Patent ID: 8252221

Claim:
A method of compacting block-forming material in a compacting mold, the method comprising: moving plural opposing side wall structures of the compactable mold to a first position in which, prior to compaction of block forming material, plural side tubes or shafts extending into a mold cavity defined by the compactable mold and connected to each of the side wall structures engage with a center tube or shaft extending between non-compacting walls of the compactable mold, the plural opposing side wall structures each comprising: a compacting side wall; and the respective side tubes or shafts, wherein each side tube or shaft of the respective opposing side wall structure engages with a side of the center tube or shaft and extends towards and is aligned with a corresponding side tube or shaft on the other opposing side wall structure that engages with an opposite side of the center tube or shaft; introducing the block-forming material into the mold cavity defined by the compactable mold; and moving the compacting side walls towards each other to a second position such that the block-forming material is compacted in the mold cavity while the plural side tubes or shafts connected to the respective side wall structures remain engaged with the center tube or shaft, the plural side tubes or shafts being connected to the respective side wall structures such that the compacting side walls are operable to move independently of the plural side tubes or shafts connected to the respective side wall structures during compaction of the block-forming material.