CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [001] The present application claims the benefit of priority to US

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62507824, filed 18-MAY-2017, entitled "REMOTE CONTROLLED CONCRETE DISPENSATION." The aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] The present invention generally relates to building/constructbn appliances.

BACKGROUND ART [003] Suspended concrete buckets of the present art are used as conveyors of freshly prepared liquid concrete to be moved from usually a place of preparation to a place of consumption, usually in a multi storied building construction sites. Movement is achieved by the swaying of a crane arm and or rolling the hook that holds the bucket along the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[004] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[005] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a prior art concrete bucket.

[006] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the main structural components of a system in which the invention is implemented.

[007] Figure 3A illustrates a trap door for release of concrete in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention.

[008] Figure 3B illustrates a trap door for release of concrete in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention, in an open state.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[009] A suspended concrete bucket (SCB) of the prior art, for which Fig.

1 provides an example of, typically includes a funnel shaped container 20 with an open top 22 through which freshly prepared concrete can be poured, and further contained. At the bottom, a trapdoor (TD) 24 is located that can let the content of the SCB pour gravitationally at will of the operator, either without control or with some degree of control imposed. Handle 26 engageable by a human operator manually can pull open TD 24 by transferring force through shaft 32 to TD 24. When closure is required the operator either pushes lever 26 back or if present, spring 34 forces TD 24 back into a cbsed position.

Usually dispensing is controlled by either limiting the opening size of the trapdoor anywhere between zero and full opening or limiting the time in which the TD is opened, typically in a repetitive fashion. Concrete is poured typically via flexible sleeve 40 In accordance with the present invention, a sliding trapdoor located at the bottom of a suspended concrete bucket (SCB) is actuatable by a mechanized system that obviates the need for a human hand activating the TD (opening or closing). One exemplary architectural layout scheme of the present invention is described schematically in Fig, 2 signal receiver 62 is equipped to receive wireless signals from the operator actuated transmitter, the signals are typically of electromagnetic wave emitting nature (such as IR (infra red) or RF) these signals are intercepted by signal receiver 62 which interprets them using auxiliary circuitry generating electric current signals that act upon controller 64 to drive a trapdoor actuator 66 to eventually actuates TD 68.

Trapdoor actuator (TDA)

As can be seen in Figs 3A- B TD 68 is moveable linearly back and forth along a direction line indicated by double headed arrow 70. In accordance with the present invention, actuator is used to slide - move the TD instead of the human operator as in the prior art. As can be seen in Fig. 3B, when TD 68 is slid aside, opening 72 below is exposed freeing the way for the fresh concrete to flow down. In Fig. 3B exposed flange 74 is component used for retaining sleeve 40.

The TDA is either a Linear or a rotating mechanism actuator. In such a case as the TDA a rotating actuator, it is typically an electrical motor (AC or DC), hydraulic or pneumatic motor. The rotation in such a case is to be transformed into a linear translocation of the TD. This can be achieved by a gear or by a bolt and nut mechanism in which the nut provides for linear movement (translocation) upon the rotation of the bolt. Chain such as bicycle chain can be used to transform rotational movement or torque into linear movement, if the TD is secured to the chain.

A linear actuator is typically a piston type mechanism dependent on gas or liquid pressure, however there are electric appliances that can provide for linear translocation.

The actuator may be a one direction active pusher or puller, such that the movement in the other direction is passive such as by the action of a compressed spring or piston.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention The bottom portion of container 14 is attached to dispenser mechanism 16 for example by screws, not shown, however it will be understood that any conventional means of detachable joining may be employed for attaching the bottom portion of container 14 to dispenser mechanism 16. Support member 22 may be used for affixing dispenser 10 for example to a wall, not shown.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow.