Mixer Trucks
Concrete mixer trucks are in-transit mixers. They are designed to transport and mix concrete and have the ability to do it two ways:
- Dry materials and water can be loaded into the concrete drum and can be mixed during transportation to the construction site.
- Ready mixed concrete can be loaded into the drum and consistently turned to maintain its fluidity during transportation to the construction site.
The interior of the drum on a 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 site. This is known as "charging" the mixer. When the drum rotates in the other direction, the blade then forces the concrete out of the drum.
When buying a second hand mixer you need to make sure that it is in good condition. Make sure there are no pockmarks and that there is definitely no concrete inside it. Check the vanes inside are clean and workable.
Looking after your mixer.
- Never throw material into the mixer - trickle it steadily over the rim or it will stick firmly to the back of the drum and can only be removed by stopping the mixer.
- Keep your mixer clean - material left in the drum will harden, and attract more on each use until the mixer is useless.
- Do not throw bricks into a mixer drum to clean it out. - The best method is a mix of gravel and clean water - use plenty of it, as this will do the job in half the time.
More information on mixer trucks or manufacturers.
Transporting concrete to complex locations.
If the truck cannot get close enough to the site for dispensing, the concrete can be unloaded into a concrete pump to move the material to precise locations.
The main type of concrete pump is either mounted on a truck and known as a truck-mounted concrete pump or placed on a trailer and it is commonly referred to as a line pump or trailer-mounted concrete pump. This pump requires flexible concrete placing hoses to be attached to the machine. The hoses are linked together and lead to wherever the concrete needs to be placed
Below is a featured example of a concrete mixer truck.
Hino 3213 Mixer Truck
Stetter mixer bottle, vertical exhaust and reverse camera.