20 Common Volumetric Concrete Mixer Terms

Brush up on your knowledge of a mobile concrete mixer by reading through these 20 common terms and definitions.

1. Admix Flow Valve

The admix control valves are manually operated and located close to the admix flowmeters in the control panel. They provide a means for controlling the flow rate of admixture into the concrete measured in your choice of measurement units.

2. Belt Wiper

A solid rubber strip mounted between two steel plates that ride on the bottom side of the conveyor belt, slightly in front of the point where materials fall into the mixer. Its function is to scrape material from the conveyor belt into the mixer and not allow residue to be dragged under the unit.

3. Cement Bin

Weather tight hopper that holds dry cement powder. Equipped with a rectangular loading hatch and a bag breaking grate. An optional pneumatic fill system is available.

4. Cement Transfer Auger

This auger transfers the cement from the metering auger inside the cement bin to the hopper/mixer.

5. Conveyor Belt Assembly

The conveyor belt assembly consists of two parallel roller chains with one-inch angle iron cross bars welded between their side plates. A two-ply rubber covering bolts to these crossbars to complete the assembly. The conveyor belt delivers the aggregates to the hopper/mixer.

6. Count

The number shown on the digital register when the system with a recording system is being operated. This number is used during the calibration of the unit and the production of concrete to show the number of materials and the amount of concrete produced.

7. Flighting

The flighting is the steel spiral welded to the center tube of an auger. On the mix auger, the wear blades are bolted to the flighting.

8. Ticket Printer

A counter linked to the conveyor and/or cement feeder to record revolutions (counts) of the systems. Ticket printers are equipped with a digital printer which will print off the yardage produced, date, and the amounts of cement, sand, and stone used. Some ticket printers will also print off the amounts of water and admixes used in concrete production.

9. Mix Auger

An “interrupted” auger consisting of flighting and small paddles. A hydraulic motor drives the mix auger and provides the mixing action of the concrete. It’s equipped with long life Ni-Hard wear blades for increased durability.

10. Mixer Assembly

The mixer assembly includes the frame, boot, top cover, mix auger, idler bearing, carrier bearing, and drive motor.

11. Mixer Bearing Assembly

All mix augers have an external or internal bearing to support the receiving (idler) end of the mix auger within the mixer trough.

12. Sand Bin

The left-hand compartment of the aggregate bin. It holds approximately 45 percent of the total volume of the aggregate bin.

13. Skirting

Adjustable Tuff Tech strips mounted inside the sand and stone bins and on the center bin divider. It prevents sand and stone from leaking from the bins or from moving from one bin to the other.

14. Stone Bin

The right-hand compartment of the aggregate bin. It holds approximately 55 percent of the total volume of the aggregate bin.

15. Vibrator Timing Cube

PLC controller which regulates the duration of the on/off cycle of the vibrator system.

16. Vibrator

Air-operated or electric-powered vibrators are used primarily in the cement and sand bins, and as optional equipment on the stone bins, to help with consistent material flow.

17. Water Flowmeter

The water flowmeter, located in the control panel, indicates the amount of water flowing through the mix water system in either gallons or liters per minute.

18. Water Pump

Hydraulically controlled pump to provide water flow for mixing of concrete and washout.

19. Water Pump Flow Control

A hydraulic control valve which regulates the water pressure in the water system. It’s recommended to run the pressure at 40 psi to 50 psi for concrete production. The water pressure, contained in the control panel, can be raised to 100 psi for washout.