Variable wall concrete molding machine
First Claim
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1. A portable concrete molding apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a portable trailer having a longitudinal axis;
(b) a first fixed wall affixed to the trailer, the first fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the first fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the first fixed wall;
(c) a second fixed wall affixed to the trailer parallel to the first fixed wall and spaced apart from the first fixed wall by a given distance, the second fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the second fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface of the second fixed wall to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the plenum surface of the second fixed wall, wherein the plenum surface of the second fixed wall opposes the plenum surface of the first fixed wall;
(d) a housing extending between the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall to form a furnace plenum therebetween, the furnace plenum including a return duct fluidly connected to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall, the furnace plenum having an inlet exposed to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall and an outlet exposed to the return duct;
(e) a heater having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the heater outlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum inlet and the heater inlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum outlet to form a substantially closed fluid circuit between the heater and the furnace plenum;
(f) a plurality of transverse channels connected to the trailer transverse to the longitudinal axis;
(g) a first set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels;
(h) a second set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels;
(i) a first movable wall connected to the first set of transverse beams for movement relative to the first fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the first fixed wall for forming a first mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the first fixed wall, the first mold including a first concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the first mold; and
(j) a second movable wall connected to the second set of transverse beams for movement relative to the second fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the second fixed wall for forming a second mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the second fixed wall, the second mold including a second concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the second mold.
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Abstract
A portable concrete molding apparatus for forming concrete structures of a predetermined configuration, either on-site or at a central manufacturing facility. The apparatus includes a trailer having furnace plenum bounded by a pair of fixed walls. Each fixed wall cooperates with a movable wall for forming a mold therebetween. Each movable wall includes a concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the bottom portion of the mold. The fixed and movable walls include push-off valves for ensuring separation of a concrete structure from the mold walls, as the mold walls are separated.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A portable concrete molding apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a portable trailer having a longitudinal axis; (b) a first fixed wall affixed to the trailer, the first fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the first fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the first fixed wall; (c) a second fixed wall affixed to the trailer parallel to the first fixed wall and spaced apart from the first fixed wall by a given distance, the second fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the second fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface of the second fixed wall to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the plenum surface of the second fixed wall, wherein the plenum surface of the second fixed wall opposes the plenum surface of the first fixed wall; (d) a housing extending between the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall to form a furnace plenum therebetween, the furnace plenum including a return duct fluidly connected to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall, the furnace plenum having an inlet exposed to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall and an outlet exposed to the return duct; (e) a heater having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the heater outlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum inlet and the heater inlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum outlet to form a substantially closed fluid circuit between the heater and the furnace plenum; (f) a plurality of transverse channels connected to the trailer transverse to the longitudinal axis; (g) a first set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels; (h) a second set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels; (i) a first movable wall connected to the first set of transverse beams for movement relative to the first fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the first fixed wall for forming a first mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the first fixed wall, the first mold including a first concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the first mold; and (j) a second movable wall connected to the second set of transverse beams for movement relative to the second fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the second fixed wall for forming a second mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the second fixed wall, the second mold including a second concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the second mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16)
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7. A portable concrete molding apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a portable trailer; (b) a first fixed wall affixed to the trailer, the first fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the first fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the first fixed wall; (c) a second fixed wall affixed to the trailer parallel to the first fixed wall and spaced apart from the first fixed wall by a fixed distance, the second fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, the second fixed wall including a plurality of rib members extending from the plenum surface to form a plurality of heating channels adjacent the second fixed wall and wherein the plenum surface of the second fixed wall opposes the plenum surface of the first fixed wall; (d) a housing extending between the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall to form a furnace plenum therebetween, the furnace plenum including a return duct fluidly connected to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall, the furnace plenum having an inlet exposed to the heating channels of the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall and a remote outlet exposed to the return duct; (e) a heater having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the heater outlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum inlet and the heater inlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum outlet to form a substantially closed fluid circuit; (f) a first movable wall connected to the trailer and movable relative to the first fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the first fixed wall for forming a first mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the first fixed wall, the first mold including a first transition orifice located below mid-height of the first mold for introducing concrete into the first mold; (g) a first cutoff valve fluidly connected to the first transition orifice for selectively permitting passage of concrete through the first transition orifice; (h) a second movable wall connected to the trailer and movable relative to the second fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the second fixed wall for forming a second mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the second fixed wall, the second mold including a second transition orifice located below mid-height of the second mold for introducing concrete into the second mold; and (i) a second cutoff valve fluidly connected to the second transition orifice for selectively permitting passage of concrete through the second transition orifice. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable concrete molding apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a portable trailer having a longitudinal axis; (b) a first fixed wall affixed to the trailer, the first fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface; (c) a second fixed wall affixed to the trailer parallel to the first fixed wall and spaced apart from the first fixed wall by a given distance, the second fixed wall including an outer substantially planar mold surface and a second plenum surface, wherein the plenum surface of the second fixed wall opposes the plenum surface of the first fixed wall; (d) a housing extending between the first fixed wall and the second fixed wall to form a furnace plenum therebetween, the furnace plenum including a return duct the furnace plenum having an inlet exposed to the first plenum surface and the second plenum surface, and an outlet exposed to the return duct; (e) a heater having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the heater outlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum inlet and the heater inlet is fluidly connected to the furnace plenum outlet to form a substantially closed fluid circuit between the heater and the furnace plenum; (f) a plurality of transverse channels connected to the trailer transverse to the longitudinal axis; (g) a first set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels; (h) a second set of transverse beams slideably disposed within the transverse channels; (i) a first movable wall connected to the first set of transverse beams for movement relative to the first fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the first fixed wall for forming a first mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the first fixed wall, the first mold including a first concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the first mold; and (j) a second movable wall connected to the second set of transverse beams for movement relative to the second fixed wall between a casting position adjacent the mold surface of the second fixed wall for forming a second mold therebetween and a discharging position remote from the second fixed wall, the second mold including a second concrete inlet for introducing concrete into the second mold. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification