Patent ID: 8123512
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: B28B,F15B,F16H

Abstract:
1. A mold assembly for molding concrete blocks comprising: at least one mold cavity having sides walls formed by a plurality of liner plates, at least one of which is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to an interior of the mold cavity, in which dry cast concrete is compressed when the at least one moveable liner plate is in the extended position to form a dry cast concrete block; an actuator positioned external to the mold cavity and having an actuator axis; a first drive linkage in mechanical communication with the moveable liner plate and positioned off-axis from the actuator axis; and a second drive linkage operatively coupled to the first drive linkage, wherein the actuator is configured to provide a first force having a first magnitude in a one direction along the actuator axis to the second drive linkage to push the first drive linkage in a first direction toward the interior of the mold cavity and move the at least one movable liner plate to the extended position and to provide a second force having the first magnitude in the opposite direction along the actuator axis to the second drive linkage to pull the first element opposite the first direction away from the interior of the mold, and wherein the first and second drive linkages are configured as a force multiplier such that the first magnitude of the first and second forces is less than a magnitude of a force which is required to be applied to the at least one moveable liner plate in a direction opposite the first direction from compression of dry cast concrete in the mold cavity to push the at least one moveable liner plate and the first drive linkage in the direction opposite the first direction.