CA2184119A1 - Machine and method for making pipe made of discarded vehicle tires - Google Patents
Machine and method for making pipe made of discarded vehicle tiresInfo
- Publication number
- CA2184119A1 CA2184119A1 CA002184119A CA2184119A CA2184119A1 CA 2184119 A1 CA2184119 A1 CA 2184119A1 CA 002184119 A CA002184119 A CA 002184119A CA 2184119 A CA2184119 A CA 2184119A CA 2184119 A1 CA2184119 A1 CA 2184119A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle tires
- tires
- batch
- tubular casing
- compactor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/28—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for forming shaped articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
- B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
- B23P19/02—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes for connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L9/00—Rigid pipes
- F16L9/22—Pipes composed of a plurality of segments
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for making pipes made of a plurality of axially juxtaposed discarded vehicle tires wherein several batches of vehicle tires are sequentially compressed against one-another for forming long pipes of discarded tires. In one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a telescopic mandrel having a first and second spaced apart compactor plates mounted thereon for compacting a batch of vehicle tires therebetween. A plurality of grabbing jaws mounted on the telescopic mandrel at an intermediate position between the compactor plates grabs and retains the batch of tires in a compressed mode against the second compactor plate, while the telescopic mandrel is extended for loading a second or subsequent batch of vehicle tires thereon. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided several spacer strips on the telescopic mandrel for holding vehicle tires of thesame rim size in alignment with the telescopic mandrel. There is further provided a plurality of spearheaded plungers mounted on the second compactor plate for puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in a batch of compressed tires and for pulling tie rods or strapping bands back through these holes. The apparatus of the present invention also comprises a band saw mounted thereon for slabbing pipes made of vehicle tires or for making square logs of discarded vehicle tires.
Description
2:184119 TITLE: MACHINE AN]D METHOD FOR MAKING PIPE
MADE OF DISCARDED VEHICLE TIRES
FIELD OF THE INVENTIO'.N
This invention relates to machines for Cu~ s~il,g discarded vehicle tires, and more particularly it relates to a machine for compressing a large quantity of discarded vehicle tires in a multiplicity of successive Gu.l~ S~llg cycles.
The disposal of discarded tires is a concern for many mlmirill~lities Piles of used tires can someti nes reach enormous proportions, and the danger of ~ri~lPnt:llly igniting lhese piles is a continuous threat to nearby residents.
Therefore, it is a modern trend that civil service employees, architects and engineers are mûre and more agreeable to consider the use of alternative construction products made of discarded vehicle tires.
Rubber material is inherently resistant to a diversity of weather conditions.
It does not corrode when immersed m sea water or degrade when bunied in 15 the ground for many years. Therefore several new products made of discarded tires are potentially more resistant to corrosion and fretting than some conventional products such as concrete and steel for example.
In recent years a variety of new products have been developed by hllluv~.tvl~ to utilize discardecl vehicle tires as a primary material of fabrication. Products made of baled vehicle tires or portions of baled tires are numerous and include:~ an impact absorbing device as illustrated and described m U.S. Patent 3,951,384, issued on April 20, 1976 to Robert E. Hildreth, Jr.;
artificial reefs and fish habitats as described in U.S. Patent 4,095,560 issued on June 20, 1978 to Albert F. Laurie et al.;
beach stabilizers as described ir.l U.S. Patent 5,178,489 issued on January lo 12, 1993 to Joseph Suhayba;
and a culvelt pipe as described irl U.S. Patent 5,236,756, issued on August 17, 1993 to Danny B. Halliburton.
In the past, various machines have been developed to compress discarded vehicle tires into the above useful products or simply for making 15 bundles of tires easily manipulated and disposed of. A first example of a tire ~,ullllul~sillg machine is described in U.S. Patent 4,006,678 issued on February 8, 1977 to Mr. Albert F. Laurie et al. The machine illustrated therein is capable of C,u~ ssil.g batches of ~llululu~hllai~ly ten passenger car tires. The machine has a press platen for pressing the tires into the 20 form of a bale, and a knife platen for cuKing radial slits at several places around the periphery of the bale. This machine is used to IllA.I~IrA~
artificial fish habitats as described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent 4,095,560.
Another type of tire ~,UI~ illg machine has a telescoping mandrel 25 and is illustrated in at least three U.S. patents issued to the same inventor;
Mr. Henry T. Nordberg. The inventive features of these machmes are described respectively in U.S. Patent 5,121,680 issued on June 16, 1992, in U.S. Patent 5,152,214, issue[l on October 6, 1992, and in U.S. Patent 5,347,919, issued on September 20, 1994.
o 2184119 U.S. Patent 5,121,680 describes a telescoping mandrel having a fixed and a movable compacl:or plate for co~ s~h.g a row of tires ille~ ,... The movable plate is actuated by an hydraulic cylinder.
U.S. Patent 5,152,214 describes a machine wherein the row of tires is S ~,u~,u~ ed between two compactor plates actuated toward and away from one-anotherbyadual-chamberllydrauliccylinder. U.S.Patent5,347,919 is about a telescoping mandrel having a fixed compactor plate and a movable compactor plate, wherein the movable compactor plate is easily detachable from the moving end of the mandrel. The latter patent goes 10 along to describe wire guides disposed on the movable probe for receiving binding wires there along, so tbat a wire can be wrapped about the ~,u---,ul~ed row of tires. The machines described in the above three patents can form bumdles of a~lJIu~h~ ly 20-30 tires.
As a further example of a tire cu...,u.~i..g machine, U.S. Patent 5,427,022 issued on June 27, 1995 to Donald M. Gardner describes an apparatus having a support frame for supporting a radially exterior bottom portion of a plurality of tires in a generally axially aligned position with one-another. A telescoping hydraulic cylinder pushes a ram member into a guiding frame for l;U~ illg the plurality of tires supported within this 20 f~ame. This machine can compress about 22 to 50 tires into a single bale of tires. A pair of baling wire are slipped over the bale of tires to hold them in the co...,u~ ed state.
The above prior art machines operate in a single stroke mode, wherein a simgle batch of discarded tires is placed about a telescoping 25 mandrel or inside a supporting frame and is compressed axially. The compact bumdle is then tied and removed from the mandrel or from a supporting cradle.
~ 2~L~41191 A tire from a passenger car is known to be compressible by a factor of about 7 to 1, that is from a width of about 7 or 8 inches to a thickness of about 1 or 1-1/2 inch. Hence the simgle stroke machines of the prior art are 5 limited in the number of tires which may be compressed thereon by a practical length of the telescoping mandrel. A single stroke telescoping mandrel for forming a long pipe of 100 or more discarded vehicle tires for example, would have a extended length of in excess of 60 feet. Designing and mAnllfAA.hlring a machine of such proportion is relatively difficult and 10 expensive, and a ~ iion thereof between piles of discarded vehicle tires is impractical.
Therefore the products l"A.,.,rA~ d by c~ h.g discarded vehicle tires was tr:~litionAlly limited to products havmg a length of no more than about 2 to 4 feet.
15 SUM~IARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a relatively compact apparatus for compressing vehicle tires, wherein several batches of vehicle tires are scqu~n~iAlly compressed against one-another for forming long pipes of discarded vehicle tires.
In one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided essentially a support structure supporting a telescopic mandrel, a grabber module and an hydraulic power supply unit hydraulically connected to the telescopic mandrel and to the grabber module for supplying hydraulic power theIeto.
~ 2184119 The telescopic mandrel comprises an elongated tubular casing having a base portion rigidly supported on the support structure and a jut portion projecting beyond the base portion in an overhung mode. The tubular casmg fulther comprises a closed end adjacent the base portion and 5 an opened end adjacent the jut portion.
The apparatus of the present invention further has an elongated cylindrical tubing having an enclosed end and a free end, and is telescopically mounted inside the tubular casing such that the free end extends through the opened end of the tubular casing. A first hydraulic o actuator is mounted inside the tubular casing and is connected to the closed end of the tubular ca~ing and to the free end of the cylindrical tubing for effecting am extension and a retraction of the cylindrical tubing relative to the tubular casing. A distance of extension and retraction of the free end of the cylindrical tubing is thereby a stroke length of the first hydraulic 15 actuator measured from the opened end of the tubular casing.
The apparatus of tbe present invention also comprises a first compactor plate detachably mounted on the free end of the cylimdrical tubing for allowing placement of'a batch of vehicle tires thereon. The first compactor plate is mounted in a perpendicular nrirn~tion with the 20 cylmdrical tubing for applying a CUI~ V~ force on the batch of vehicle tires mounted on the telescopic mandrel in a direction of retraction of the cylindrical tubing.
There is also provided a second compactor plate mounted on the tubular casing in a perpendicular nri(~-~totinn therewith, and about the jut 25 portion thereof, for applying a culll,ult:~iv~ force on the batch of vehicle tires in a direction toward the f~rst compactor plate.
o The grabber module of tbe apparatus of the present mvention has a frame member moumted on the support structure for supporting an effective portion thereof in a fixed Ir ngihl~1inAl relationship with the tubular casing, and near the opened end of this tubular casing. The effective portion of the 5 grabber module comprises a plurality of grabbing jaws disposed in a radial array about the tubular casing, ~md a second hydraulic actuator means for actuating each of the grabbing jaws toward and away from the tubular casing.
A first advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that 10 when a first batch of vehicle tires is loaded on the cylindrical tubing amd is compressed between the first and second compactor plates, the grabbing jaws are actuated toward the tubular casing for grabbing and retaining the batch of vehicle tires in a ~ ;ssed mode against the second compactor plate.
The cylindrical tubmg may thereby be extended for loading a second or subsequent batch of tires thereon. This Gu~ ssillg, grabbing and loading cycle is repeated umtil a proper quantity of tires required to make a long pipe of vehicle tires is compressed between the compactor plates.
In acGolda.lce to another aspect of the apparatus of the present 20 inventmn, the jut portion of the telescopic mamdrel has on an outside surface thereof a plurality of spaced apart spacer strips aligned along the long~ in ~1 axis of the mandrel, for supporting the batch of vehicle tires in an axial alignment with the jut portion. Each spacer strip has a transition member near the opened end of the tubular casing. Each transition member 25 is a wedge-like member sloping outwardly from a surface of the cylindrical tubing toward an outside surface of a respective spacer strip. Therefore, ~ ~'18~119 when a pipe is formed on these spacer strips, using vehicle tires each ha~ing a same nominal rim size, the mside diameter of that pipe is relatively smooth.
In accordance to another aspect of the apparatus of the present S invention, there is provided a third hydraulic actuator means comnected to the base portion of tbe tubular casmg and to the second compactor plate for moving the second compactor plate along the jut portion.
The third hydraulic actuator means provides an additional Gulll,ul~s~ stage at the end of a pipe forming cycle described above, by 0 pushing the second compactor p]iate toward the first compactor plate. This final cu~ ul~ illg stage is effected while all vehicle tires are properly positioned and centered about the jut portion. The long pipe of vehicle tires thus formed remains straight and uniform in diameter when tied in this condition.
In acco-d~.ce to another aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, the second compactor plate has a plurality of spearheaded plumgers mounted thereon. The plungers are operable hydraulically toward the first compactor plate for puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in a batch of vehicle tires, while this batch of tires is held m a 20 cu...lu~ ed mode between the first and second compactor plates.
Each ~pei~rhP~IPd plunger has a threaded rod end for removably receiving either a spear point for ,uu---,Lu-i--g a hole through the sidewalls of tires, or a clevis colmection f,or pulling a tie rod through a hole formed through the sidewalls. The pipe of vehicle tires tied in this manner is held 25 in a cu..,u-~ss~d and a relatively rigid condition by a plurality of tie rods and holding plates.
~184119 In accordance with a further aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a band saw movably mounted on two rail members aligned with the tubular casing. The band saw is operable to cut a lnngin~ DI cross-sectionally arcuated segment from an outside surface 5 of the pipe of vehicle tires, thereby forming a flat surface along that pipe.
The pipe can thereby be installed in the ground, as a culvert pipe for example, at shallow depth.
In aGGoldallce to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for " ,... . r,1. 1,, . ' "~ pipes made of discarded vehicle 10 tires. Such ",- ,.,r~. It is effected on an apparatus cnmpri~ing a telescopicmamdrel, a first compactor plate removably mounted on the free end of an extensible portion of that mandrel, a second compactor plate mounted on an ",~ e.' position along a fixed portion of that telescopic mandrel, and a compression retention meams rigidly mounted between the first and second compactor plates. The rnethod of the present invention comprises the steps of:
a) removing the first compactor plate from the free end of the extensible portion of the telescopic mandrel;
b) placing a first batch of discarded vehicle tires on the extensible portion of the telescopic mandrel, c) installing the first compactor plate on the free end of the extensible end of the telescopic mandrel;
d) moving the extensible portion and the f~st compactor plate toward the second compactor plate thereby Gu~ ssillg the 2s first batch of discarded vehicle tires against the second compactor plate;
e) retainmg with the compression retention means the first batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against the second compactor plate;
218~119 .
f) extending the extensible portion of the telescopic mamdrel and loading a second or subsequent batch of vehicle tires on this extensible portion;
g) cu.~ aillg the second or ~ ,se~ batch of discarded vehicle tires against the first batch, thereby forming a pipe of discarded vehicle tires;
h) tying that pipe of vehicle tires for retaining a compressed state of that pipe.
A major advamtage of this method of making pipes of vehicle tires is that long pipes may be m~mlfzlrtnred on a telescopic mandrel which has a relatively short stroke length. The apparatus for making pipes is thereby relatively compact in size and easily transported on a highway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the invention will be further umderstood from the followimg (~ ripti~n with reference to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a p~la~c~,live front and right side view of the tire c~ saillg machine of the preferred embodiment;
- Figure 2 is a right side view of the tire cul~ aaillg machine of the preferred ellll~odilll~lll showing the l~lesco~ g mandrel and grabber assembly in a retracted position during llalla~olldlion of the machine;
~ 2184119 - Di'igure 3 is also a right side view of the tire Gu...~c~ g machine with the grabber assembly in a fully extended position during operation of the machine;
- Figure 4 is a partial cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the S tire compressing machine of the preferred embodiment;
- Figure S is an enlarged view of Detail 5 of Fig. 4;
- Figure 6 is a transversal cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the tire CO~ g machine of the preferred embodiment along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
10 - IFigure 7 is a transversal cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the tire Cu~ g machine of the preferred ~mholiimf~nt along Ime 7-7 of Fig. 4;
- Figure 8 illustrates a right side view of tbe telescopic mandrel of the tire co~ .g machine of the prefelred embodiment in an 1~ operating mode when discarded vehicle ~ires are being placed thereon;
- Figure 9 is also a right side view of the telescopic mandrel of the tire C~1111J11;5~:i11g machinc of the preferred t;...bo.li.l.~l.i when several batches of discarded vehicle tires have been ~ ,sscd into a single cluster of tires on the tubular casing thereof;
- Figure 10 is also a right side view of the telescopic mamdrel of the tire compressing machine of the preferred embodiment when the second compactor plate c~ es the cluster of discarded vehicle tires;
o 2184119 - Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the rod end of a spear-ended plunger, a spear point a clevis c~nn~ctif~n and a tie rod used in tying a bundle of discarded vehicle tires;
- Figure 12 is a first preferred rmholiimrnt of a pipe " ~ 1 r~ ed S from discarded vehicle tires, and tied with tie rods through the sidewalls of the tires;
- Figl re 13 is a second preferred ~ Lodilll~ of a pipe l l lA l l l l r~ d from discarded tires, and tied with strapping bands through the center of the pipe and aroumd the exterior surface of the pipe;
10 - Figurc 14 illustrates a band saw mounted on the tire c-J~Jl~s~il.g machine of the prefer;ed. embodiment, for squaring up pipes made of vehicle tires;
- Figure lS is a pipe made of vehicle tires having one flat surface along the length of thereof;
15 - Figure 16 is a pipe made of vehicle tires having four flat surfaces along the length thereof forming thereby a square log of tires.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION lDli TE~E PREFERlRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the tire .iUlllyl~s~illg machine 20 of the preferred, 1- " is molmted on a trailer 22, and is powered by an engine-driven hydraulic power supply unit 24. The tire ~ s~i-lg machine 20 is thereby movable behind a vehicle from a pile of discarded tires to another, and is readily operable as a stand alone unit.
Il o 218~119 The hydraulic hoses, valves and controls for operating this machine are not shown herein for being of the common type, and for being well known to persons skilled m the alt of hydraulic systems. Similarly, several m~ honic~l details have been omitted in the acc~ al.ying drawmgs.
5 These details are also evident to persons knowledgeable in the art, and were not drawn for providing a better clarity to the drawings.
The tire compressing machine 20 has a support structure 26 for supporting a fixed end of an overhung telescopic mandrel 28. The telescopic mandrel 28 has a tubular casing 30 affixed at a frst end to the 10 support structure 26, and a cylindrical tubing 32 sliding inside and protruding from, the opened enal of the tubular casing 30. The cylindrical tubing 32 has a frst compactor plate 34 removably mounted on its free end.
A second compactor plate 36 is moumted at an ;,u~",.~ position along the tubular casing 30.
The tire G(J~ g machine of the preferred embodiment further has a movable structure 40 on which is mounted a grabber assembly 42.
The movable structure 40 is illustrated in a retracted position in Figures 1 and 2, and in a fully extended position in Figure 3. The operation of the grabber module 42 will be explained later when making reference 20 particularly to Figures 8 and 9.
The movable structure 40 has a pair of legs 44 for supporting the grabber module 42 on the ground in a fully extended and operational mode.
Each leg 44 is vertically adjustable by means of a pin 46 in a member of the structure 40 mating in one of a series of holes 48 in that leg.
o The grabber assembly 42 preferably has rowr grabbing jaws 50 which are actuated in a radial direction relative to a cross-section of the telescopic mandrel 28 by fowr hydraulic cylinders 52. When the tire ~;u~ r~ lg machine 20 of the preferred embodiment is transported from S site to site, the grabbing jaws S0 are preferably held against the telescopic mandrel 28 for preventing excessive vibration and deflection of the telescopic mandrel 28 due to road illr~ irc The second compactor plate 36 is rnovable along the tubular casing 30 toward the first compactor plate 34 by means of two hydraulic cylinders 10 54 mounted on a base portion of the tubular casing 30. The second compactor plate 36 further carries three hydraulic spear-ended plungers S6 for plm~hlring the sidewalls of all tires in a cuA..~ ed bwmdle of vehicle tires.
