GB984677A - Method of and means for moulding articles - Google Patents

Abstract

984,677. Moulds. AERCRETE MOBILES Ltd. March 1, 1962 [March 8, 1961; Nov. 25, 1961], Nos. 8537/61 and 42250/61. A method of making articles from a settable liquid composition in a mould 15, 16 in which the composition is divided into separate articles by solid partitions 17, comprises removing the partitions 17 while the composition is still liquid, so that the composition flows together to form joints which when set are weaker than the articles, and setting the shapes to solid articles which are then broken apart from each other. In Fig. 1, the cells 18 can be filled with an aqueous concrete mix containing an aerating or foaming agent, in which case bubbles of gas collect at the surfaces of the partitions 17, so that when the partitions 17 are removed, the mix which flows into the vacated spaces has a high proportion of gas. Other moulds may be placed on top and the process repeated to form a stack of moulds which can be cured by steam. The partitions 17 may be of metal 1/ 1 inch thick and may be coated with foaming material or aluminium oxide. The partitions 17 may have double walls, open at the bottom and connected at the top to form a tube through which a foaming agent is supplied to fill the space vacated by the partitions 17. As in Fig. 6, more than one horizontal layer of articles may be produced in one mould, the composition being separated into layers, as the partitions 17 are withdrawn vertically, by pulling flexible tubes 28 through the composition. in horizontal planes, the trailing edges of the tubes 28 having holes for laying foaming material in the spaces created. Alternatively, the horizontal divisions between layers may be produced by pushing metal sheets through slots in a side wall of the mould, as the partitions 17 are withdrawn, and the slotted wall may have a facing of rubber (with slots) to prevent exit of the composition. Each cell 18 is provided with a filling device (Fig. 10) consisting of a flexible bag 39, filled with composition from a container 41, and of rollers 61, 62, 63 (which may be adjustable) on an endless chain 54 for discharging measured quantities of the composition through a slot 40 in a perforated plate 34 which fits over the mould. The plate 34 is welded to the partitions 17, and is shaped as at 35 to form frogs when moulding bricks. Compositions to which the invention can be applied are concrete mixes, metals and synthetic plastics. A piston-in-cylinder filling device may alternatively be used.