US2682695A

US2682695A - Concrete tile forming machine

Info

Publication number: US2682695A
Application number: US196000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Neuman E Ramsey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-11-16
Filing date: 1950-11-16
Publication date: 1954-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-06

Description

July 6, 1954 N. E. RAMsEY CONCRETE TILE EORMINC MACHINE Filed Nov. 16. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l A N w, E; M

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CONCRETE TILE FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1950A IN V EN TOR. ,4

July 6, 1954 N E RAMSEY 2,682,695

CONCRETE TILE FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CONCRETE TILE FORMING MACHINE Neuman E. Ramsey, Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,000

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic machines for producing tubular members from cementitious materials and has to do more specifically with concrete forming apparatus capable of intermittently feeding the material into tubular molds therefor as the latter are continually and successively moved into and out of a feeding position.

Machines of the kind forming the subject matter of this invention have heretofore been developed and placed in use but for the most part, the same are not entirely automatic and therefore, require a number of workmen, together with constant attention in order to form concrete tiles with any degree of speed. Oftentimes such machines also require an additional workman for feeding the material into the molds, together with another worker for intermittently shifting the molds into a feeding position as still another workman removes the molds from the machine and replaces the same after the tile has been removed therefrom.

It is the most important object of this invention therefore, to provide a concrete tile forming machine that includes a turntable operably connected with other parts of the machine for supporting a plurality of forms and shifting an empty form into a feeding position during each cycle of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide va tile forming machine that includes a recpro- Ycable forming and packing plunger, the aforesaid turntable being operated by the same mechanism that is provided to cause reciprocation of the plunger.

Another equally important object of the invention is to provide means in a tile forming machine to automatically hold the aforesaid plunger against movement at one end of its path of travel momentarily while the same is in the mold so that sufficient time is allowed to direct cementitious material thereinto and thereby present a fully formed and adequately packed tile throughout the length thereof and particularly at its lowermost end.

Other objects of this invention include the wat7 in which the feeding device is rendered operable only when the forming and packing plunger is within the tubular mold; the way in which the speed of operation of. the entire assembly may be easily and quickly adjusted without the necessity of resynchronization; the manner of locking the mold being filled in position on the turntable each .time the same moves to a feeding position; the way in which the turntable is stepped 90 during Aeach cycle of operation and locked against movement while the tile is being formed; and the manner of preventing reciprocable movement of the tile locking means while the same is in a position holding the tile in place on the turntable.

Many more minor objects including details of construction and novel arrangement of parts will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a concrete tile forming machine made pursuant to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on irregular line IV--IV of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on line V--V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing a portion of one side of the machine opposite to that illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings andv taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, detailed sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary, elevational View opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 2 and showing a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7.

The entire machine forming the subject matter hereof and illustrated in the drawings may be suitably supported in any desired manner on a base not shown, upon which base is mounted an elongated, vertical primary frame member l0 that is H-shaped in cross-section as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

A horizontal spider-like turntable I2, provided with a central opening (not shown) circumscribes the upright frame member l0 intermediate the ends of the latter and is supported for rotation about the vertical axis of frame member I0 by a plurality of rollers Ml` carried by standard I0 on the outer faces thereof. The turntable l2 as illustrated, includes four ngers, each adapted to receive and support a tubular mold I6 of conventional character in that the same is split longitudinally and provided with a lock not shown for releasably holding the same in a tubular condition until such time as the tile formed therein is to be released.

Both ends of the form I6 are open and when the same is supported in an upright condition by the turntable I 2, the lowermost end thereof fits within a circular opening I8 formed within each linger respectively of the turntable I2. The lower end of the form I6 rests upon an annulus 20 underlying the turntable I2 and aixed thereto in concentric relationship to the corresponding opening I 8.

A pair of opposed, L-shaped lugs 22 (Fig. l), adjacent each opening I8 respectively, receive opposed pins 24 on the forms I6 near the lowermost end of the latter to hold the same in place. The pins 24 are moved into and out of a position locked with the lugs 22 by merely rotating the form It on its longitudinal vertical axis. The turntable i2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 intermittently 90 in stepby-step fashion through mechanism hereinafter to be described successively bringing the molds I into a feeding position underlying a cup-shaped, horizontal feed table 2S.

Table 26 is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings at the lowermost end of its reciprocable path of travel as is a forming and packing plunger 28 as the same would appear if a form I6 were in position interposed between table 2S and the turntable I2. For clearness however, such form It to be fed with cementitious material is not shown in the feeding position in Figs. 1 and 2.

