METHOD FOR HANDLING SPACERS USED IN PRODUCING CONCRETE PIPE

• US 20130108410A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hawkeyepedershaab Concrete Technologies, Inc. (Afinitas, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hawkeye Concrete Products Co.
• Inventors: NUNNIKHOVEN, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/809
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/262 the objects being of elongated shape, e.g. fishing rods, golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/48 Tools
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/02 suspended
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/02 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/005 by using insertions or spacers between the stacked layers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/00 Loading or unloading of vehicles B65G67/00

Abstract

A method and cart for handling spacers used for spacing the wire mesh reinforcing cages used in the production of concrete pipe, The spacers are placed and shipped on hollow tubes laid in layers in a shipping container. The spacers are shipped to the user stored on these hollow tubes together with a mobile cart that has a vertical support containing a plurality of outwardly extending arms. When ready to be installed at the concrete pipe production site, a tube containing the spacers is removed from the shipping container and slipped over each arm. The cart can then easily be moved around the production location where the spacers for readily available for use in making the concrete product.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method for storing and handling spacers used for spacing wire mesh cages employed in the manufacture of large concrete pipes and the like, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of hollow tubes;

sliding a plurality of spacers onto each tube; and

layering the tubes in a shipping container, each layer being separated by a barrier.

10. (canceled)

11. A method for storing and handling spacers used for spacing wire mesh cages employed in the manufacture of large concrete pipes and the like, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of hollow tubes;

sliding a plurality of spacers onto each tube;

providing a moveable cart having a vertical support with a plurality of outwardly extending arms spaced apart vertically on the support;

sliding the tubes containing the spacers onto the arms; and

removing the spacers from the tubes as needed.

12. (canceled)

13. A method for storing and handling spacers having an eye at one end of the spacer, the spacers being used for spacing wire mesh cages employed in the manufacture of large concrete pipes and the like, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of elongated, substantially straight members smaller in thickness that the eye of the spacers;

sliding a plurality of spacers onto each member with the member extending through the eye of each spacer; and

placing the members containing the spacers in a shipping container.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the members containing the spacers are placed in the shipping container in layers, each layer being separated by a barrier.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the members containing the spacers are removed from the shipping container;

and

the spacers are removed from the members as needed.