US3412440A

US3412440A - Machine for making concrete conduit and vibrating same during forming

Info

Publication number: US3412440A
Application number: US503687A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Mcgrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: IDA PERKINS; W R SELLERS
Priority date: 1965-10-23
Filing date: 1965-10-23
Publication date: 1968-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1968 .1. c. MCGREW 3,412,440

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING Filed Oct 23. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4/0? en: 6 M: 6/: rv

[NVENTOR BY 4 FM 147' 7' ORA/E VJ NOV. 26, 1968 c c w 3,412,440

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING I Filed Oct. 25. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (fame; (T M: Grew INVENTOR.

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NOV. 26, 1968 J. CpMc Ew 3,412,440

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING v Filed Oct. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @meJ C'. fi/r'rew INVENTOR.

BYav M ATTORNE VJ United States Patent O 3,412,440 MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING James C. McGrew, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, of forty-four percent to Douglas N. Norton; twelve and one-half percent to Marion C. McKinley; seven and one-half percent to H. W. Lehman; two and one-half percent to Ruth G. Garnett; one and one-half percent to John W. Brandenberger; five percent to Ida Perkins; one percent each to Vernon G. Stamm and Henry J. Denton; one-half percent each to Caroline Jean Edgar, executrix of the estate of James B. Simms, deceased, and Ralph R. Browning; twenty-two percent to William F. Newton; and one percent each to W. R. Sellers and Glynn S. McClellan Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,687 11 Claims. (CI. 2536) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A concrete conduit forming machine having a frame and a rotatable forming carrier. A vibrator is movably mounted on the frame adjacent the form filling position. Means are provided to move the vibrator into engagement with the carrier for transmitting vibration thereto and for holding the vibrator out of contact with the carrier for movement of the carrier.

This invention relates to a machine for manufacturing concrete conduit of the general type of which an example is shown and described in the I. C. McGrew US. Patent No. 3,106,005, issued Oct. 8, 1963.

In machines of this type it is highly desirable that the concrete in the finished conduit be as dense and free of air bubbles and the like as possible throughout the length of the conduit. With the usual machines of this type, however, if the concrete is merely dumped into the upper end of the form while the packer heads are located in their lowermost position projecting through the bottom end of the form, and the packer heads then rotated and moved slowly up through the form so that by their rotation they will form the ducts within the finished conduit and also serve to compact the concrete around the respective ducts, it not infrequently occurs that the concrete adjacent the lower end of the form in the finished conduit is not as dense as the concrete in the remainder of the conduit and may have bubbles or the like left therein. It is known that to subject a form to vibration after filling it with concrete in the formation of other types of objects will result in compaction of the concrete adjacent the lower part of the form. However, it has been found undesirable to do this by means of a hammerin type of vibrator in engagement with the side wall of the form for a number of reasons, particularly for the reason that the forms employed are usually metal and of relatively thin gauge so that such a vibrator might result in damage to the form and require replacement. Furthermore, such a vibrator necessarily must operate against the side wall of the form and blows struck in such a lateral direction are not as effective in causing settlement and compaction of the concrete in the form as blows struck vertically for the purpose of causing vibration. Furthermore, it is undesirable to have to provide more than one such vibratory device in cases in which the machine is provided with a form support having two different form supporting portions, one of which is always in position for the form loading operation while the other is in position for removal of the form.

It is also undesirable for such a vibratory device to be mounted on a movable form support or carrier of the type mentioned because such devices are usually fairly heavy and add a great deal to the burden of the form carrier. It

is further objectionable for the blow causing vibration to be delivered in a downward direction to the carrier as distinguished from an upward direction because this likewise tends to place a greater burden on the table and is not as effective in compacting the material in the form.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means whereby a form in place for filling on such a machine may be effectively vibrated during the time it is being filled with concrete but without having any of the undesirable characteristics above mentioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a machine in which provision is made for vibrating the form by striking a vertically upward blow against the form carrier at a position closely adjacent the location of a form thereon while it is being filled with concrete.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character mentioned with means for vibrating the form without in anywise placing an extra load upon the form carrier nor interfering in any way with its movement between a position for filling the form and a position for the removal thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example one embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinal cross section illustrating pertinent portions of a machine of the type shown in the abovementioned patent with the vibrator constructed and positioned thereon in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the turntable or disc providing a form carrier in the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the position of the vibrator with respect thereto, this figure being taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1 but without showing some of the parts illustrated in FIG. 1 in order that the form carrier and vibrator may be more clearly illustrated.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a vibrator constructed in accordance with this invention showing its position relative to the adjacent portions of the machine including the adjacent edge of the form carrier, and illustrating the vibrator in position for delivering vibratory blows to the form carrier.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section showing the vibrator in the same position as illustrated in FIG. 3 but showing all of the parts of the vibrator in side elevation.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of a fragmentary nature taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the vibrator parts in an elevation substantially at right angles to that shown in FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the machine illustrated includes a frame 10 between the side members of which is rotatably mounted a turntable 12 providing a form support for rotation about a vertical axis. A top plan view of this form support or carrier is shown in FIG. 2. The frame has a horizontal cross member 16 below the form carrier 12 and on this cross member 16 are mounted suitable support rollers 18 so oriented that their axes extend radially toward the center of rotation of the turntable form carrier 12 facilitating both its support and its rotation about its vertical axis.