The feed table 26 is connected rigidly to a pair of opposed vertically reciprocable rods 3i) and 32 through the medium of a pair of laterally extending arms 31% and 36 respectively. The vertically reciprocable, elongated rods 32 are carried by the upright It on opposite faces thereof by spaced bearings 38, the lowermost bearings 38 serving as stops for limiting the extent of downward movement of the rods and 32 and the feed table 26 with its arms 3Q and 36.

The plunger 28 is mounted on the lowermost end of an elongated stem 4I] that is both rotatable and reeiprocable on its longitudinal vertical axis. The stem ISG extends upwardly through a central opening :l2 formed in the bottom of feed table 2c and having a diameter suiiciently large to receive and clear the plunger 28. Rotation of the stem lil and of the plunger 28 thereon is effected through the medium of an electric motor or other prime mover @il suitably carried by the standard I near the uppermost end of the latter, having connection with a pulley ll through endless belts or the like 138. The pulley 48 is mounted upon the stem tid through the medium of a plurality of vertical grooves 5e formed in the stem 4G, there being lugs in the pulley 46 slidable within the grooves 5t as the stem 40 is caused to reciprocate vertically. In other words, the connection between pulley it and the stem l0 is of conventional character permitting pulley It to rotate the stem :i9 and at the same time permitting the stern 4d to reciprocate upon its longitudinal axis within the pulley 5 as continuous rotation takes place.

The standard IS has a pair of opposed tracks 52 carried on opposite faces thereof and to one side of the rods 3Q and 32 respectively for guiding a pair of opposed vertically reciprocable identical plates 54. The plates 54 extend outwardly from the tracks 52 beyond the standard It and converge as the outermost ends thereof are approached.

The plates 54 are joined by a bottom wall Sii that extends outwardly beyond plates 54 and rotatably receive the stem 4e together with a block 58 on wall 56. While the stem 40 is rotatable within wall 56 and block 58, it cannot reciprocate relative thereto. A plurality of opposed rollers Se for each of the tracks 52 respectively, guide the plates 5e and structure carried thereby including stem i5 as the same reciprocate vertically along tracks 52.

The plates 513 are also joined by a cross-bar 62 that is in turn connected with a stem 5ft forming a part of an hydraulic system through the medium of a bracket 66. Stem 64 joins at that end thereof opposite to bracket 5S with a piston G8 mounted within a vertically disposed cylinder 'III carried within a portion of the standard I. It is seen therefore, that as hydraulic pressure is directed to the cylinder III on either side of the piston 68, the stem 64 will be reciprocated to impart the same motion to plates 54 and the stem IG of plunger 28.

The reciprocable rods 3K) and 32 are each normally locked against upward movement whereby to hold the feed table 2S in the position illustrated in Figs. l and 2 through the medium of toggle mechanism including a link l2 pivotally interconnecting standard Iii at the uppermost end thereof and a cam member that is pivotally secured to the uppermost end of the corresponding rod 32. The two locks are broken by upward movement of the plates E4 through the medium of a small roller i8 on each plate 54 respectively that contacts the cam member '14. As the rollers 'I6 continue to move upwardly under the influence of the piston stem 54, and after the cam member 'I have been swung on their pivot points, the rollers 'I6 move into a cam-like notch 'It formed in the cam member 'It carrying therewith the

rods

35 and 32 and causing the same to move from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to an elevated position not shown. Obviously, as rods 32 rise in this fashion, the feeding table 25 will be carried therewith and move upwardly away from the turntable I 2.

The feed table 25 is formed similarly to the turntable I2 in that the opening I2 thereof has an annulus 89 for receiving the uppermost end of the form i5 and holding the same on the turntable I2 when the feed table 26 is in the position illustrated in Fig. l. Accordingly, as the table 26 moves upwardly, the forms I6 are free to rotate under influence of the turntable I2 and as the table 2% returns to its lowermost position, an empty form I6 is engaged thereby and held locked on the turntable I2.

It is further understood that when the stem 64 moves downwardly to cause descent of roller 16, the latter will actuate cam member 'IG to again lock the rods and 32 and the feed table 26 against upward movement.

The means for imparting rotation to the turntable I2 all through prime mover lill, is illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 and includes a springloaded swingable dog 82 on the turntable I2 for each finger thereof respectively that is engaged by a latch member BLI swingably secured to the standard I 9. 1Swinging movement is imparted to the latch member S each time the piston stem Sli rises, by means of a cross-bar 86 that joins the rods 39 and 32 adjacent the arms 35 of table 2S.

An extensible bar 88 pivotally connected with the cross-bar 36 intermediate the ends thereof has pivotal connection at its lowermost end with a link 9G swingably secured to the standard I 0. A bell crank 92 pivoted on a horizontal axis 94 has one of its arms pivotally connected with the link 90 by a short link 96, and its other arm pivotally joined with a reciprocable bar 98 by means of a short link |00. Swinging movement is imparted to the latch member 84 therefore, upon reciprocation of bar 98 through the medium of a link |02 that pivotally interconnects bar 08 and the latch member 84.

The hydraulic system above mentioned and forming a part of the machine hereof is for the most part quite conventional and has therefore, not been detailed. However, for reasons hereinafter to be made clear, it is advantageous to drive the hydraulic pump |04 thereof directly from the continuously rotating stem 40 through the medium of an endless belt |05. The system including pump |04 couples directly with a two-way valve |06 mounted on a plate |08 carried by upright l0 by means of line ||0. Valve |06 is provided with two outlet pipes ||2 and ||4 joined with the uppermost and lowermost ends respectively of cylinder 10 and a relatively small receptacle H6 joins with the pipe ||4 by conduit H8.

cementitious material to be fed into a form I6 within a feeding position below table 26 is stored within a hopper-like bin provided with an outlet opening at its lowermost end not shown, directly overlying an inclined chute |22. There is provided within the bin |20 an auger, not shown, for feeding the material into the trough or chute |22 that is driven by a prime mover |24 connected directly with the auger through suitable gear reduction by means of an endless belt or the like |26.

The plunger 28 is Vformed as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 8 to operate both as a forming means and as a packer and includes a cylindrical, preferably solid, lowermost portion |10 and an upper portion that comprises a pair of opposed segments |12 presenting a pair of opposed spaces therebetween and above the solid portion |10.

Laterally projecting notched plates |14 are mounted at the outermost end of each nger respectively of the turntable |2 for receiving a locking bar |16 depending from the feed table 26 whereby to hold the turntable |2 against rotation when the feed table 26 is at the lowermost end of its path of travel as shown in Figs. l and 2.

During operation, prime mover 44 is energized continuously to rotate the stem 40, the plunger 28 carried thereby and to actuate the pump |04 of the hydraulic system. Hydraulic fluid will immediately be directed toward the lowermost end of cylinder 10, but the least resistance to such iiow of fluid is into the receptacle ||6 by way of conduit H8. Consequently, for a moment, the piston 68 will not be driven upwardly within the cylinder 10 and accordingly, the plunger 28 will not rise from the position illustrated in Figs. l and 2 until such time as the receptacle ||6 becomes lled with iiuid. It is assumed of course, that all four fingers of the turntable |2 support a form |6 and that prior to downward'movement of the plunger 28, one of such forms |6 is in a position directly underlying the table l26 and aligned with the opening 42 thereof. When all of the parts are in the condition illustrated in Figs. l and 2, one of the rollers 16 bears against an arm |18 of an electric switch for energizing the prime mover |24 and thereby feed cementitious material from hopper |20 to the chute or trough |22. Such material flows upon the feed table 26 and thence through opening 42 and into the form I8 around the combination packer and forming plunger 28. As soon as piston E8 rises, plunger -28 moves Vupwardly within the mold I6 to form the tubular tile member and pack the cementitious material tightly against the inner walls of the mold |6. Such movement of plunger 28 is effected by virtue of the connection 66 of stem 64 and the plates 54 which are in turn joined with the rotating stem 40 of plunger 28.

As soon as one roller 16 that engages arm |18, moves to a position opening the switch for motor |24, the material ceases to flow from the hopper 20. After the rollers 16 move to a position engaging the cam members 14, the

rods

30 and 32 are unlocked and caused to move upwardly with and by the rollers 16. This action raises the table 26 away from its contacting relationship with the form I6 and simultaneously moves the bar |16 out of engagement with the proximal plate |14, thereby releasing the turntable |2 for rotational movement. The two-way valve |06 remains in a position permitting flow of hydraulic fluid to the lowermost end of the cylinder 10 until such time as the table 26 and the cross-bar 86 commence to rise and until such time as the cross-bar 86 comes into contact with the lowermost end of rod |60. As rod |60 rises, the lowermost stop |62 comes into contact with connector |58 to swing the trigger |46 against the action of spring |56 to a point below roller |54. As soon as the lowermost stop |50 of trigger |46 contacts the trigger |48, the latter will be swung and the valve |06 actuated.

