CONCRETE MIXERS

(Basic Mechanical Engineering)

Submitted by:

Group 2: Submitted to:

Bernardino, Deejay Prof. Rolando Bolaños, Jr.
Bollas, Shiela Mae
Bulagao, Susmitalyn
Caballes, Oliven
Chua, Lenette
Cordero, Rafael
 I. Introduction
A concrete mixer (often colloquially called a cement mixer) is a device that homogeneously
combines cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. A typical
concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works,
portable concrete mixers are often used so that the concrete can be made at the construction
site, giving the workers ample time to use the concrete before it hardens. An alternative to a
machine is mixing concrete by hand. This is usually done in a wheelbarrow; however, several
companies have recently begun to sell modified tarps for this purpose.The concrete mixer was
invented by Columbus, Ohio industrialist Gebhardt Jaeger.
Gebhardt Jaeger
One of the leading figures in the business life of Columbus is Gebhard Jaeger, who is founder
and president of The Jaeger Machine Company, whose plant and offices are located at 520
Dublin Avenue. Mr. Jaeger was born in Germany, June 19, 1874. He was educated in his native
land and at the age of eighteen years emigrated to the United States and settled at St. Louis,
Missouri. In 1900 Mr. Jaeger went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a designer of woven wire
fence machines for the Union Steel Company.

Mr. Jaeger came to Columbus from Pittsburgh in 1902 and shortly after designed the well
known Hayden Concrete Block Machine. In 1905 he designed and built the first concrete mixing
machine, which was later manufactured by his own company with such unequalled success.

Jaeger concrete mixers are used extensively throughout the entire world, a large percent in use
being the product of the Jaeger interests in Columbus. When a contractor or builder in Seattle,
Washington, Singapore or Paris, France, begins thinking about concrete mixers, the name of
Jaeger usually comes to his mind first, for the Jaeger Machine Company is the largest
manufacturer of concrete mixers in the world, with a business that is literally world wide. In the
United States, over one third of the machines built by the entire industry are produced at the
Dublin Avenue plant. It is estimated today that over 75,000 Jaeger mixers are in operation, with
more than 100 distributors located in all cities of importance, which enables the company to
advertise two hour service to almost any point in the United States. This leadership is even
more pronounced in Europe where Jaeger Mixers are built in several countries.

In reaching this present position, the Jaeger Company has passed through one of the most
spectacular developments of any Columbus industry. Starting in 1906 with a total of $12,000
worth of business in the original type mixers, produced in a one room machine shop on West
Broad Street, today's production Jaeger mixers ranges from small three and one half cubic foot
trailers, which one man moves around and handles alone, to giant fifty six cubic foot outfits,
weighing over 11,000 pounds. Between these two extremes there are eight other sizes and
scores of various types, which constitute the most complete line of machines for concrete,
mortar and plaster mixing known in the industry.

More recently, the Jaeger name has become almost as well known among contractors in
connection with pumps and hoists, which are produced here in all sizes and types for the
construction and road building industries. In 1928 Mr. Jaeger got the idea of a truck mixer and
later the company acquired ownership of the oldest and most basic patents on truck mixers,
which are coming into wide use in cities for the economical production and delivery of
commercial concrete to builders who do not operate their own mixing machines. These truck
mixers load carefully weighed and proportioned amounts of sand, stone and cement under
convenient bins and mix the concrete while in transit to the job, where it is to be used.
According to O. G. Mandt, vice president and general manager, the Jaeger Company is already
embarked on a large production program for truck mixers at both its Columbus and Cleveland
plants. The Cleveland plant is that of the former Lakewood Engineering Company, the largest
manufacturers of concrete road building machinery in the world and consolidated with the
Jaeger interests in 1929. The Cleveland plant is equal in size of the Columbus plant, but it is
contemplated to enlarge the Columbus plant and move the Cleveland plant to Columbus.

To stock and service the products of the local Columbus plant, 107 branches are required,
located in principal cities throughout the United States, with a force of over 200 salesmen. In
addition to the regular operations of assembling the heavy machinery parts, the company
operates its own machine shops, both here and in Cleveland. Castings are also produced at the
local Dublin Avenue plant, and at Elyria, Ohio, where a foundry is operated under the name of
the Elyria Foundry Company. For the production of contractors' hoists, pumps and truck mixers,
it was found necessary last year to construct a fireproof factory addition to the Columbus plant.
This is the latest of many additions made to the plant since the great flood of 1913 when the
original factory site, located on the Scioto River, near the west end of the Rich Street Bridge,
was condemned on account of the river widening program, and the company moved into its
present location.

