US 12,352,167 B1Granted

Method of and system for in-situ creation of concrete arches

AssigneeBluCor Contracting, Inc.

InventorsGordon Antoine Bluth, Dustin Bluth, Lynden Bluth, Tyler Bluth, Colton Bluth

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Abstract

A method and structure for forming an elongated concrete arch involving a concrete sled to form a concrete tunnel extending behind the sled as the sled is moved forward. A series of arched forms are placed on the ground within the footprint of the sled, the sled is advanced forward over the arched forms as concrete is poured into a sled through a central passage into a space between the sled and the arched forms. The forms are guided and shaped as they enter the sled. The concrete is smoothed as it extends behind the sled. The arched forms are removed from beneath the concrete arch within 60 minutes of the concrete being poured.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for forming an elongated concrete arch, the method comprising:

positioning a sled with a flat bottom surface in an initial position on a ground surface upon which the elongated concrete arch is to be formed, the sled having a central passage formed as a tunnel extending beneath the sled;
positioning a first arched form on the ground surface within a footprint of the sled adjacent to an entrance to the central passage of the sled;
advancing the sled forward to a first position wherein the first arched form is positioned beneath the sled in the central passage;
forming the first arched form into a desired shape with the sled by contacting the first arched form with the sled and forcing the first arched form into the desired shape, wherein forming the first arched form into the desired shape occurs as a result of advancing the sled forward to the first position;
pouring concrete into a hopper having a hopper opening on an upper surface of the sled;
filling space between the first arched form and the sled with concrete received through the hopper opening to form a first arched section of the elongated concrete arch positioned on the ground surface;
positioning a second arched form on the ground surface within a footprint of the sled adjacent to the entrance to the central passage of the sled, wherein the second arched form is aligned with and adjacent to the first arched form;
advancing the sled forward to a second position wherein the second arched form is positioned beneath the sled in the central passage;
forming the second arched form into the desired shape with the sled by contacting the second arched form with the sled and forcing the second arched form into the desired shape, wherein forming the second arched form into the desired shape occurs as a result of advancing the sled forward to the second position;
filling space between the second arched form and the sled with concrete received through the hopper opening to form a second arched section of the elongated concrete arch positioned on the ground surface aligned with and in direct contact with the first arched section;
removing the first arched form from the elongated concrete arch within 60 minutes of filling the space between the first arched form and the sled with concrete;
and
removing the second arched form from the elongated concrete arch within 60 minutes of filling the space between the second arched form and the sled with concrete.

10 more elements

A method for forming an elongated concrete arch, the method comprising:

positioning a sled in an initial position on a ground surface upon which the elongated concrete arch is to be formed, the sled having a central passage formed as a tunnel extending beneath the sled;
positioning a first form on the ground surface within a footprint of the sled adjacent to an entrance to the central passage of the sled;
advancing the sled forward to a first position wherein the first form is positioned beneath the sled;
forming the first form into an arched shape with the sled, wherein forming the first form into the arched shape occurs as a result of advancing the sled forward to the first position;
pouring concrete into the sled;
filling space between the first form and the sled with concrete to form a first arched section of the elongated concrete arch positioned on the ground surface;
positioning a second form on the ground surface within a footprint of the sled adjacent to the entrance to the central passage of the sled, wherein the second form is aligned with and adjacent to the first form;
advancing the sled forward to a second position wherein the second form is positioned beneath the sled;
forming the second form into the arched shape with the sled, wherein forming the second form into the arched shape occurs as a result of advancing the sled forward to the second position;
and
filling space between the second form and the sled with concrete to form a second arched section of the elongated concrete arch positioned on the ground surface aligned with and in direct contact with the first arched section.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.