Patent ID: 6626414
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B28B

Abstract:
An apparatus for integrally casting a multi sided monolithically poured concrete module having a plurality of side walls comprising a pallet for defining the cross-sectional shape and thickness of the side walls, an inside mold core disposed interiorly of said pallet including a plurality of interior panels having opposite end portions for molding inside surfaces of the side walls, a plurality of corner forming sections located between respective said opposite end portions of two adjacent said interior panels for molding inside surfaces of side walls and corners formed thereby, means for moving each said corner forming section downwardly to strip each said section from a concrete module and for locating said interior panels downwardly to position said panels away from a concrete module in an open release position, said means for moving being operable to slide said corner forming section upwardly to a closed casting position abutting said pallet and said interior panels outwardly abusing said pallet to a closed casting position, alignment means located between an adjacent pair of interior panels for maintaining said pair of adjacent said interior panels and said corner forming section therebetween in alignment during movement of said corner forming section and said interior panels, a movable outside mold jacket disposed outwardly of said pallet and arranged to generally envelope said pallet and said inside mold core for molding outside surfaces of side walls to a concrete module, and means for moving said mold jacket between a closed casting position abutting said pallet and an open release position away from said pallet, said jacket and said core defining a mold cavity therebetween for receiving the concrete when said core and said jacket are in said closed casting positions, a pair of sliding connection means, each said sliding connection means including an ear side skin plate slideably mounted to an interior surface of respective said corner forming section each said ear side plate having elongate opposite edges, each said corner forming section including a pair of slide plates and a skin plate having opposite edges, said skin plate slideably abutting one said edge of each said ear skin plate, each said slide plate overlapping an interior surface of interfaces defined between said one edge of each said ear skin plate and one of respective said edges of said skin plate, each said one edge of said ear skin plate slideably abutting respective said one edge of said skin plate to minimize the entrance of debris into said interfaces and interfering with respective said sliding, connection means, and a base for supporting said mold core above a supporting surface of said apparatus to provide clearance space for downward movement of said corner forming sections into said open release position.