A concrete truck is a truck that has a concrete mixing unit mounted on it to combine the ingredients of concrete to make concrete. Concrete is a vital material used in construction works. The striking advantage of the concrete truck is that it mixes the ingredients of concrete uniformly as the driver drives the truck to the construction site. The concrete trucks come with many advantages that make them suitable for major construction works. Mixing of the ingredients of concrete while on transit saves a lot of time for construction workers.
Main Types of Concrete Trucks
Concrete trucks come in different categories that make them suitable for different applications. These are:
1. The Volumetric Concrete Truck
The volumetric truck comes with many advantages that are not present in the traditional concrete mixing systems ( sistemas de mezcla de concreto ). In these trucks, the ingredients of concrete are put in separate chambers in the mixer cylinder. The truck has an inbuilt mixing mechanism that combines all the raw materials of concrete when concrete is needed. In these trucks, the operators specify the amount of concrete that is required, and the mixer combines the ingredients accordingly to discharge the exact specified amount.
2. The Rough Terrain Concrete Trucks
As the name suggests, these trucks ( camion de hormigon precio ) are designed with powerful engines that make them traverse almost all terrains. The trucks can discharge large volumes of concrete to construction sites that are located in very inaccessible areas that cannot be reached by ordinary trucks. On top of that, the trucks are designed with portable drums that allow them to discharge cement from either of their sides. The trucks are suitable for dispatching cement to remote and urban construction sites.
3. Standard Transit Concrete Trucks
These are the most common concrete trucks that are readily available in the market. The trucks have large mixer tanks that make them suitable for discharging large amounts of cement to construction sites.
Essential Components of Concrete Trucks
1. Hydraulic system- The hydraulic system provides the mechanical energy that is required to maintain the mixer drum in a rotating motion.
2. Control Devices- These devices are essential at regulating the speed and direction of rotation of the mixer drum.
3. Mixer Drum- The mixer drum is the chamber that allows the combination of the raw materials that are required to make concrete.
4. Cleaning Devices- These devices are used to remove dirt and other unwanted particles from the mixing cylinder. The cleaning devices are also responsible for cooling down the hydraulic systems.
Principle of Operation of Concrete Trucks
Aggregates, sand, water, cement and other ingredients of concrete are loaded into the concrete trucks. The interiors of the drums are fitted with a large spiral blade that allows the concrete components to combine homogenously. As the truck moves to the construction site, the turning of the drum maintains the concrete in a liquid state through agitation. The rotational movements of the drum continue until the truck reaches the construction site from where the concrete is discharged from the truck. At the construction site, the liquid concrete can be discharged using concrete pumps or conveyor belts to the points of use.
Features and Benefits of Concrete Trucks
1. The trucks reduce the amount of time required to make concrete manually.
2. The contents mix homogenously improving the final quality of the concrete.
3. Concrete trucks can discharge large amounts of concrete within a short period.
4. Concrete trucks reduce congestion of workers at the construction sites.
5. Concrete trucks provide steady work which helps in reducing production and construction costs.
Applications of Concrete Trucks
Concrete trucks are used in the following areas :
1. Airports and airstrips
2. Road construction works
3. Bridges construction works
4. Buildings and House constructions
5. Stadiums and tennis courts
Precautions When Working With Concrete Trucks
1. Only trained and qualified drivers should drive concrete trucks.
3. The mixing chamber should be frequently maintained to avoid mechanical and electrical problems.
3. The mixing cylinders should be cleaned thoroughly after every concrete discharge.
4. All the moving parts of the truck should be lubricated to minimize wear and tear.
5. Unstable grounds should be avoided to reduce toppling accidents.
Choosing the Right Truck for the Job
To choose the right concrete truck, consider the following factors:
– The cost of the truck
– The engine power
– The working efficiency
– The capacity of the mixing cylinder
Main Manufacturers of Concrete Trucks
1. McNeilus Concrete Mixers
2. ARMEC SRL Concrete Truck Mixers
3. HYMIX Concrete Manufacturer
4. Continental Mixer LLC
5. Liebherr Truck Mixers
Differences Between the Products
The differences are brought about by mixer drums capacities, truck engine power, the flexibility of the mixing cylinders, the costs of the concrete mixing trucks, and the working efficiencies of the mixing units.
In a nutshell, understanding the various types of concrete trucks, their characteristics, and how they work is essential to help you make the right choice when deciding which truck to purchase for your construction needs. Selecting the right truck for your work is vital for the success of the construction activities.