Method for precasting concrete products
First Claim
1. A method for pre-casting concrete products comprising the steps of providing a form having at least two mating sections one of which is a base section and other of which is a downwardly open upper section with a fill opening and which sections are relatively movable between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition where they cooperatively form a casting cavity, each base form sections having at least two separable parts with assembled and disassembled conditions respectively for supporting a cast product substantially throughout the area of its lower surface and throughout only a portion of the area of its lower surface, arranging the two form sections in their assembled condition and with the parts of the base section assembled, preparing dry mix concrete having a moisture content in the range of 1% to 4%, depositing the dry mix in the casting cavity formed by the form sections through the fill opening in said upper section, vibrating the assembled form sections to eliminate voids and to compact the dry mix therewithin so as to form a green cast concrete product having sufficient initial structural integrity for self support, stripping the upper form section prior to the passage of any substantial curing time to expose the green cast product and to allow the same to stand free on the base section of the form, transporting the green cast product atop the assembled base section of the form, curing the product, and further transferring the product by lifting the same and disassembling the parts of the underlying form base section whereby to support the cured product thereafter throughout only a portion of its lower surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for precasting concrete products wherein dry mix is deposited in casting cavities defined by mating upper and base form sections, vibrated and/or pressure compacted, and the upper form section removed immediately for curing of a free standing green cast product. A single upper form section cooperates with a number of base sections and the latter are used to transport the green cast products for curing. Automatically separable base section parts may also be employed for the transport of cured products. Forms are adapted for fork lift handling and include high intensity vibrators, sight openings for ascertaining a cavity full condition, closure plates for fill openings, pressure applying and finishing devices, and sectionalized construction for various size products. Casting machine includes mix delivery apparatus and form handling apparatus for upper and base form sections for automated casting and transfer of green cast products for curing.
46 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A method for pre-casting concrete products comprising the steps of providing a form having at least two mating sections one of which is a base section and other of which is a downwardly open upper section with a fill opening and which sections are relatively movable between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition where they cooperatively form a casting cavity, each base form sections having at least two separable parts with assembled and disassembled conditions respectively for supporting a cast product substantially throughout the area of its lower surface and throughout only a portion of the area of its lower surface, arranging the two form sections in their assembled condition and with the parts of the base section assembled, preparing dry mix concrete having a moisture content in the range of 1% to 4%, depositing the dry mix in the casting cavity formed by the form sections through the fill opening in said upper section, vibrating the assembled form sections to eliminate voids and to compact the dry mix therewithin so as to form a green cast concrete product having sufficient initial structural integrity for self support, stripping the upper form section prior to the passage of any substantial curing time to expose the green cast product and to allow the same to stand free on the base section of the form, transporting the green cast product atop the assembled base section of the form, curing the product, and further transferring the product by lifting the same and disassembling the parts of the underlying form base section whereby to support the cured product thereafter throughout only a portion of its lower surface.
- 24. A method for pre-casting concrete products in the form of monolithic units each having spaced apart generally vertical parallel walls connected by at least one integral cross member comprising the steps of providing a form having a corresponding configuration and at least two mating sections one of which is a base section and other of which is a downwardly open upper section with fill openings along the top of each spaced wall portion and the cross member and a closure means at the cross member fill opening which sections are relatively movable between a disassembled condition and an assembled condition where they cooperatively form a casting cavity, arranging the two form sections in their assembled condition, preparing dry mix concrete having a moisture content in the range of 1% to 4%, depositing the dry mix in the casting cavity formed by the form sections through the fill openings in said wall portions and cross member of said upper section, vibrating the assembled form sections during deposition of dry mix to eliminate voids and to compact the dry mix therewithin, covering the fill opening in said cross member with said closure means, overfilling to provide a measured excess of mix at said wall portion openings, exerting downward pressure on said excess mix and simultaneously vibrating the form throughout so as to form an integral green cast concrete product having sufficient initial structural integrity for self support, stripping the upper form section prior to the passage of any substantial curing time to expose the green cast product and to allow the same to stand free on the base section of the form, and curing the product.
Specification