Abstract: A mobile concreting apparatus and method which may be used, in particular, for on-site construction of swimming pools. It includes a vehicle supporting a plurality of containers, each adapted to contain one of the ingredients of concrete. Each container is provided with its own ingredient feeder which feeds the ingredients to a mixing device mounted on the vehicle to create a concrete slurry. The slurry is transferred from the mixing device to the surface to be coated by a structure including a slurry pump, a hose and a nozzle. Each ingredient feeder can be individually varied in the rate at which it feeds its ingredient so that the relative composition of the slurry, and the flow rate of the slurry, can be rapidly and selectively varied on the job site to meet the particular requirements for each job. In addition, feed rate settings which provide a desirable composition and overall feed rate can be noted and reproduced on subsequent occasions when the same composition and feed rate are desired.

Abstract: A concrete mixing machine is disclosed which mixes small batches of concrete using any desired ratio of gravel, sand, cement, and water. The dry materials are mixed into concrete at the site where the concrete is to be poured. The apparatus includes hoppers for storing the dried mix material, a water tank, a metering slide for measuring desired amounts of cement, sand, and gravel to the desired proportions; a mixing, feeding, and dispensing system; and a hydraulic system for driving the mixing apparatus. The hydraulic drive system is utilized to overcome the binding which occurs when residual concrete begins to set.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of cement with metered quantities of water has a horizontal housing with a first section having an inlet for admission of cement, a cylindrical intermediate section which receives cement from the first section, and a mixing chamber which receives cement from the intermediate section and further receives metered quantities of water by way of a pipe. A feed screw is rotatably mounted in the first and intermediate sections to convey cement toward and into the mixing chamber. The thread of the feed screw carries radially outwardly extending paddles which are located in the first section and prevent accumulations of cement in the space around the corresponding portion of the feed screw. The mixing chamber is connected to the intermediate section by a hinge and contains a rotary mixing element whose shaft is separably coupled to the core of the feed screw.

Abstract: A system and method to control concrete production employs a loading station and a mixing truck having a rotatable mixing drum for travelling between the loading station and a job site. A control system is provided to insure that properly proportional ingredients loaded into the mixing drum at the loading station are mixed for a predetermined appropriate programmable interval of time, whether the mixing truck remains at the loading station or is in transit to the job site. The control system comprises a first portion installed at the loading station and a second portion mounted on the mixing truck, which portions are coupled together when the mixing truck is at the loading station. The first portion of the control system comprises a first time switch unit for controlling the entire time cycle (loading time and mixing time) in a first program and a second time switch unit for controlling only the loading time in a second program.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for cooling and handling sand in which hot used sand is delivered to a mixer and mixed with cooler sand. The mixed sand is discharged from the mixer for circulation on conveyor means for further cooling and the cooled sand is separated into a first fraction for discharge to successive milling and moulding stages and a second fraction for return to the mixer to effect sand mixing with the hot used sand. Water may be added to the mixed sand in the mixer to adjust the moisture content and to increase cooling.