US1970245A

US1970245A - Process of and machine for making concrete blocks and article made thereby

Info

Publication number: US1970245A
Application number: US235470A
Authority: US
Inventors: Loren E Morse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-11-25
Filing date: 1927-11-25
Publication date: 1934-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1951-08-14

Description

Aug. :14, 1 934.

1.. E. MORSE PRCCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS AND ARTICLE MADE THEREBY Original Filed Nov. 25,. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 02197? 5/ /0296 W A'I TORNEY L. ENMORSE 1,970,245 PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS AND ARTICLE MADE THEREBY Aug. 14, 1934.

Original Filed Nov. 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 0)? 17/70/156 2% W/ ATTOENEY Patented Aug. 14, 1934 ill-J 1 er ie i l PROCESS OF AND.MACHINE FORHMAKING ,CONCRETE BLOCKS ANDi ARTICLE MADE THEREBY p 7 Loren E. Morse, Jersey City, 1N. Application members, 1927; Serial No. 235,470 7 i Ren wed M 19., 1932, v Y 9 Claims, (01. 25-100) The present invention relates to process :of manufacture to carry out the process in a suitable and machine for making concrete blocks and is machine inwhic'hthe operations are carried out more particularly directed toward the manufacin the desired sequence. It is therefore an object ture of concrete blocks and'tile which are comof the present invention to provide a machine paratively thin and suitablefor use where a nonwherein concrete blocks or tile of the above 60 bearing unit 'is preferred, as for exampley'in nature made' from cinders, sand'or other'aggrepartitions, curtain walls and other places wherein gate may be manufactured in an economic, and great strength is not necessary; Whilethe inexpeditious manner. e 9 I vention is moreparticularly intended for use in A more particular object of the invention is to 1 making cinder concrete blocks, it is suitable for providea machine wherein a single power drive 65.v the manufacture of concrete blocks out of other is adaptedto intermittently advance a carrier or materials; such as sand, or other aggregate. conveyor carryingthe open mould box past a suit The present invention also relates to an imable'hopper and feed box for material, and other proved concrete cinder block in which a number power operated'devices for closing the mould of holes extend nearly all theway through the box and ajcting on-the loose material in "a closed 70 block and wherein the mixture is compressed mould box to makeit' into a block-or tile ort e sufficiently to provide the block with a definite desired size. I

regular outline of predetermined size and yet not A further objectof the invention is to provide so-mu'ch as to materially increase its weight-and reciprocatory pluggers and: followers alongside an 0; density. Y intermittently driven mould box which are adept 7'5 According to the preferred method employed ed to operate in proper sequence to compress the inmakingthe concrete blocks, a predetermined material in the mould box to a predetermined quantity of mixtureis placed in a mould box amountand torem'ain in this position while which comprises a relatively fixed bottom," fixed pluggers are withdrawn from the compressed side walls and a fixed end wall, a cover capable block. i of being fixedly held in position; and a movable A further objector the invention is to inter end wallin the form of apiston or plunger, so that connect the shutter for controlling the flow or a'predetermined quantity of material is held ina mixture from the hopper to an empty mould box chamber of predetermined size and configuration. and'rthe mechanism for operating the above sets Hole forming'plungers are then passed into the f plu e s s t at h y may b aetuatedinp p s5- materialto displace the same and provide lightensequence, and when the mould'boxesare station ing holes; after which the movable end comary. V f a presses the material by a gentle pressure (un- Other and fur-ther'objects of theinvention will accompanied by tamping) sufficiently to insure appearas the description probeedssharp even corners and sufficient density in the p Th c mp y drawings Show, Q '"P Q0 finished block tobe suitable for the purposes p sflef i us a t invention, one of th intend-ed; i it many possible embodiments in which the inven In the preferred method of carrying out these t ny ay t k f it' ns und ie operations, the hole-forming plungersare first rawings are illustrative'of the invention rather 4 forced into the loose material in the'clo'sed mould h limiting e am v Y 95 box, thereby compressingthe material to' aco'n h 'e gs= side'rable extent, especiallyin the rear end ofthe Fi -"l is e ee plan we eenerete ek mould b'ox.-'The piston or plunger then iollows making-machine, the cover for th m l the hole-forming plungers to'compressfthe mab n m e f terial at the front of the mould box and-give the i e 2518 Hi sectibilal View taken on the line 1.00 blockthe desired dimensions." 'I-his follower is 241-2 Figure *7 thenpheld m m hi t -ho] e formjng Figure 3 is anlend elevational view talienin plungers, or pluggers, are withdrawn so that there h ction 0f thearrowB 0i F g e "is no tendency to breakup theblock by such Figure 4 i531 sefltion taken on the 11118 withdrawal. The follower is thenmoved'back to of Figure 2111 the ree-t on'ofthe arrows} 1'05 relieve the moulded block from pressure, after Fi ur 5 i n ar d f m n ry-view of which the box may be opened and the block taken a Showing h drive f the Conveyor; away for curing or drying in the ordinary manner. Figure 6 is a plan'view' taken in the direction While the above process can be carried outlay of the arrow 6 of Figure 2; parts being in section;

