GB2026932A - Moulding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Moulding apparatus (10) comprises a base frame (11), and a plurality of generally L-sectioned upstanding mould wall members (19). The wall members (19) are movable between a moulding position in which the wall members (19) are positioned parallel to one another with space between them to define generally L-sectioned mould cavities (18) and an open position in which the wall members (19) are moved apart singly from the moulding position so as to open the mould cavities (18) to allow removal of a moulded product formed in each cavity. Each wall member (19) is supportable on rolling supports (31) provided adjacent the free ends and the apex of the lower edge of the member. The rolling support provided at the apex of each wall member (19) is movable between a raised position in which the lower edge of the respective wall member (19) rests on the frame (11) and a lowered position in which the wall member is supported on its rolling supports (30, 31) and its lower edge is clear of the frame (11) so that the wall member may be moved to and from its open position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in moulding apparatus The invention relates to moulding apparatus particularly, but not exclusively, for moulding concrete products.

The invention provides moulding apparatus comprising a base frame, and a plurality of generally L-sectioned upstanding mould wall members, the wall members being movable between a moulding position in which the wall members are positioned parallel to one another with spaces between them to define generally L-sectioned mould cavities and an open position in which the wall members are moved apart singly from the moulding position so as to open the mould cavities to allow removal of a moulded product formed in each cavity in which each wail member is supportable on rolling supports provided adjacent the free ends and the apex of the lower edge of the member, at least one of the rolling supports being movable between a raised position in which the lower edge of the respective wall member rests on the frame and a lowered position in which the wall member is supported on its rolling supports and its lower edge is clear of the frame so that the wall member may be moved to and from its open position.

Preferably the rolling supports comprise wheels and preferably rails are provided for supporting the wheels for rolling movement. The movable wheel is preferably the wheel at the apex of each wall member and a hydraulic ram may be provided for moving this wheel. The wheels at the free ends of each wall member are preferably mounted on brackets projecting generally horizontally from the free ends of the respective wall member and arranged so that the axis of each wheel is generally level with the lower edge of the wall member. The rails may be below the level of the frame so that when the movable wheel is raised and the wall member rests on the frame, all three wheels are clear of their respective rails.

Each wall member may include mould cavity side members so that when the wall members are moved together the side members on one wall member abut an adjacent wall member thereby determining the spacing between adjacent wall members. Each wall member may further include a mould cavity base member which abuts an adjacent wall member when the wall members are in their moulding position to close off the lower end of the respective mould cavity.

Abutment means, for example, an end wall, may be provided for restraining one end mould wall member and rams may be provided for acting on the other end wall member of the apparatus to urge the wall members together in their moulding position.

The invention also provides a method of moulding products, particularly concrete products, using apparatus as described above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of moulding apparatus according to the invention, and in a moulding position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1, with the base frame removed for clarity; Figure 3 is an elevation view of one of the wall members of Figure 1 in its moulding position; and Figure 4 is an elevation view of the wall member of Figure 3 but in its open position.

Referring to the drawings, moulding apparatus 10 of the "battery mould" type is for use in moulding three L-section concrete panels simultaneously. A base frame 11 of the mould comprises parallel longitudinal I-section girders 12 supported by and attached to the transverse I-section girders 13. Also attached to the upper side of the transverse girders 13 are three longitudinal rails, a central rail 15 extending along the transverse centre of the frame 11 and outer rails 16 parallel to and outside the outer longitudinal girders 12.

A series of L-section mould cavities 18 are defined by mould wall members 19 and a mould end wall 20.

The end wall 20 comprises an upright L-section wall, the lower edge of which rests on the upper surface of girders 12 and the rear surface of which is fixed to abutment members 22 which are rigidly mounted on the frame 11.

Projecting from the front surface of wall 20 (that is, the surface contained between the arms of the L-section) are mould cavity side members 24 and a mould cavity base member 25. Side members 24 extend perpendicularly from the wall 20 over sub sta ntially the full heig ht of the wall 20 and adjacent the free edges of the arms of the L-section. Base member 25 extends perpendicularly horizontally from adjacent the lower edge of the wall 20. Side members 24 and base member 25 are all of the same width, that is, they all project from the wall 20 by the same distance.

Each wall member 19 comprises an upright Lsection wall similar to end wall 20 and includes mould cavity side members 28 and a base member 29 similar in orientation and dimensions to side members 24 and base members 25 of end wall 20.

However, each wall member 19 is not fixed to the frame 11 but rather is mountable on a retractable centre wheel 30 protruding from the lower edge of the apex of the wall member and two side wheels 31.

Each side wheel 31 is rotatably mounted between the arms of a U-bracket 32 which projects generally horizontally from and is rigidly connected to the lower edge of the free end of the respective arm of the L-section so that the axis of rotation of the wheel 31 is generally level with the lower edge of the wall member, when the wall member is vertical as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The centre wheel 30 is rotatably mounted on the free end of the piston rod of a hydraulic ram 34, mounted within the lower edge of the apex of the wall member.

Further hydraulic rams 35 are provided which may be mounted on the girders 12 to act on the wall member 19 remote from the end wall 20 in order to urge the wall members into contact when they are in the moulding position as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The moulding apparatus 10 is used in the following way. In the moulding position shown in Figures 1 to 3, the centre wheel 30 of each wall member is retracted. In this position, the wall member rests by its lower edge on the upper edge of girders 12 in a vertical position, and the side wheels 31 are clear of their respective rails 16. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wall members abut each other so that a series of mould cavities are defined between the wall members. The spacing between the wall members, and hence the width of each cavity, is determined by the width of the cavity side members 24, 28 and base members 25, 29 and these base and side members close off the lower and side edges of the cavity to define an L-section open top mould.The rams 35 are fixed on the girders 12 and actuated to urge the wall members into firm contact with the side and base members of the next succeeding wall member so that leakage from the edges of the mould cavities is prevented as far as possible. Each mould cavity is then filled with concrete or other suitable material (together with reinforcement if desired) and the L-section panels thus moulded are allowed to set.

When setting is complete, the moulded panels are removed from the mould as follows. The rams 35 are first retracted and removed from the frame 11. The centre wheel 30 of the wall member 19 remote from the end wall 20 is then lowered into contact with the central rail 15 by extension of the rams 34. Continued extension of the ram 34 raises the apex of the wall member and tips the wall member about the points of contact of the arms of the L-section with their respective girders 12 until the wheels 31 come into contact with their respective outer rails 16.

Further extension of the ram raises the wall member clear of the girders 12so that it is supported solely on the wheels 30,31. In this position (shown in Figure 4), the wall member is wheeled away from the adjacent wall member.

The panel in the cavity between this first wall member and the next adjacent wall member which is thus freed, is then lifted from the moulding apparatus by an overhead crane or other suitable means.

The centre wheel of the said next adjacent wall member is then extended and the process repeated to remove this wall member and the next panel.

The process is repeated for each succeeding wall member until all the panels have been removed.

When it is desired to return the moulding apparatus to its moulding position, the process is reversed. Each wall member in turn, starting with the one adjacent to the end wall 20 is rolled along the rails until it abuts the preceding wall and its centre wheel is then retracted to tip the wall member from the position shown in Figure 4to that shown in Figure 3. When all the wall members have thus been returned to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rams 35 are replaced on the girders 12 and actuated to urge the wall members together. The moulding apparatus is then again ready for use.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. In particular, the apparatus may include numbers of wall members 19 otherthanthree so that greater or lesser numbers of panels may be moulded in each batch.

Claims (10)

1. Moulding apparatus comprising a base frame, and a plurality of generally L-sectioned upstanding mould wall members,the wall members being movable between a moulding position in which the wall members are positioned parallel to one another with spaces between them to define generally L-sectioned mould cavities and an open position in which the wall members are moved apart singly from the moulding position so as to open the mould cavities to allow removal of a moulded product formed in each cavity in which each wall member is supportable on rolling supports provided adjacent the free ends and the apex of the lower edge of the member, at least one of the rolling supports being movable between a raised position in which the lower edge of the respective wall member rests on the frame and a lowered position in which the wall member is supported on its rolling supports and its lower edge is clear of the frame so that the wall member may be moved to and from its open position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the rolling supports comprise wheels.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which rails are provided for supporting the wheels for rolling movement.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the movable rolling support is the rolling support at the apex of such wall member, and a hydraulic ram is provided for moving this support between its raised and lowered positions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the rolling supports at the free ends of each wall member are mounted on brackets projecting generally horizontally from the free ends of the respective wall member and arranged so that the axis of each rolling support is generally level with the lower edge of the wall member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the rails are below the level of the frame so that when the movable wheel is raised and the wall member rests on the frame, all three wheels are clear of their respective rails.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each wall member includes mould cavity side members so that when the wall members are moved together the side members on one wall member abut an adjacent wall member thereby determining the spacing between adjacent wall members.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each wall member includes a mould cavity base member which abuts an adjacent wall member when the wall members are in their moulding position to close off the lower end of the respective mould cavity.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which abutment means, for example an end wall, are provided for restraining one end wall member and rams are provided for acting on the other end wall member of the appar atus to urge the wall members together in their moulding position.

10. Moulding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.