# US 2018/0021979 A1 · Enhanced release compression shoe for use with concrete product forming machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021979 A1 - Document ID: US20180021979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/214,246 - Filed: 2016-07-19 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Columbia Machine, Inc. - Applicants: Columbia Machine, Inc. - Inventors: Llewellyn L. Johnston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021979A1 ## CPC - C23C 18/32: Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron (C23C18/50 takes precedence) - B22C 3/00: Selection of compositions for coating the surfaces of moulds, cores, or patterns - B28B 1/08: by vibrating or jolting {(of moulding sand B22C15/10; of concrete in general E04G21/063)} - B28B 3/021: {Ram heads of special form} - B28B 3/022: {combined with vibrating or jolting} - B28B 3/06: with two or more ram and mould sets - B28B 7/08: Moulds provided with means for tilting or inverting - B28B 11/14: for dividing shaped articles by cutting - B29C 33/56: Coatings {, e.g. enameled or galvanised}; Releasing, lubricating or separating agents {(in-mould coating B29C37/0028; using or applying separating agents B29C37/0067)} - B29C 37/0032: {the coating being applied upon the mould surface before introducing the moulding compound, e.g. applying a gelcoat (B29C44/14 and B29C44/32 take precedence)} - B29C 45/37: Mould cavity walls {, i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings} - B29C 45/568: {Applying vibrations to the mould parts} - B29C 73/00: Repairing of articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state, e.g. of articles shaped or produced by using techniques covered by this subclass or subclass B29D ({linings for tyres acting locally B60C5/142;} retreading tyres B29D30/54; devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses F16L55/16) - B30B 11/00: Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses (for clay or mixtures containing cement B28B; for plastics materials B29) - B30B 11/04: co-operating with a fixed mould - B30B 15/065: {Press rams} - C23C 18/1637: {metallic substrate} - C23C 18/1662: {Use of incorporated material in the solution or dispersion, e.g. particles, whiskers, wires} - C23C 18/1692: {Heat-treatment} - C23C 18/26: using organic liquids - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B22C: FOUNDRY MOULDING (moulding refractory materials in general B28B) - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} ## Abstract A compression shoe for use on a concrete products forming machine comprises a main body and a plated layer overlaid on the main body. The main body is configured to be slidingly received within a mold cavity of a concrete products mold. The plated layer overlaid on the main body of the compression shoe comprises a uniform electroless nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nano dispersion coating to effect enhanced material release characteristics by preventing the build-up of material on the compression shoes and enhancing their wear characteristics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a compression shoe for a concrete products machine comprising the steps of: providing a compression shoe having a main body configured to be slidingly received within a mold cavity of a concrete products mold; and utilizing a plated layer overlaid on the main body of the compression shoe comprising an electroless nickel (Ni), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nano dispersion coating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of utilizing a plating layer includes forming the plated layer by co-depositing the electroless nickel simultaneously with the PTFE so that the PTFE is uniformly distributed throughout a depth of the plated layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein a rate of deposit on the main body is constant throughout the forming step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including the step of co-depositing a phosphorus (P) material together with the NI and PFTE materials. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the P is co-deposited with the Ni and PTFE at an approximate 2%-13% infusion rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the P is co-deposited with the Ni and PTFE at an approximate 10% infusion rate throughout the forming step. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further including the step of applying a heat treatment to the plating layer after the co-depositing step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the heat treatment is approximately 400° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the depth of the plating layer is between approximately 0.0022″ and 0.006″. ### Claim 10 A compression shoe for use on a concrete products forming machine, the compression shoe comprising: a main body configured to be slidingly received within a mold cavity of a concrete products mold; and a plated layer overlaid on the main body of the compression shoe comprising an electroless nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nano dispersion coating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The compression shoe of claim 10, wherein the electroless nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are uniformly distributed throughout a depth of the plated layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compression shoe of claim 11, wherein the P is comprised at an approximate 2%-13% infusion throughout the depth of the plated layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The compression shoe of claim 12, wherein the P is comprised at an approximate 10% infusion throughout the depth of the plated layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The compression shoe of claim 10, wherein the plating layer has a thickness of between approximately 0.0022″ and 0.006″. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The compression shoe of claim 10, wherein the plating layer is only formed overtop the bottom surface of the compression shoe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The compression shoe of claim 10, wherein the compression shoe includes a bottom surface having a non-planar profile configured to impart a negative image of the non-planar profile onto a top surface of a molded concrete product produced by the concrete products forming machine, the plated layer being laid overtop the non-planar profile. ### Claim 17 A method for making a molded concrete product within a mold box of a type having an array of cavities, the method comprising: lifting a pallet against an underside of the mold box so that it seals bottom openings of the mold box cavities; filling the array of cavities within a mold box with concrete material; inserting compression shoes into top openings of the mold box cavities so that bottom surfaces of the compression shoes rest against and compress the top surface of the concrete material within the array of cavities, the bottom surface having a plating layer in contact with the concrete product formed of electroless nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); lowering the compression shoes and pallet together so that the concrete material is pressed in molded fashion out the bottom openings of the mold box cavities; and lifting the compression shoes back out through the top openings of the mold box cavities once the molded concrete products are completely moved out from the cavities and onto the pallet.