Automated system for producing manhole products and associated method
OwnerKiran P. Giriinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated system and associated method of producing manhole products includes an area closed production loop where molds are moved to discrete workstations. A standard set of tasks (e.g., mold cleaning and release agent application, reinforcement placement, pre-pouring activities and inspection, filling, curing, and product demolding) are performed at various ones of the workstations. Once one of these tasks is completed, the mold moves to the next workstation. This enables a transition from ‘cast on the floor’ method to an assembly line principle.
Claims18
A method of forming a cast concrete manhole product comprising:
- positioning a mold having a mold outer wall and a mold inner wall received therein;
- opening the mold outer wall to access the mold inner wall;
- cleaning an external surface of the mold inner wall;
- closing the mold outer wall around the cleaned mold inner wall;
- moving the mold to a concrete pouring station, including sensing a position of the mold at a desired location in the concrete pouring station;
- then introducing concrete into the mold between the mold outer wall and the mold inner wall;
- subsequently moving the mold to a curing station;
- curing the molded manhole product;
- and
- separating the cured manhole product from the mold.
A cast concrete manhole product forming system comprising:
- a mold having a mold outer wall and a mold inner wall received therein;
- a mold cleaning station;
- a concrete pouring station, including a sensor that positions the mold at a desired location in the concrete pouring station;
- a curing station curing the molded manhole product;
- a stripping station that separates the cured manhole product from the mold;
- and
- at least one of a powered conveyor and a transfer cart that receives the mold thereon and transports the mold from the mold cleaning station to the pouring station, from the pouring station to the curing station, and from the curing station to the stripping station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.