On top of the turntable 12 are lugs 20 providing form positioning members spaced about the opening 21 on opposite sides of the center of the form carrier. These form positioning lugs 20 are thus arranged to position a form 22 above and in register with each of the openings 21 as shown in FIG. 1.

Each form is provided with a bottom pallet 24 having openings 26 therethrough positioned to correspond with the position and size of the ducts which the completed conduit is to have therein, such pallet being positioned approximately at the lower end of the form 22 by means of inwardly extending lugs 28 at about the lower end of the form.

In this general type of machine the concrete conduit 30 is formed inside of the form 22 and is made from concrete, usually made with a near minimum amount of water, which is placed in the form from above the table 32, preferably mounted so that it may be raised and lowered whereby in its upper position it will be free from the form permitting the form to be placed thereunder before being filled and removed therefrom after being filled merely by a rotation of the turntable 12. Guides 34 may be provided for guiding the table 32 in its upward and downward movement and the upward and downward movement may be provided by any suitable source of power such that employed, for example, to raise and lower the table 25 in Patent 3,106,005 above mentioned.

The filling table, or mud table as it is usually termed, has a central opening 35 therein located above the position of the form 22 on the form carrier 12 which may be referred to as the form filling position of the form positioning members 20. This opening 35 is calculated to substantially register with the opening in the upper end of the form 22 and carries a support 36 capable of being raised and lowered relative to the table 32 from which is suspended within the 'upper end of the fonm an upper pallet 38 similar to the lower pallet 24 except that it is 3 readily movable into and out of the form as indicated. The means for moving this device into and out of the form includes a power cylinder 40 and suitable connecting means such as the lever 42, link 44, lever 46, links 48,

bell cranks pivoted on supports 52 on the table 32, i

and links 54 interconnecting one arm of each bell crank with the plate 36 so that it may be raised and lowered relative to the table 32. This linkage may be mounted upon a suitable framework 56 which is in turn mounted on the table 32.

Thus when the table 32 is in position on top of the form 22, the pallet 38 may be lifted above the level of the table 32 so as to leave the entire upper end of the form open and facilitate the entry of concrete into the form, after which the pallet may be lowered to close the upper end of the form except for the openings in the pallet corresponding to the positions of the ducts through the completed form.

As a means of forming the ducts through the conduit within the form 22, suitable gears and power apparatus indicated by the numeral 57 are provided with raising and lowering means as explained more in detail in the abovementioned Patent 3,106,005, and depending from this power and gear box 57 are a plurality of shafts 58 corresponding in number with the number of ducts to be formed in the completed conduit. Each of these shafts carries on its lower end a packer head 60 of the size of the duct to be formed thereby in the completed conduit and the entire assembly, which is adapted to rotate all of the packer heads 60 in one rotary direction, is movable from an upper position somewhat above that illustrated in FIG. 1 to a lower position in which the packer heads project into the openings 26 in the lower pallet.

The general type of machine as thus far shown and described has been heretofore known but is illustrated and described as a type of machine to which the invention of this application is directed and on which it is highly advantageous in use.

It is also quite conventional in this general type of machine to provide suitable latching means comprising a guide 62 mounted on one of the frame members and having a plunger 64 extending downwardly therefrom adapted for upward and downward movement through suitable means such as a lever 66 located adjacent the station of the operator and operable by him to be raised and lowered. As lowered, the plunger 64 is adapted to engage one of a plurality of keepers 68 through an opening 70 therein and by such engagement to lock the turntable or form carrier 12 in one rotary position with the form: positioning means thereon directly beneath the opening 35 in the mud table 32. Thus a form positioned beneath such opening by such form positioning means will be in position to receive concrete through the opening 35 and this may be known as the form filling position of the turntable 12. It will be understood, however, that where such a turntable or carrier 12 has two openings 21 with form positioning means 20 thereabout, it will have two form filling positions, one for each opening, and it is for this reason that the form latching means 64 is adapted to engage alternatively either of two keepers 68 so that engagement with one of these will hold the form carrier in one form filling position while engagement with the other will hold it in the other form filling position and in each case the carrier with respect to one of the form positioning means will be in position for removing the form.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided whereby, when either of the sets of form positioning means 20 is in form filling position, vibration may be imparted thereto directly and at a position closely adjacent to that portion of the form carrier or turntable which is immediately adjacent the form positioning means 20 that are in form filling position.

The means just mentioned include a main vibrator assembly comprising a base plate 72 which is movably mounted on the frame of the machine as by a shaft 74 hingedly or pivotally carried in upstanding lugs or brackets 76, a downwardly extending vibrator bracket 78 fixedly secured to the base plate 72 and extending downwardly therefrom and carrying on its lower end a vibratory device 80. The vibratory device 80 may be of any wellknown or available vibrator construction such as a rotatable eccentric weight or the like and may be driven electrically through electrical leads 81 or by any other convenient source of power. It will be understood that the invention is in no wise limited to the type of power utilized to actuate the vibrator nor to the type of vibrator mechanism em loyed so long as the vibrator mechanism has a sufficient capacity to deliver the vibratory blows which are adequately powerful to vibrate the form and contents when the base plate 72 is in contact with the lower surface of the form carrier or turntable as illustrated in the drawings.

For the purpose of holding the base plate 72 and the entire vibrator assembly thereon in vibration transmitting contact with the lower surface of the form carrier as illustrated, suitable means such as springs 82 are provided, these springs as illustrated being two in number although any desired number may be employed, and the springs being positioned to bear at one end against the under side of the base plate and at the other end upon adjustable supports 84 in the form of spring bolts adjustably mounted in spring plates or brackets 85 carried on the frame members or shaft support beams on which the hinge shaft 74 and its brackets 76 are mounted. Preferably these springs 82 are in the form of compression springs with their axes substantially vertical and positioned directly beneath those portions of the base plate 72 which are to bear against the under side of the turntable 12, so that they directly and continuously bias the base plate toward and into contact with the turntable. It will be seen that when in contact as described, operation of the vibrator device 80 will transmit vibrations, primarily in a vertically upward direction, directly to the under surface of the turntable 12 and hence vibrate the form resting on the turntable in form filling position at the adjacent location to a vertical vibration.

In order that the vibrator assembly which thus is mounted to directly transmit vibrations to the turntable and to the forms resting thereon might not interfere with the movement of the form carrier or turntable 12 to a position such that the form when filled may be readily remove-d, means are provided for overcoming the springs 82 and moving the base plate 72 out of engagement with the turntable during such movement of the turntable.

The means thus provided may be made up in any form capable of opposing the springs 82 with sufficient force to overcome them and hold the plate 72 out of contact with the turntable while it is turning, but preferably would be motinted on the frame so as to leave the turntable without any unbalancing weights or forces applied to it during turning, and should be double acting so that operation in one direction will move the plate 72 out of contact with the turntable and in the other direction will move free of the base plate 72 so as to in nowise interfere with the vibratory action. Such a device is illustrated in the drawing of cylinder 86 for actuation by hydraulic power or any other suitable means under which its stem or plunger 88 will" move downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the base plate and move it about its hinge 74 downwardly and out of contact with the turntable, and upon movement upwardly will allow the base plate to engage the turntable and then move free of the turntable as illustrated in FIG. 4. Preferably such a cylinder would be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a part 90 on the frame.

While the springs 82 and the hydraulic cylinder 86 wrve adequately and satisfactorily to move the vibrator into and out of contact with the turntable and to hold it in Contact with the turntable during vibration, it will readily be understood that numerous other devices may be employed within the skill of a skilled mechanic for performing these functions once the means disclosed in this application are known to him.

While the sequence of operations in using the machine described is to a substantial degree within the judgment of the operator, this invention is preferably so arranged as to apply vibrations to the turntable and form during that portion of the forming cycle in which the form is being filled with concrete. More specifically, when a form is put in position and moved to form filling location beneath the opening 35 in the table 32, the table 32 will be lowered onto the upper end of the form with the pallet 3-8. and its carrier 36 elevated so as to leave the upper end of the form open. Thereupon the gear box 57 will be lowered until the packer heads 60 are disposed within the openings 26 in the lower pallet 24. If the ma-. chine embodies dowel pin hole formers such as illustrated and described in prior Patent No. 3,106,005, these would be moved upwardly until they projected into the lower end of the form at this point, Thereupon the feeding of concrete into the form would be commenced and the rotation of the packer heads begun while'their elevation would be momentarily delayed.

