US2429012A

US2429012A - Apparatus and method for producing hollow piles

Info

Publication number: US2429012A
Application number: US647117A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence E Zigenbein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-12
Filing date: 1946-02-12
Publication date: 1947-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1964-10-14

Description

Oct. 14, 1947. Q Z|GENBEV|N I 2,429,012

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HOLLOW PI LES Filed Feb. 12, 1946 zzw gmfir/y v INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HOLLOW PILES 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for and method of producing concrete piles or poles and it has particular reference to the forming, in vertical position, hollow concrete piles or poles, hereinafter referred to as concrete pile.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the steps of the pile forming method which comprises a vertical frame in which is mounted for rotation a support for a tapered steel form or mold which latter embraces concentricallv a perforated steel core suspended in the steel form or resting on its. bot tom and adapted to receive concrete for distribution through its perforations to fill the annularspace between the walls of the form and core.

The result is a hollow, tapered pile having battered Walls after the concrete has attained a mechanical set and the form and core removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pile forming apparatus having a rotatable form and stationary or intermittentlyrotatable core with means for introducing concrete in the plastic state into the core and for discharging excess quantities hereof from the core at the bottom, together with means for creating at the bottom of the core a partial vacuum as an aid in expelling such excess concrete and to speed up A mounted on a shaft l6, supported in bearings l1 the drying process of the article formed. Moreover, the invention provides means for centering the upper end of the form in relation to its rotatable support, together with means carried by and vertically adjustable on the core for maintaining concentric relationship of the core and form, which means likewise serves to close the upmr end of the form to predetermine the length of the article formed therein.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a View of an apparatus constructed according to the invention in vertical section.

, Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof rotated 90 from Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section, taken on line 33 on Figure-1.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral I0 denotes a support consisting. in the present case of a plurality of parallel I beams, on which is mounted a stationary base II for a rotary table IL The rotary table is supported on bearings I3 of any suitable design and has a ring gear I4 thereon whose teeth are enmeshed by those of a drive pinion I5,

and chain driven through the medium of a sprocket l 8. This rotary and drive is more or less conventional and may be substituted by any other suitable rotating mechanism.

Unlike conventional rotary tables however, the 7 table shown has an annular boss 19, defining a central cavity in which is disposed the lower and smallest end of a tapered steel form or mold 20. At the upper or largest end of this form there is mounted an annular channeled member 2|, serving as a track for rollers 22, mounted in bifurcated bearing supports 23 which latter are affixed to and extend inwardly from suitable supporting means 24 secured to and extending from one to the other of perpendicular and relatively spaced angle irons 25 constituting the frame. These angle irons are braced at their upper ends by transverse members 26 of similar construction.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the tapered shell or form 20, when placed in the manner shown in the central cavity of the rotary table and supported at its upper end by rollers 22, it will revolve without deviating from the vertical when the rotary table is set into operation by a suitable driving means (not shown).

Suspended or resting concentrically in the form 20 is a core 21, tapered substantially the same degree as the form 20. This core is hollow and is provided with a multiplicity of perforations or openings 28. The core manipulated in relation to the form 20 by means of a bail 29 and cable 30 from a superstructure 3|, shown broken away in Figures 1 and '2, or from an independent derrick (not shown) of conventional construction.

The lower or smallest end of the core receives the end of a pipe 32 which enters through a central opening in the stationary base I l and rotary table 12 and serves, among other functions to be presently described, to hold the lower end of the core in concentric relationship with the form 20.

Concrete is pumped through the pipe 32 upwardly into the core 21 as the form 20 is rotated, the material flowing through openings 23 in the core until such time as the space between the core and form is filled, whereupon pump pressure is reversed and excess quantities of material are discharged through the pipe 32, thereby evacuating the core and, erecting in the bottom of the core a partial vacuum which will be effective not only to extract excess concrete from the core but also fore forming, a flanged collar 32a embraces the core 21 above its midsection and closes the annular space between the core and form at the top. It is obvious, in View of the tapered walls of both core and form, that a number of collars are necessary which are interchangeable. Moreover, for convenience in replacing these collars and flanges, it is preferred that they be made in semi-circular sections and bolted at their ends and to the core. The flanges on the collars serve the dual function of closing the upper end of the annular space intermediate the form and core 21 to determine the length of the article to be formed, as described, and to maintain centered.

relationship of the form and core at their upper ends.

The relationship of the form and core is such that the latter may be either set down on the closed lower end of the form, as shown, so that it will rotate with the form or the core may be suspended by the line 36 slightly above the form bottom so that it may be held stationary while the form is rotated. In the latter case, a holding means for the core is necessary and may consist of a conventional brake band, lever actuated to contract the same on the core near its top or intermittent rotation o'f'the core may be effected by the arrangement shown in Figure 1. This arrangement consists of a crown gear 33a embracing the core near its upper end and a dog 33?), pivoted at a to abracket 330 so that its inner and weighted end will normally fall between the teeth of the gear, holding the core against rota tion. To release the core's'o that it may resume rotation with the form, a line 34a is attached to and depends from. the tail of the dog 332), as shown, and upon pulling this line, the dog is elevated from the gear teeth. No limitation as to the manner of performing the foregoing function is intended.

It is likewise obvious that where steel reinforcing may be required, such reinforcing may be interposed between the walls of the form and core before the introduction of concrete.

After having produced a pile in the manner described, the core 21. is withdrawn by exerting an upward pull on cable 3|, after which the form containing the completed article is removed from the frame and the form is withdrawn from the pile. The form is then again installed in the frame and the process repeated. It may be found expedient to leave the form ZElintact in the frame and Withdraw the pile therefrom by means of the cable 3!) and elevating means, not shown.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing hollow, tapered bodies of concrete comprising a frame, a rotary table in said frame, a tapered form supported at its smallest end upon and rotatable by said rotary table, means engaging the top of said form for maintaining perpendicularity thereof in relation to said rotary table, a hollow, tapered and perforated core disposed in said form in concentric relationship therewith and capable of intermittent rotation therein, means for introducing concrete in plastic state into said core at the bottom thereof to enter the annular space between said form and core through the perforations in the latter, means vertically adjustable on said core for closing the upper end of said annular space to predetermine the length of the body being formed therein, and means for driving said rotary table.

2. In a concrete pile forming apparatus, a ver-- tical frame, a tapered form Vertically disposed in said frame for rotation, a perforated and analogously taperedv core mounted in said form, means for introducing concrete under pressure into said core for passage into the annular space between said core and form through the perforations in said core, an annular flange vertically adjustable on said core to close the upper end of said annular space to predetermine the length of said pile, means for securing said core against and for releasing the. same for rotation with said form, means for relieving said core of excess concrete and means for rotating said form.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2, further defined in that the annular flange normally closing the top of the annular space also maintains centered relationship of said core and form at their upper ends.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, further defined in that rollers operating on vertical axes are spaced about and engage the top of the form for maintaining perpendicularity thereof with respect to its rotatable support.

5. The hereindescri bed process of. producing hollow, tapered bodies of concrete, characterized by introducing into a vertically disposed, tapered form quantities of concrete under lp'ump pressure upwardly through a tapered core, in rotating'sai'd form during introduction of said concrete, in intermittently rotating said core with the form, in creating in the bottom of the core a partial vacuum to extract excess concrete and moisture, in removing thecore from the form and finally in withdrawing the completed body from the form after the material thereof has attained. a mechanical set.

6. The process of producing a hollow concrete body, characterized by initially introducing into a tapered, vertically disposed and rotating mold quantities of concrete under pressure through" the bottom of a correspondingly tapered and perforated core disposed for intermittent rotation, concentrically in said mold, in creating in the bottom of said core a partial vacuum subsequent to the forming of said body, to release excessconcrete from the core and excess moisture from the formed body, in withdrawing said core from the completed body and finally in withdrawing the body from the mold after said concrete has" hardened.

CLARENCE. E. ZIGENBEIN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES. PATENTS Name Date Melville et al' Aug. 18, 1931 Number