Method for predetermined temperature profile controlled concrete curing container and apparatus for same

• US 10,640,425 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Romeo Ilarian Ciuperca
• Original Assignee: Romeo Ilarian Ciuperca
• Inventors: Ciuperca, Romeo Ilarian
• Primary Examiner(s): Empie, Nathan H
• Application Number:
  US14/734,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20150266783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 11/245 Curing concrete articles B28B11/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 11/246 Underwater curing
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/02 containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0075 making use of a decrease in temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0082 making use of a rise in temperature, e.g. caused by an exothermic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0263 Hardening promoted by a rise in temperature C04B40/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0286 Hardening under water

Abstract

The invention comprises a method of curing concrete. The method comprises placing a concrete cylinder in an insulated container having a sufficient quantity of water therein so that the concrete cylinder is submerged in and surrounded by the water and selectively adding heat to the quantity of water in an insulated container, so that the temperature of the quantity of water follows a predetermined temperature profile. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of curing concrete comprising:

(a) providing a memory device having a predetermined temperature profile stored therein, wherein the predetermined temperature profile continually varies temperature as a function of time and comprises a first period of temperature increase followed by a first period of temperature decrease followed by a second period of temperature increase followed by a second period of temperature decrease, wherein the predetermined temperature profile comprises a plurality of temperatures and each temperature'"'"'s corresponding elapsed time from initiation of the predetermined temperature profile, and wherein the predetermined temperature profile is stored in the memory device prior to step (d) below;

(b) placing a quantity of concrete in a thermally insulated container having a sufficient quantity of water therein so that the concrete is surrounded by the water;

(c) repeatedly detecting the temperature of the quantity of water;

(d) repeatedly comparing the detected temperature of the quantity of water to the temperature of the predetermined temperature profile corresponding to the time of the detected temperature; and

(e) selectively adding heat to and removing heat from the quantity of water in the insulated container in response to step (d) so that the temperature of the quantity of water follows the predetermined temperature profile during the curing of the quantity of concrete, wherein the heat selectively added to the quantity of water comes from an electrically heated element in thermal contact with the quantity of water, wherein the heat selectively removed from the quantity of water comes from a cooling element in thermal contact with the quantity of water and wherein the selective addition of heat to the quantity of water and the removal of heat from the quantity of water is controlled by a computing device.

2. The method of curing concrete of claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature profile covers a period of time from initiation to between 1 and 14 days.