5. hand, it is preferable for purposes of economic figure ,7 is a perspective view of aform of 5 block which may be made in the present machine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view indicating a modification of the machine for making two blocks simultaneously; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of a modification.

In the form of construction shown in the drawings, two horizontally disposed channels 10 and 11 are mounted on suitable framework designated generally by the reference characterl2 so as to carry these channels in a horizontal position above the floor. Bearing members 1313 and 14-14 are fastened tothe under side of these channels and these bearing members support shafts 15 and 16 which carry pairs-of sprocket wheels 17l7 and 18-18 keyed to the respective shafts. These sprocket wheels carry sprocket chains 19. and 20 which are adapted to travel between the channel members 10 and 11 andpreferably spaced a slight distance below the upper space of the channels. 1 .3

Ang1es 21 and .22 are fastened to the upper side of the channels 10 and 11 to form guides for

cross members

23 and 24 arranged in pairs on the chain. Cross members 23 are permanently mounted on the chain and are adapted to'slide along the upper surface of the channels 10 and 11, while themembers 24 are preferably hingedly connected to the sprocket. chainsas indicated at 25. The

cross members

23 and 24 form side walls of a mould box whose end walls are provided by the angle members 21 and22. The bottom of the mould box is in the form of a removable pallet 26 which extends under a portion of the cross member 23 as indicated and on which the cross member 24 rests as shown in the drawings.

The sprocket chains, cross piecesand pallets are adapted to be intermittently advanced toward the left, as shown in the drawings, by a driving motor 30, through reduction gear 31 and an intermittent drive. As shown in Figure 5, this takes the form of a mutilated gear 32 meshing with a pinion 33 carried on the shaft 15. The motor 30 is also used to actuate the other parts of the machine. r p

Laterally extending channel members .40 and 41 are fastened to the channel 11. They extend to the right as indicated in Figure 3, and are supported on feet 42 and 43. These channels 40 and 41 support other parts of the machine which are actuated by the motor.

To actuate the parts just referred to, the motor 30 is connected through bevel gears 44.with"a shaft 45 suitably mounted'underneath the channel members 40, as for example-on the legs 42. The shaft 45 is connected with a counter shaft46 through sprocket wheels and chain 47. The shaft 46 is mounted in brackets 48 carried by the channels 40 and 41. This shaft also carries a pair of cam members 49 and 50 having cam;;tracks51 cooperative with followers 52 carried on arms 53 and connected to a rocking shaft 54. The arms 53 are connectedby links 55with a reciprooato-ry block 56 carried on the upper side of ,the channel members 40 and 41. This block 56is connected to plungers or pluggers 57 of which four are shown in the drawings. Thesepluggers or plungers pass through a bearing block 58 secured to the channels 40 and 41 and extend rearwardly as indicated in Figure 1, across the upper surface of the channel 11. These hole forming plungers or pluggers also pass through a ramming member 59. The member 59 is in the form of aramming member or plunger connected by bell cranks 60 with links 61 which are actuated by cam tracks 62 carried in cam plates 63 fastened to the shaft 45. The rocking shaft 54 extends to the right as indicated in Figure 1 and is pivotally mounted in standards 65. It carries a yoke 66 provided with arms 67 which are connected by links 68 with a slidable shutter 69 carried in guides 70 mounted ontop of the channel members 10 and 11.

The motor driven shaft 45 is connected by means of bevel gears '71 with a counter shaft 72 carried on brackets 73 supported from the channels 10 and 11. This shaft is located under- .neath the mould box in line with the plungers 57 and 59. The shaft 72 carries a pair of cam be moved-back and forth in the slotted guides -78. This roller is adapted to force downwardly a cover member 79 carried above the mould boxes and held in position by a cross brace 80 carried by the angles 21 and 22 and pins 81 as indicated in Figure 2., H.

The mechanisms which have so far been described, are preferably timed so as to operate in proper sequence to produce blocks in large quantities with a minimum of labor, and attention. The parts are so timed that the conveyor for the mould boxes is advanced when all the other parts are at rest and these other parts are actuated when the conveyor is at rest.

The operation of -the machine veniently described as follows:

The

cross pieces

23 and 24 are brought up around the sprocket wheels 18 as indicated in the drawings and when they have reached position A the operator, swings the cross member 25 to the left and inserts a pallet 26 underneath the cross piece 23 and then drops or lowers the cross piece 24 down onto the pallet. These parts are then 'inthe position indicated at B and shown in cross section in Figure 4. The machine is prefer ably provided with two such positionsin advance of the hopper, so that workmen will have more opportunity to place the pallets in position. The conveyor is then advanced by the motor to carry the parts from the position B to the position C thereby bringing the open mould box (formed by the

cross pieces

23 and 24, the pallet 26 and the end walls 21 and 22) underneath the chute or hopper 100. During the time that the mould box has been moved underneath the hopper the shutter 69 is in a positionto cut off the flow of aggregate from the hopper into the mould box. After the mould box has stopped, however, the motor driven devices above the shutter to move it back and permit the ma-' terial toflow from the hopper into the mould box may be conafterwhich the shutter is so arranged that the driven devices, above described, actuate the roller 77-to apply pressure-to the mould box cover 79 to press it tightly down against the

cross pieces

23 and 24 and the angle member 21. The movement; of the mould box to the position B will have brought it beyond the end of the angle member 22 and in front of the plungers 57 and 59 above described.. i 1 V described, actuate.

As soon as the mould'box has :beeneifectively closed by clamping down the' cover plate, the

cams and motor driven partsare so timed that.

thehole forming-plungers or .pluggers 57 are rammed home to the position indicated in Figure 1 thereby forming holes which extend nearly all the way through the block. These pluggers' will force the material toward the .end wall 21 compacting it into the corners to'a considerable extent; in doing this they encounter considerable resistance. After the pluggers have been'iorced home the follower or ramming member 59 is then actuated by the appropriate cams to apply pressure to the loose aggregatein the box. -.This ap plication of pressure is comparatively gentle' and as it is accomplished in a single strokeythereis no tamping action in the making of the block. In Figure l, the ramming-member 59 is shown in the position to which it is actuated after the pluggers 57 have formed the holes in the block. This ramming member 'follows the pluggers' in and is then held stationary. The pluggers are withdrawn by the cam operating devices. :ZBy holding this ramming member 59 stationary during the withdrawal of these plungers, there is'no tendency to break up or disintegrate the end of the block. After the pluggers have been withdrawn, the follower 59 is then withdrawn to be clear of the cross piece 23. The. cams'then move the roller '77 back to the left releasing the pressure on the cover plate so that the conveyor may advance the finished'block to position By the operation ofthe devices which have been described, a self-sustaining block has been formed with even, regular outline, sharp corners, and comparatively low densityandweight; .This block will be carried out of the. machine to the positions E and F where the pallet holding them may be readily removed from the machine and'the formed block taken away for curing and drying in the manner appropriate to the aggregate being used. 4

