US2675598A

US2675598A - Apparatus for forming concrete conduits

Info

Publication number: US2675598A
Application number: US237742A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin L Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-07-20
Filing date: 1951-07-20
Publication date: 1954-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-20

Description

April 20, 1954 F. L. MILLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE CONDUITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1951 I N VEN TOR ATTORNEYS April 20, 1954 F. L. MILLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE CONDUITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20 1951 N ww 3 m Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR. FORMING CONCRETE. CQN T 2 Cla ms.

easy to. perate... and being suitable for h i stallation of concre e n ne. or con uit; of any desired. diame er-.

A fur her obieetoi the invention is. o provi ean improved: appara u f r iormins, continuous con re eoonduit. he appa a us b in of the type employing an inflatable. core arrang d o e nositi ned in. the tr h r or mp yed for the. lay sof he conduit, e pparatu of he present inve tio inc udin m an for flating the c re when the co crete is. t e pour d. removing he air in the inflated core a d substituting liquidtherefon. pr vid n mea s for maintainin the liquid. a constan pr s until the concrete has hardened, and including m ns for creating a vacuum. in: he core when h -l quid is o be. removed herefrom, wh e y e co e may b collap ed. and; remov d from the hardened conduit section.

A t l further obieo oi: he invention i to provide an. mproved appa atus for i rmins continuous len ths of; concrete con uit. d app ratus be ng of. the ype employ n inflatab core may b filled wi h. liquid; whi h; is held at. constant pressure while the concrete is hardening.- around; the. c re, the improved; pnar tus. bein pr vi ed with means for the removal of the inflatable core without damage thereto after the concrete has hardened.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompa ys draw g wherein;

Figure is. aside elevational view of an im proved apparatus for use in forming continuous concrete conduit in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken. on the line. 2-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1';

Figure 4 is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken through the casing portion of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the fluid systememployed. in the improved apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational View. partly in v rt cal ross-s c i n oi the rear end.- portion of the collapsible envelope employed the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4, showing the envelope in a contracted condition;

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtalgen on the line 1'l of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a series of vertical cross-sectional ws aken through. h m d and th ugh, h collapsible envelope during various stages. of formation of the concrete conduit, illustrating the inflation and subsequent collapse of the in! fiatable envelope, and the final removal oi the envelope after the concrete section has. hard-. ened;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view oi modified form of apparatus for use in forming continuous concrete conduit according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line I0i0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a series of crossesectionalviews similar to Figure 8, but showing the use 5; the modified form of the apparatus of Figures 9 and 10, and illustrating the dif erent shapes of the inflatable core of the apparatus during the process of forming a concrete conduit seo,-. tion.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 8, one form of apparatus for forming continuous concrete conduit according to the present invention is designated gem. orally at H. The apparatus H comprises a rigid tubular casing l2 to one. end of which secured an elongated, collapsible envelope l3 of tubular shape and which is closed at its end as shown at M. As shown in Figure. 4., the casing [2 has secured thereon a plurality of angle brackets l5 formed with open-ended slots 16:. As illus. trated, the slots is are provided in the outwardly extending arms of the angle brackets i5. Des.- ignated at H is a collar member having a. re-. duced. end portion is engaging over the end of the casing 12 and sealingly coupled thereto, as, by the interposition of an annular sealing gasket I9 between the end of casing i2. and the an! nular internal shoulder 20 of the collar ll. See cured to the collar H are a plurality oi an le. brackets 2| having slotted. outwardly directed arms 22 in which are engaged T-headed bolts 23 which engage also in the slots [6 of the angle brackets l5 and. which have further engaged on their ends the nuts 24,", which, whentightened, tightly clamp the collar 11' to the end of the casing l2. Designated at 25 is a flanged fitting which is coupled to the end of the collar H, as

by a union nut 26, the connection between the fitting and collar I! being sealed by the interposition of an annular sealing gasket 21 between the flanged end of the fitting 25 and the collar 17, as shown in Figure 4. Secured to the fitting 25 is the collapsible envelope it, which may be formed of any suitable flexible material, such as rubber or fabric hose material. As shown in Figure 6, the envelope l3 has a substantially smaller diameter when in a collapsed condition than the maximum outside diameter of the portion thereof engaged on the fitting 25.

Secured in the casing i2 is a longitudinally extending rigid tubular conduit 28. Connected to the end of conduit 28 adjacent the envelope 1% is a flexible hose section 29 which extends into the envelope !3, as shown in Figure 1. Designated at 39 is a transverse partition wall secured in the end of the casing 12 opposite the envelope l3, the rigid conduit 28 passing through the partition 5!). Connected to said partition 30 is a second conduit 3|, which in turn is connected to respective third and fourth conduits 3'2 and 33 leading to the high pressure outlet of a pump 34. Designated at 35 is a liquid reservoir connected through respective conduits 35 and 3'! constituting a fifth conduit to the low pressure inlet of the pump 34. Conduit 3| includes a manually controlled valve 38, conduit 32 includes a manually controlled second valve 39, and the fifth conduit includes a manually controlled fifth valve '20. Designated at ll is a sixth conduit connecting the second conduit 3! and the fifth conduit and including a manually controlled fourth valve 42. Designated at 43 is a conduit which connects the other end of the third conduit 32 to the top end of the liquid reservoir 35 and including a manually controlled third valve 44. Pump M is driven by an electric motor 45 which is connected to a suitable source of electric power through a pressure-controlled switch 45. The switch 45 is conventional in construction, and its pressure responsive element is connected by a seventh conduit 4'! to a tube 48 connected to and communicating with the casing I2. Connected to the tube '38 is a conventional pressure gauge 59. Tube 48 is also provided with a manually-controlled valve 50. Conduit 41 is likewise provided with a manuallycontrolled sixth valve 5|.

The tube 28 extends outside the casing [72 and is provided with a manually-operated first valve 52.

In using the apparatus, the envelope l3, in a deflated condition, is inserted through an apertured, transverse wall element 54 into the form 55 in which the conduit is to be cast, the casing I2 and the envelope being arranged to extend longitudinally and axially of the form 55, as shown in Figure 1. Valves A2 and 44 are closed, and the remaining valves are open. The motor 45 is energized and the pump 34 forces liquid from reservoir 35 into the casing I2 through conduits 35, 371, 33, t2, and 3!. The liquid enters the envelope I3 and forces the air in said envelope out of the envelope through the hose 29 and tubes 28, allowing the air to escape freely to the atmosphere. When all the air has been removed, the valve 52 is closed, and liquid is pumped into the casing until the casing has been completely inflated. A predetermined pressure of liquid is maintained in the envelope l8 by the operation of the pressure switch 56, which governs the actuation of the motor 45.

The parts are in the positions illustrated in the second diagrammatic figure in Figure 8 at this point. The concrete is then poured into the form 55 around the core defined by the inflated envelope i3, and is then allowed to harden. After the concrete has hardened,

valves

42 and 44 are opened, and valves it and 39 are closed. The motor 45 is again started, causing the liquid to be exhausted from the casing l'2 through conduits 3|, ll, 3?, pump 34, conduits 33'and 43 into the reservoir 35. This causes the envelope 13 to collapse, as shown in the fourth figure of the group of figures of Figure 8, disengaging the envelope from the internal wall of the conduit section previously formed, and allowing the envelope to be withdrawn from said formed section. It will be understood that a subsequent section of concrete conduit can then be poured, since the apparatus is moved longitudinally along the form, the end wall. 54 being moved along with the apparatus to a succeeding position in the form and the parts having the relative positions shown in Figure 1, whereby the next section of conduit may be poured in the same man-- nor as that previously described. It will be understood that air is allowed to leave the casing I2 at the beginning of the inflation of the envelope l3 by opening the valve 52, and that said valve 52 is closed as soon as all of the air is expelled from the casing.

Referring now to Figures 9, 10 and 11, a modification of the apparatus is disclosed, wherein an outer tube 13 of flexible material, such as paper, cloth, fabric, plastic, rubber, or other suitable material of suflicient tensile strength to withstand the pressure developed in the envelope I3, is provided around the envelope l3 to form a lining for the concrete conduit and to facilitate the removal of the deflated envelope 13 after the concrete conduit has hardened. The opera-. tion of the apparatus is the same as previously described, and the relative positions of the respective elements during the successive stages of pouring of the conduit section are illustrated in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, after the concrete has hardened around the outer tube 13, the inner envelope i3 is deflated and may be easily removed Without damage thereto from the liner I3.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved apparatus for use in forming continuous conduits have been disclosed in the foregoing de-' scription, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming concrete conduits comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible envelope having one end open and the other end closed arranged so that the open 'end faces and is connected to one end of the'casing, said envelope being adapted to be expanded to define a core around which concrete may be poured in forming a conduit, a partition Wall transversely arranged within said casing adjacent the other end thereof and secured thereto, a rigid tubular conduit arranged longitudinally within and spaced from said casing and supported in said partition wall, one end of said conduit being. exteriorly of the other end of said casing and in communication with the atmosphere, a first valve for opening and closing said one end of said conduit, a flexible hose positioned longitudinally within said collapsible envelope and having one end positioned adjacent the closed end of said collapsible envelope and having the other end connected to the other end of said rigid conduit, a second conduit extending into the other end of said casing and having one end supported in said partition Wall and in communication with the interior of said casing and having the other end ex-teriorly of said casing, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a reservoir, a third conduit having one end connected to the other end of said second conduit and having the other and connected to said reservoir, a fourth conduit having one end connected to said third conduit intermediate the ends of the latter and having the other end connected to the pump outlet, a second valve in the portion of said third conduit intermediate said fourth conduit and said one end of said third conduit, a third valve in the portion of said third conduit intermediate said fourth conduit and the other end of said third conduit, a fifth conduit having one end connected to the pump inlet and having the other end connected to said reservoir, a sixth conduit having one end connected in communication with the other end of said second conduit and having the other end connected to said fifth conduit adjacent said one end of the fifth conduit, a fourth valve in the portion of said sixth conduit adjacent said one end of said fifth conduit, a fifth valve in the portion of said fifth conduit adjacent the other end of said fifth conduit, a pressure responsive switch operatively connected to said pump, a seventh conduit having one end operatively connected to said switch and having the other end connected in communication with the interior of said casing, inwardly of said partition wall, and a sixth valve positioned intermediate the ends of said seventh conduit.

2. An apparatus for forming concrete conduits comprising a tubular casing, a collapsible envelope having one end open and the other end closed arranged so that the open end faces andis connected to one end of the casing, said envelope being adapted to be expanded to define a core around which concrete may be poured in forming a conduit, a partition wall transversely arranged within said casing adjacent the other end thereof and secured thereto, a rigid tubular conduit arranged longitudinally within and spaced from said casing and supported in said partition well, one end of said conduit being exteriorly of the other end of said casing and in communication with the atmosphere, a first valve for opening and closing said one end of said conduit, a flexible hose positioned longitudinally within said collapsible envelope and having one end positioned adjacent the closed end of said collapsible envelope and having the other endconnected to the other end of said rigid conduit, a second conduit extending into the other end of said casing and having one end supported in said partition Wall and in communication with the interior of said casing and hav ing the other end exteriorly of said casing, a pump, a reservoir, conduit means operatively connecting the other end of said second conduit to said pump and reservoir, a pressure responsive switch operatively connected to said pump, and another conduit means connecting the interior of said casing to said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,581 Boyle June 25, 1907 1,142,341 McNeil June 8, 1915 1,600,353 Nose Sept. 21, 1926 2,167,623 Britter Aug. 1, 1939 2,302,754 Eakin Nov. 24, 1942 2,389,164 Payne Nov. 20, 1945 2,530,055 Green Nov. 14, 1950