Production method and means for concrete articles

A method of moulding concrete ties which comprises the steps:

• positioning a plurality of mould frames on a longitudinally extending base frame, each mould frame comprising an open ended multicavity mould, the cavities of which are of shape for the forming of the concrete ties, and having thereon engaging members which engage the sides of the base frame and thereby align corresponding cavities of the mould frames,
• positioning the lowermost of a first series of transversely extending spacers between adjacent ends of some of the axially adjacent moulds,
• positioning a series of reinforcing wires in the aligned cavities in parallel spaced relationship with one another and on said lowermost of the series of spacers,
• positioning the remainder of the first series of spacers also between adjacent ends of the said some of the adjacent moulds and in a horizontal direction between the reinforcing wires to separate the wires into horizontal rows, and positioning a second series of spacers between adjacent ends of the remaining adjacent moulds by movement in a vertical direction to engage the wires and separate them into vertical rows,
• securing the ends of the reinforcing wires to anchor means at respective ends of said line of cavities, and moving one of said anchor means away from the other to thereby strain said wires,
• mixing Portland cement, aggregate, sand and water to form a wet mix of concrete,
• transporting the wet mix of concrete over the moulds while simultaneously discharging said concrete into the moulds to thus fill the moulds and surround the reinforcing wires with concrete,
• removing the spacers after the concrete has set but before it cures,
• allowing the concrete to cure, and then releasing the tension on the wires,
• severing the reinforcing wires between adjacent said moulds,
• coupling a tilt frame to one side of one of said mould frames and a corresponding side of said base frame while the mould frames remain on the base frame, said tilt frame comprising pivot means having a longitudinal axis,
• lifting the other side of said mould frame to thereby pivot the mould frame about said longitudinal axis and then lowering the mould frame to invert it beyond said base frame side, and
• discharging said ties from the inverted moulds.