| CPC B28C 5/4272 (2013.01) [B28C 5/422 (2013.01); B28C 5/4213 (2013.01); B28C 5/4268 (2013.01); B60P 3/16 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. A concrete mixer vehicle comprising:
a mixer drum comprising an inner volume configured to hold a mixture for transportation and placement;
an additive admixture system comprising:
an air inlet valve;
a fluid valve;
an air valve;
a pump;
a first inlet line fluidly coupled with the fluid valve and a tank configured to store the additive;
a second inlet line fluidly coupled with the air valve and a compressed air system configured to provide compressed air to the additive admixture system when the air valve is opened;
a check valve positioned downstream of the pump; and
a flow meter positioned downstream of the pump;
wherein an outlet of the fluid valve is fluidly coupled with an intermediate tubular member;
wherein an outlet of the air valve is fluidly coupled with the intermediate tubular member;
wherein the air inlet valve is fluidly coupled with the intermediate tubular member and atmospheric pressure; and
wherein an outlet of the intermediate tubular member is fluidly coupled with an inlet of the pump; and
a controller configured to operate the air inlet valve, the fluid valve, the air valve, and the pump of the additive admixture system to transition the additive admixture system between an additive addition mode, a drain mode, and a system clear mode, wherein the controller is configured to:
transition the additive admixture system into the additive addition mode and operate the pump until a desired amount of an additive is added to the mixer drum;
transition the additive admixture system into the drain mode for a predetermined amount of time in response to the desired amount of additive being added to the mixer drum; and
transition the additive admixture system into the system clear mode for a predetermined amount of time to clear stagnant fluid or built up mixture from the additive admixture system.
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