The tubular casing 30 preferably has four spacer strips 60 attached 5 lnngitll~linAlly of the outside swr~ace of an overhwng or jut portion thereof.The spacer strips 60 are spaced apart arownd the ~ llrrl~llce of the jut portion at about 9û~ from one another. The pw pose of these spacer strips 60 is to support the tires on the tubular casing in a common alignment with one another amd with the l-~l.g;lll.l;..~l axis of tubular casmg 30.
A wedge-like transition member 62 is also mownted on the tubular casing 30 at the extremity of each spacer strip 60 nearest to the first compactor plate 34. Each transition member 62 is sloped outwardly from the surface of the cylindrical lubing 32 toward an outside swface of a respective spacer strip 60. The spacer strips 60 and the tramsition members 62 enswre that a tire being moved by the cylindrical tubing 32 and the first compactor plate 34 is slid over the transition member 62 and is positioned in sl-bstAntiol alignment with a longihl~linql axis of the hubular casing 30.
~ 21~4119 Therefore, the tires to be processed in a batch of vehicle tires are preferably preselected according to their nominal rim sizes such that the inside and outside surfaces of the cluster of tires are relatively smooth.
The spacer st ips 60 and ~ ransition members 62 are replaceable with S other spacer strips and transition members having different ~hickn~ to acc, r I ' different tire rim sizes. For this reason, the spacer strips 60 and transition members 62 are preferably held to the tubular casing by means of screws 64 accessible fiom am outside region of the tubular casing 30. The spacer strips 60, transition members 62 and holding screws 64 are better seen in Figure 4.
Referring now specifically to Figures 4 and 5, the telescopic mandrel 28 is operated by an hydraulic cylinder 70 mounted inside the tubular casing 30 and cylindrical tubing 32. The casing end of this hydraulic cylinder 70 is mounted on a clevis bracket 72 on the closed end of the tubular casing 30. The rod end 76 of the hydraulic cylinder 70 is mounted into a cap plate 72 inside the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, by means of a hole in this cap plate 72 and a nut 74 on the threaded end of the cylinder rod 76.
The casimg of the hydrauLic cylinder 70 is supported at an i~ region by a roller 80 and bracket mounted mside the enclosed end the cylindrical tubing 32, for preventing excessive deflection of this cylinder 70 when it is fully extended. The first compactor plate 34 is molmted over the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, and is held over the free end by means of screws 82 threaded through the cap plate 72. The first cu~ )a~lul plate 34 is removed from the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32 for mounting vehicle t res on the tubing, by removing all holding screws 82, amd by sliding the p:Late 34 offthe tubing 32.
o 218~119 The cylindlical tubing 32 is guided inside the tubular casing by am array of guide strips 84 mounted inside the tubular casing 30 and over the enclosed end of tbe cylindrical tubing 32.
Each plumger cylinders 56 is moumted on the second compactor plate 5 36 by means of a front-flange-t) pe mounting ~ c~lcll~ 86 held against a back surface of the compactor ]plate 36. The rod of each plunger cylinder 56 has a spear point 88 for ,uul~ ulillg a hole through the sidewall of all tires in a cu.ll~l~ssed bundle of discarded tires.
There is illustrated in Figure 6, a cross-section view through the tubular casing 30 and a plan view of the second compactor plate 36.
Sitnilarly, Figure 7 illustrates a cross-section view through the cylindrical tubmg 32, and a plan view of the first compactor plate 34. Both compactor plates 34 and 36 have radial slots 90 and openings 92 for sliding a strapping bamd th .~auuu~l~ when tying a bundle of discarded tires with such bands.
The openings 92 are somewhat larger than slots 90 for alternatively allowmg th~L~uugh a holed holding plate 100 or a slotted holding plate 102 when tying a bumdle of discarded tires with tie rods through the sidewalls of the tires. Accordingly, the compactor plates 34 and 36 have each a closed opening 94 in a lower region thereof for allowing in~tAll:lrion of a third tie rod tbrougb the bundle of tires.
Holed holdmg plates 100 amd slotted holding plates 102 are shown in dotted lines to facilitate the . .. ,~ l, "g of the function of openings 92 25 and 94 when tying a bundle of vehicle tues with lie rods, according to a first preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires.
218~119 ~ As it was explained earlier, the cylindrical tubing 32 is guided inside the tubular casing 30 by means of a first plurality of guide strips 84 attached inside the tubular casing 30 and a second plurality of guide strips 84' mounted over the enclosed end of the cylindrical tubing 32 as seen in 5 Figure 6. The guide strips 84 and 84' are preferably made of a wear resistant material such as Teflon TM, and are installed in an usual manner as is customarv in the fDhrir.Dtirn of telescopic booms for cranes for example.
As it was also explained earlier, discarded tires are positioned on the 10 tubular casing 30 such that an inside diameter of each tire, I ~,Ull - ' ~ bydashed line 106 in Figure 6, is held over spacer strips 60 in relative axial alignment with the tubular casing 30. When a number of tires are placed on the tubular casing 30, void spaces 108 are created between each spacer strips 60, tire beads 106 and a surface of the tubular casing 30.
In a second preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires, strapping bands are preferably pushed through these void spaces 108 and through slots 90 and 92 for tying the bundle of discarded tires with such bands.
The first compactor plate 34 has four openings 110 for providing 20 clearance over the transition members 62 when the plate 34 is brought near the opened end of the tubular casing 30 during compaction of a bundle of tires.
Referring now to Figure 8, 9 and 10, there is illustrated therein a preferred method of operation of the tire ~iu~ ul~sshlg machine 20 of the 25 preferred embodiment. The tire ~O~ g machine 20 of tbe preferred embodiment is capable of Gu~ si-lg a quantity of about 105 passenger car tires into a cluster, or a pipe of tires of about ten feet long.
218~119 o The jut portion of the tubular casing 30 has a length shown as "A"
of about 15 feet. The stroke length of the sliding tubing 32 as shown by label "B" is preferably 20 feet, but a shorter stroke length is also accc~a~lc .
With tbe first compactor plate 34 removed a first batch of discarded vehicle tires 120 is placed over the cylindrical tubing 32 as illustrated in Figure 8. The first compactor plate 34 is then reinstalled on the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, and the cylmdrical tubmg 32 is retracted inside the tubular casmg 30 forcing the tires 120 over the transition members 62 o and onto the spacer strips 60. ~uhseqllPnt batches of discarded tires 120 are likewise pushed over the tulbular casing 30 until the tubular casmg 30 is full of ul.G~ c~ed tires.
When the tubular casing 30 and cylindrical tubing 32 are full of Im( , c~;d tires, and a further retraction of the cylindrical tubing 32 is effected, the grabber jaws S0 are actuated inwardly toward the tubular casing 30 preventing thereby a Icosening of the compressed bundle of tires 122. A number of additional batches of discarded tires are further added to the ~ c~ed batch until the total coumt of discarded tires on the tubular casmg 30 is about 105. This further addition of batches of tires is effected by ~lt~lllativcly opening the grabber jaws S0 during the retracting of the first ~~UIII~al,tl~l plate 34, and closing of the grabber jaws S0, as shown in Figure 9, during the retuming of the first cornpactor plate 34 to am extended position.
Referring now specifically to Figures 10 and 11, there is illustrated therein the fmal compression stage of a bundle of discarded tires and a first preferred method for tying this bundle. When the total count of compressed tires in a bundle of tires is about 105, the second compactor plate 36 is pushed toward the first compactor plate 34 by two hydraulic cylinders 54, one on each side of the tubular casimg 30. The preferred stroke length of hydraulic cylinders 54 is 72 inches such that a fully co.u~ ,cd length of a bumdle of tires, as shown by label "C" is about 9 5 feet.
At this point the ~pp~rhpall~pd plunger cylinders 56 are actuated for extending the plumgers and pumcturing holes througb the sidewalls of all tires in the bundle 122. During this operation, the grabber jaws 50 are opened and both compactor plates 34 and 36 are umder pressure for holding the bundle 122 m a fully c.,.~ ,ed mode. The plunger cylinders 56 are extended fully until the spear point 88 of each plunger protrudes dlrough the openings 92 and 94 of the :first compactor plate 34 as seen in Figure 10.
The spear points 88 are then removed from the plumger rod 112 of the plunger cylinders 56, and a clevis C~mlPctil 114 is moumted on each plunger rod 112. A tie rod 116 is attached into the clevis c--nnPcti( 114 by means of a pm 118. Each pllnger rod 112 is then retracted pulling a tie rod 116 through dhe bumdle of iiiscarded tires.
Each tie rod 116 preferably has an enlarged portion 120 at a free end thereof for retaining a holed holcling plate 100 during dle in~t~llqtion of the tie rod tbrough the bundle. Eacll tie rod 116 also preferably has two holes on a retained end thereof, wherem a first hole is used to mount the rod 116 into the clevis c~nnPction 114, amd the other hole 124 is used to retain a slotted holding plate 102 by means of a lock pin 126 as better seen in Figure 12. The inctqllotion of this slotted holding plate 102 is done through access space 128 in the second compactor plate 36, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 10.
