Grout delivery system

Claim 1

A system for delivering grout to a grout application work area, comprising: a grout storage hopper, grout pumping means disposed below said hopper, said pumping means comprising a variable speed electric motor, a passage means for conveying grout from said hopper to the pumping means, a flexible hose having one end thereof connected to the pumping means, whereby grout flows through said hose when the pumping means is operating, a hand-held nozzle structure connected to the other end of said flexible hose for applying the flowing grout to the work area, said nozzle structure comprising a tubular flow duct, a first handle element projecting from said flow duct in a first direction, and a second handle element projecting from said flow duct in a second direction opposite to said first direction, whereby a person can grasp both handle elements for manipulating the nozzle structure, and means for varying the speed of said pump motor to vary the grout flow rate through said nozzle structure, said motor speed-varying means comprising a potentiometric resistance in the first handle element, a pushbutton actuator slidably mounted in said first handle element, and an electrical slider carried by said pushbutton for traversing said potentiometric resistance in response to slidable movement of the pushbutton actuator, whereby a person holding the nozzle structure can vary the motor speed while observing the grout flow out of the nozzle structure.

Claim 2

A system for delivering grout to a grout application work area, comprising: a grout storage hopper, grout pumping means disposed below said hopper, said pumping means comprising a variable speed electric motor, a passage means for conveying grout from said hopper to the pumping means, a flexible hose having one end thereof connected to the pumping means, whereby grout flows through said hose when the pumping means is operating, a hand-held nozzle structure connected to the other end of said flexible hose for applying the flowing grout to the work area, said nozzle structure comprising a tubular flow duct, a first handle element projecting from said flow duct in a first direction, and a second handle element projecting from said flow duct in a second direction opposite to said first direction, whereby a person can grasp both handle elements for manipulating the nozzle structure, and means for varying the speed of said pump motor to vary the grout flow rate through said nozzle structure, said motor speed-varying means comprising a potentiometric resistance in the first handle element, a pushbutton actuator slidably mounted in said first handle element, and an electrical slider carried by said pushbutton for traversing said potentiometric resistance in response to slidable movement of the pushbutton actuator, whereby a person holding the nozzle structure can vary the motor speed while observing the grout flow out of the nozzle structure.

Claim 3

A system for delivering grout to a grout application work area, comprising: a grout storage hopper, grout pumping means disposed below said hopper, said pumping means comprising a variable speed electric motor, a passage means for conveying grout from said hopper to the pumping means, a flexible hose having one end thereof connected to the pumping means, whereby grout flows through said hose when the pumping means is operating, a hand-held nozzle structure connected to the other end of said flexible hose for applying the flowing grout to the work area, means for varying the speed of said pump motor to vary the grout flow rate through said nozzle structure, said motor speed-varying means comprising a pushbutton actuator mounted on the nozzle structure, whereby a person holding the nozzle structure can vary the motor speed while observing the grout flow out of the nozzle structure. grout-agitator means in said hopper, a second electric motor operatively connected to rotate said agitator means within the hopper, and a two-speed control means for said second motor, whereby said second motor may be operated at a relatively high speed for mixing the grout ingredients to form the grout, and said second motor can be operated at a relatively low speed for agitating the grout to prevent a water-cement separation condition.

Claim 4

A system for delivering grout to a grout application work area, comprising: a grout storage hopper, grout pumping means disposed below said hopper, said pumping means comprising a variable speed electric motor, a passage means for conveying grout from said hopper to the pumping means, a flexible hose having one end thereof connected to the pumping means, whereby grout flows through said hose when the pumping means is operating, a hand-held nozzle structure connected to the other end of said flexible hose for applying the flowing grout to the work area, means for varying the speed of said pump motor to vary the grout flow rate through said nozzle structure, said motor speed-varying means comprising a pushbutton actuator mounted on the nozzle structure, whereby a person holding the nozzle structure can vary the motor speed while observing the grout flow out of the nozzle structure. grout-agitator means in said hopper, a second electric motor operatively connected to rotate said agitator means within the hopper, and a two-speed control means for said second motor, whereby said second motor may be operated at a relatively high speed for mixing the grout ingredients to form the grout, and said second motor can be operated at a relatively low speed for agitating the grout to prevent a water-cement separation condition.