IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS PIPES OR TUBES OF CONCRETE OR LIKE MATERIAL.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Aubrey Day, of the Firm of Day, Davies, and
:
+
Hunt, Patent Agent, of 321. High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex for
an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS
PIPES OR TUBES OF CONCRETE OR LIKE MATERIAL. Communicated to him
from abroad by William Monroe Campbell, of Mount Clemens, Macomb
County, Michigan -Ephraim Ward Bond, of Springfield, Hampden County,
Massachusetts; Robert Brown, of Brooklyn, King's County,. New York; and
Robert Dunbar Radcliffe, and Calvin Detrick, both of New York City, New
York, all in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Aubrey Day at
"
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1883.
CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of the Firm of Day, Davies, and Hunt, Patent Agent,
of 321, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS PIPES OR TUBES OF CONCRETE OR LIKE MATERIAL
(A communication to me from abroad by William Monroe Campbell, of Mount
Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan; Ephraim Ward Bond, of Springfield,
Hampden County, Massachusetts; Robert Brown of Brooklyn, King's County,
New York; and Robert Dunbar Radcliffe, and Calvin Detrick, both of New York
City, New York all in the United States of America.)
This Invention consists of improvements in that class of apparatus. for forming
continuous pipes, tubes, or conduits of concrete or like material, in which the
concrete while in a plastic or granular state is rammed into a casing and around a
core; the improvements relating to the means for imparting pressure to the plastic
or granular mass, and to the construction of the core around which the conduit is
formed.
'
According to one modification of the present improvements, from the top of a

page_text: rectangular or other shaped casing projects a tube, surmounted by a hopper, and
within the casing fits snugly a plunger, through openings in which project a series
of formers, the front ends of which pass through a plate attached to or forming
part of the front end of the casing.
To lugs on the plunger is pivotted one end of a bar, and to lugs on the plate is
pivotted one end of a similar bar, the opposite ends of these bars being connected
by a link to the short arm of a lever, which is pivotted to lugs carried by bars, the
latter spanning an opening in the top of the casing.
When the long arm of the lever is moved in a certain direction, there is a
tendency to straighten the toggle connection formed by the said jointed or linked
bars, and hence a tendency to move the plunger in one direction, and the plate in
the opposite direction.
Supposing that the concrete or other cement has been rammed into the casing
around the formers, and up to a certain point, and that fresh cement has been
introduced in front of the plunger. The first effect of the movement of the lever
is to force the plunger against this fresh mass of cement, and thus compress it
against the end of that which has already been rammed, the movement of the
plunger being then resisted, so that further movement of the lever will cause &
forward movement of the plate and casing.
By the use of a single lever for performing both of these duties, instead of two
levers as usual, the construction of the apparatus is simplified and its cost
decreased.
The formers are withdrawn from the mass of concrete or cement by the plunger,
as the latter is drawn forward after having rammed a quantity of cement into the
casing, the plunger striking pins which project from the formers, and the latter
sliding in openings in the plate, the friction between which and the formers is just
sufficient to prevent the latter from being carried back by the plunger when its
movement is reversed.
Owing to the use of the toggle mechanism, great force is imparted to the plunger,
and the cement is rammed firmly into the casing, so that the conduit formed is
homogeneous throughout, and is free from flaws or imperfections.
The devices for operating the plunger and plate can be used with equal advantage
in apparatus in which the formers are secured to the plate.
In another modification of the toggle connection between the plunger and plate,
the lever is hung directly to lugs on the plate, and the short arm of the lever
constitutes one arm of the toggle connection.
In apparatus with a core forming one of the features of the Invention, and with
a further modification of the device for operating the plunger, and in which the
tubular casing has a feed hopper, and a reciprocating plunger, powdered or granular
cement is introduced through the hopper, and packed around the core or former
under the action of the plunger, the latter being adapted to slide on the said core,
which determines the size and shape of the opening in the conduit, the outside
contour of which is the same as that of the interior of the casing.
In this apparatus a single core of large diameter takes the place of the series of
small cores in the machine before described, and the core is not moved forward on
each operation of the plunger.
This latter movement is not objectionable when the opening in the conduit is
amall, but it is not advisable in cases where the opening is large, as in sewer or
drain pipes, for in such cases the internal support for the cement should be con-
tinued for a longer time in order that the cement may harden or become
properly set.
For this reason the core of the machine now being described is made separate
from the casing, and allowed to remain undisturbed in the conduit until such time
as it becomes safe to remove it or draw it forward, the front end of the core
passing freely through an opening in the front end plate of the casing, which
serves simply to support and guide the core, without having any tendency to move
the same longitudinally as the casing is moved.

page_text: A single core of sufficient length may be used, this core being drawn forward
at intervals as the building of the conduit progresses, or the core may be made in
sections, which may be allowed to remain in the conduit until the cement has
become sufficiently hard to permit of their removal.
In order to facilitate its removal, the core, or each section of it is made collapsible,
so that it may be contracted in diameter prior to removal, and thus prevented from
clinging to the walls of the conduit so firmly as to require an undue effort to
remove it.
The core may be constructed in various ways so as to be collapsible, According
to a preferable plan, each of its sections consists of a series of segments hung by
bars near each end to sliding collars on a shaft, the two collars being connected so
as to move together on the shaft.
When these bars are radially in line with the collars, the segments will be
expanded and the core will fill the opening of the conduit, but by moving the collars
in a certain direction, the effect will be to draw the segments inward, and thus
decrease the diameter of the core.
Accidental movement of the collars in this direction is prevented by a spring
catch, and when it is desired to collapse the core, a socket wrench is pushed over
the end of the said shaft so as to depress this catch, spring clips on the wrench
engaging with a groove in one of the collars, so that on the withdrawal of the
wrench the first effect will be the collapsing of the core, and then the removal of
the same from the conduit. Movement of the collars on the shaft in a contrary
direction is prevented by flanges on the shaft.
The reciprocation of the plunger is effected by means of toggle mechanism on
each side of the casing, said mechanism being substantially similar to that herein-
before described, and comprising arms, levers, and connecting rods.
Instead of two levers, a single lever may be used, this lever being secured to
a shaft carried by the brackets, and said shaft baving arms connected to the said
connecting rods.
By locating the toggle mechanism on the opposite sides of the casing, the interior
of the same is left unobstructed for the passage of the core.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Aubrey Day in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1883.
CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of the Firm of Day, Davies and Hunt, Patent Agent,
of 321. High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS PIPES OR TUBES OF CONCRETE OR LIKE MATERIAL
"
(A Communication to me from abroad by William Monroe Campbell, of Mount
Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan; Ephraim Ward Bond, of Springfield,
Hampden County, Massachusetts; Robert Brown, of Brooklyn, King's County,
New York; and Robert Dunbar Radcliffe, and Calvin Detrick, both of New York
City, New York; all in the United States of America.)
This Invention consists of improvements in that class of apparatus for forming
continuous pipes, tubes, or conduits of concrete or like material, in which the
concrete while in a plastic or granular state is rammed into a casing and around
a core; the improvements relating to the means for imparting pressure to the
plastic or granular mass, and to the construction of the core around which the
conduit is formed.
On the accompanying drawings, Figs 1 and 2 represent longitudinal sections of
one form of the apparatus, with some of the parts in different positions; and Fig 3
a transverse section on the lipe 1, 2, Fig; 1. Fig 4 represents a view of a modified
form of the device for operating the plunger; Fig 5 represents a side view, and
Fig. 6. a vertical section, of apparatus with a core forming one of the features of
the invention, and with a further modification of the device for operating the
plunger; Fig 7 represents a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in
Figs, 5 and 6; Fig 8 a transverse section on the line 3-4, Fig 6; and Figs. 9,
10 and 11, views showing the detailed construction of the core or former of the
machine.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is a casing of any desired form, that shown in the present
instance being rectangular. From the top of this casing projects a tube B,
surmounted by a hopper D, and within the casing fits snugly a plunger G, through
openings in which project a series of formers J, the front ends of which pass
through a plate H attached to or forming part of the front end of the casing A.
To lugs a, on the plunger is pivoted one end of a bar b, and to lugs a¹, on the
plate H is pivoted one end of a similar bar b¹, the opposite ends of these bars b, b',
being connected by a link d to the short arm of a lever K which is pivoted
to lugs e, carried by bars f, the latter spanning an opening in the top of the
casing A.
When the long arm of the lever K is moved in the direction of the arrow in
Fig. 1, there is a tendency to straighten the toggle connection formed by the
jointed bars b. b', and hence a tendency to move the plunger G in one direction,
- and the plate H in the opposite direction.
Supposing that the concrete or other cement has been rammed into the casing A
around the formers J, and up to the dotted line x, Fig 1, and that fresh-cement
has been introduced in front of the plunger G.
The first effect of the movement of the lever K is to force the plunger against
this fresh mass of cement, and thus compress it against the end of that which has
already been rammed, the movement of the plunger being then resisted, so that
further movement of the lever K will cause a forward movement of the plate H
and casing A.
By the use of a single lever for performing both of these duties, instead of

page_text: two levers as usual, the construction of the apparatus is simplified and its cost
decreased..
The formers J are withdrawn from the mass of concrete or cement by the
plunger, as the latter is drawn forward after having rammed a quantity of cement
into the casing, the plunger striking pins which project from the formers, and the
latter sliding in openings in the plate H, the friction between which and the
formers is just sufficient to prevent the latter from being carried back by the
plunger when its movement is reversed..