The length of the tie rods between the head portion 120 and hole 124 is preferably 10 feet. Therefore, when the pressure of the compactor plates 34 amd 36 is released, the total length of the bundle of tires extends to ;t,U~ .y 10 feet.
Once the slotted holding plates 102 have been installed on the end of the tie rods 116 by means of lock pins 126, as seen in Figure 12, the lock pins 118 may be removed from the clevis c-~nn-cl~-~n without .iic~ the clevis comnection 114 frorn the tie rods. At this point the first compactor plate 34 is removed from the cylindrical tubing. The plunger cylinders 56 are extended again with the hydraulic cylmders 54 fully extended, such that all clevis connections 114 push against the end of the tie rods 116 to move the bumdle of cu~,ul~s~ed tires 122 off the telescopic mandrel 28 and onta an auxiliary transport trailer (not shown).
Figure 12 illustrates a first pipe 130 made of discarded tires held in a ~,u~ d state by three tie rods 116 with holed holding plates 100 (not shown), and slotted holding plates 102. This pipe is tied according to a first preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires.
An alternate c...l"- ' of a culvert pipe 132 ~ r~ cd on the tire CUlll,ul~>~ g machine of the preferred em~odiment is tied with strapping bands 134 through tlle center of the b llldle of tires and aroumd the exterior surface of the bumdle. It will become apparent to the person skilled in the art of culll,ulc~ lg discarded tires that the clevis cnnn-~ctir~n114 may be used to pull a strapping band 134 through the side walls of tires in a similar manner as for pulling tie rod 116. The strapping bands 134 may thereafter be tied around the outside surface of the bundle 132 or inside the central opening of the bumdle 132 to satisfy a particular application of that pipe.
Referring now to Figures 14, IS and 16, the tire Cu...~l~s~ g machine 20 of the preferred emTrJodiment comprises also an optional band saw 140 mounted thereon for squaring up a bundle of discarded tires into 5 a slabbed log of tires 140 as shDwn in Figure 15, or a square log of tires 142 as shown in Figure 16. The slabbed log 140 is particularly useful for making a culvert pipe for use m a rocky formation where the flattened portion of the pipe in intended to be flushed with the ground for example.
Similarly, the square log of tires 142 is useful as a culvert pipe where lû several pipes are placed side by side for making a larger capacity culvert.
Other applications for the square log of tires 142 includes ~omh~~
irrigation pads amd barriers of all sorts.
The preferred band saw 140 for use on the tire ~O..I~lc~i..g machine of the preferred embodiment is the type I~ rA-I l".~~,d by Laskowski 15 F.n~pneçs Inc. in ~dianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. under the trade name Waod-Mizer ~M, or by Enercraft in Hillsdale, Ontario, Camada umder the trade name Silva-Saw ~. The band saw 140 is preferably supported inside two charmels 144 affixed to the trailer 22 and to the support frame 40 of the ~rabber module. The band saw 140 has a 20 frame and caster means such thal; it travels along the full length of a bumdle of discarded tires 146 when pulled by a cable drive or similar drive means (not shown).
A bundle of tires 146 is slabbed in a tied mode, with the second compactor plate 36 fully retrac-ted and the grabber jaws 50 closed on the 25 tubular casing 30 for rigidly halding the tubular casing. The tied bundle 126 is preferably moved in a mid region along the tubular casing 30 prior to slabbing it.
~3l ~4119 The tied bumdle 146 is also preferably rotated on the tubular casing 30 with peaveys by the persons operating this machine, for making a square log of tires 142 as shown in ]Figure 16. For this purpose, the overall diameter of the exterior surface of the spacers 60 on the tubular casing 30 5 is preferably slightly smaller than a rim diameter of the discarded tires in a bundlle such that the illL~.r~ between that bundle 146 and the spacers 60 is a loose fit, as illustrated by circle 106 in Figure 6.
Although the tire C~ s~illg machme of the preferred ~lllbod is capable of forming pipes of discarded tires having m excess of 100 10 discarded vehicle tires, the machine is relatively compact in size. A
preferred overall length of the tubular casmg is 24 feet, and a preferred platform length of the trailer 22 is about between 16 to 18 feet. Hence, the tire Cull~ il.g machine is relatively easy amd inexpensive to IrA~ . It is also easily moved along a highway between piles of 15 discarded tires.
While the above description provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiment of tbis mvention, various mol1ifi~Ahl~nc alternate constructions a nd equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit amd scope of ~he invention. Such changes might involve 20 alternate cn.mrr,n~At~, structural .- ".. ,~,, .. ,...t~, operable features or the like.
Therefore the above d~ crrirtinn and accu..l~ ly~llg illustrations should not be constlued as limitmg tbe scop~ of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
MADE OF DISCARDED VEHICLE TIRES
FIELD OF THE INVENTIO'.N
This invention relates to machines for Cu~ s~il,g discarded vehicle tires, and more particularly it relates to a machine for compressing a large quantity of discarded vehicle tires in a multiplicity of successive Gu.l~ S~llg cycles.
The disposal of discarded tires is a concern for many mlmirill~lities Piles of used tires can someti nes reach enormous proportions, and the danger of ~ri~lPnt:llly igniting lhese piles is a continuous threat to nearby residents.
Therefore, it is a modern trend that civil service employees, architects and engineers are mûre and more agreeable to consider the use of alternative construction products made of discarded vehicle tires.
Rubber material is inherently resistant to a diversity of weather conditions.
It does not corrode when immersed m sea water or degrade when bunied in 15 the ground for many years. Therefore several new products made of discarded tires are potentially more resistant to corrosion and fretting than some conventional products such as concrete and steel for example.
In recent years a variety of new products have been developed by hllluv~.tvl~ to utilize discardecl vehicle tires as a primary material of fabrication. Products made of baled vehicle tires or portions of baled tires are numerous and include:~ an impact absorbing device as illustrated and described m U.S. Patent 3,951,384, issued on April 20, 1976 to Robert E. Hildreth, Jr.;
artificial reefs and fish habitats as described in U.S. Patent 4,095,560 issued on June 20, 1978 to Albert F. Laurie et al.;
beach stabilizers as described ir.l U.S. Patent 5,178,489 issued on January lo 12, 1993 to Joseph Suhayba;
and a culvelt pipe as described irl U.S. Patent 5,236,756, issued on August 17, 1993 to Danny B. Halliburton.
In the past, various machines have been developed to compress discarded vehicle tires into the above useful products or simply for making 15 bundles of tires easily manipulated and disposed of. A first example of a tire ~,ullllul~sillg machine is described in U.S. Patent 4,006,678 issued on February 8, 1977 to Mr. Albert F. Laurie et al. The machine illustrated therein is capable of C,u~ ssil.g batches of ~llululu~hllai~ly ten passenger car tires. The machine has a press platen for pressing the tires into the 20 form of a bale, and a knife platen for cuKing radial slits at several places around the periphery of the bale. This machine is used to IllA.I~IrA~
artificial fish habitats as described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent 4,095,560.
Another type of tire ~,UI~ illg machine has a telescoping mandrel 25 and is illustrated in at least three U.S. patents issued to the same inventor;
Mr. Henry T. Nordberg. The inventive features of these machmes are described respectively in U.S. Patent 5,121,680 issued on June 16, 1992, in U.S. Patent 5,152,214, issue[l on October 6, 1992, and in U.S. Patent 5,347,919, issued on September 20, 1994.
o 2184119 U.S. Patent 5,121,680 describes a telescoping mandrel having a fixed and a movable compacl:or plate for co~ s~h.g a row of tires ille~ ,... The movable plate is actuated by an hydraulic cylinder.
U.S. Patent 5,152,214 describes a machine wherein the row of tires is S ~,u~,u~ ed between two compactor plates actuated toward and away from one-anotherbyadual-chamberllydrauliccylinder. U.S.Patent5,347,919 is about a telescoping mandrel having a fixed compactor plate and a movable compactor plate, wherein the movable compactor plate is easily detachable from the moving end of the mandrel. The latter patent goes 10 along to describe wire guides disposed on the movable probe for receiving binding wires there along, so tbat a wire can be wrapped about the ~,u---,ul~ed row of tires. The machines described in the above three patents can form bumdles of a~lJIu~h~ ly 20-30 tires.
As a further example of a tire cu...,u.~i..g machine, U.S. Patent 5,427,022 issued on June 27, 1995 to Donald M. Gardner describes an apparatus having a support frame for supporting a radially exterior bottom portion of a plurality of tires in a generally axially aligned position with one-another. A telescoping hydraulic cylinder pushes a ram member into a guiding frame for l;U~ illg the plurality of tires supported within this 20 f~ame. This machine can compress about 22 to 50 tires into a single bale of tires. A pair of baling wire are slipped over the bale of tires to hold them in the co...,u~ ed state.
The above prior art machines operate in a single stroke mode, wherein a simgle batch of discarded tires is placed about a telescoping 25 mandrel or inside a supporting frame and is compressed axially. The compact bumdle is then tied and removed from the mandrel or from a supporting cradle.
~ 2~L~41191 A tire from a passenger car is known to be compressible by a factor of about 7 to 1, that is from a width of about 7 or 8 inches to a thickness of about 1 or 1-1/2 inch. Hence the simgle stroke machines of the prior art are 5 limited in the number of tires which may be compressed thereon by a practical length of the telescoping mandrel. A single stroke telescoping mandrel for forming a long pipe of 100 or more discarded vehicle tires for example, would have a extended length of in excess of 60 feet. Designing and mAnllfAA.hlring a machine of such proportion is relatively difficult and 10 expensive, and a ~ iion thereof between piles of discarded vehicle tires is impractical.