Simultaneously, with the aforesaid upward movements of stem 48 and feed table 26, crossbar 8S operates to step the turntable |2-90" for moving a mold I6 having a formed tile therein from beneath table 2S and for positioning an empty mold I6 in a feeding position. Upward movement of cross-bar 36 imparts like movement to connector 88 swinging link 9B and causing bell crank 92 to rotate on its pivot 94 by means of link 96. When bell crank 92 swings, it reciprocates the bar 9S to cause swinging movement in latch 84 through link |02. The latch 84 engages the proximal dog 82 which shifts the table I2 as aforesaid. On downward movement of the crossbar 88, the action just described is reversed, the latch 8:1 returning to a position for receiving the spring-loaded dog 82.

It is seen therefore, from the foregoing that the machine is entirely automatic and that the only workman that is necessary is one to remove the tubular form i6 from the turntable I2 after a tile has been formed therein and to replace the same with an empty form I6. It will be recalled that the forms I6 are of a split nature and provided with a lock which is released after the tile is formed for removing the latter and conditioning the form l5 for further use. The diameter of the plunger 28 is of course, less than the inside diameter of forms I6 and accordingly, the tile formed thereby will have an inside diameter equal to that of the plunger 28.

The importance of the delayed action of plunger 28 at the lowermost end of its path of travel, is worthy of repetition since in the absence of such construction, tiles formed through use of a machine of this character will not be adequately filled and packed at one end thereof. By permitting plunger 28 to rotate without reciprocation within the form |6, a suficient amount of cernentitious material will be directed into the form and packed against the inner walls thereof to present a completely filled and relatively strong tile structure throughout the length thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired t0 be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tile making machine, a hydraulic cylinder having a vertically reciprocable piston provided with a stem extending upwardly from the .1

cylinder; an elongated, upright rod in spaced parallelism to said stem; structure connecting the stem with. the rod forl reciprccation therewith, said rod being rotatable on its longitudinal, vertical axis; a prime mover operably coupled with the rod for rotating the latter as the same reciprocates; a forming and packing plunger on the rod at the lowermost end thereof; guide means spaced from the rod and the stem; means mounting the guide means for vertical reciprocation; a feed table surrounding the rod above the plunger; means for supporting a tile form below the table in alignment with the plunger, said table being secured to the guide means for reciprocation therewith to and from a position resting on said tile forni; a lock for holding the guide means at the lowcrmost end of its path of travel, said lock having a cam member swingabe on the guide means to and from a position releasing the latter for upward movement; and an extension on said structure engageable with said cam member as the stem moves toward the uppermost end of its path of travel, said cam member having a notch for receiving the extension after release of the cam member and upon continued upward movement of the stem whereby the guide means is raised and the table is lifted as the stem moves to said uppermost end of its path of travel.

2. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said extension is spaced below the cam member when the table is on the tile and the rod is at the lowermost end of its path of travel whereby to delay raising of the table until the plunger has risen a predetermined distance above the lowerinost end of its path of travel.

3. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tile form supporting means is rotatable about said vertical aXis of the piston, and wherein is provided stepping mechanism operably coupled with said supporting means for rotating the latter, and means interconnecting the stepping mechanism and the guide means for ,.ctuating the mechanism upon recprocation of the guide means.

4. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided means for pumping hydraulic fluid, a movable valve for directing said iuid to the cylinder below the piston when the valve is in one position and to the cylinder above the piston when the valve is in a second position, means on said structure for moving the valve to said one position as the stem descends, and means on said table for moving the valve to second position as the stem rises.

5. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim l, wherein is provided means for pumping hydraulic fluid, a movable valve for directing said fluid to the cylinder below the piston when the i valve is in one position and to the cylinder above the valve, means on said structure for lowering said element as the stem descends, means on said table for raising said element as the stem rises, a stop on the element engageable with the connector to move the valve to said one position as the element is lowered, and a stop on the element engageable with the connector to move the valve to said second position as the element is raised.

6. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said stops are spaced on the element with the connector disposed therebetween whereby to delay movement of the valve alternately to said positions thereof as the stem reciprocates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 588,652 Pelton Aug. 24, 1397 593,871 Bain Nov. 16, 1897 795,024 Case July 18, 1905 932,023 Jelries Aug. 24, 1909 951,740 McCracken Mar. 8, 1910 1,200,633 McCracken Oct. 10, 1916 1,314,153 Schneider Aug. 213, 1919 2,193,286 La Due Mar. 12, 1940 2,525,275 Schmidt Oct. 10, 1950 2,530,687 Dixon Nov, 2l, 1950