edges of the trailer.
20. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 19, wherein the elevating means comprises stabilising means extending between the trailer and the elevating means.
21. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 20, wherein the elevating means comprises locking means for locking the elevating means in a retracted or elevated position.
22. A batching plant as claimed in claim 4, wherein the aggregate receiving means are located at the rear end of the trailer.
23. A batching plant as claimed in claim 22, wherein the aggregate material receiving means comprises at least one outlet for dispensing aggregate material onto a conveying means.
24. A batching plant as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the aggregate material LI') receiving means is split into multiple receiving compartments, each having their own outlet. (4
25. A batching plant as claimed in claim 23, wherein, the at least one outlet has an U") actuatable closure member for controlling the dispensing rate of aggregate material.
26. A batching plant as claimed in claim 25, wherein the actuatable closure member of the at least one outlet is in operable engagement with an outlet control means.
27. A batching plant as claimed in claim 26, wherein the outlet control means is in operable communication with an overall apparatus control system or is integral of an overall control system.
28. A batching plant as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batching plant for the production of cementitious material has an aggregate material conveying means.
29. A batching plant as claimed in claim 28 when dependent on claims 4 and 6, wherein the aggregate material conveying means extends from a location beneath the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing means.
30. A batching plant as claimed in claim 29, wherein the aggregate material conveying means is configured to convey aggregate material dispensed from the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing portion.
31. A batching plant as claimed in claim 29 or 30, wherein in the in use configuration, the aggregate material conveying means extends in an upward sloping fashion from the aggregate material receiving means to the material mixing means.
32. A batching plant as claimed in claim 31, wherein the slope of the aggregate material conveyance means is dictated by the difference in height of the material mixing means and the outlet of the aggregate material receiving means when the batching plant is in the in use configuration.
33. A batching plant as claimed in claims 28 to 32, wherein the aggregate material conveying means is in operable engagement with a conveying control means.

11')
34. A batching plant as claimed in claim 33, wherein the conveying control means is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system or is integral with (4 the overall batching plant control system.

U)
35. A batching plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elevating means are in operable engagement with a hydraulic system.
36. A batching plant as claimed in claim 35, wherein the hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid to hydraulic rams, the hydraulic pump being powered by an on board power pack.
37. A batching plant as claimed in claim 28, wherein cement silos are operably couplable to the material conveyor means of the road worthy fully mobile batching plant via cement delivery means, most preferably pipework.
38. A batching plant as claimed in claim 37, wherein the cement silos are road worthy fully mobile cement silos.
39. A batching plant as claimed in claim 37 or 38, wherein the pipework comprises a means for urging cement from the silo along the pipework to the material conveyor means.
40. A batching plant as claimed in claim 39, wherein the pipework comprises an outer casing and an internal auger, the internal auger being rotatable such that it urges cement to travel along the piping.
41. A batching plant as claimed in claim 37, wherein the cement silos have cooperating power generation means for providing power to the means for urging cement through the pipework.
42. A batching plant as claimed in claim 39, wherein the cement silos have control means for controlling the rate at which the means for urging cement through the pipework onto the material conveyor means.
43. A batching plant as claimed in claim 42, wherein the control means of the cement silos is in communication with the overall control means of the batching plant for the production of cementious material.

LI')
44. A batching plant as claimed in claim 37, wherein the cement silos have means for storing the pipework for transportation and/or when the pipework is not in use. (4
45. A batching plant as claimed in claim 44, wherein the means for storing the pipework U") comprises separable collars for enclosing the pipework for releasably fixing the pipework to the cement silos.
46. A batching plant as claimed in claim 37, wherein a silo chassis has a specially designed conduit for carrying power cables from the generator to drive means for an auger/screw within the pipework.
47. A batching plant as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fully mobile batching plant for the production of cementitious material has an admixture storage and/or dispensing means.
48. A batching plant as claimed in claim 47, wherein the admixture storage and/or dispensing means is locatable proximal to the material mixing portion.
49. A batching plant as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material mixing portion has a mixing means.
50. A batching plant as claimed in claim 49, wherein the mixing means mixes any combination of aggregate material, cement, admixture, water, or any other additive that may be required to produce a desired cementitious material.
51. A batching plant as claimed in claim 49 or 50, wherein the mixing means is in operable engagement with a mixing control means.
52. A batching plant as claimed in claim 51, wherein the mixing control means is in wider communication with the overall batching plant control system or is integral with the overall batching plant control system.
53. A batching plant as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the overall fully mobile batching plant control system controls any or all of the rate of dispense from the aggregate material loading portion, the rate of addition of cement, the rate of addition of admixture, the rate of addition of water, the speed of the aggregate material LI') conveying means, the speed of the mixing means, and the rate at which mixed cementitious material is dispensed from the mixed material dispensing portion. (4
54. A batching plant as claimed in claim 53, wherein the overall batching plant control LI') means is a computerized control means.
55. A batching plant as claimed in claim 53 or 54, wherein the overall batching plant control means is locatable in a control room, the control room being movably mountable on the batching plant for the production of cementitious material.