System and process for introducing a rigid lance into a concrete mixing truck using an articulated arm

1. A system ( 100 ) for injecting cooling fluid into a concrete mixing container ( 502 ), the system ( 100 ) comprising:

A) a support structure ( 116 ) comprising:

a) a leg assembly having two or more supporting legs ( 201 ); and

b) a cross member beam ( 200 ) supported between the two or more legs ( 201 );

the two or more legs ( 201 ) and the cross member beam ( 200 ) being positioned with respect to one another in such a manner as to define a passageway ( 210 ) of sufficient height (H) and width (W) between the two or more legs ( 201 ) and beneath the cross member beam ( 200 ) to allow passage of a concrete mixer truck ( 504 ) through the passageway ( 210 ); and

B) a lance device ( 190 ) positioned on the cross member beam ( 200 ) of the support structure ( 116 ), the lance device ( 190 ) comprising:

a) an articulated arm that includes a rigid lance ( 102 ) which allows for the flow of a cooling fluid there through; and

b) a means for acting on the articulated arm to cause pivotal movement of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) for fluid injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container ( 502 );

wherein the rigid lance ( 102 ) of the articulated arm has a fluid receiving end ( 102 A), a fluid exit end ( 102 B), a fluid path in the form of a tube that extends from the fluid receiving end ( 102 A) to the fluid exit end ( 102 B) and allows for the flow of a cooling fluid there through, wherein when the cooling fluid is injected into the fluid receiving end ( 102 A) of the rigid lance 102 the cooling fluid flows along the fluid path of the rigid lance ( 102 ) and into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) through the fluid exit end ( 102 B);

wherein the components that comprise the articulated arm include the rigid lance ( 102 ) in combination with:

a) an upper lifting arm ( 104 ) having a first end ( 104 A) and a second end ( 104 B);

b) a lower slide arm ( 108 ) having a first end ( 108 A) and a second end ( 108 B); and

c) a vertical support member ( 110 ) having an upper end ( 110 A) and a lower end ( 110 B); and

wherein the fluid receiving end ( 102 A) of the rigid lance ( 102 ) is pivotally connected to the second end ( 104 B) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ), the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is further pivotally connected to the upper end ( 110 A) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) at a point between the first end ( 104 A) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the second end ( 104 A) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ), the second end ( 108 B) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected to the rigid lance ( 102 ) at a point between the fluid exit end ( 102 b ) of the rigid lance ( 102 ) and the pivotal connection of the rigid lance ( 102 ) to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ), and the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is connected either directly or indirectly to the vertical support member ( 110 ) in a manner selected from:

i) the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected directly to the vertical support member ( 110 );

ii) the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected at one or more points along a mounting bracket ( 314 ) that is attached at one or more different points to the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 );

iii) the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected at one or more points along a breakaway bracket ( 304 ) that is further pivotally connected at one or more different points along the breakaway bracket ( 304 ) to the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ); and

iv) the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected to at one or more points along a first breakaway bracket ( 304 ) that is further pivotally connected at one or more different points along a mounting bracket ( 314 ) that is positioned between the breakaway bracket ( 304 ) and the vertical support member ( 110 ).

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the means for acting on the articulated arm is selected from an electric actuator ( 302 ) and an electronic motor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein in the articulated arm, the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected at one or more points along a breakaway bracket ( 304 ) that is further pivotally connected at one or more different points along the breakaway bracket ( 304 ) to the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and wherein the breakaway bracket ( 304 ) further includes a spring ( 308 ).

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein one end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ) between the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the point ( 300 A) where the vertical support member ( 110 ) is pivotally connected to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the other end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) at a point ( 300 A) between where the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is connected to the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the first end ( 104 A) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ), such that when the shaft of the actuator ( 302 ) is extended or retracted, actuation of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) causes the pivotal movements of the components of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) for injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ).

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator ( 302 ) is located on the external surface of the vertical support member ( 110 ).

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the lance device ( 190 ) further comprises a mounting bracket ( 314 ) for attaching the lance device ( 190 ) to the cross member beam ( 200 ) of the support structure ( 116 ), the mounting bracket ( 314 ) formed by joining the external surface of the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) to a mounting bracket member ( 314 C) to form a passage between the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the mounting bracket member ( 314 C) in which the cross member beam ( 200 ) is at least partially positioned.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the mounting bracket ( 314 ) further comprises a first mounting bracket submember ( 314 A) attached to the mounting bracket member ( 314 C) and a second mounting bracket submember ( 314 B) attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ) in such a manner as to define a passage between the first mounting bracket submember ( 314 A) and the second mounting bracket submember ( 314 B) in which the cross member beam ( 200 ) is at least partially positioned.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein actuation of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is assisted by a counterweight ( 106 ) that is attached at or near the first end ( 104 A) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) to counter-balance and minimize the load and required capacity of the electric actuator ( 302 ).

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises an electronic controller ( 118 ) configured to issue and receive command signals to actuate the lance device ( 190 ).

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller ( 118 ) is programmed with a cooling fluid injection sequence which, when executed, orients the rigid lance ( 102 ) relative to an opening of the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) and inserts at least the injection nozzle ( 112 ) of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ).

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the rigid lance ( 102 ) further comprises one or more sensors to send signals to the electronic controller ( 118 ) when the rigid lance ( 102 ) encounters an obstacle.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lance device ( 190 ) is moveably mounted on the cross member beam of the support structure and further comprises a means to allow for bi-directional lateral movement of the lance device ( 190 ) along the cross member beam.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid lance ( 102 ) is pivotally attached to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the lower guide arm ( 108 ) with lance pivoting brackets ( 310 ).

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) ranges from 30 to 55 degrees from the horizontal axis.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a cross member beam ( 200 ) and two legs ( 201 ).

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid is a cryogenic fluid.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is selected from argon and nitrogen.

18. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected directly to the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the means for acting on the articulated arm comprises an electric actuator ( 302 ) having a shaft that is capable of extending and retracting wherein one end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ) between the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the point ( 300 A) where the vertical support member ( 110 ) is pivotally connected to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the other end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) at a point ( 300 A) between where the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is connected to the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the first end ( 104 A) of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ), such that when the shaft of the actuator ( 302 ) is extended or retracted, actuation of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) causes the pivotal movements of the components of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) for injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ).

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the lance device ( 190 ) further comprises a mounting bracket ( 314 ) for attaching the lance device ( 190 ) to the cross member beam ( 200 ) of the support structure ( 116 ), the mounting bracket ( 314 ) formed by joining the external surface of the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) to a mounting bracket member ( 314 C) to form a passage between the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the mounting bracket member ( 314 C) in which the cross member beam ( 200 ) is at least partially positioned.

20. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected at one or more points along a mounting bracket ( 314 ) that is rigidly attached at one or more different points to the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the means for acting on the articulated arm comprises an electric actuator ( 302 ) having a shaft that is capable of extending and retracting wherein one end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ) between the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the point ( 300 A) where the vertical support member ( 110 ) is pivotally connected to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the other end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) at a point ( 300 A) between where the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is connected to the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is attached to the rigid lance ( 102 ), such that when the shaft of the actuator ( 302 ) is extended or retracted, actuation of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) causes the pivotal movements of the components of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) for injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ).

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the lance device ( 110 ) further comprises a breakaway bracket ( 304 ) that is positioned between the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the end of the actuator ( 302 ) attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ).

22. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first end ( 108 A) of the lower guide arm ( 108 ) is pivotally connected at one or more points along a breakaway bracket ( 304 ) that is further pivotally connected at one or more different points along a mounting bracket ( 314 ) that is positioned between the breakaway bracket ( 304 ) and the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the means for acting on the articulated arm comprises an electric actuator ( 302 ) having a shaft that is capable of extending and retracting wherein one end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the vertical support member ( 110 ) between the lower end ( 110 B) of the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the point ( 300 A) where the vertical support member ( 110 ) is pivotally connected to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) and the other end of the actuator ( 302 ) is attached to the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) at a point ( 300 A) between where the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is connected to the vertical support member ( 110 ) and the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) is attached to the rigid lance ( 102 ), such that when the shaft of the actuator ( 302 ) is extended or retracted, actuation of the upper lifting arm ( 104 ) causes the pivotal movements of the components of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby controlling the angle of the rigid lance ( 102 ) while at the same time controlling the insertion and retraction movement of the rigid lance ( 102 ) into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ) for injection of the cooling fluid into the concrete mixing container ( 502 ).