>
Owing to the use of the toggle mechanism, great force is imparted to the
plunger G and the cement is rammed firmly into the casing, so that the conduit
formed is homogeneous throughout, and is free from flaws or imperfections.
The devices shown for operating the plunger G and plate H can be used with
equal advantage in apparatus in which the formers are secured to the plate H.
In Fig 4 is shown a modified form of toggle connection between the plunger G
and plate H, the lever K in this case being hung directly to lugs on the plate, and
the short arm of the lever constituting the arm b' of the toggle connection
In Figs 5 to 11, A is the tubular casing, having a feed hopper B, D, and a
reciprocating plunger G, powdered or granular cement being introduced through
the hopper, and packed around the core or former J under the action of the
plunger, the latter being adapted to slide on the said core, which determines the
size and shape of the opening in the conduit, the outside contour of which is, the
same as that of the interior of the casing A.
It should be noticed that in this apparatus a single core of large diameter takes
the place of the series of small cores shown in the machine before described, and
that the core is not moved forward on each operation of the plunger.
This latter movement is not objectionable when the opening in the conduit is
small, but it is not advisable in cases where the opening is large, as in sewer or
drain pipes, for in such cases the internal support for the cement should be
continued for a longer time in order that the cement may harden. or become
properly set.
For this reason the core J of the machine shown in Figs 5 to 11 is made separate
from the casing A, and allowed to remain undisturbed in the conduit until such
time as it becomes safe to remove it or draw it forward, the front end of the core
passing freely through an opening in the front end plate H of the casing A, which
serves simply to support and guide the core, without having any tendency to move
the same longitudinally as the casing is moved.
A single core of sufficient length may be used, this core being drawn forward at
intervals as the building of the conduit progresses, or the core may be made in
sections, which may be allowed to remain in the conduit until the cement has
become sufficiently hard to permit of their removal.
In order to facilitate its removal, the core, or each section of it is made
collapsible, so that it may be contracted in diameter prior to removal, and thus
prevented from clinging to the walls of the conduit so firmly as to require an under
effort to remove it.
The core may be constructed in various ways so as to be collapsible, the plan
preferred being that shown in Figs 9, 10 and 11, on reference to which it will be
seen that each section of the core consists of a series of segments m, four in the
present instance, the segments being hung by bars n near each end to sliding
collars g, on a shaft h, the two collars being connected so as to move together on
the shaft.
When the bars n are radially in line with the collars g, as shown in Fig. 9, the
segments will be expanded as shown in Fig. 10, and the core will fill the opening
of the conduit, but by moving the collars in the direction of the arrow Fig. 9, the
effect will be to draw the segments m, inward and thus decrease the diameter of
the core, as shown in Fig. 11.
Accidental movement of the collars g in the direction of the arrow is prevented
by a spring catch p, and when it is desired to collapse the core, a socket wrench 8,

page_text: is pushed over the end of the shaft h, so as to depress the catch p, spring clips t on
the wrench engaging with a groove in one of the collars g, so that on the withdrawal
of the wrench the first effect will be the collapsing of the core, and then the
removal of the same from the 'conduit. Movement of the collars on the shaft in a
direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrow is prevented by flanges on
the shaft.
+
The reciprocation of the plunger G is effected by means of toggle mechanism on
each side of the casing, said mechanism being substantially similar to that
hereinbefore described, and comprising arms b and b', levers K, and connecting
rods d.
Instead of two levers K, a single lever may be used, this lever being secured to
a shaft carried by the brackets w, the shaft having arms connected to the rods d
By locating the toggle mechanism on the opposite sides of the casing A, the
interior of the same is left unobstructed for the passage of the core.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of the
said Invention I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the improvements
constituting the Invention communicated to me by the above named:-William
Monroe Campbell, Ephraim Ward Bond, Robert Brown, Robert Dunbar Radcliffe
and Calvin Detrick:-
In apparatus for forming continuous pipes or tubes of concrete or like material.
1. The combination of the casing A, a former or formers J, the plunger G, the
plate H, and toggle mechanism for operating the said plunger, all substantially as
hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of the casing and plunger of the machine, with a core free
from the control of the casing or plunger, substantially as bereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination of the casing and plunger of the machine, with a core free
from the control of the casing or plunger, and constructed so as to be collapsible,
substantially as herein before set forth.
4. The combination of the casing, the plunger, and the core, with toggle
mechanism on opposite sides of the casing for reciprocating the plunger, substantially
as herein before set forth.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Charles Aubrey Day, have hereunto set my hand
and Seal this seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight
hundred, and eighty three,