DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates to the field of concrete mixing unit in Concrete pump. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of hybrid drive arrangement to keep homogeneity during concrete pumping.
BACKGROUND
The construction industry made a promising development in production and distribution of ready-mix concrete. Concrete mixture processed in stationary mixers, wagon mounted mixers and truck mounted mixers mostly have hoppers with containers to carry the mixed concrete. These concrete containers are carried around the construction site to distribute the mixture in the specified area expeditiously before the concrete mixture hardens. Wagon mounted mixers are used to carry the mixed concrete as they are convenient for the workers/ labour to operate in narrow areas where mobility of machines are restricted.
Truck mounted concrete mixers are often used to carry concrete mixture from the production site to the construction site. The agitator shaft is rotated at a minimum speed by a hydraulic motor operated by the IC engine and the tank is not kept in idle position as the concrete inside the tank hardens or setting of concrete occurs.
The hydraulic motor is connected to a gear pump which operates the agitator shaft for mixing the concrete during idle condition.
Mixing and agitation of concrete is essential for concrete mixer machines as the concrete may settle and harden in short span of time if it kept at idle position. Moreover, the agitator shaft of concrete pump rotates at minimum speed which is also operated by the vehicle’s IC engine.
The concrete pump is employed where there is requirement of concrete delivery at a specified area to meet the required vertical & horizontal reach within a short period of timeframe and reduced manual labor. The pumpable concrete is generally poured into the hopper which acts as a reservoir, the reciprocating mechanism created by the two hydraulic cylinders present in the concrete pump, generates alternate suction and delivery strokes, aids in delivery of concrete via the material cylinder. The delivery of concrete is routed through the delivery pipelines to the required location and pouring continues.
Most of the concrete pumps have the agitator shaft disposed inside the hopper which continuously rotates and pushes the concrete further to the suction side of material cylinder to enhance the pump-ability of concrete pump. Conventionally, the agitator shaft rotation is achieved by a hydraulic motor which receives hydraulic energy from the gear pump driven by agitator which may be a diesel engine or electric motor. The rotation of the agitator is lesser than compared to the actual speed of the concrete mixer during operation. Hence the waiting period will depend on the arrival of the next transit mixer to site.
The operational cost for operating the prime mover for agitation process is comparatively higher than the operating cost of the concrete pump. In the known art the conventional method consumes more energy as the agitating process done by the prime mover consumes more energy during the idle condition. The time for continuous agitation is unpredictable in concrete pump as it is depended on various factors such as concrete pouring constrictions, material unavailability, labor unavailability, transportation delay, pipelines change or extension, site settings, concrete unavailability etc.
Accordingly, there is a need for finding an alternative solution for agitation process which consumes lesser energy than compared to prime mover/drive arrangement and provides effective agitation during idle condition.
OBJECTS OF DISCLOSURE
It is an object of the present disclosure to overcome the problem faced in the prior art.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an energy efficient and eco-friendly solution for agitation of concrete mixer in idle condition.
It is main object of the disclosure is to provide a secondary drive arrangement for agitation of concrete mixer in idle condition.
It is another object of the present disclosure is to provide an auxiliary hybrid power drive mechanism as a secondary circuit in parallel to the already existing primary circuit to rotate the agitator shaft that does the functionality of agitator shaft rotation as soon as the engine is switched OFF.
It is another object of the present disclosure to transfer of functionality of agitator shaft rotation to the primary circuit when the engine awakens.
It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a secondary circuit comprising of electric motor with gear pump and controller combined together to provide the necessary hydraulic energy for motor to provide rotory motion to the agitator shaft.
It is another object of the present disclosure is to reduce the energy consumed by the primary drive arrangement from the IC engine in idle condition and save the intake of fuel for energy efficient operations.
SUMMARY
Thus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a hybrid power drive arrangement is provided.
The hybrid power drive system includes a primary drive arrangement and a secondary drive arrangement provided to rotate the agitator shaft at the appropriate revolutions to avoid the concrete setting at the hopper,
wherein the primary drive arrangement includes,
a hydraulic tank that is adapted to store hydraulic oil,
a gear pump receives hydraulic oil from hydraulic tank to generate the hydraulic energy,
an internal combustion engine configured to drive the gear pump through a hydraulic main pump,
a hydraulic motor that is coupled with an agitator shaft and configured to provide mechanical energy to rotate the agitator shaft,
wherein the gear pump provides the hydraulic energy to the hydraulic motor via a control block characterized in that,
wherein the gear pump provides the hydraulic energy to the hydraulic motor via a bi-directional solenoid control block.
wherein the secondary drive arrangement includes an alternator, a battery, an electric motor, a controller, a gear pump that receives hydraulic oil from hydraulic tank to generate the hydraulic energy,
wherein the electric motor is connected to the controller and is coupled the gear pump,
wherein a bi-directional solenoid control block is coupled to the primary drive arrangement and secondary drive arrangement,
wherein a hydraulic motor that is coupled with an agitator shaft and configured to provide mechanical energy to rotate the agitator shaft,
wherein the primary drive arrangement or the secondary drive arrangement drives the hydraulic motor through the bi-directional solenoid control block,
wherein the secondary drive arrangement rotates the agitator shaft as soon as the internal combustion engine is switched OFF,
wherein when the internal combustion engine awakens again, the primary circuit rotates the agitator shaft.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the electric motor receives electrical energy from a battery.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the gear pump is operated by an electric motor and a controller.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the bi-directional solenoid is operated either manually controlled or remote controlled.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the controller senses the switching off condition of the engine.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the secondary drive arrangement comprises of check valves which avoid the oil return or the back pressure into the gear pumps of primary and secondary drive arrangements.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the secondary drive arrangement runs at lesser revolutions in comparison to the primary drive arrangement regardless of no load or no concreting conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1: Illustrates a conventional power drive arrangement, according to the existing prior art.
Figure 2: Illustrates hybrid power drive arrangement system, according to the present disclosure.
Figure 3: Illustrates schematic diagram of the hybrid power drive arrangement, according to the present disclosure.
Figure 4: Illustrates block diagram of hybrid power drive arrangement, according to the present disclosure.
Figure 5: Illustrates schematic diagram of secondary drive arrangement, according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a primary drive arrangement (A) which is known in the art comprises an internal combustion engine (101), a gear pump (103) and a hydraulic main pump (102). The internal combustion engine (101) drives the gear pump (103) through the hydraulic main pump (102). The primary drive arrangement (A) is coupled with a unidirectional control block (104), a hydraulic motor (202) and an agitator shaft (203). The gear pump (103) provides hydraulic energy to the hydraulic motor (202) via the unidirectional control block (104) to provide mechanical energy and rotate the agitator shaft (203) at a prescribed revolution. The gear pump (103) gets hydraulic oil from a hydraulic tank (100) to generate the hydraulic energy.
Figures 2 and 4 illustrate the hybrid power drive arrangement of the concrete mixer according to the present disclosure. The hopper (H) shown in figure 2 comprises an agitator shaft (203) mounted on the bottom of the hopper (H). The hybrid power drive arrangement comprises a primary drive arrangement (A) and a secondary drive arrangement (B). Figure 3 illustrates the secondary drive arrangement (B) comprising a battery (302), an electric motor (303), an alternator (301), a controller (304), a gear pump (305). The secondary drive arrangement (B) is coupled to a bi-directional solenoid control block (201), a hydraulic motor (202) an agitator shaft (203).
The electric motor (303) receives electrical energy from the battery (302) which is powered by the alternator (301). The controller (304) is connected to the electric motor (303) which is coupled to the gear pump (305). The gear pump (305) provides hydraulic energy to hydraulic motor (202) via a bi-directional solenoid hydraulic control block (201). The hydraulic motor (202) provides mechanical energy to rotate the agitator shaft (203) at the appropriate revolutions to avoid the concrete setting at the hopper (H).
