IE32719L - Producing cast concrete members. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,187,730. Concrete casting plant. SPAN-DECK Inc. 5 Dec., 1968 [5 Dec., 1967], No. 57831/68. Heading B5A. A concrete casting plant, Fig. 1, comprises a manufacturing area 10, having an elongated curing area 12, and an elongated unloading and overrun area 16, 18 on opposite sides thereof, a track 20 running through the three areas, an elongated casting bed 14 movable along the track in either direction and a casting machine 40 in the manufacturing area to cast concrete on the bed 14 while it is moved through the manufacturing area, the casting bed 14 remaining stationary in the curing area while curing. As shown in Fig. 1, manufacturing area 10 also contains storage tracks 50 higher than tracks 20 and on which the main casting machine 40 is stored as well as soffit laying unit 36, pallet cleaning and oiling unit 52, soffit rolling unit 54, and plank cutting unit or saw 56. There is also a transfer track 58 on the same level as track 20, and transfer car 60 running on track 58 carries a further track level with storage tracks 50 and a track 78 on the casting bed 14 either side of pallet 84. After casting and curing of the complete concrete plank in area 12, door 164 is opened and the bed 14 driven to the right by means 22. Saw 56 is driven on to track 78 on bed 14 by means of transfer car 60 and moved to the locking position where it is held by means 270. Bed 14 is moved intermittently to the right, saw 56 cutting the plank into desired lengths which are unloaded in area 16, e.g. by crane. After this right to left traverse of bed 14 the saw 56 is replaced by pallet cleaning and oiling unit 52 for a continuous left to right traverse of the bed 14 carrying the pallet 84. During a further right to left traverse, a soffit layer 27, Fig. 2, is east by means of soffit laying unit 36, used together with soffit rolling unit 54 (see also Figs. 12-14, not shown). Finally an upper concrete layer 29 is cast by means of main casting machine 40 (see also Fig. 15, not shown) during a left to right traverse into curing area 12. Area 10 also includes a fixed overhead concrete batch plant 28 to feed " dry " concrete mix through shoot 32 to a point 34 above soffit laying unit 36 when in use or " wet " concrete mix to a point 38 above main casting machine 40 when in use, and a fixed overhead core material container 42 to deliver core material through shoot 44 to a point 46 above the core material hopper of main casting machine 40. The pallet 84 has pivotable sides (92, Fig. 4, not shown), operable by hydraulic cylinder 104. The apparatus is particularly suitable for production of concrete planks, Fig. 2, having a bottom wall or soffit 27 of a lightweight, dry aggregate/cement composition and a top wall 29 with webs 31, 33, 35, 37 of a dense, strong, wet concrete mix, with a plurality of prestressed cables 41 and reinforcing rods 43. A granular core material may be used and either removed or retained for insulating or other purposes. [GB1187730A]