Method and apparatus for the manufacture of concrete products
First Claim
1. The method of manufacturing concrete products of a given shape comprising the steps of blending together about 60-75% by weight of an aggregate, about 20-25% by weight of hydraulic cement, about 1-2% by weight of a vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer, and about 5-10% by weight of water;
- compressing said mixture into said given shape in a mold with sufficient pressure to maintain the mixture in said given shape when the mold is removed;
curing the compressed shape in an atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon dioxide gas while simultaneously feeding said carbon dioxide gas so as to cause an exothermic temperature rise in the mixture of at least 20°
-40°
in less than about 5 minutes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for the manufacture of concrete products in which a mixture comprised of cement, aggregate, a vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer and an amount of water sufficient to make a relatively dry mixture is initially compressed into the desired configuration. This compressed-shaped article is then cured in a chamber charged with carbon dioxide gas to provide a fully cured concrete product having excellent physical properties. The method and apparatus of this invention is especially useful in the manufacture of terrazzo panels and the like.
61 Citations
13 Claims
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1. The method of manufacturing concrete products of a given shape comprising the steps of blending together about 60-75% by weight of an aggregate, about 20-25% by weight of hydraulic cement, about 1-2% by weight of a vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer, and about 5-10% by weight of water;
- compressing said mixture into said given shape in a mold with sufficient pressure to maintain the mixture in said given shape when the mold is removed;
curing the compressed shape in an atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon dioxide gas while simultaneously feeding said carbon dioxide gas so as to cause an exothermic temperature rise in the mixture of at least 20°
-40°
in less than about 5 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- compressing said mixture into said given shape in a mold with sufficient pressure to maintain the mixture in said given shape when the mold is removed;
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6. In a method for manufacturing concrete products from a moist cementitious mixture consisting of about 60-75% by weight of an aggregate;
- about 20-25% by weight of hydraulic cement;
about 1-2% by weight of vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer and about 5-10% by weight of water, which is compressed to form uncured free-standing shaped members of predetermined height, the method which comprises continuously conveying successive shaped member to and through a chamber, treating said free-standing shaped members with carbon dioxide in said chamber, maintaining said chamber relatively gas tight and flexibly sealed, introducing carbon dioxide into said chamber at the top and bottom sides thereof in amounts sufficient to maintain the carbon dioxide in said chamber at a sufficiently positive pressure to prevent the infusion of substantial amounts of atmospheric air into the chamber, and maintaining the height of said chamber in the range of 11/2-4 times said predetermined height of said shapes. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
- about 20-25% by weight of hydraulic cement;
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9. The method of manufacturing concrete products comprising the steps of blending together about 60-75% by weight of an aggregate, about 20-25% by weight of hydraulic cement, about 1-2% by weight of a vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer, and about 5-10% by weight of water;
- compressing said mixture into a shape of predetermined height, continuously conveying said compressed shape to and through a chamber, and curing the compressed shape in said chamber with carbon dioxide gas while simultaneously feeding said carbon dioxide gas into said chamber, and maintaining the height of said chamber at about 11/2-4 times the height of said shape.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification