US3792942A

US3792942A - Apparatus for forming continuous lengths of hollow concrete monolithic structures

Info

Publication number: US3792942A
Application number: US00305569A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Cole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-11-10
Filing date: 1972-11-10
Publication date: 1974-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-19

Abstract

A self-propelled and self-aligning form disposed for the casting or forming of continuous length of hollow monolithic concrete structures such as drainage pipe, tunnels or open trenches.

Description

United States Patent [451 Feb. 19, 1974 Cole [54] APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS 1,075,877 10/1913 Turner 425/59 LENGTHS 0F HOLLOW CONCRETE 1525987 2/1925 MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES 1,606,160 11/1926 Foster 425/59 [76] Inventor: Leonard D. Cole, 41850 Acacia,

Hemet, Calif. 92343 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Filed: Nov. 10, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Warren F. B. Lindsley [21] Appl. No.1 305,569

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 425/59, 425/63 [5 A elflpropened and selflaligning form disposed for 1 Field of Search 264/33 the casting Or forming of continuous length of hollow monolithic concrete structures such as drainage pipe, [56] Refer n e Clted tunnels Or Open trenches.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS LENGTIIS OF HOLLOW CONCRETE MONOLITI'IIC STRUCTURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pipe forming or molding machine and more particularly to a mold for forming continuous lengths of pipe either in tunnels or open trenches.

1. Field of the Invention This invention is particularly directed to a concrete pipe forming machine disposed for the casting or forming in place of continuous lengths of pipe or conduit such as storm drains either in open trenches or in underground tunnels and which is self aligning and propelling when used either in open trenches at ground level or in underground tunnels.

2. Description of the Piror Art I-Ieretofore the casting of continuous hollow monolithic concrete structures such as drainage pipe in open trenches or in underground tunnels, otherwise known as on sight castings, has been accomplished by manual means wherein forms are set-in place by manual labor and plastic self setting material such as concrete is poured or forced around the form by manual means and left to set about the form. Once the plastic material sets, the mold forms had to be stripped away manually and reassembled further on, where, the process was repeated.

Using this method, hollow monolithic structure resulted, however, the curing joint between two consecutive sections created a weak spot resulting in leakage or concrete failure.

Further, with prior ar molds and apparatus, the construction of subterranean tunnels, of dimensions substantially small enough to prevent human entry, were impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved apparatus is provided for casting continuous hollow monolithic concrete structures employing self alignment and propulsion features.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved mold for casting continuous hollow monolithic concrete structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mold for casting continuous hollow monolithic structures either in open trenches at ground level or in subterranean tunnels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mold for the continuous casting of hollow monolithic structures which is self aligning along the central axis of an open trench or subterranean tunnel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mold for the continuous casting of hollow monolithic structures wherein the mold is self propelling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mode for the continuous casting of hollow monomithic structures in subterranean tunnels wherein the dimensions of the tunnels are substantially small enough to prohibit human entry.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of the novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mold and its associated alignment and'propulsion means.

FIG. 2 is a side partial cross-sectional side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the mold and its associated casting shield in an open level trench.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the mold and its associated casting shield in a subterranean tunnel.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the mold and its associated alignment and propulsion means disposed in a subterranean tunnel wherein the mold is advanced by one facet of the propulsion means.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11 wherein the propulsion stabilizing means has been relaxed or retracted and the propulsion and alignment means are being moved relative to the mold.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, FIG. I discloses a continuous casting mold 20 employing a thrust collar 22 having attached thereto a pair of longitudinally extending

mold guide ways

24 and 26. A molding collar 28 is disposed along the

mold guide ways

24 and 26 and is maintained in alignment along the guide ways by protrusions 30, which inwardly extend from molding collar 28 into slots 32 formed in

guide ways

24 and 26 to extend longitudinally thereof.

Maintained at the opposite extremities of

guide ways

24 and 26, from thrust collar 22 is a self alignment means 34. This self alignment means 34 comprises a frame 36 with hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinders 38, evenly disposed about the frame 36, and which extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of mold 20.

A hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder 40 is solidly affixed to the upper extremity of frame 36 of the self alignment means 34 and is provided with a multiple telescoping shaft 42 affixed to a crescent shaped screed plate 44.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a casting or forming shield 46 concentrically disposed about theaxis of mold 20 and forming an annulus between the outer surface 48 of molding collar 28 and the inner surface 50 of casting shield 46.

FIG. 2 illustrates that molding collar 28 is provided with a pair of hydraulically or pneumatically power actuating means 51 comprising cylinders and

piston

52 and 53, respectively. The piston rods of piston 53 are each attached to the rear face of mold 28 at points 54. Each cylinder 52 is attached to guide

ways

24 and 26 at points 56.

The alignment means 34, shown to best advantage in FIG. 3 of the drawings, illustrates that cylinders 38 are mounted to frame 36 and are in engagement with the interior or inner surface 50 of casting shield 46. Casting shield 46 is in close proximity to the interior walls in the subterranean tunnel in which mold 20 is arranged.

When actuated either in unison or individually through a suitable control means and sensing source, cylinders 38 will bring the overall mold 20 into precise alignment with axis 60 of a subterranean tunnel, thereby insuring concentricity of the molding collar 28 and the casting shield 46. This action creates a perfect annulus 62 into which a plastic material such as concrete may be shot or poured.

FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrate the relative position of

guide ways

24 and 26 and the attachment points 54 of cylinders 52. Molding collar 28 is supported on

guide ways

24 and 26 and is maintained in a concentric relationship to casting shield 46 and thereby creates annulus 62 for receiving the plastic mold for casting or pouring in place a continuous hollow concrete monolithic structure. Molding collar 28 acts as the interior wall of a mold while casting shield 46 acts as the exterior wall of the mold.

FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrate in enlarged detail the protrusion 30 of guide way 24 in its longitudinal slot thereby eliminating the possibility of misalignment of molding collar 28 relative to axis 60 of the subterranean tunnel and consequently the axis of casting shield 46. This function of the mold insures a concentric annulus 62.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the thrust collar 22 is shown as comprising a pair of crescent shaped

members

64 and 66. Each crescent shaped member is maintained in a variable spaced relationship to the other by hydraulically or pneumatically actuated

cylinders

68 and 70. It will be seen from the drawings that when

cylinders

68 and 70 are retracted the crescent shaped

members

64 and 66 assume the broken line position A. When

cylinder

68 and 70 are extended the crescent shaped

members

64 and 66 are brought to bear against the interior wall 72 of a previously cast portion of the continuous hollow monolithic structure 74, thereby locking

members

64 and 66 to the interior wall 72 of the monolithic structure 74. This action provides a thrust collar for the propulsion means comprising cylinders 52 of form 20.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the crescent shaped

members

64 and 66 of thrust collar 22 are provided with inwardly extending pins or bearing members 76 to which are mounted the rear extremities of

guide ways

24 and 26. As seen best in FIG. 6 and 8, the

guide ways

24 and 26 are held in a fixed spaced relationship by a strut 78 permanently affixed to the inner surfaces of

guide ways

24 and 26, thereby causing the bearing members 76 of the crescent shaped

members

64 and 66 of thrust collar 22 to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to axis 60 of mold 20 into and away from the interior wall 72 of a previously cast hollow monolithic structure 74. This action occurs without the thrust collar becoming disengaged from the

longitudinal guide ways

24 and 26 at their rear most extremity. This feature also provides for attachment of the

guide ways

24 and 26 to the crescent shaped

members

64 and 66 of thrust collar 22.

FIG. 7 illustrates one of the pair of cylinders 52 mounted at its attachment point 56 on guide way 24 and piston rod 53 attached to point 54 on the back surface of molding collar 28. Cylinder 53 is positioned so as not to interfere with the interior wall 72 or any other portion of the previously cast monolithic structure 74 during which time the mold 20 and its associated alignment and propulsion means are being transversed along the interior of the hollow monolithic structure 74.

Referring to FIG. 9 and 10 of the drawings, it will be seen that the casting shield 46 normally employed in subterranean tunnels is replaced by form which is concentrically disposed about molding collar 28 for use in open trenches. Casting shield 80 is of a substantially semicircular configuration but of a substantially equal length to casting shield 46, shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when mold 20 and its associated hardware are used for casting continuous hollow monolithic structures in an open trench the walls and bottom of the open trench 82, as seen in FIG. 9, act as the lower half of a casting shield.

OPERATION With reference to FIG. 11 and 12 ofthe drawings, the operation of the continuous casting mold 20 is as follows: With molding collar 28 fully retracted by cylinders 52 to position B shown in broken lines in FIG. 11 and with the thrust collar 22 extended outwardly into engagement with interior wall 72 of the hollow monolithic structure 74, concrete or other substantial plastic material is poured, blown or sprayed into annular opening 62 defined by the outer surface 48 of molding collar 28 and the inner surface 50 of shield 46. Once the concrete or other plastic material has taken a set the crescent shaped screed 44 is extended into engagement with the forward edge of the newly cast concrete. With the crescent shaped screed bar 44 in engagement with the concrete, molding collar 28 is advanced along

guide ways

24 and 26 by extending cylinders 52 and moving the molding collar 28 into the solid line position seen in FIG. 11 designated C. The herein before described casting procedure is now repeated. The crescent shaped screed is brought to bear again against the leading edge of the freshly cast concrete 74 and the molding collar 28 is again advanced to position D shown in broken lines in FIG. 11. The casting procedure again ensues and once the concrete or other plastic material has taken a set, the thrust collar 22 as seen best in FIG. 12, is then retracted away from the interior wall 72 of the continuous monolithic structure 74. The cylinders 38 of the alignment means 34 are then retracted away from the interior walls 72 and the entire propulsion and alignment means is moved forward within the tunnel relative to form 28 along

guide ways

24 and 26 by retracting cylinders 52.

When the entire mold 20 has been carried forward relative to molding collar 28 to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 11, mold 28 will be in position B. Cylinders 38 of the aligning means are then against extended into contact with the interior wall 80 of the tunnel thereby aligning the

guide ways

24 and 26 and correspondingly molding collar 28 and thrust collar 22. At this

time cylinders

68 and 70 of the thrust collar 22 are extended bringing the crescent shaped thrust shoes 64 and 66 into engagement with the interior wall 72 of the monolithically cast structure 74, thereby readying the entire monolithic casting mold for another series of operations as herein before described in FIG. 11.

Although but two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming a continuous monolithic hollow object in a pre-dug opening in the earth comprising:

an expandable thrust collar,

a pair of guide rails fixedly mounted on said collar at diametrically opposed position points within the inner periphery of said collar and extending laterally therefrom in'a common direction within the pre-dug opening,

a molding collar mounted for slidable movement along said rails,

means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collar for moving said thrust collar and said molding collar relative to each other,

a shield coaxially arranged around and spaced from said molding collar in the pre-dug opening and extending axially outwardly therefrom,

an alignment means axially arranged within and in fixed contact with the inside periphery of said shield spaced from said shield and having a screed plate extending outwardly therefrom toward said shield,

said screed plate being axially movable within said shield relative to said molding collar,

said molding collar being spaced from said shield the distance of the thickness of the object being formed, and

means for expanding said thrust collar into engagement with the inside periphery of the object being formed to anchor said thrust collar in position when pliable mud is forced into the space being said molding collar and the inside wall of said shield,

said screed plate being movable into contact with the set pliable mud at the end of the object being formed to prevent tearing of concrete while form is being advanced.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collar comprises first and second fluid operated cylinders, each mounted adjacent a different one of said rails.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a third fluid operated cylinder is mounted between said screed plate and said alignment means for axially moving said screed plate.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said alignment means comprises a hexagonal ring axially mounted with said molding collar and a number of fluid actuated feet equally spaced around the periphery of said ring for moving outwardly thereof to engage the inside periphery of said shield to lock said ring into firm engagement with said shield.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield is of a cylindrical configuration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a continuous monolithic hollow object in a pre-dug opening in the earth comprising: an expandable thrust collar, a pair of guide rails fixedly mounted on said collar at diametrically opposed position points within the inner periphery of said collar and extending laterally therefrom in a common direction within the pre-dug opening, a molding collar mounted for slidable movement along said rails, means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collar for moving said thrust collar and said molding collar relative to each other, a shield coaxially arranged around and spaced from said molding collar in the pre-dug opening and extending axially outwardly therefrom, an alignment means axially arranged within and in fixed contact with the inside periphery of said shield spaced from said shield and having a screed plate extending outwardly therefrom toward said shield, said screed plate being axially movable within said shield relative to said molding collar, said molding collar being spaced from said shield the distance of the thickness of the object being formed, and means for expanding said thrust collar into engagement with the inside periphery of the object being formed to anchor said thrust collar in position when pliable mud is forced into the space being said molding collar and the inside wall of said shield, said screed plate being movable into contact with the set pliable mud at the end of the object being formed to prevent tearing of concrete while form is being advanced.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collar comprises first and second fluid operated cylinders, each mounted adjacent a different one of said rails.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wHerein: a third fluid operated cylinder is mounted between said screed plate and said alignment means for axially moving said screed plate.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein: said alignment means comprises a hexagonal ring axially mounted with said molding collar and a number of fluid actuated feet equally spaced around the periphery of said ring for moving outwardly thereof to engage the inside periphery of said shield to lock said ring into firm engagement with said shield.