EP0933179A2 - Process and device for splitting a moulded concrete article into two blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Wet concrete is compressed in a mould to form a block (1) with side walls extending along both its top and bottom sides, with at least the bottom side including a partition line located between its two side walls. At least one of the side walls on the bottom side of the block is positioned above the level of the partition line. The compacted concrete mixture is left to harden on a flat surface, the height difference between the partition line and at least one of the side walls on the bottom side of the block being enough to force the block to split along the partition line. Independent claims are also included for (a) a method for splitting a double concrete block by the above casting process, (b) double concrete blocks made by the above process, (c) casting moulds used to make these blocks, and (d) a machine for carrying out the casting process.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of concrete blocks, and in particular a method for splitting double blocks and a Device used in this process.

Cast concrete blocks are well known in the construction industry. she have a wide range of applications, from construction from retaining walls and other walls to paving stones, Edge reinforcements, basic material, locking blocks, Stonemasonry products and barriers are enough. The locking blocks are therefore advantageous to use because no mortar is required, to hold the blocks in place and reinforce the wall. The blocks are preferably cast as a double block, so that each cast block is split into two separate blocks can. This process increases the effectiveness of the manufacturing process and gives the block surface an aesthetically desirable irregular or natural appearance.

The manufacturing process comprises at least one manufacturing step for casting the double block and a separate manufacturing step to split the double block into its single blocks. The U.S. patent No. 5,017,049, issued May 21, 1991 to Sievert a wall block and its construction. Sievert describes in Briefly, a method in which the block is formed in a mold, the block hardened and then the block into its two sub-blocks is split. The block is made using a manual chisel and a hammer or one designed for this purpose Machine split. U.S. Patent No. 5,598,679, published on February 4, 1997 to Orton et al., describes a method of Splitting a poured concrete block into three blocks. Again it will the block is formed in a mold, cured and then split. The hardened block is split into its sub-blocks, by a split blade along the cutting grooves through the block is driven.

These known methods require a separate step in the Manufacturing processes as well as special machines and lead to a more complex treatment of the blocks. This requirement caused additional costs for the manufacturer. There is therefore a need on a process for casting concrete blocks, in which double blocks can be split into individual blocks without additional Machines and an additional manufacturing step are required. There is still a need for a method of casting concrete blocks that is more economical and the treatment effort of Blocks decreased.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing of double blocks, with the double blocks divided into individual blocks be split before the block is cured or sets.

The present invention also provides an economical one Process for the production of double concrete blocks, which during the Manufacturing process before curing in individual units be split without an additional manufacturing step is required.

It therefore becomes a method of casting a double concrete block created comprising the following steps: compacting wet concrete in a block shape with an upper surface and a bottom surface, each of the surfaces being a pair of opposed ones Has side edges, at least the lower Surface has a dividing line that extends along its width extends between the side edges, and being the bottom surface is generally curved so that at least one of the side edges located at an elevation above the dividing line; and the Allowing the compacted mixture to settle on essentially one flat surface; being the difference between the survey the dividing line and at least one of the side edges like this it is selected that the block essentially when the block is set is split along the dividing line.

In another aspect of the present invention, a shaped double block with a length L and a width W created an upper face, a lower face, opposite end faces with top and bottom edges and a Dividing line that extends along the width of the upper and lower End face extends between the end faces of the double block, with both the top and bottom faces two Surfaces that extend from the dividing line to the end faces stretch along the length.

In another aspect of the present invention, a Casting mold created to form a double block, comprising a Base plate with an upper end face with opposite Side edges, a dividing line between the side edges, and being at least one of the side edges is an elevation above the dividing line having.

In another aspect of the present invention, a Device for forming a shaped double block, comprising: a mold with a bottom plate with an upper one End face with opposite side edges, an upper plate with a lower end face with opposite side edges, a dividing line between the side edges of the at least one upper face of the base plate and the lower face of the top plate, and at least one of the side edges being one Has increase above the dividing line, the increase in Side edges are selected so that the double block runs along the dividing line must split if the double block is on one can put flat surface; a means of filling the mold with wet concrete; and a means for releasing the double block the mold.

Figur 1

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im ersten Schritt der bevorzugten Ausführungsform des Verfahrens der vorliegenden Erfindung ist, wobei Figur 1a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 1b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 2

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im zweiten Schritt des vorliegenden Verfahrens ist, wobei Figur 2a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 2b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 3

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im dritten Schritt des vorliegenden Verfahrens ist, wobei Figur 3a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 3b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 4

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im vierten Schritt des vorliegenden Verfahrens ist, wobei Figur 4a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 4b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 5

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im fünften Schritt des vorliegenden Verfahrens ist, wobei Figur 5a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 5b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 6

eine Querschnittsansicht des Doppelblocks im sechsten Schritt des vorliegenden Verfahrens ist, wobei Figur 6a eine Ansicht von vorne und Figur 6b eine Ansicht von der Seite ist;

Figur 7

eine Querschnittsansicht von vorne des Doppelblocks im Verdichtungszyklus (siehe Figur 2) ist, wobei eine alternative Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung verwendet wird.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the first step of the preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, Figure 1a being a front view and Figure 1b being a side view;

Figure 2

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the second step of the present method, Figure 2a being a front view and Figure 2b being a side view;

Figure 3

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the third step of the present method, Figure 3a being a front view and Figure 3b being a side view;

Figure 4

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the fourth step of the present method, Figure 4a being a front view and Figure 4b being a side view;

Figure 5

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the fifth step of the present method, Figure 5a being a front view and Figure 5b being a side view;

Figure 6

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the double block in the sixth step of the present method, Figure 6a being a front view and Figure 6b being a side view;

Figure 7

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional front view of the double block in the compression cycle (see Figure 2) using an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is a method for the production of a cast double concrete block, the Double block 1 during the manufacturing process without one additional splitting step after curing in two construction blocks 1a, 1b is split. The procedure of present invention includes the steps of filling the mold, compacting the concrete, removing the mold and Breaking the block.

Cast double concrete blocks made by the process of present invention use a mold 3. The mold 3 consists of a generally rectangular shaped surface, which is bounded by four abutting walls 5. The mold cavity has a length L and a width W. The lower wall of the mold 3 is composed of a tension plate 7, which has a generally rectangular shape, that of the shape corresponds to the mold 3. The tension plate 7 has an upper one Surface 9, which is generally concave. The top surface 9 has a curved, V-shaped configuration that of a Dividing line at its center to both ends along its length L is inclined upwards and outwards. The dividing line extends across the width of the tension plate 7. The two ends of the plate 7 are raised about six millimeters beyond their dividing line. However, other increases can be used to increase the Cleavage of the double block according to the present invention cause. The plate 7 has on the outer edge of the tension plate 7 a raised portion 11 which extends along its width W extends. The raised section 11 has an inner edge or an inner edge 13 on the center of the plate 7 and one generally flat top surface 15 is inclined away. The Outer edge 17 is flat or flat and is parallel to the walls 5 of the mold 3. This raised section 11 creates a recess 19 in the bottom surface of the block to give the block the opportunity to give in corresponding lips in adjacent blocks to intervene when the blocks are used to build a retaining wall or to form another structure. As for an average professional easily visible, the formation of the raised section 11 depending on the end use of the blocks take place, and different configurations can be formed become. The tension plate 7 has thin, flat noses 21, which are from the outer, lower edges of the tension plate 7 to the outside extend to the lower edges of the mold walls 5 in one temporary folding connection. At the Partition line in the middle of the plate 7 forms the plate 7 inverted, V-shaped extrusion 23 or bead that extends along their width W between the front and rear faces extends.

The upper wall of the mold 3 is formed by a tamping head 25. It has a generally rectangular shape that matches the shape of the Mold 3 corresponds. The bottom surface 26 of the tamping head 25 is generally convex in shape and from a dividing line its center away to each end along its length L and outward inclined upwards. The dividing line extends across the Width of the ramming head 25. There is one on the end faces Groove 27. This groove can be continuous along its width stretch out or consist of a series of recesses. Of the tamping head forms another at the dividing line at its center a V-shaped extrusion 29 which extends along its width W extends.

