Method and apparatus for tumbling concrete products
AssigneeColumbia Machine, Inc.
InventorsStacy L. Gildersleeve, Thomas A. Glascoe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tumbler for tumbling concrete products comprises a rotatable cylindrical drum having an input end that is slightly elevated relative to an output end. Tire retread strips are placed side-by-side on the radially inner surface of the drum and extend along its length. Clamps having lateral arms extending on either side are engaged with lateral tread grooves on the strips. The clamps are bolted to the drum between adjacent strips thereby securing the strips to the radially inner surface of the drum.
Claims21
Apparatus for tumbling concrete products comprising:
- a drum having an input end, an output end, and an inner surface;
- a plurality of elastic strips positioned adjacent one another on said inner surface;
- a plurality of clamps positioned between pairs of said strips;
- and
- a locking mechanism that urges each clamp against its associated strip pair thereby securing the strips to the drum.
Apparatus for tumbling concrete products comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical drum, said drum having an input end for receiving concrete products and an output end that is lower than the input end when said drum is in its operable condition;
- a plurality of elongate tread rubber strips each being substantially the length of said drum;
- a plurality of clamps, each having lateral arms on opposite sides thereof, said arms being engagable with tread grooves when said clamp is positioned between a pair of said tread rubber strips;
- a plurality of bores formed in said drum between said input end and said output end;
- a plurality of bolts receivable in said threaded bores;
- a plurality of bores formed in said clamps for receiving said bolts therethrough, said bolts clamping said tread rubber strips to the radially inner surface of said drum when said strips are arranged on said surface, said arms are engaged with the tread grooves and said bolts are received in said clamp bores and threadably engaged with a nut.
A clamp for clamping a pair of adjacent tire treads against a surface comprising:
- a clamp body positionable between a pair of substantially parallel tire tread strips;
- a first lug extending from said clamp body for engaging a first lateral groove on a first tread edge of one of such tread strips;
- a second lug extending from said clamp body for engaging a second lateral groove on a second tread edge of the other of such tread strips;
- and
- a locking mechanism for locking the clamp against the surface.
A method for lining a drum comprising:
- laying elastic strips on the inner drum surface adjacent one another;
- and
- clamping a pair of adjacent strips to the inner drum surface with a clamp that presses each strip in the pair to the surface along the edge of each.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.