As shown in figure 5, the secondary drive arrangement further comprises of check valves (V1, V2) which are provided to avoid the oil return or the back pressure into the gear pump of hydraulic motor (202) and gear pump (305) of secondary drive . Thus, the check valves (V1, V2) ensures the hydraulic energy from primary drive arrangement (A) is not entering the sencondary drive arrangement (B) and viz-versa.
The secondary drive arrangement (B) rotates the agitator shaft (203) via the bi-directional solenoid control block (201) as soon as the engine is switched OFF. The controller (304) of the secondary drive arrangement (B) senses the switching off condition of the engine (101) by means of feedback current received from the alternator (301). When the engine awakens again, the operation of agitator shaft is switched to primary circuit (A) and the secondary circuit (B) is deactivated.
In an embodiment the electric motor (303) is DC electric motor operated by a battery (302) which is powered by an alternator (301). The electric motor (303) is coupled with the gear pump (305) that receives hydraulic oil from hydraulic tank (100) and controller (304) of the electric motor (303) which has the functionality of cutting off the electric motor (303) during Low voltage, high/low current and high temperature.
As shown in Figure 3, the primary drive arrangement (A) is coupled is also coupled to the bi-directional solenoid control block (201), the hydraulic motor (202) and the agitator shaft (203). The primary drive arrangement (A) usually operates when the internal combustion engine (101) of the concrete pump (102) is in ON condition. The primary drive arrangement (A) drives the agitator shaft (203) through the hydraulic motor (202) via the bi-directional solenoid control block (201). Whenever the engine (101) of the concrete pump (102) is switched off, then the secondary drive arrangement (B) is actuated. The bi-directional solenoid control block (201) is operated either manually by a hand lever or controlled remotely.
Although the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. It is therefore contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the disclosure.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer comprises:
a primary drive arrangement (A) comprising:
a hydraulic tank (100) that is adapted to store hydraulic oil;
a gear pump (103) receives hydraulic oil from hydraulic tank (100) to generate the hydraulic energy;
an internal combustion engine (101) configured to drive the gear pump (103) through a hydraulic main pump (102);
a hydraulic motor (202) that is coupled with an agitator shaft (203) is configured to provide mechanical energy to rotate the agitator shaft (203);
wherein the gear pump (103) provides the hydraulic energy to the hydraulic motor (202) characterized in that,
the gear pump (103) provides the hydraulic energy to the hydraulic motor (202) via a bi-directional solenoid control block (201);
a secondary drive arrangement (B) comprising:
an electric motor (303);
a controller (304);
a gear pump (305) that receives hydraulic oil from hydraulic tank (100) to generate the hydraulic energy;
at least two check valves (V1, V2) are provided to eliminate the entry of hydraulic energy from primary drive arrangement (A) to the sencondary drive arrangement (B) and viz-versa; and
wherein the electric motor (303) connected to the controller (304) and is coupled the gear pump (305),
wherein a bi-directional solenoid control block (201) is coupled to the primary drive arrangement (A) and secondary drive arrangement (B),
a hydraulic motor (202) that is coupled with an agitator shaft (203) and configured to provide mechanical energy to rotate the agitator shaft (203),
wherein the primary drive arrangement (A) or the secondary drive arrangement (B) drives the hydraulic motor (202) through the bi-directional solenoid control block (201),
wherein the secondary drive arrangement (B) rotates the agitator shaft (203) as soon as the internal combustion engine (101) is switched OFF; and
wherein when internal combustion engine (101) awakens again, the primary circuit rotates the agitator shaft (203).

2. The hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric motor (303) is a DC electric motor.

3. The hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric motor (303) receives electrical energy from the battery (302).

4. The hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery (302) is powered by an alternator (301).

5. The hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bi-directional solenoid control block (201) is operated manually by a hand lever.

6. The hybrid power drive arrangement for agitator shaft of a concrete mixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bi-directional solenoid control block (201) is controlled remotely.