Front discharge transit mixer

Abstract

The present invention is a front discharge transit mixer apparatus. In one form of the present invention the operator has an environment surrounde by a large viewing area so as to increase his ability to control the vehicle. Further, creature comforts include increased head room in the cab, air conditing, heat, and storage compartments. A total weight system is provided for assisting in maintaining the proper weight distribution of the apparatus for passage over roads and bridges.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward said front end portion; an    operator cab positioned at said front end portion for an operator to ride in; and    a contaminant control system coupled to said cab for delivering a fluid to a portion of the exterior of said cab so as to reduce contaminants getting on said portion of the exterior of said cab.    
     
     
         2 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a plurality of wheels coupled to and supporting said chassis above a surface contacted by said plurality of wheels;    a concrete mixing drum rotatably coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward said front end portion and having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum;    a cab positioned at said front end portion of the chassis for an operator to ride in; and    a removable power pack mounting frame coupleable to said back end portion of the chassis, said power pack mounting frame having a power pack preassembled thereto including an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a radiator.    
     
     
         3 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward the front end portion of said chassis;    a cab positioned at said front end portion of the chassis for an operator to ride in; and    a moveable steering column located within said cab, said steering column having a dash module fixedly coupled thereto and said dash module moving with said steering column.    
     
     
         4 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 an elongated vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of steerable wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum having a first end and a second end, said first end positioned above said front end portion and said second end positioned above said back end portion, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward said front end portion and having an opening at said first end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum; and    a moveable mount for coupling said second end of the mixing drum to said chassis, said moveable mount being moveable along said chassis so as to allow said second end of the drum to be positioned at different locations along said chassis.    
     
     
         5 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above the chassis front end portion and a back end positioned above said chassis back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward the front end portion of said chassis;    an operator cab positioned at said front end portion, said operator cab having an operator space within said cab that is less than about six inches from one end of the transit mixer apparatus.    
     
     
         6 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above said front end portion and a back end positioned above said back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which materials be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward the front end portion of said chassis; and    a charge hopper having a portion extending through said opening and into said mixing drum, said charge hopper being moveable vertically between a first position for charging said mixing drum and a second position for discharging material from said drum.    
     
     
         7 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above the chassis front end portion and a back end positioned above said chassis back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward the front end portion of said chassis;    an internal combustion engine mounted on said back end portion for providing power to propel the mixer apparatus;    a pivotable hood for covering said internal combustion engine; and    power actuation means coupled to said hood for selectively raising and lowering said hood.    
     
     
         8 . A transit mixer apparatus for transporting and mixing concrete, comprising: 
 a vehicle chassis having a front end portion and a back end portion;    a first pair of wheels coupled to said front end portion for supporting said chassis;    a second pair of wheels coupled to said back end portion for supporting said chassis;    a rotatable concrete mixing drum coupled to said chassis, said concrete mixing drum having a front end positioned above the chassis front end portion and a back end positioned above said chassis back end portion, said mixing drum having an opening at said front end through which concrete may be loaded into or discharged from said drum, said mixing drum inclined upwardly toward the front end portion of said chassis;    an operator cab positioned at said front end portion of the chassis, said cab have a plurality of windows and an interior volume for an operator to ride in, a ratio of (the area of said plurality of windows)/(said interior volume) is greater than 0.33/length.