Therefore the products l"A.,.,rA~ d by c~ h.g discarded vehicle tires was tr:~litionAlly limited to products havmg a length of no more than about 2 to 4 feet.
15 SUM~IARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a relatively compact apparatus for compressing vehicle tires, wherein several batches of vehicle tires are scqu~n~iAlly compressed against one-another for forming long pipes of discarded vehicle tires.
In one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided essentially a support structure supporting a telescopic mandrel, a grabber module and an hydraulic power supply unit hydraulically connected to the telescopic mandrel and to the grabber module for supplying hydraulic power theIeto.
~ 2184119 The telescopic mandrel comprises an elongated tubular casing having a base portion rigidly supported on the support structure and a jut portion projecting beyond the base portion in an overhung mode. The tubular casmg fulther comprises a closed end adjacent the base portion and 5 an opened end adjacent the jut portion.
The apparatus of the present invention further has an elongated cylindrical tubing having an enclosed end and a free end, and is telescopically mounted inside the tubular casing such that the free end extends through the opened end of the tubular casing. A first hydraulic o actuator is mounted inside the tubular casing and is connected to the closed end of the tubular ca~ing and to the free end of the cylindrical tubing for effecting am extension and a retraction of the cylindrical tubing relative to the tubular casing. A distance of extension and retraction of the free end of the cylindrical tubing is thereby a stroke length of the first hydraulic 15 actuator measured from the opened end of the tubular casing.
The apparatus of tbe present invention also comprises a first compactor plate detachably mounted on the free end of the cylimdrical tubing for allowing placement of'a batch of vehicle tires thereon. The first compactor plate is mounted in a perpendicular nrirn~tion with the 20 cylmdrical tubing for applying a CUI~ V~ force on the batch of vehicle tires mounted on the telescopic mandrel in a direction of retraction of the cylindrical tubing.
There is also provided a second compactor plate mounted on the tubular casing in a perpendicular nri(~-~totinn therewith, and about the jut 25 portion thereof, for applying a culll,ult:~iv~ force on the batch of vehicle tires in a direction toward the f~rst compactor plate.
o The grabber module of tbe apparatus of the present mvention has a frame member moumted on the support structure for supporting an effective portion thereof in a fixed Ir ngihl~1inAl relationship with the tubular casing, and near the opened end of this tubular casing. The effective portion of the 5 grabber module comprises a plurality of grabbing jaws disposed in a radial array about the tubular casing, ~md a second hydraulic actuator means for actuating each of the grabbing jaws toward and away from the tubular casing.
A first advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that 10 when a first batch of vehicle tires is loaded on the cylindrical tubing amd is compressed between the first and second compactor plates, the grabbing jaws are actuated toward the tubular casing for grabbing and retaining the batch of vehicle tires in a ~ ;ssed mode against the second compactor plate.
The cylindrical tubmg may thereby be extended for loading a second or subsequent batch of tires thereon. This Gu~ ssillg, grabbing and loading cycle is repeated umtil a proper quantity of tires required to make a long pipe of vehicle tires is compressed between the compactor plates.
In acGolda.lce to another aspect of the apparatus of the present 20 inventmn, the jut portion of the telescopic mamdrel has on an outside surface thereof a plurality of spaced apart spacer strips aligned along the long~ in ~1 axis of the mandrel, for supporting the batch of vehicle tires in an axial alignment with the jut portion. Each spacer strip has a transition member near the opened end of the tubular casing. Each transition member 25 is a wedge-like member sloping outwardly from a surface of the cylindrical tubing toward an outside surface of a respective spacer strip. Therefore, ~ ~'18~119 when a pipe is formed on these spacer strips, using vehicle tires each ha~ing a same nominal rim size, the mside diameter of that pipe is relatively smooth.
In accordance to another aspect of the apparatus of the present S invention, there is provided a third hydraulic actuator means comnected to the base portion of tbe tubular casmg and to the second compactor plate for moving the second compactor plate along the jut portion.
The third hydraulic actuator means provides an additional Gulll,ul~s~ stage at the end of a pipe forming cycle described above, by 0 pushing the second compactor p]iate toward the first compactor plate. This final cu~ ul~ illg stage is effected while all vehicle tires are properly positioned and centered about the jut portion. The long pipe of vehicle tires thus formed remains straight and uniform in diameter when tied in this condition.
In acco-d~.ce to another aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, the second compactor plate has a plurality of spearheaded plumgers mounted thereon. The plungers are operable hydraulically toward the first compactor plate for puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in a batch of vehicle tires, while this batch of tires is held m a 20 cu...lu~ ed mode between the first and second compactor plates.
Each ~pei~rhP~IPd plunger has a threaded rod end for removably receiving either a spear point for ,uu---,Lu-i--g a hole through the sidewalls of tires, or a clevis colmection f,or pulling a tie rod through a hole formed through the sidewalls. The pipe of vehicle tires tied in this manner is held 25 in a cu..,u-~ss~d and a relatively rigid condition by a plurality of tie rods and holding plates.
~184119 In accordance with a further aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a band saw movably mounted on two rail members aligned with the tubular casing. The band saw is operable to cut a lnngin~ DI cross-sectionally arcuated segment from an outside surface 5 of the pipe of vehicle tires, thereby forming a flat surface along that pipe.
The pipe can thereby be installed in the ground, as a culvert pipe for example, at shallow depth.
In aGGoldallce to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for " ,... . r,1. 1,, . ' "~ pipes made of discarded vehicle 10 tires. Such ",- ,.,r~. It is effected on an apparatus cnmpri~ing a telescopicmamdrel, a first compactor plate removably mounted on the free end of an extensible portion of that mandrel, a second compactor plate mounted on an ",~ e.' position along a fixed portion of that telescopic mandrel, and a compression retention meams rigidly mounted between the first and second compactor plates. The rnethod of the present invention comprises the steps of:
a) removing the first compactor plate from the free end of the extensible portion of the telescopic mandrel;
b) placing a first batch of discarded vehicle tires on the extensible portion of the telescopic mandrel, c) installing the first compactor plate on the free end of the extensible end of the telescopic mandrel;
d) moving the extensible portion and the f~st compactor plate toward the second compactor plate thereby Gu~ ssillg the 2s first batch of discarded vehicle tires against the second compactor plate;
e) retainmg with the compression retention means the first batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against the second compactor plate;
218~119 .
f) extending the extensible portion of the telescopic mamdrel and loading a second or subsequent batch of vehicle tires on this extensible portion;
g) cu.~ aillg the second or ~ ,se~ batch of discarded vehicle tires against the first batch, thereby forming a pipe of discarded vehicle tires;
h) tying that pipe of vehicle tires for retaining a compressed state of that pipe.
A major advamtage of this method of making pipes of vehicle tires is that long pipes may be m~mlfzlrtnred on a telescopic mandrel which has a relatively short stroke length. The apparatus for making pipes is thereby relatively compact in size and easily transported on a highway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the invention will be further umderstood from the followimg (~ ripti~n with reference to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a p~la~c~,live front and right side view of the tire c~ saillg machine of the preferred embodiment;
- Figure 2 is a right side view of the tire cul~ aaillg machine of the preferred ellll~odilll~lll showing the l~lesco~ g mandrel and grabber assembly in a retracted position during llalla~olldlion of the machine;
~ 2184119 - Di'igure 3 is also a right side view of the tire Gu...~c~ g machine with the grabber assembly in a fully extended position during operation of the machine;
- Figure 4 is a partial cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the S tire compressing machine of the preferred embodiment;
- Figure S is an enlarged view of Detail 5 of Fig. 4;
- Figure 6 is a transversal cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the tire CO~ g machine of the preferred embodiment along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
10 - IFigure 7 is a transversal cross-section of the telescopic mandrel of the tire Cu~ g machine of the preferred ~mholiimf~nt along Ime 7-7 of Fig. 4;
- Figure 8 illustrates a right side view of tbe telescopic mandrel of the tire co~ .g machine of the prefelred embodiment in an 1~ operating mode when discarded vehicle ~ires are being placed thereon;
- Figure 9 is also a right side view of the telescopic mandrel of the tire C~1111J11;5~:i11g machinc of the preferred t;...bo.li.l.~l.i when several batches of discarded vehicle tires have been ~ ,sscd into a single cluster of tires on the tubular casing thereof;
- Figure 10 is also a right side view of the telescopic mamdrel of the tire compressing machine of the preferred embodiment when the second compactor plate c~ es the cluster of discarded vehicle tires;
o 2184119 - Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the rod end of a spear-ended plunger, a spear point a clevis c~nn~ctif~n and a tie rod used in tying a bundle of discarded vehicle tires;
- Figure 12 is a first preferred rmholiimrnt of a pipe " ~ 1 r~ ed S from discarded vehicle tires, and tied with tie rods through the sidewalls of the tires;
- Figl re 13 is a second preferred ~ Lodilll~ of a pipe l l lA l l l l r~ d from discarded tires, and tied with strapping bands through the center of the pipe and aroumd the exterior surface of the pipe;
10 - Figurc 14 illustrates a band saw mounted on the tire c-J~Jl~s~il.g machine of the prefer;ed. embodiment, for squaring up pipes made of vehicle tires;
- Figure lS is a pipe made of vehicle tires having one flat surface along the length of thereof;
15 - Figure 16 is a pipe made of vehicle tires having four flat surfaces along the length thereof forming thereby a square log of tires.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION lDli TE~E PREFERlRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the tire .iUlllyl~s~illg machine 20 of the preferred, 1- " is molmted on a trailer 22, and is powered by an engine-driven hydraulic power supply unit 24. The tire ~ s~i-lg machine 20 is thereby movable behind a vehicle from a pile of discarded tires to another, and is readily operable as a stand alone unit.
Il o 218~119 The hydraulic hoses, valves and controls for operating this machine are not shown herein for being of the common type, and for being well known to persons skilled m the alt of hydraulic systems. Similarly, several m~ honic~l details have been omitted in the acc~ al.ying drawmgs.
5 These details are also evident to persons knowledgeable in the art, and were not drawn for providing a better clarity to the drawings.
The tire compressing machine 20 has a support structure 26 for supporting a fixed end of an overhung telescopic mandrel 28. The telescopic mandrel 28 has a tubular casing 30 affixed at a frst end to the 10 support structure 26, and a cylindrical tubing 32 sliding inside and protruding from, the opened enal of the tubular casing 30. The cylindrical tubing 32 has a frst compactor plate 34 removably mounted on its free end.
A second compactor plate 36 is moumted at an ;,u~",.~ position along the tubular casing 30.
The tire G(J~ g machine of the preferred embodiment further has a movable structure 40 on which is mounted a grabber assembly 42.
The movable structure 40 is illustrated in a retracted position in Figures 1 and 2, and in a fully extended position in Figure 3. The operation of the grabber module 42 will be explained later when making reference 20 particularly to Figures 8 and 9.
The movable structure 40 has a pair of legs 44 for supporting the grabber module 42 on the ground in a fully extended and operational mode.
Each leg 44 is vertically adjustable by means of a pin 46 in a member of the structure 40 mating in one of a series of holes 48 in that leg.
o The grabber assembly 42 preferably has rowr grabbing jaws 50 which are actuated in a radial direction relative to a cross-section of the telescopic mandrel 28 by fowr hydraulic cylinders 52. When the tire ~;u~ r~ lg machine 20 of the preferred embodiment is transported from S site to site, the grabbing jaws S0 are preferably held against the telescopic mandrel 28 for preventing excessive vibration and deflection of the telescopic mandrel 28 due to road illr~ irc The second compactor plate 36 is rnovable along the tubular casing 30 toward the first compactor plate 34 by means of two hydraulic cylinders 10 54 mounted on a base portion of the tubular casing 30. The second compactor plate 36 further carries three hydraulic spear-ended plungers S6 for plm~hlring the sidewalls of all tires in a cuA..~ ed bwmdle of vehicle tires.
The tubular casing 30 preferably has four spacer strips 60 attached 5 lnngitll~linAlly of the outside swr~ace of an overhwng or jut portion thereof.The spacer strips 60 are spaced apart arownd the ~ llrrl~llce of the jut portion at about 9û~ from one another. The pw pose of these spacer strips 60 is to support the tires on the tubular casing in a common alignment with one another amd with the l-~l.g;lll.l;..~l axis of tubular casmg 30.
A wedge-like transition member 62 is also mownted on the tubular casing 30 at the extremity of each spacer strip 60 nearest to the first compactor plate 34. Each transition member 62 is sloped outwardly from the surface of the cylindrical lubing 32 toward an outside swface of a respective spacer strip 60. The spacer strips 60 and the tramsition members 62 enswre that a tire being moved by the cylindrical tubing 32 and the first compactor plate 34 is slid over the transition member 62 and is positioned in sl-bstAntiol alignment with a longihl~linql axis of the hubular casing 30.
~ 21~4119 Therefore, the tires to be processed in a batch of vehicle tires are preferably preselected according to their nominal rim sizes such that the inside and outside surfaces of the cluster of tires are relatively smooth.
The spacer st ips 60 and ~ ransition members 62 are replaceable with S other spacer strips and transition members having different ~hickn~ to acc, r I ' different tire rim sizes. For this reason, the spacer strips 60 and transition members 62 are preferably held to the tubular casing by means of screws 64 accessible fiom am outside region of the tubular casing 30. The spacer strips 60, transition members 62 and holding screws 64 are better seen in Figure 4.
Referring now specifically to Figures 4 and 5, the telescopic mandrel 28 is operated by an hydraulic cylinder 70 mounted inside the tubular casing 30 and cylindrical tubing 32. The casing end of this hydraulic cylinder 70 is mounted on a clevis bracket 72 on the closed end of the tubular casing 30. The rod end 76 of the hydraulic cylinder 70 is mounted into a cap plate 72 inside the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, by means of a hole in this cap plate 72 and a nut 74 on the threaded end of the cylinder rod 76.
The casimg of the hydrauLic cylinder 70 is supported at an i~ region by a roller 80 and bracket mounted mside the enclosed end the cylindrical tubing 32, for preventing excessive deflection of this cylinder 70 when it is fully extended. The first compactor plate 34 is molmted over the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, and is held over the free end by means of screws 82 threaded through the cap plate 72. The first cu~ )a~lul plate 34 is removed from the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32 for mounting vehicle t res on the tubing, by removing all holding screws 82, amd by sliding the p:Late 34 offthe tubing 32.
o 218~119 The cylindlical tubing 32 is guided inside the tubular casing by am array of guide strips 84 mounted inside the tubular casing 30 and over the enclosed end of tbe cylindrical tubing 32.
Each plumger cylinders 56 is moumted on the second compactor plate 5 36 by means of a front-flange-t) pe mounting ~ c~lcll~ 86 held against a back surface of the compactor ]plate 36. The rod of each plunger cylinder 56 has a spear point 88 for ,uul~ ulillg a hole through the sidewall of all tires in a cu.ll~l~ssed bundle of discarded tires.
There is illustrated in Figure 6, a cross-section view through the tubular casing 30 and a plan view of the second compactor plate 36.
Sitnilarly, Figure 7 illustrates a cross-section view through the cylindrical tubmg 32, and a plan view of the first compactor plate 34. Both compactor plates 34 and 36 have radial slots 90 and openings 92 for sliding a strapping bamd th .~auuu~l~ when tying a bundle of discarded tires with such bands.
The openings 92 are somewhat larger than slots 90 for alternatively allowmg th~L~uugh a holed holding plate 100 or a slotted holding plate 102 when tying a bumdle of discarded tires with tie rods through the sidewalls of the tires. Accordingly, the compactor plates 34 and 36 have each a closed opening 94 in a lower region thereof for allowing in~tAll:lrion of a third tie rod tbrougb the bundle of tires.
Holed holdmg plates 100 amd slotted holding plates 102 are shown in dotted lines to facilitate the . .. ,~ l, "g of the function of openings 92 25 and 94 when tying a bundle of vehicle tues with lie rods, according to a first preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires.
218~119 ~ As it was explained earlier, the cylindrical tubing 32 is guided inside the tubular casing 30 by means of a first plurality of guide strips 84 attached inside the tubular casing 30 and a second plurality of guide strips 84' mounted over the enclosed end of the cylindrical tubing 32 as seen in 5 Figure 6. The guide strips 84 and 84' are preferably made of a wear resistant material such as Teflon TM, and are installed in an usual manner as is customarv in the fDhrir.Dtirn of telescopic booms for cranes for example.
As it was also explained earlier, discarded tires are positioned on the 10 tubular casing 30 such that an inside diameter of each tire, I ~,Ull - ' ~ bydashed line 106 in Figure 6, is held over spacer strips 60 in relative axial alignment with the tubular casing 30. When a number of tires are placed on the tubular casing 30, void spaces 108 are created between each spacer strips 60, tire beads 106 and a surface of the tubular casing 30.
In a second preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires, strapping bands are preferably pushed through these void spaces 108 and through slots 90 and 92 for tying the bundle of discarded tires with such bands.
The first compactor plate 34 has four openings 110 for providing 20 clearance over the transition members 62 when the plate 34 is brought near the opened end of the tubular casing 30 during compaction of a bundle of tires.
Referring now to Figure 8, 9 and 10, there is illustrated therein a preferred method of operation of the tire ~iu~ ul~sshlg machine 20 of the 25 preferred embodiment. The tire ~O~ g machine 20 of tbe preferred embodiment is capable of Gu~ si-lg a quantity of about 105 passenger car tires into a cluster, or a pipe of tires of about ten feet long.
218~119 o The jut portion of the tubular casing 30 has a length shown as "A"
of about 15 feet. The stroke length of the sliding tubing 32 as shown by label "B" is preferably 20 feet, but a shorter stroke length is also accc~a~lc .
With tbe first compactor plate 34 removed a first batch of discarded vehicle tires 120 is placed over the cylindrical tubing 32 as illustrated in Figure 8. The first compactor plate 34 is then reinstalled on the free end of the cylindrical tubing 32, and the cylmdrical tubmg 32 is retracted inside the tubular casmg 30 forcing the tires 120 over the transition members 62 o and onto the spacer strips 60. ~uhseqllPnt batches of discarded tires 120 are likewise pushed over the tulbular casing 30 until the tubular casmg 30 is full of ul.G~ c~ed tires.
When the tubular casing 30 and cylindrical tubing 32 are full of Im( , c~;d tires, and a further retraction of the cylindrical tubing 32 is effected, the grabber jaws S0 are actuated inwardly toward the tubular casing 30 preventing thereby a Icosening of the compressed bundle of tires 122. A number of additional batches of discarded tires are further added to the ~ c~ed batch until the total coumt of discarded tires on the tubular casmg 30 is about 105. This further addition of batches of tires is effected by ~lt~lllativcly opening the grabber jaws S0 during the retracting of the first ~~UIII~al,tl~l plate 34, and closing of the grabber jaws S0, as shown in Figure 9, during the retuming of the first cornpactor plate 34 to am extended position.
Referring now specifically to Figures 10 and 11, there is illustrated therein the fmal compression stage of a bundle of discarded tires and a first preferred method for tying this bundle. When the total count of compressed tires in a bundle of tires is about 105, the second compactor plate 36 is pushed toward the first compactor plate 34 by two hydraulic cylinders 54, one on each side of the tubular casimg 30. The preferred stroke length of hydraulic cylinders 54 is 72 inches such that a fully co.u~ ,cd length of a bumdle of tires, as shown by label "C" is about 9 5 feet.
At this point the ~pp~rhpall~pd plunger cylinders 56 are actuated for extending the plumgers and pumcturing holes througb the sidewalls of all tires in the bundle 122. During this operation, the grabber jaws 50 are opened and both compactor plates 34 and 36 are umder pressure for holding the bundle 122 m a fully c.,.~ ,ed mode. The plunger cylinders 56 are extended fully until the spear point 88 of each plunger protrudes dlrough the openings 92 and 94 of the :first compactor plate 34 as seen in Figure 10.
The spear points 88 are then removed from the plumger rod 112 of the plunger cylinders 56, and a clevis C~mlPctil 114 is moumted on each plunger rod 112. A tie rod 116 is attached into the clevis c--nnPcti( 114 by means of a pm 118. Each pllnger rod 112 is then retracted pulling a tie rod 116 through dhe bumdle of iiiscarded tires.
Each tie rod 116 preferably has an enlarged portion 120 at a free end thereof for retaining a holed holcling plate 100 during dle in~t~llqtion of the tie rod tbrough the bundle. Eacll tie rod 116 also preferably has two holes on a retained end thereof, wherem a first hole is used to mount the rod 116 into the clevis c~nnPction 114, amd the other hole 124 is used to retain a slotted holding plate 102 by means of a lock pin 126 as better seen in Figure 12. The inctqllotion of this slotted holding plate 102 is done through access space 128 in the second compactor plate 36, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 10.
The length of the tie rods between the head portion 120 and hole 124 is preferably 10 feet. Therefore, when the pressure of the compactor plates 34 amd 36 is released, the total length of the bundle of tires extends to ;t,U~ .y 10 feet.
Once the slotted holding plates 102 have been installed on the end of the tie rods 116 by means of lock pins 126, as seen in Figure 12, the lock pins 118 may be removed from the clevis c-~nn-cl~-~n without .iic~ the clevis comnection 114 frorn the tie rods. At this point the first compactor plate 34 is removed from the cylindrical tubing. The plunger cylinders 56 are extended again with the hydraulic cylmders 54 fully extended, such that all clevis connections 114 push against the end of the tie rods 116 to move the bumdle of cu~,ul~s~ed tires 122 off the telescopic mandrel 28 and onta an auxiliary transport trailer (not shown).
Figure 12 illustrates a first pipe 130 made of discarded tires held in a ~,u~ d state by three tie rods 116 with holed holding plates 100 (not shown), and slotted holding plates 102. This pipe is tied according to a first preferred method of tying a bundle of vehicle tires.
An alternate c...l"- ' of a culvert pipe 132 ~ r~ cd on the tire CUlll,ul~>~ g machine of the preferred em~odiment is tied with strapping bands 134 through tlle center of the b llldle of tires and aroumd the exterior surface of the bumdle. It will become apparent to the person skilled in the art of culll,ulc~ lg discarded tires that the clevis cnnn-~ctir~n114 may be used to pull a strapping band 134 through the side walls of tires in a similar manner as for pulling tie rod 116. The strapping bands 134 may thereafter be tied around the outside surface of the bundle 132 or inside the central opening of the bumdle 132 to satisfy a particular application of that pipe.
Referring now to Figures 14, IS and 16, the tire Cu...~l~s~ g machine 20 of the preferred emTrJodiment comprises also an optional band saw 140 mounted thereon for squaring up a bundle of discarded tires into 5 a slabbed log of tires 140 as shDwn in Figure 15, or a square log of tires 142 as shown in Figure 16. The slabbed log 140 is particularly useful for making a culvert pipe for use m a rocky formation where the flattened portion of the pipe in intended to be flushed with the ground for example.
Similarly, the square log of tires 142 is useful as a culvert pipe where lû several pipes are placed side by side for making a larger capacity culvert.
Other applications for the square log of tires 142 includes ~omh~~
irrigation pads amd barriers of all sorts.
The preferred band saw 140 for use on the tire ~O..I~lc~i..g machine of the preferred embodiment is the type I~ rA-I l".~~,d by Laskowski 15 F.n~pneçs Inc. in ~dianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. under the trade name Waod-Mizer ~M, or by Enercraft in Hillsdale, Ontario, Camada umder the trade name Silva-Saw ~. The band saw 140 is preferably supported inside two charmels 144 affixed to the trailer 22 and to the support frame 40 of the ~rabber module. The band saw 140 has a 20 frame and caster means such thal; it travels along the full length of a bumdle of discarded tires 146 when pulled by a cable drive or similar drive means (not shown).
A bundle of tires 146 is slabbed in a tied mode, with the second compactor plate 36 fully retrac-ted and the grabber jaws 50 closed on the 25 tubular casing 30 for rigidly halding the tubular casing. The tied bundle 126 is preferably moved in a mid region along the tubular casing 30 prior to slabbing it.
~3l ~4119 The tied bumdle 146 is also preferably rotated on the tubular casing 30 with peaveys by the persons operating this machine, for making a square log of tires 142 as shown in ]Figure 16. For this purpose, the overall diameter of the exterior surface of the spacers 60 on the tubular casing 30 5 is preferably slightly smaller than a rim diameter of the discarded tires in a bundlle such that the illL~.r~ between that bundle 146 and the spacers 60 is a loose fit, as illustrated by circle 106 in Figure 6.
Although the tire C~ s~illg machme of the preferred ~lllbod is capable of forming pipes of discarded tires having m excess of 100 10 discarded vehicle tires, the machine is relatively compact in size. A
preferred overall length of the tubular casmg is 24 feet, and a preferred platform length of the trailer 22 is about between 16 to 18 feet. Hence, the tire Cull~ il.g machine is relatively easy amd inexpensive to IrA~ . It is also easily moved along a highway between piles of 15 discarded tires.
While the above description provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiment of tbis mvention, various mol1ifi~Ahl~nc alternate constructions a nd equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit amd scope of ~he invention. Such changes might involve 20 alternate cn.mrr,n~At~, structural .- ".. ,~,, .. ,...t~, operable features or the like.
Therefore the above d~ crrirtinn and accu..l~ ly~llg illustrations should not be constlued as limitmg tbe scop~ of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims (20)
1. An apparatus for making pipes made of a plurality of axially juxtaposed vehicle tires, comprising:
a support structure supporting a telescopic mandrel, a grabber module and an hydraulic power supply unit hydraulically connected to said telescopic mandrel and to said grabber module for supplying hydraulic power to said telescopic mandrel and said grabber module;
said telescopic mandrel comprising: an elongated tubular casing having a base portion rigidly supported on said support structure and a jut portion projecting beyond said base portion in an overhung mode, said tubular casing further comprising a closed end adjacent said base portion and an opened end adjacent said jut portion; an elongated cylindrical tubing having an enclosed end and a free end and being telescopically mounted inside said tubular casing such that said free end extends through said opened end of said tubular casing; and a first hydraulic actuator means mounted inside said tubular casing and being connected to said closed end of said tubular casing and to said free end of said cylindrical tubing for effecting an extension and a retraction of said cylindrical tubing relative to said tubular casing, wherein said free end is movable a stroke length of said first hydraulic actuator measured from said opened end;
a first compactor plate detachably mounted on said free end of said cylindrical tubing for allowing placement of a batch of vehicle tires on said cylindrical tubing, said first compactor plate being mounted in a perpendicular orientation with said cylindrical tubing for applying a compressive force on said batch of vehicle tires mounted on said telescopic mandrel in a direction of retraction of said cylindrical tubing;
a second compactor plate mounted on said tubular casing in a perpendicular orientation therewith about said jut portion for applying a compressive force on said batch of vehicle tires in a direction toward said first compactor plate;
said grabber module having a frame member mounted on said support structure for supporting an effective portion thereof in a fixed longitudinal relationship with said tubular casing near said opened end of said tubular casing, said effective portion comprising a plurality of grabbing jaws disposed in a radial array about said tubular casing, and a second hydraulic actuator means for actuating each of said grabbing jaws toward and away from said tubular casing, whereby when said batch of vehicle tires is loaded on said cylindrical tubing and on said tubular casing and is compressed between said first and second compactor plates, said grabbing jaws are actuated toward said tubular casing for grabbing and retaining said batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against said second compactor plate while said cylindrical tubing is subsequently extended and said first compactor plate is removed from said free end for loading a subsequent number of vehicle tires thereon, and while said subsequent number of vehicle tires is compressed against said batch of vehicle tires.