The present officers of the company are as follows: Lloyd Brown, chairman of the board; G.
Jaeger, president; O. G. Mandt, vice president and general manager; W. B. Simpler, H. C. Fraas,
and Lion Gardiner, vice presidents; August Lorenz, treasurer; and John Ulrich, secretary.

In 1897 Mr. Jaeger was married to Miss Pauline Miller, of St. Louis, Missouri. They have no
children.

Mr. Jaeger holds membership in the Columbus Country Club, Columbus Athletic Club, and
Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, and others.
Stephen Stepanian

-(February 28, 1882 – October 1964) (Armenian: ՍտիվենՍտեփանեան) was an Armenian

American inventor and owner of numerous patents including the Elevator and Conveyor,
Compound Tool, and the Wrench. He is also accredited as the inventor of a self-discharging
motorized transit mixer that was the predecessor of the concrete mixer
truck.[1][2][3] Stepanian is often called the "father of the ready-mix concrete industry."
- was an Armenian American inventor and owner of numerous patents including the Elevator
and Conveyor, Compound Tool, and the Wrench. He is also accredited as the inventor of a self-
discharging motorized transit mixer that was the predecessor of the concrete mixer
truck. Stepanian is often called the "father of the ready-mix concrete industry."
Inventor of concrete mixing truck
Stephen invented a self-discharging motorized transit mixer that was the predecessor of
the concrete mixer truck and applied for a patent in 1916. However, the patent was rejected in
April 1917 by the patent office because it was believed that a truck could not support the
weight of a concrete mixer on top of it. The patent office also noted that there was no previous
patenting information that proves integration was possible with both the mixer and the design
of the truck. Other sources suggest that the patent was rejected because Stepanian was not an
American citizen. However, on December 21, 1928, Stepanian reapplied for the patent and
received approval on November 21, 1933.

II. Types of Concrete Mixers

1. Continuous Concrete Mixer

Continuous mixer, the name itself telling its duty that the loading, mixing and discharging of
mix is continuously done until the work is complete or work break occurs. The loading of
materials is done continuously by screw feeders. Continuous mixtures are used for very large
projects such as dams, bridges, construction of high rise buildings, etc.
 2. Batch Concrete Mixers
Batch mixers are widely used machines for concrete mixing. Concrete mix obtained by this
mixer is collected batch by batch and time by time. So, it is called as batch mixer. After pouring
all the materials into pan or drum, it mixes all of those for some time and finally discharges. This
process is repeated until required amount of concrete mix is obtained.

2.1 Pan Type Mixers

Pan type mixers consists a circular pan in which concrete is mixed. The mixing is done by
blades which are arranged in star shape inside the pan. There are two types of pan mixers
are available. In one case, the circular pan is constant and only star blades rotate about
vertical axis of pan. In the other case, circular pan rotates while the blades are at static
position.

But in both cases, the mixing is efficient and concrete mixture is collected through
central hole provided in the pan. The rotating star blades contains special blades called
scrapper blades which will make concrete not to stick to the pan. The blades can also be
adjusted in height so, there is no room for concrete to store in the pan. We can say among
the all types of batch mixers pan type mixer are more efficient.

2.2 Drum Type Mixers

In case Drum type mixers concrete ingredients are mixed in a drum which is actually in
double conical frustum shape. Drum Mixers are used where large volume of concrete is being
produced. The batch size is raging from 3.9 – 12 cubic yards.
Drum types mixers are classified into three types:

 Tilting drum mixers

 Non-tilting drum mixers
 Reversing drum mixers

Tilting Drum Mixers

Tilting drum mixer means the drum will discharge concrete by tilting downwards. It is
rapid discharge process and used for larger projects. Rapid means it delivers concrete by gravity
that is tilting the drum downwards because of this the concrete mix obtained will be not
subjected to segregation.
Low workable concrete which contains large sized aggregates of size greater than 7.5cm
are also mixed efficiently with this tilting type mixers.
The only disadvantage of this mixer is sticking of concrete to bottom of drum. To
overcome this a method called buttering of mixer is applied in which some amount of cement
mortar is mixed in the mixer before mixing first batch of concrete.
Non-Tilting Drum Mixers
Non- tilting drum mixers are not allowed to tilt and the drum rotates about its
horizontal axis. For the discharge of concrete a chute is arranged in inclined position which will
receives the concrete mix from drum and discharges out.
In this case, the drum is opened at two ends and consists blades insides when materials
are poured through one end and mix is collected through another end.
Rapid discharge of concrete is not possible in this case. Due to this delay, the concrete
may be vulnerable to segregation.
The larger size aggregate is not discharged easily with the mix. So, size of aggregate mot
more than 7.5cm is preferable for this type of mixers. So, these types of mixers are generally
used for small projects.

Reversing Drum Mixers

Reversing drum mixers are similar to non-tilting type mixers but in this case reversal of
rotation takes place for different action.
The drum has two openings, one end is for pouring materials and other end is for
discharge of mix. The drum rotates about its horizontal axis. The rotation of drum takes place in
one direction for mixing and in opposite direction for discharging.
Two different set of blades are arranged for mixing and discharging. They are suitable
for dry concrete mixes.
 III. On-Site and Portable Mixers
For smaller jobs, such as residential repairs, or renovations, many cubic yards of concrete
are not usually required. Bagged cement is readily available in small-batch sizes, and aggregates
and water are easily obtained in small quantities for the small work site. To service this small-
batch concrete market, small portable concrete mixers are used.

 Portable Concrete Mixers powered by Gasoline Engines

Mixing
Drum

Gasoline Handle
Engine

Wheel

 Portable Concrete Mixer powered by Electric Motors

Mixing
Drum

Handle

Electric
Motor House

Wheel
Pros:
1. Saves time.
2. Saves money.
3. Reduces effort

IV. Trucks and Trailers

Concrete mixing transport trucks

Operating diagram of a concrete mixer

Special concrete transport trucks (in-transit mixers) are made to mix concrete and
transport it to the construction site. They can be charged with dry materials and water, with the
mixing occurring during transport. They can also be loaded from a "central mix" plant; with this
process the material has already been mixed prior to loading. The concrete mixing transport
truck maintains the material's liquid state through agitation, or turning of the drum, until
delivery. The interior of the drum on a concrete mixing truck is fitted with a spiral blade. In one
rotational direction, the concrete is pushed deeper into the drum. This is the direction the drum
is rotated while the concrete is being transported to the building site. This is known as
"charging" the mixer. When the drum rotates in the other direction, the Archimedes' screw-
type arrangement "discharges", or forces the concrete out of the drum. From there it may go
onto chutes to guide the viscous concrete directly to the job site. If the truck cannot get close
enough to the site to use the chutes, the concrete may be discharged into a concrete pump,
connected to a flexible hose, or onto a conveyor belt which can be extended some distance
(typically ten or more metres). A pump provides the means to move the material to precise
locations, multi-floor buildings, and other distance-prohibitive locations. Buckets suspended
from cranes are also used to place the concrete. The drum is traditionally made of steel but on
some newer trucks, fibreglass has been used as a weight reduction measure.
Terex Advance front discharge truck with three lift axles including one tag axle

This Kayaba Rocket concrete mixer delivers concrete in Japan.

"Rear discharge" trucks require both a driver and a "chuteman" to guide the truck and
chute back and forth to place concrete in the manner suitable to the contractor. Newer "front
discharge" trucks have controls inside the cab of the truck to allow the driver to move the chute
in all directions. The first front discharge mixer was designed and built by Royal W. Sims of
Holladay, Utah, United States.
Concrete mixers are equipped with two or more axles. Four-, five- and six-axle trucks are
the most common, with the number being determined by the load and local legislation
governing allowable loads on the road. The axles are necessary to distribute the load evenly,
allow operation on weight restricted roads, and reduce wear and tear on normal roads. A two-
or three-axle truck during the winter when road weight limits are reduced has no usable
payload in many jurisdictions. Other areas may require expensive permits to operate.
Additional axles other than those used for steering ("steers") or drivetrain ("drives")
may be installed between the steers and drives, or behind the drives. Mixers commonly have
multiple steering axles as well, which generally result in very large turning radii. To facilitate
maneuvering, the additional axles may be "lift axles", which allows them to be raised off the
ground so that they do not scrub (get dragged sideways across the ground) on tight turns, or
increase the vehicle's turning radius. Axles installed behind the drives are known as "tag axles"
or "booster axles", and are often equipped to turn opposite to the steering axle to reduce
scrubbing and automatically lift when the truck is put into a reverse gear.
Tractor trailer combination mixers where the mixer is installed on a trailer instead of a
truck chassis are used in some jurisdictions, such as the province of Quebec where even six-axle
trucks would have trouble carrying a useful load.
 Concrete mixers generally do not travel far from their plant, as the concrete begins to
set as soon as it is in the truck. Many contractors require that the concrete be in place within 90
minutes after loading. If the truck breaks down or for some other reason the concrete hardens
in the truck, workers may need to enter the barrel with jackhammers.
Stephen Stepanian filed a patent application for the first truck mixer in 1916.
Trucks weigh 20,000 to 30,000 pounds (9,070 to 13,600 kg), and can carry roughly 40,000
pounds (18,100 kg) of concrete although many varying sizes of Mixer Truck are currently in use.
The most common truck capacity is 8 cubic yards (6.1 m3).
Most concrete mixers in the UK are limited to a speed of 56 miles per hour (90 km/h).
Concrete mixer trailers

1 cubic yard (0.76 m³) cart-away mixing trailer

A variant of standard concrete transportation is the concrete or cement mixing trailer. These
small versions of transit-mix trucks are used to supply short loads of concrete. They have a
concrete mixing drum with a capacity of between 1 and 1.75 cubic yards (0.76 and 1.34 m3).
Cart-aways are usually pulled behind a pick-up truck and batched from smaller batching
systems. The mixing trailer system is popular with rental yards and building material locations,
which use them to supply ready-mix to their regular customer base.
Metered concrete trucks
-Metered concrete trucks or volumetric mobile mixers contain concrete ingredient materials
and water to be mixed on the truck at the job site to make and deliver concrete according to
the amount needed.

History
The history of volumetric mixing comes from several directions;
The mobile mixer was patented in 1964 by Harold Zimmerman, in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA.
Because of the patents, there was only one equipment manufacturer until the 1980s.
Equipment manufacturers created an association, Volumetric Mixer Manufacturers Bureau
(VMMB), in 1999, with six charter members including Zimmerman Ind, Inc., ProAll Reimer, Bay-
Lynx, Custom-Crete, Elkin and Cementech.
Modified models
The volumetric mixer varies in capacity size up to 12 m3 and has a production rate around
60m3 an hour depending on the mix design. Many volumetric concrete mixer manufacturers
have innovated the mixer in capacity and design, as well as added features including colour
systems, admix systems, fibre systems and grout concrete.
Bodies are mainly manufactured from steel except for some aluminum builds. The Ultralite
Mixer from Bay-Lynx was the first to use the aluminum body. An aluminum bodied mixer helps
meet weight regulations while making a more durable build as well.

Electrical or automated volumetric mobile mixer

Manual or mechanical volumetric mobile mixer

 V. Safety

Many small concrete jobs and practically all masonry jobs require the use of portable powered
mixers to speed up the process. Though these machines have been in use for years and regardless of
whether gas or electric powered, they still pose work hazards because of the employee’s close proximity
to moving parts, lifting hazards, and splash hazards.

Safety Measures while using Concrete Mixer at Site

 Make sure all equipment and tools are removed from the cement mixer prior to turning
it on.

 Never leave the running mixer unattended.

 Electrically driven mixers, the wire connecting the mixers should be in good and sound
condition, and the circuit-breaker should be well maintained. Earthing of electric motor
should be done as per specifications and rules.
 Exhaust gases of a diesel engine if inhaled for long period may cause diseases. They
should be directed away from the operator. Nobody should be allowed to go under the
skip. All gears and moving parts should be well guarded.

 Disconnect the power or shut off the engine from the mixer, before servicing, adjusting,
installing accessories or attachments.
 Accidents normally occur during the cleaning of mixing drum. Care should be taken to
display the notice, “Under Repairs” while cleaning the drum.
 Wire ropes operating the drum and clutches should be inspected regularly.
 Do not move the cement mixer during operation. The mixer could tip over or the motor
could be damaged.

 Keep working area clean and dry to prevent tripping and slipping.
 Electrical outlets and tools are properly grounded and use proper lighting for the job at
moving or rotating parts.

 Do not allow children to play on or around the concrete Mixer

 Turn off the motors and wait for all moving parts to stop before servicing, maintaining
or cleaning.