As soon as a substantial quantity of concrete has been fed into the form the vibratory mechanism above described would be actuated to start vibrating the form and would be continued substantially during the remainder of the time that concrete is being placed in the form, at which time it would be shut off.

It will be understood that the actuation of the vibratory mechanism to move the vibrator into contact with the turntable and to start the vibrator element operating may be controlled manually by the operator or by any automatic connection with any significant functioning of the machine such as, for example, by the mechanism employed for moving the lower dowel pin hole formers upwardly into position in the form. Furthermore, operation of the vibrator mechanism may be timed to occur at any moment either simultaneously with or subsequent to the action which triggers its operation by employing any suitable time delay mechanism for this purpose. It may also be caused to move out of contact with the turntable either by manual triggering of the actuation of the cylinder 86 or by appropriate connection to any part of the machine to be triggered by significant'movement thereof, such as by downward movement of the lower dowel pin hole formers which must occur before the turntable can be rotated away from form filling position after the form has been filled.

It will be understood that as soon as the concrete has been fed into the form or as soon as a substantial portion thereof has been so fed, the rotating packer heads will be caused to move upwardly through the form and out the upper end thereof. Before they emerge from the upper end the upper pallet 38 will be lowered into position to close the upper end of the forms and then after the packer heads 60 move upwardly beyond the upper end of the form the entire table 32 will be raised so as to free the upper end of the form and enable it to be moved laterally by the form carrier to form removal position.

When operated on the schedule above described the vibration serves to consolidate the concrete as it is being fed into the form and to allow air and fluff to escape therefrom making the concrete conduit which results more dense, more particularly at its lower end and enabling the entire form filling cycle to be carried on at a faster rate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages" which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement withthe form carrier, and means for moving said vibrator into engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and means for holding said vibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which 'said vibrator and means for moving the same are mounted entirely on said frame.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier is a horizontally movable platform and said vibrator engages an undersurface of said carrier to impart vibratory blows thereto in an upward direction.

4. In a machine for making concrete conduit comprising a frame, a form supporting turntable rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis adapted to be vertically disposed in use and having form receiving and positioning means on its upper surface, cooperating means on said frame and turntable for holding said turntable with said form receiving and positioning means in one position and releasable to permit its rotation to a second position with said form receiving and positioning means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of contact with said turntable when said turntable is in said first position whereby when said vibrator is operated while in contact with said turntable it will transmit vibration thereto to vibrate a form thereon while it is being filled with concrete, and means for moving said vibrator into contact with said turntable and means for moving said vibrato-r out of contact therewith, whereby when said vibrator is out of contact with sad turntable, said turntable may be moved freely without interference from said vibrator between said first and said second positions.

5. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantly yieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and means opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator.

6. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto during some of the time when said carrier is in said one position and means opposed to said last-mentioned means for moving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator when it is desired for said carrier to be moved from said one position to said second position.

7. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement intoand out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantly yieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and power means opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibratorout of contact with said carrier when power is applied to the power means to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator.

8. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and a spring yieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and a hydraulic motor opposed to said spring for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier when power is applied to the hydraulic motor to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator.

9. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantly urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and double acting power means separably mounted on said frame and movable into contact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier when power is applied to the power means in one direction to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator and movable out of contact with said vibrator when power is applied to the power means in the other direction.

10. A machine for making concrete conduit having a fram a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the form filling position of said form locating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantly yieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and double acting means separably mounted on said frame and movable into contact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator when said double acting means is moved in one direction and movable out of contact with said vibrator when said double acting means is moved in the other direction.

11. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrier having form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative to said frame between one position with said form locating means in form filling position and another with said form locating means in position for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement which comprises a vibrator hingedly mounted on said frame on an axis spaced from said carrier adjacent the form filling position of said form 10- cating means for movement into and out of engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means constantly urging said vibrator pivotally about said axis toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and double acting power means separably mounted in said frame and movable into contact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator pivotally about said axis until it is out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said other position without interference from said vibrator when power is applied to said power means in one direction and movable out of contact with said vibrator when power is applied to the power means in the other direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner.