Apparatus for forming concrete barriers

• US 5,533,888 A
• Filed: 02/28/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John F. Belarde
• Original Assignee: John F. Belarde
• Inventors: Belarde, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US08/203,630
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 425/62-64, 425/432, 425/456, 425/385, 249/15-17, 249/19-21, 249/155, 264/31-36, 264/333
• US Class Current: 425/64
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/008 by reference lines placed along the road, e.g. wires co-operating with feeler elements E01C19/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/4886 for forming in a continuous operation kerbs, gutters, berms, safety kerbs, median barriers or like structures in situ, e.g. by slip-forming, by extrusion removable forms for kerbs, gutters or similar structures E01C19/506; making conduits in situ E02D29/10
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/4893 Apparatus designed for railless operation

Abstract

A system for continuously forming a concrete structure that extends in a generally horizontal direction and has a predetermined cross-sectional configuration is provided. The system includes a frame, a first form, and a second form. The first and second forms are coupled to the frame and support at least a portion of the sides of the concrete structure being formed. The second form forms a pattern in one of the outside surfaces of the concrete. The first form may also form a pattern. The pattern includes concave and convex portions that extend other than just in the horizontal direction. The second form coacts with the first form to enclose an area having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional configuration of the concrete structure. The frame includes a side arm assembly that slidingly engages the outside of one or both of the forms.

Claims

1. A system for continuously forming a concrete structure which extends in a substantially horizontal direction and has a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, the system comprising:

a frame;

first form means, coupled to said frame, for supporting a portion of one side of a concrete structure being formed;

second form means for supporting at least a portion of an opposite side of the concrete structure and for forming a pattern in the outside surface of the opposite side comprising concave or convex portions which extend other than just in the substantially horizontal direction, said concave or convex portions forming the reverse image of a pattern to be provided on the opposite side of the concrete structure, said second form means coacting with said first form means so as to enclose an area having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional configuration of the concrete structure, said second form means including a rigid wall to structurally support said pattern, wherein said second form means is fixed with respect to a surface on which the concrete structure is formed;

drive means coupled to said frame for causing said frame to move in said substantially horizontal direction; and

support means coupled to said frame so that said drive means causes said support means to move in said substantially horizontal direction for supporting successive portions of said second form means relative to said first form means as said drive means moves in the horizontal direction so as to permit said second form means to coact with said first form means so as to enclose said area, said support means not contacting the concrete structure and only contacting a portion of said rigid wall to reduce friction therebetween.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first form means is attached to said frame to move therewith in the substantially horizontal direction, and wherein said first form means includes a first wall having a configuration, as viewed in cross section, corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of one side of the structure.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said first wall includes an upper end, and said first form means further includes a second wall attached to said upper end of said first wall, said second wall defining the configuration and surface pattern of an upper surface of the structure.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second form means includes an elongate planar form installable so as to extend in said substantially horizontal direction, said form having an inner surface and an outer surface.

5. Claim 5 is a system according to claim 4, wherein said inner surface includes said convex or concave portions.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of elongate portions, the elongate axis of said portions extend perpendicular to said substantially horizontal direction.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of curved portions.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of elongate portions, the elongate axis of said portions extend transversely to said substantially horizontal direction.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second form means includes bearing plate means for providing at least one continuous surface extending in said substantially horizontal direction.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said bearing plate means comprises two continuous, elongate members which extend in parallel in said substantially horizontal direction, said members being spaced a predetermined distance from one another, said elongate members being positioned to contact said support means.

11. A system according to claim 1, said second form means including substantially horizontally extending bearing plate means, further wherein said support means comprise a slide means for slidingly engaging said bearing plate means as said support means is caused to move in said substantially horizontal direction by said drive means.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said slide means comprises:

a slide assembly for slideably engaging said bearing plate means;

a support assembly coupled to said frame and said slide assembly for supporting said slide assembly in a predetermined position relative to said second form means as said slide assembly slidingly engages said bearing plate means; and

adjustment means coupled to said support assembly for adjusting the position of said slide assembly relative to said second form means.

13. A system according to claim 1, further comprising vibration means mounted adjacent said first form means for eliminating voids in wet concrete delivered to said area enclosed by said first and second form means.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said vibration means comprises at least one vibrator positioned proximate to said support means and at least one vibrator positioned proximate to said first form means.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes:

first means for causing said first form means to move back and forth along a first axis extending perpendicular to said substantially horizontal direction; and

second means for causing said first form means to move back and forth along a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis and to said substantially horizontal direction.

16. A system for continuously forming a concrete structure which extends in a substantially horizontal direction and has a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, the system comprising:

a frame;

first form means for supporting at least a portion of a first side of the concrete structure and for forming a pattern in the outside surface of the first side comprising concave or convex portions which extend other than in a horizontal direction, said concave or convex portions forming a reverse image of a pattern to be provided on the first side of the concrete structure, said first form means including a rigid wall to support said pattern;

second form means for supporting at least a portion of an opposite side of the concrete structure and for forming a pattern on the inside of the opposite side comprising concave or convex portions which extend other than just in a horizontal direction, said concave or convex portions forming a reverse image of a pattern to be provided on the opposite side of the concrete structure, the second form means coacting with said first form means so as to enclose an area having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional configuration of the concrete structure, said second form means including a rigid wall to support pattern;

drive means coupled to said frame for causing said frame to move in the substantially horizontal direction; and

support means coupled to said frame for supporting said first and second form means relative to one another as said drive means moves in said substantially horizontal direction so as to permit said first and second form means to coact with one another so as to enclose said area, said support means contacting only a portion of said rigid wall of said first and second form means.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said first and second form means include an elongate planar form installable so as to extend along said first direction, said first and second form means each having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said first and second form means facing one another and said outer surface of first and second form means facing away from one another.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said inner surface of said first and second form means includes said convex or concave portions.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of elongate portions, the elongate axis of said portions extend perpendicular to said substantially horizontal direction.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of curved portions.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said convex or concave portions comprise a plurality of elongate portions, elongate axis of said portions extend transversely to said substantially horizontal direction.

22. A system according to claim 16, wherein said first and second form means include beating plate means attached to and forming a part of said rigid walls of said first and second form means for providing at least one continuous surface extending in said substantially horizontal direction.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said bearing plate means comprises two continuous, elongate members which extend in parallel in said substantially horizontal direction, said members being spaced a predetermined distance from one another.

24. A system according to claim 16, said first and second form means including bearing plate means, attached to said rigid walls of said first and second form means further wherein said support means comprise slide means for slidingly engaging said bearing plate means as said support means is caused to move in said substantially horizontal direction by said drive means.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said slide means comprise:

a slide assembly for slidingly engaging said bearing means;

a support assembly coupled to said frame and said slide assembly for supporting said slide assembly in a predetermined position relative to said first and second frame means as said slide assembly slidingly engages said bearing means; and

adjusting means coupled to said support assembly for adjusting the position of said slide assembly relative to said first and second form means.

26. A system according to claim 16, further comprising vibration means mounted on said frame for penetrating into said concrete structure for eliminating voids in wet concrete delivered to said area enclosed by said first and second form means.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein said vibration means comprise at least one vibrator coupled to said support means and at least one vibrator coupled to said slide means.

28. A system according to claim 16, wherein said drive means includes:

first means for causing said slide means to move back and forth along a first axis extending perpendicular to said substantially horizontal direction; and

second means for causing said slide means to move back and forth along a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis and to said substantially horizontal direction.

29. A device for slip forming a concrete structure along a substantially horizontal path, the device coatting with first and second forms which extend along the path to support, and define the configuration of both sides of, the structure, the first and second forms each having an inner surface which engages a side of the structure, the first and second forms including a pattern comprising concave or convex portions which extend other than parallel to the path, the first and second forms including rigid walls to support the pattern, the device comprising:

a frame;

drive means coupled to said frame for moving said frame along the substantially horizontal path; and

support means coupled to said frame for supporting said first and second forms relative to one another as said drive means moves said frame along said path so as to cause said first and second forms to coact with one another and enclose an area that defines the cross-sectional shape of a concrete structure to be formed by said device, wherein said support means comprises slide means for slidingly engaging and supporting an outer surface of said first and second forms as said slide means is caused to move along said path by said drive means, wherein said slide means comprises at least one rail which extends parallel to the path to slidingly engage the outer surface of the form;

a plurality of supports which extend transversely to, and are attached to, said at least one rail; and

a support assembly attached to said plurality of supports for coupling said plurality of supports with said frame and for adjusting the position of said plurality of supports relative to said frame.