It will of course be understood that the machine is capable of rapid operation. The work men will place pallets in the positions A and'B. A supply of material will be maintained in the hopper. Other workmen will remove'the com-' pleted blocks from the positions E and F. The motor will operate the shutter, plunger, and

mould-box closing roller inthe propense'quence while the conveyor is idle and will'then with draw all these parts'to permit the motor to advance the conveyor.

The blocks which are made by the present machine may have a shape such as indicated in Figure 7 as 102. A number of holes extend through the block nearly to the other end. Of course the holes may be caused to go all the way-through, if

desired. Blocks of this nature are very light in weight and yet are sufiiciently strong to be suitable for use as a non-bearing unit such as in partitions, curtain walls, and whereever great strength is not necessary. The blocks are made without tamping the material and thereby much higher speed of operation is possible and much less power is used than where the material is tamped a number of times to bring it to great density and strength.

In some instances, it may be desirable to make up two or more blocks in a single operation, in

which case the machine may be constructed as illustrated fragmentarily in Figure 8, wherein the corresponding parts are referred to by the same reference characters with a prime added. Here a cutter 105 is adapted to pass down between the hole :formi'ng plungersflfi'lfpand into a guidin notch-.106 inthe. anglemember 21; This cutter. 1.05:.preferably isiactuated-prior to the plungers 571'. andwillcut the aggregate in the box into two halves which maybe acted on byv the plungers and follower. in the manner heretofore described. ...-Instead of having the hole forming plungers and ramming member both: at the same side of the mould box, it is possibleptoplacethem on op-- posite sides .of;the box, as indicated diagrammaticallyin Figure 9.. The side blocks 23 and 24, pallet-26andc0ver 79 for-the mould box may be the same as has heretofore been described in detail. .Instead,.however,;of having the end of the mould box. oppositeihehole forming plungers fixed, asshown iii-Figures 1. and 2, the present constructionnses .a fixed abutment 110 through which the hole forming plungers 57" pass. The opposite .end of .the mould box is provided with a ramming. member 59%. The operating. mechanism shown'inthe drawings may be rearranged to provide for forcing the hole forming plungers 5'7": into the looseag'gregate andfor forcing the ramming member 59: into compress the material to the final size. As the abutment 110 is stationary it will be possible to time. the .parts so that the plungers 57" and the ramming member 59 will both be withdrawn simultaneously.

It will-of course be obvious that the machine is capable of-being embodied in many forms and hence I, desire it to be understood. that the present drawings should: be considered as merely showing an illustrative embodiment ofv the invention, the partsmay be changed invarious manners and rearranged to suit conditions which may arise. The scopeofthe invention'is indicated by the following claims.

" what'isclaimed'isz' I 1. A concrete block machine comprising an intermittently driven conveyor, mould boxes car ried by the'conveyor, a" hopper for feeding aggregate intothe mould boxes, a cover under which the filled mould box is moved, the machine having a longitudinal abutmeiit forming 'wall providing one side of a closedmolding chamber, means to clamp the cover tightly onto the mould box, to close the chamber, a'plurality of hole forming plungers opposite to the abutment forming wall, means" to drive them into the material in the closed mould box, a follower for the plungersand means to actuate the iollowerto compress the material-toward the wall and redirect it to a predetermined volume in one operation without tamping.

2. A concrete block making machine comprising an intermittently driven conveyor carrying the sides of a plurality of mould boxes, pallets removably carried by the sides of the mould box, supports along which the mould box slides while carried by the conveyor, said supports also carrying fixed strips which provide end walls for the mould box, means to fill the mould box while the conveyor is stationary, a cover member under which the material is moved by the conveyor, a ramming member carried beyond the end of one of the strips underneath the cover, and means for actuating the ramming member to compress the material to a predetermined volume in one operation without tamping.

3. A concrete block making machine comprising an intermittently driven conveyor carrying the sides of a plurality of mould boxes, pallets removably carried by the sides of the mould box, supports along which the mould box slides while carried by the conveyor, said supports also carrying fixed strips which provide end walls forthe mould box, 'means to fill the mould box while the conveyor is stationary, a cover member under which the material ishmovedby the conveyor, a ramming member carried beyond the end of one of the strips and underneath the cover, the other strip being opposite the-ramming member, a plurality of holeformingplungers extending through the ramming member, means to. actuate-the plungers to push them into thematerial, means for actuating the ramming member to compress thematerial to a predetermined volume in one operation without ltamping, means for withdrawing theplungers and means for thereafter withdrawing the ramming member.

4. A concrete. block machine comprising an in.-, termittently driven conveyor, parts'carriedby the conveyor and cooperative with adjacent guides for providing intermittently advanced mould boxes, a hopper, a shutter for filling a mould. box while the conveyor is stationary, and cooperative devices for closing another mould box, forming holes in the contents thereofvand ramming .said contents to a predetermined volume in one operation without tamping.

5. In a concrete block making machine, a pair of parallel chains, driving wheelsfor operating them together, means for intermittently advancingthe wheels and chains, fixed guides spaced alongside the chains, pairs of cross pieces carried by thechains and extending between the guides, pallets between the pairs of cross pieces and slide able along the guides, the pallet, guides and cross pieces forming an open .mould box, a hopper'for aggregate above the mould box, and a shutter for l the controlling the fiow of aggregate into the open mould box, the shutter when closed trimming off the material even; with the top of the open mould box.

-6. In a concrete block making machine, a pair of parallel chains, driving wheels for operating them together, means for intermittently advancing the wheels and chains, fixed guides spaced alongside the chains, pairs of cross pieces carried by the chains andextending between the guides, pallets between the pairs of cross pieces and slidable along the guides, the pallet, guides and cross pieces forming an open mould box,

means for filling the mould box with aggregate, acover positioned beyond the filli meansto, close the top of the mould box when the chains are advanced, one of said guides terminating short of thecover, and cooperative devicesior first formingholes in theaggregate and then compressing it into the form of a self-sustaining block of, regular outline. a a

7.. In a concrete block making machine, a'pair of parallel/chains, driving wheels for operating them together, means for intermittentlyadvancing the wheels and chains, fixed guides spaced alongside the chains, pairs of cross pieces carried by the chains. and extending between the guides, pallets between the pairs of cross pieces and slida-ble along thev guides, the pallets, guides and cross pieces forming an open mould box, means for filling the mould box with aggregate, a cover positioned beyond the filling means to close the top of the smouldbox when the chains are advanced, one 'of said guides terminating short of the cover, the other guide extending underneath the cover, hole forming plungers, means to force the plungers into the loose aggregate, a ramming member opposite the latter mentioned guide, and means for operating the ramming member to compress the material to form a self-sustaining block of even regular outline.

8. In a machine of the character described, for making a block of low density, in combination, a mouldbox with fixed side walls and an end vwall, thefourth side of the mould box being open, means for. placing a charge of loose aggregate in the mould box, a follower block cooperating with the open end of the mould box and provided with a plurality of openings, a-plurality of plungers adapted to move in the openings of the follower block transversely of the mould, means for moving'the, follower block and the plungers toward andinto the 4 open end of the mould box for packing the charge, means for holding the followerblock in packing position while the plungers are being withdrawn, and means for retracting the follower block only after the plungers have been substantially com pletely withdrawn. Y

,9. The methodqof making a low density, nonload-bearing block from loose aggregate, comprising placing a charge of aggregate in a mould, compressing the charge in the mould by forcing plungers intov the aggregate and by applying pressure witha ramming member, and maintaining the packing pressure as exerted by the ramming member until the plungers have been completely removed from the block. I

LOREN E, MORSE.