To form a double concrete block 1, the tension plate 7 is on a production range 31 arranged. The mold 3 is on the outer lugs 21 of the tension plate 7 set and rests on it, whereby a cavity is formed. In the first step of the process, the is shown in Figure 1, the cavity of the mold 3 with filled with wet or dressed concrete. The concrete will look like shown in Figure 2, by lowering the tamping head 25 to the top surface of the concrete compacted to compact it and thus to form a concrete block 1 in the cavity of the mold. The Pull plate 7 is removed by moving it along the width W of the mold 3 is moved, whereby the block 1 and the mold 3 over the Production range 31 get stuck, as shown in Figure 3 is. In Figure 4, the mold 3 and the block 1 on the Production range 31 lowered. Alternatively, the Production range to be raised to the level of the mold. In Figure 5, the mold 3 is removed from the block 1 by following is raised above the stamping head 25. The ramming head 25 remains in place until the mold 3 over the tamping head was raised. After the mold 3 over the ramming head 25th has been lifted, the ramming head 25 is also removed by is lifted up from block 1, as shown in FIG. 6.

Block 1 remains on the production range. The lower one Surface 4 of block 1 has a generally convex or wide V-shaped shape, which matches the shape of the top surface 9 corresponds to the tension plate 7. She therefore leans away from hers Dividing line in the middle starting towards the top and towards the outside its outer edge along its length L. The block has one small, inverted, V-shaped separation groove 33 on its lower Surface 4 on its dividing line, which of the small, inverted, V-shaped extrusion 23 on the upper surface 9 corresponds to the tension plate 7. Furthermore, the upper one corresponds Surface 2 of the block 1 of the shape of the lower surface 26 of the Stamping head 25. It is generally concave in shape and inclined from their dividing line to their outer edge along their length L up. It has a V-shaped separation groove 35 in its upper one Surface 2, which of the V-shaped extrusion 29 on the lower Surface 26 of the ramming head 25 corresponds. If the stamping head 25 is removed from block 1, block 1 remains on the production range 31. Because of its sloping bottom surface 4 and the V-shaped separation grooves 33, 35 in the middle of the upper and lower Surface 2, 4, block 1 sits on the production range 31 and splits along its dividing line, taking two blocks 1a, 1b are formed. The blocks 1a, 1b can then on be cured or set in a conventional manner.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize, the mold can have any desired shape. The tension plate and the ramming head would be formed with appropriate shapes. The mold, the The tension plate and the tamping head can have protrusions and grooves for formation of locking blocks or blocks with other desired ones Have features. The mold can also be constructed that the blocks with decorative features on any End face of the blocks can be formed. Furthermore, the block is formed so that it splits at a dividing line, which is not in the middle of the block, but against one end of the block can be moved.

The method of the present invention also includes formation of a double block, with only one side of the top and bottom The surface of the double block is beveled, as shown in FIG. 7 is shown. The double block splits along its width at the dividing line at the beginning of the beveled area. The block can also be formed so that only its lower surface with a beveled side, starting from its dividing line, Is provided.

The block formed by the present method is not for Fully hardened. If the double block over a period of time can harden, the double block may just split partially when the mold is removed and the double block relies on the production range. The liability between the blocks 1a, 1b, however, is so weakened that normal handling of the Units already leads to them being split into individual blocks become.

The present invention has been made with reference to preferred Embodiments described. Various changes to the invention however, will be apparent to those skilled in the art and can be done without sacrificing spirit and scope to deviate from the invention.

Claims (32)

Method for casting a double concrete block, comprising the following steps:
compacting wet concrete into a block form having a top surface and a bottom surface, each of the surfaces having a pair of opposing side edges, at least the bottom surface having a dividing line located between the side edges, and the bottom surface thus conforming is that at least one of the side edges of the lower surface is at an elevation above the dividing line; and
letting the compacted mixture sit on a substantially flat surface; the difference between the elevation of the dividing line and the at least one of the side edges being selected such that the block is forced to split substantially along the dividing line when the block settles. The method of claim 1, wherein both side edges of the lower floor area at an elevation above the dividing line are located. The method of claim 1, wherein the top surface and the corresponding dividing lines and at least one corresponding side edge on an elevation have above the corresponding dividing line. The method of claim 3, wherein the side edges of the lower surface at an elevation above the dividing line and the side edges of the top surface an elevation above the dividing line of the upper surface. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lower Includes a flat surface that extends from the surface Dividing line extends to at least one of the side edges. The method of claim 5, wherein the bottom surface is a flat surface that extends from the dividing line to each the side edges extends. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper Includes a flat surface that extends from the surface Dividing line extends to at least one of the side edges. The method of claim 7, wherein the top surface is a flat surface that extends from the dividing line to each the side edges extends. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising the step of at least partially letting the compacted mixture before setting the compacted Mix on a substantially flat surface. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising the step of completely setting the split Blocks. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein it is the dividing line is a groove that is in the block extends along its width. A method for splitting a double block, comprising the following steps: forming wet concrete into a double block of length and width, a lower end surface, an upper end surface, opposite end surfaces with upper edges and lower edges, and a dividing line between the end surfaces that extends along the width of the block at the lower and upper End face, the lower edge of at least one of the end faces being at an elevation above the parting line on the lower end face, the upper and lower end faces including surfaces extending from the parting line toward the end faces along the length of the block; at least partially letting the double concrete block set; and letting the double block sit on a surface on the lower end face, the difference in elevation between the dividing line and the lower edge of at least one of the end faces being selected so that the double block is forced to split at least partially along the dividing line if the double block sits down. The method of claim 12, wherein the dividing line in the Mid-length between the end faces. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the double block is a Groove in at least one of the top and bottom end faces embraced at the dividing line. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising the step of curing the split blocks. Method according to one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the lower Edges of the end faces of the double block by 4 to 8 millimeters are raised above the dividing line on the lower end face. The method of claim 16, wherein the lower edges of the End faces of the double block 6 millimeters above the dividing line are raised on the lower end face. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the top edges the end faces of the double block by 4 to 8 millimeters across the dividing line on the upper face is raised. The method of claim 18, wherein the top edges of the End faces of the double block 6 millimeters above the dividing line are raised on the upper face. Shaped double block with a length and a width and comprising an upper face, a lower face, opposite end faces with upper and lower edges, and a dividing line on the upper and lower end faces between the end faces along the width W of the double block, with the top and bottom end faces two each Surfaces that extend from the dividing line to the Extend end faces along the length. A double block according to claim 20, further comprising a separation groove in at least one of the upper and lower end faces, the along the width of the block at the dividing line extends. Double block according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the dividing line in the middle of the upper and lower end faces between the End faces located along the length of the block. Double block according to one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the lower edges of the end faces an elevation of about 4 to 8 millimeters above the dividing line on the lower end face exhibit. Block formed from the shaped double block according to one of the Claims 20 to 23. Mold for forming a double block, comprising a Base plate with an upper end face with opposite Side edges, a dividing line between the side edges, and with at least one of the side edges increasing above the Dividing line. The mold of claim 25, further comprising an upper plate with a lower end face with side edges, one Dividing line between the side edges, and being at least one of the side edges is an elevation above the dividing line has, the increase in at least one of the side edges the top plate increasing the at least one corresponds to the side edges of the base plate. A mold according to claim 25 or 26, further comprising a elongated protrusion extending along the dividing line in at least one of the upper end face of the base plate and the lower face of the top plate extends to a Form a groove in the molded double block. Casting mold according to one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the Dividing line in the middle between the opposite Side edges. Mold according to one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the Projections further raised to the side edges of the base plate Form recesses in the molded double block. Casting mold according to one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the Side edges of the top plate further depressions for formation of projections from the molded double block so that the Indentations from the protrusions in the molded block were formed on the side edges of the upper end face engage the bottom plate. Apparatus for forming a shaped double block comprising: a mold including a bottom plate having an upper end face with opposite side edges, an upper plate having a lower end face with opposite side edges, a dividing line between the side edges of the upper end face of the bottom plate and the lower end face of the upper plate, and at least one of the side edges of the bottom plate has an elevation above the dividing line, the elevation of the side edges being selected to force the double block to split along the dividing line when the double block can settle on a flat surface; a means for filling the mold with wet concrete; and a means for releasing the double block from the mold. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the side edges of the top Face of the base plate over the dividing line on the Base plate are raised, and the side edges of the bottom Face of the top plate over the dividing line of the top Plate are elevated.

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