a support structure supporting a telescopic mandrel, a grabber module and an hydraulic power supply unit hydraulically connected to said telescopic mandrel and to said grabber module for supplying hydraulic power to said telescopic mandrel and said grabber module;
said telescopic mandrel comprising: an elongated tubular casing having a base portion rigidly supported on said support structure and a jut portion projecting beyond said base portion in an overhung mode, said tubular casing further comprising a closed end adjacent said base portion and an opened end adjacent said jut portion; an elongated cylindrical tubing having an enclosed end and a free end and being telescopically mounted inside said tubular casing such that said free end extends through said opened end of said tubular casing; and a first hydraulic actuator means mounted inside said tubular casing and being connected to said closed end of said tubular casing and to said free end of said cylindrical tubing for effecting an extension and a retraction of said cylindrical tubing relative to said tubular casing, wherein said free end is movable a stroke length of said first hydraulic actuator measured from said opened end;
a first compactor plate detachably mounted on said free end of said cylindrical tubing for allowing placement of a batch of vehicle tires on said cylindrical tubing, said first compactor plate being mounted in a perpendicular orientation with said cylindrical tubing for applying a compressive force on said batch of vehicle tires mounted on said telescopic mandrel in a direction of retraction of said cylindrical tubing;
a second compactor plate mounted on said tubular casing in a perpendicular orientation therewith about said jut portion for applying a compressive force on said batch of vehicle tires in a direction toward said first compactor plate;
said grabber module having a frame member mounted on said support structure for supporting an effective portion thereof in a fixed longitudinal relationship with said tubular casing near said opened end of said tubular casing, said effective portion comprising a plurality of grabbing jaws disposed in a radial array about said tubular casing, and a second hydraulic actuator means for actuating each of said grabbing jaws toward and away from said tubular casing, whereby when said batch of vehicle tires is loaded on said cylindrical tubing and on said tubular casing and is compressed between said first and second compactor plates, said grabbing jaws are actuated toward said tubular casing for grabbing and retaining said batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against said second compactor plate while said cylindrical tubing is subsequently extended and said first compactor plate is removed from said free end for loading a subsequent number of vehicle tires thereon, and while said subsequent number of vehicle tires is compressed against said batch of vehicle tires.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said a second compactor plate is movably mounted on said jut portion of said tubular casing, and said base portion has a third hydraulic actuator means connected thereto and to said second compactor plate for moving said second actuator plate along said jut portion, whereby a further compression of said batch is effected by moving said second compactor plate toward said first compactor plate.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a trailer whereby said apparatus is movable between piles of discarded vehicle tires.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jut portion has on an outside surface thereof a plurality of spaced apart spacer strips aligned along the longitudinal axis thereof for supporting said batch of vehicle tires in substantial axial alignment with said tubular casing, and each of said spacer strip has a wedge-like transition member near said opened end of said tubular casing, and each of said transition member is sloped outwardly from a surface of said cylindrical tubing toward an outside surface of a respective said spacer strip.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spacer strips and said transition members are held to said tubular casing by screws accessible through an outside surface of said spacer strips and said transition members, such that said spacer strips and said transition members are easily replaceable with alternate spacer strips and alternate transition members of a different thickness to accommodate vehicle tires of different rim sizes.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame member is extensible from a stowed position wherein said effective portion is above said structure, and an operating position wherein said effective portion is near said opened end of said tubular casing.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said frame member has adjustable legs for supporting said effective portion from the ground in an operating position.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second compactor plate has a plurality of spearheaded plungers mounted thereon and a fourth hydraulic actuator means connected to said plurality of plungers for pushing said plungers through the sidewalls of all tires m said batch of vehicle tires while said batch of vehicle tires is held in a compressed mode between said first and second compactor plates.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of spearheaded plungers has a threaded rod end for removably receiving either a spear point for puncturing a hole through said sidewalls of said tires, or a clevis connection for pulling a tie rod through said hole.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second compactor plates have a plurality of radial slots wherein each of said slots communicates with a void region defined by said tubular member, any two juxtaposed said spaced apart spacer strips and an inside diameter of said batch of vehicle tires, whereby a strapping band is threaded through said void and through said slots for tying said batch of vehicle tires.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second compactor plates have a plurality of openings therethrough for allowing passage of said tie rods and washer means on said tie rods.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pair of removable rail members aligned with said tubular casing and attached to said frame member of said grabber module, and a band saw comprising a power supply means for operation thereof and caster means for movement along said rail members, whereby said saw blade is usable for slabbing an outside surface of said pipe of vehicle tires, for making a culvert pipe install-able in the ground at shallow depth.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein a length of said trailer is about between 16 and 18 feet and a length of said tubular casing is about 24 feet, whereby said apparatus is safely movable along a highway.
14. A method for manufacturing pipes made of discarded vehicle tires on an apparatus comprising a telescopic mandrel, a first compactor plate on a free end of a extensible portion of said mandrel, a second compactor plate on an intermediate position along a fixed portion of said telescopic mandrel and compression retention means rigidly mounted between said first and second compactor plates, said method comprising the steps of:
removing said first compactor plate from a free end of said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel;
placing a first batch of discarded vehicle tires on said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel, installing said first compactor plate on said free end of said extensible end of said telescopic mandrel;
moving said extensible portion toward said second compactor plate thereby compacting said first batch of discarded vehicle tires against said second compactor plate;
retaining with said compression retention means said first batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against said second compactor plate, while extending said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel and loading a second batch of vehicle tires on said extension portion of said telescopic mandrel;
pulling and compressing said second or subsequent batch of discarded vehicle tires against said first batch thereby forming a pipe of discarded vehicle tires;
tying said pipe of vehicle tires thereby retaining a compressed state of said pipe.
removing said first compactor plate from a free end of said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel;
placing a first batch of discarded vehicle tires on said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel, installing said first compactor plate on said free end of said extensible end of said telescopic mandrel;
moving said extensible portion toward said second compactor plate thereby compacting said first batch of discarded vehicle tires against said second compactor plate;
retaining with said compression retention means said first batch of vehicle tires in a compressed mode against said second compactor plate, while extending said extensible portion of said telescopic mandrel and loading a second batch of vehicle tires on said extension portion of said telescopic mandrel;
pulling and compressing said second or subsequent batch of discarded vehicle tires against said first batch thereby forming a pipe of discarded vehicle tires;
tying said pipe of vehicle tires thereby retaining a compressed state of said pipe.
15. A method for manufacturing pipes made of discarded vehicle tires as claimed in claim 14 comprising the additional step of pushing said second compactor plate toward said first compactor plate for effecting a further compression of said pipe of vehicle tires.
16. A method for manufacturing pipes made of discarded vehicle tires as claimed in claim 15 comprising the further steps of:
puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in said pipe of vehicle tires;
pulling a tie rod in each of said holes; and tying said tie rod to holding plates on end surfaces of said pipe for retaining said pipe in a compressed mode.
puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in said pipe of vehicle tires;
pulling a tie rod in each of said holes; and tying said tie rod to holding plates on end surfaces of said pipe for retaining said pipe in a compressed mode.
17. A method for manufacturing pipes made of discarded vehicle tires as claimed in claim 15 comprising the further steps of:
puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in said pipe of vehicle tires;
pulling a strapping band through each of said holes; and tying said strapping band around an exterior surface of said pipe for retaining said pipe in a compressed mode.
puncturing holes through the sidewalls of all tires in said pipe of vehicle tires;
pulling a strapping band through each of said holes; and tying said strapping band around an exterior surface of said pipe for retaining said pipe in a compressed mode.
18. A method for manufacturing pipes made of discarded vehicle tires as claimed in claim 15 comprising the further step of sawing a longitudinal slab from said pipe.
19. A rubber pipe comprising a plurality of integral axially juxtaposed discarded vehicle tires tied in a compressed mode against one-another, and having at least one longitudinal flat surface along the full length thereof, whereby said pipe is usable as a culvert pipe in shallow ground when said flat surface is aligned horizontally.
20. A rubber pipe as claimed in claim 19 wherein said at least one longitudinal flat surface is four flat surfaces aligned at right angle from one-another, whereby said pipe is also usable as a square construction log of compressed vehicle tires.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002184119A CA2184119A1 (en) | 1996-08-26 | 1996-08-26 | Machine and method for making pipe made of discarded vehicle tires |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002184119A CA2184119A1 (en) | 1996-08-26 | 1996-08-26 | Machine and method for making pipe made of discarded vehicle tires |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2184119A1 true CA2184119A1 (en) | 1998-02-27 |
Family
ID=4158796
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002184119A Abandoned CA2184119A1 (en) | 1996-08-26 | 1996-08-26 | Machine and method for making pipe made of discarded vehicle tires |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2184119A1 (en) |
-
1996
- 1996-08-26 CA CA002184119A patent/CA2184119A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |