Chute for cement truck and method of fabricating a chute for a cement truck
A chute assembly for directing cement from a cement truck is disclosed. The chute comprises an elongate chute of generally u-shaped cross section fabricated from UHMWPe and comprising an upper end and a lower end, a plurality of reinforcing rods arranged along a length of and encased within the UHMWPe, one end of each of the rods adjacent the upper end and another end of each of the rods adjacent the lower end, a pair of u-shaped collars, an upper one of the collars adjacent the upper end and a lower one of the collars adjacent the lower end, and a fastener for securing each of the collars to their respective rod ends. A method of fabrication is also disclosed.
1. A method for fabricating a chute for directing cement from a cement truck comprising:
placing a plurality of reinforcing rods generally in parallel in a mould with UHMWPe, wherein each end of said rods is adjacent a respective edge of said mould;
closing the mould and heating said UHMWPe until said UHMWPe is molten;
removing said UHMWPe and reinforcing rods from the mould once said UHMWPe has solidified;
arranging a u shaped collar at each end of said chute, each of said collars having a curvature configured to match that of the end of the chute to which it is attached; and
securing said collars to the ends of said rods;
wherein at least said u-shaped collar arranged at an upper end of said chute comprises a pair of hooks adapted for attachment to the cement truck.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said placing comprises three of said reinforcing rods.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating said UHMWPe comprises heating said mould.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing rods are placed in said mould lying in the same plane.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling said UHMWPe until said UHMWPe has solidified.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising bending said solidified UHMWPe to form an elongate chute having an axis in parallel with said plurality of rods following said removing.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to heating said UHMWPe is in a powdered form.
8. A method for fabricating a chute for directing cement from a cement truck comprising:
forming molten UHMWPe in a mould to produce a substantially flat chute blank, said chute blank having a first edge opposite a second edge;
removing said chute blank from said mould when said UHMWPe has solidified;
bending said chute blank about an axis between said first edge and said second edge to form an elongate chute having an open top, a closed bottom and a u-shaped cross section; and
attaching a pair of u-shaped collars manufactured from a rigid durable material to respective ends of said elongate chute, each of said collars having a curvature configured to match that of the end of the chute to which it is attached.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said forming comprises:
placing said plurality of reinforcing rods generally in parallel and lying in the same plane in said mould with UHMWPe, wherein each end of said rods is adjacent a respective edge of said mould;
closing the mould and applying heat and pressure to the mould until said UHMWPe is molten; and
removing said UHMWPe from said mould when said UHMWPe has solidified.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said attaching comprises securing said collars to the ends of said rods.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein prior to heating said UHMWPe is in a powdered form.