US2261736A - Gang mold - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1941. A. HENDERSON 2,261,736

l GANGMOLD Filed Aug. 21, 1959 i 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2 2 I INVEN-roR AZ b ert Hemd ens on Nov. 4, 1941. A. HENDERSON GANG MOLD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1939 /lNvl-:NTR Alb et .Henderson Nov. 4, A1941. A. HENDERSON Y 2,261,736

GANG MOLD l Filed Aug. 2l, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR l Albert Henderson Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES @Per orricr.A

2,261,736 GANG MoLp Albert Henderson, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to William P. Witherow, Pittsburgh, Pa.

appiicauen August 21,1939, serial Nmzeriaz claims.r (ci. 25-121) This invention relates to the manufacture fof concrete articles such as blocks, or the like, and particularly to a method and apparatus whereby such articles may be manufactured expeditiously and in quantities. A

Numerous methods and apparatus for manufacturing blocks or the like have been known heretofore but all of them `with which I amrfam iliar require a large amount of apparatus for producing large quantities of blocks because the methods practiced are slow, particularly in the setting or curing stage. It is an object of my i'nvention, therefore, to provide a method of making blocks or the like characterized by quick operation. A further object is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive apparatus for practicing the method. e

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of box-like liftable mold members including pallets or mold bottoms adapted to cooperate successively with a relatively xed mold member having cores thereon. The two members have interftting portions p'rovidi'ng a multiplicity of individual molds when the liftable member is disposed `upon the fixed member.

When the mold members have been assembled and lled, they are subjected to vibration. The

nature of the mix employed is such that theblocks are self-sustaining after'vibration so that the liftable member may be raised immediately, bringing the blocks with it; It is then deposited in a suitable location,l preferably on a'stack of similar members; after which the top of the upper member is closed and steam admitted to` the curing chamber defined by the stacked box-like mold members. After curing, the blocks are removed from the liftable frame members and the latter are then ready to be assembled again with the fixed member.

'I'he following detailed description of the apparatus and method refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating the aforementioned preferred embodiment and practice. lIn the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the box-like liftable mold member;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a detail; y

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the relatively fixed mold member mounted on a vibrator; e

Fig; is`a transverser sectional view taken through the assembled liftable and fixed mold ift p to facilitate unloading.-

members, along the plane of line II- II of Fig. l1 andvr*v1ofr'1g.5; Y. e I

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the liftabl mold members stacked to form curing chambers; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevationshovv'- ing the disposition of the lift'able mold `members Referring now in detail to the drawings, I lprovide a box-like liftable mold member Ill and a' rel' atively fixed mold member Iladapted to be ase sembled together by lowering the former over the latter to provide a gang mold having a multiplicity f individual molds. The member IIJ is composed of side walls I2 and end Walls I3 which may conveniently be I-beams. The side and end walls are connected by gusset plateslll.v Intermediate cross walls vI5 extend between the side Walls I2 and are disposed 'in spaced relation therealong. The cross' walls I5 may be secured to the side walls I2 by angles I6 or in 4any other convenient way. Pallets or mold bottoms I'I are secured to opposite sides of the cross Walls I5 by bolts. I8. As shown in Fig. 1, the pallets Il are arranged in pairs spaced along the length of the walls I5. The pallets have' flanges through which the bolts I8 extend.` Slots I9 in the' flanges permit the pallets to be adjusted vertically f the walls I5. Pipe connections 2l) extend through the sidewalls l2. A layer of insulation' 2I is ap'' plied'to the side and end walls. A compressible cushion strip'22l is applied 'to the bottom flanges of the beams forming the side and end walls" I2 and I3. Holes 23 at the ends of the side Walls are adapted to receive crane hooks as shown at 24.

The relatively xed mold member II comprises a pair of' spaced beams 25 having transverse beams 26 secured thereto. The beams 25 are supported on a vibrating table composed of beams 2'! and cross channels 28; Rotary eccentrics 29 on the beams 27 cause vibration thereof which is transmitted tothe remainder of the xed mold member. The beams 2'! are mounted on springs 30 to permit vibration thereof.

The beamsv 26 support a grid 3ll formed' of plates Whichis adapted to cooperate with the cross walls I5 and pallets II of the liftable mold member to denne a plurality of individual molds,

f The grid 3 I includes cross Walls l32 and end walls 33 extending at; right angles thereto. The ends of the end vwalls 33 associated with adjacent cross walls 32 are, spaced apartas at3rll to permit entry of the cross wallsnl 5 ofthe mold member I0. The cross walls 32 and end walls 33,

furthermore, enter the spaces between the pallets on adjacent cross walls I5 of the mold member I or the spaces between the pallets or the side and end walls I2 and I3 thereof. It will be apparent that when the mold member I0 is lowered on the member II, as shown in Fig. 6, a multiplicity of individual molds will be provided, the side walls of which are dened by the cross w-alls I5 and 32, the end walls 33 and the pallets Cores 35 are secured to the beams 26 in appropriate positions to form voids in the blocks molded in the individual molds.

In practicing the method of the invention, the individual molds are lled with concrete as indicated at 36, after the liftable mold member IIJ has been lowered over the iixed member II.

When the mold members have been so disposed, the pallets I1 rests on the beams 26 and the end walls I3 of the liftable member I0 rest on the beams 25. The filling of the molds may be accomplished in any convenient manner, either by a bucket carried on an overhead crane or a traveling hopper moved along above the length of the gang mold. After the molds have been filled, they are subjected to vibration to compact the concrete in the individual molds. As already explained, the rotary eccentrics 29 effect this vibration. Any suitable driving means may be provided for the eccentrics. During vibration, the compressible strips 22 serve to cushion the side and end Walls of the liftable member II). The pallets I1 rest directly on the beams 26, however, and are thereby subjected to the full effect of the vibration.

The amount of settling of the concrete to be expected on vibration of the molds depends on the nature of the aggregate, varying inversely with the density of the latter. For this reason, the pallets I1 are adjustable vertically by means of the slots IB, so that the blocks after vibration will have the desired height.

It is usually desirable to subject the tops of the molded blocks to compression after vibration, as the'vibration tends to loosen the upper layer of concrete in the individual molds. This may be accomplished by any convenient means not shown. I

VInstead of using a vibrating table to support the gang mold, I may install eccentrics in a series along the bottom of the gang mold in order to insure that the contents of all the individual molds will be subjected to the same amount of vibration regardless of whether it is the first or the last to be poured. To this end. the beams 2S may be mounted for individual vibration.

After vibration and compression of the concrete, the liftable member ID with the cross walls I5 and pallets I1 is raised from the iixed member I I, bringing the molded blocks with it. The concretey mix is of such character that the blocks are self-supporting after vibration. The molds are tapered to facilitate freeing the blocks therefrom. The liftable member I (I is raised by a crane and is then transferred to a curing platform 31 (Fig. 1). Here a plurality of `liftable members I0 are piled one on the other in stacks as shown at 38 and 39 over wells 4U. A steam line 4I is installed in the curing platform and extends into the wells 40. After the stacks of liftable members have been built up to the desired height, removable covers 42 are disposed on the topmember. Theside and end `walls of the liftable members, withthe covers 42, `form curing chambers in which the mold-ed blocks are supported in spaced relation so that steam admitted from below circulates therearound. Branch steam lines 43 are provided with detachable connections 44 adapted to be connected to the pipes 20 extending from the liftable members I0 so that steam may be admitted directly into each member, if desired. The Wells 45 have drains 45 to carry away condensate.

With the arrangement illustrated, the curing may be accomplished in a relatively short time, i. e., about sixty minutes. At the end of that time, the liftable members IU may be unloaded and again disposed on the xed member for a further molding operation. If the blocks are relatively light in weight, they may be manually removed from the stacked liftable members and deposited on carriers 4B which may then be removed by crane to a storage space. It will be understood that each of the members I0 is removed from the stack as it is unloaded.

v If the blocks are too heavy to permit them to be removed conveniently from the members I0 while the latter are in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 7, the unloading may be greatly facilitated by swinging the movable members up on one edge as illustrated in Fig. 8, by means of a crane. The blocks slide down the pallets I1 to the lower side wall and may then be easily removed by hand to a storage pile.

It will be apparent that the invention provides a method and apparatus whereby the manufacture of concrete blocks or the like may be greatly expedited. Enough liftable members I0 are provided for each fixed member II to permit continuous use of the latter. In other words, the liftable members I0 are disposed successively on the xed member and after filling are removed to the curing platform. The time required for thus building up one of the stacks on the plat- 1 form will be approximately equal to the time required `for curing and unloading a stack previously built up. In this way, a continuous movement of the liftable members from the vibrating table to the curing platform and back is maintained. The insulation around the sides and ends of the liftable mold members prevents excessive loss of heat during curing. The compressible strip around the bottom of each liftable member serves as a gasket to seal the joint between the members when stacked.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment and practice of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction and procedure disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A gang mold comprising a liftable member including a series of spaced, parallel partitions, and a series of pallets secured to each of said partitions in spaced relation therealong, and a iixed member including a series of spaced, parallel partitions each having a series of end walls extendingy laterally therefrom and spaced therealong, the partitions being so positioned along said members that when the liftable member is disposed on the fixed member the partitions of the two membersv alternate with each other, and the partitions on the liftable member fit between adjacent end walls.

2. Apparatus for making concrete articles of rectangular shape comprising a plurality of groups of -vertical mold walls, each including a sidewall and two end walls, and a removable mold wall forming the other side Wall for all said groups thereby dening a plurality of indvidual molds, and pallets for said molds secured to said removable mold Wall.

3. Apparatus for making concrete articles as dened by claim 2 characterized by said groups of vertical mold Walls being mounted on a fixed member, and cores on said xed member extending upwardly within the molds dened by said walls.

4. Apparatus for making concrete articles as defined by claim 1, said liftable member having outer side Walls defining a curing enclosure for articles molded therein after it has been removed from the fixed member.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by cores on said fixed member extending through said pallets and a vibrating frame supporting said fixed member.

ALBERT HENDERSON.

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