US1473200A - Method of making artificial building blocks - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6 1923.

F. MCM. SAWYER METHOD OF' MAKING ARTIFICIAL BUILDING BLOCKS l Patented Nov. 6, i923.

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METHOD OF MAKING ARTIFICIAL BUILDING BLOCKS.

Application filed January 12, 1920. Serial No. (1),802.

To all wiz-0m t may concern.' l

Be it known that I, FRANK MCMURRAY SAwYnR, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles. in the county of vLos Angeles and State of California, havel invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Artificial Building Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus and method of making, artitificial building blocks or slabs, particularly slabs provided with grooved edges and sunken panels.

One of the particular objects of the invention, is to provide a means for casting or molding artificial slabs in a rapid and efficient manner at a minimum of cost, and at the same time avoid the handling of 11n-- cured products, and utilizing only a limited amount of fioor space for the purpose.-

Another important object ofthe invention is, to provide a molding means inv which the` slabs are cured in dense formation and under a condition whereinl air is excluded during the curing process excepting possibly a very small amount which might enter around the edges of the molding means.v

These and other objects hereinafter set forth are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing. in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pile of slabs and their molding forms showing one step of the improved method.

Fig. 2. is a view similar to Figure 1 showing another step in the improved method.

Fig. 3. is a horizontal section on the line v 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4. is a perspective view of one of the core frames.

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one of the finished slabs looking .at the underside thereof, and i Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the molding frame or forms. A

Similar reference numerals in all of the figures of the drawing designate like parts.

The main idea of this improved method is to avoid the expensive system of handling green concrete products in the manner now ordinarily practiced, and to allow the slabs to cure in dense formation by excluding practically all air while curing. lThe improved method is as follows Starting on a smooth floor or substantial platform, a form 10 for molding a single same time.

slab is placed in position thereon. i This form is then filled level with concreate and floated to the form7 then after the concreate has set sufficiently, a sheet of oil paper 11 (or other material which is non-adhesive with'respect to .the slabanaterial) is laidover the face of the slab, and then another form 10 is placed in position on the top of the first mentioned form, filled and floated with concrete material, and after setting another sheet of oil paper is placed upon the top, and so on until the pile of slabs so formedfreaches a height too high to work l conveniently. It is of course understood more than one pile can be started at the As fast as .the concrete thoroughly sets in the lowerrnost slabs, the forms are removed therefrom and used for forming the slabs at the top of the pile, thus the lowermost slabs areutilized as supports for molding the upper slabs, thereby avoiding the necessity of moving the partly cured slabs from one lplace to another' in order to secure a smooth support for forming another slab. It being understood that the lower forms are not removed until after the concrete therein is set sufliciently to retain their shape and able to support the Weight of the slabs and forms'placed above the same. In this manner the slabs are practically cured in sealed chambers formed between the walls of the molds and the oiled'paper, and conse-- quently they cure in dense formation without air holes, thereby forming smooth and strong slabs.

ln certain constructions it is desirous of using` relatively thick slabs which are of relatively light weight so that they can be handled easily. For these conditions a sunken panel slab is formed, such as shown in the drawing. It being a part of the present method to form this sunken panel1 the operation is described as follows:

When the molding form 10 is placed in position, a form 12 is placed centrally therein. This form 12 is preferably constructed of very thin metal and has both ends open, andis of less height than the thickness of the slab to be cast. After mold 12 is placed in position it is filled and packed with damp sand, and then some of the slab material is poured around the same, preferably to the top thereof, and at this time the' form 12 is withdrawn and the vslab material poured into fill the form 10 and the paper applied 'as before described. It is obvious that the sand remains in place until` the slabs are cured.

In other certain constructions it is desirous of using slabs having grooves around their edges, in which event the forms or molds are provided with( ribs l-extending entirely around the Inold on its inner side and shaped to the contour of the groove desired. To provide for the removal of the forms or molds from the cured grooved f from the bottom grooved slabs of a .pile yin the course of formation, so that it can be used in another portion of the pile. They sides of the mold are preferably formed of three pieces to Vprevent warping,

kWith this'method one slab can be molded upon another in afew minutes, and when a seml-dry mixture A1s used the operation can be continuous. Oil paperhas been foundto be the best dividing means to-be used between the slabs, but when the slab material is allowed tovset suiciently, oil can of dividing the The method of molding artificial building I slabs havingT a central depressed' portion, consisting of placing a slab-form on a base, next placingr ahollow core-form centrally therein and filling the core-form with coreorming material, next filling the slab-form anterior ot' the core-form-'up to the height ot the core-form with :slab material, then'withdrawing the core-form while the slab material is soft leaving Vthe sand core lying within the slab material,` and finally,T

filling theslab-form over the sand core andv .then allowing the slab to cure before ythe removableof the slab-'form and sand-core.

FRANK MCMURRAY SAWYER.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

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