Patent GB-1409900-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for producing precast concrete members
IPC: B28B15/00
Filed: 1972-12-06
Abstract: 1409900 Curing concrete SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO Ltd 6 Dec 1972 [9 Dec 1971 11 Jan 1972 13 Jan 1972 14 Jan 1972 21 Jan 1972] 56205/72 Heading B5A Concrete slabs are cured in a heated chamber which is of a size to accommodate simultaneously a plurality of slabs supported by moulds or casting plates, and the slabs are fed to and from the chamber by an arrangement of supports that enable independent movement and treatment of the slabs. In a first embodiment, a curing chamber 2 (Fig. 11) surrounds four stacked roller support tables 67 extended outside the chamber 2 by stacked tables 56-59 of decreasing height and supported on wheels. A pallet 4 supporting a mould frame 3 is positioned on the highest level of each table stack 56-59, the pallets are cleared, coated in the release oil, and concrete reinforcing steel 8, joints, pipes, wires and moulding cores are positioned. Concrete is poured from a reciprocatable hopper 22<SP>1</SP>, and all the pallets 4 are moved along adjacent roller tables in to the curing chamber 2. When excess water has subsided, the pallets are moved back to their starting positions for surface finishing, and then returned to the chamber 2 for final curing. The slabs are removed by crane. In a second embodiment, the table stacks 56- 59 are replaced by wheeled trucks (69)-(69D) (see Figs. 14, 15, not shown) of decreasing height, each supporting one pallet (4). The trucks run on rails to rest within the curing chamber (2), or rest adjacent the chamber for the pallets to be transferred to roller tracks. In a third embodiment, the table stacks and trucks are replaced by five vertically spaced, equal length roller tracks (14) (see Figs. 1-3, not shown) that extend in the curing chamber (2). Each track supports one pallet (4) so that these can be worked on simultaneously and independently, and are movable by wires and pulleys. A curing chamber (2) can be provided at each end of the tracks to allow two pallets/ track. In a fourth embodiment, rails 25 (Fig. 7) extend on either side of curing chamber 2. Each pallet 4 (Fig. 9) is supported on a truck 37, 38 having wheels 31, 32 and stabilizing rollers 39 engaging rails 29, 30 on a channel section rail 25. In a fifth embodiment, a plurality of moulds 81 (Fig. 20) are suspended from and run on parallel or diverging monorails. The moulds are filled from a movable hopper 102 having a flexible feed tube, when in the curing chamber 61. A chamber 61 can be provided at each end of the monorails. Moulds.-The mould comprises a pallet 4 (Fig. 11) supporting a mould frame 3. In the fifth embodiment, the mould comprises a box 94 (Fig. 22) open at the top 93 and having hinged major walls 87 supported when open by stays 90, and locked when closed by catches 91. Carriers 83 and 85 engage the monorails 82, 84. Curing chambers.-The curing chambers comprise heat insulated walls and a flexible rubber wall through which the pallets pass. A boiler passes steam to a radiator 61 (Fig. 11). In the fifth embodiment, heater plates 98 (Fig. 20) diffuse steam into the chamber, or are constituted by electric heaters.