# US 4,273,522 A · Reinforcing member support in concrete extruders > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,273,522 A - Document ID: US4273522A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/076,294 - Filed: 1979-09-17 - Granted: 1981-06-16 - Earliest claimed: 1979-09-17 - Assignees: Dyform Engineering Limited - Inventors: Norman W. Bunn; Christopher B. Bunn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4273522A ## CPC - B28B 1/084: {the vibrating moulds or cores being moved horizontally for making strands of moulded articles} - B28B 3/228: {Slipform casting extruder, e.g. self-propelled extruder} - B28B 23/18: for the production of elongated articles (B28B23/06 takes precedence) - 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) ## Abstract A machine for making elongated articles of concrete or the like having reinforcing members extending therethrough, and in which at least one spiral conveyor forces concrete under pressure through a mold causing the machine to move forwardly by reaction as the material is forced against the molded portion of the article. At least one elongated reinforcing member extends through the machine and the mold, and the machine is provided with a support tube extending to the mold to receive the reinforcing member and to support the latter as concrete is directed into the machine. The support tube preferably has a longitudinal slot therein and is mounted to rotate around a longitudinal axis so that the tube can be rotated between a position with a slot opening upwardly and a position with the slot opening downwardly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extrusion machine for making elongated articles of concrete-like moldable material having at least one reinforcing member therein and extending longitudinally thereof, comprising; a conveyor chamber, an open-ended mold of a desired cross-sectional shape aligned with one end of the chamber and in communication therewith, conveyor means in the chamber and extend to the mold, a support tube extending longitudinally of the chamber to the mold to receive and support an elongated reinforcing member extending therethrough and through the mold when an elongated article is to be made, said tube having a slot therein opening upwardly therefrom, and means for directing concrete-like material into the chamber and through said slot into the support tube around the reinforcing member therein, said conveyor means being operable to move the concrete-like material under pressure through the mold around said reinforcing member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a high frequency vibrator in the mold adjacent said conveyor means and an end of the support tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold adjacent an end of the support tube and over which said material is moved by said conveyor means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold adjacent an end of the support tube and over which said material is moved by said conveyor means, and a high frequency vibrator in said forming element to liquify the concrete-like material around said element and the adjacent reinforcing member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said supporting tube is mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis thereof, and comprising means for rotating the tube around said axis between a position with the slot therein opening upwardly and a position with said slot opening downwardly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said supporting tube is mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis thereof, and comprising means for rotating the tube around said axis between a position with the slot thereof opening upwardly and a position with said slot opening downwardly, and a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold and over which said material is moved by said conveyor means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said supporting tube is mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis thereof, and comprising means for rotating the tube around said axis between a position with the slot thereof opening upwardly and a position with said slot opening downwardly, a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold and over which said material is moved by said conveyor means, and a high frequency vibrator in said forming element to liquify the concrete-like material around said element and the adjacent reinforcing member. ### Claim 8 An extrusion machine for making elongated articles of concrete-like moldable material having at least one reinforcing member therein extending longitudinally thereof by forcing the material through a mold, said machine being moved forwardly by reaction as the material is forced against the molded portion of the article, comprising: a conveyor chamber, an open-ended mold of a desired cross-sectional shape aligned with one end of the chamber and in communication therewith, a rotatable spiral conveyor in and extending longitudinally of the conveyor chamber and extending to the mold, a support tube extending substantially parallel with the spiral conveyor longitudinally of the chamber to the mold to receive and support an elongated reinforcing member extending therethrough and through the mold when an elongated article is to be made, said tube having a slot therein opening upwardly therefrom, and means for directing concrete-like moldable material into the chamber around the spiral conveyor and through said slot into the support tube around the reinforcing member therein, said conveyor being operable to move the concrete-like material under pressure through the mold around said reinforcing member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8 comprising a forming element of any cross-sectional shape in the mold immediately following the spiral conveyor and adjacent an end of the support tube, said conveyor moving the cement-like material over the forming element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8 comprising a forming element of any cross-sectional shape in the mold immediately following the spiral conveyor and adjacent an end of the support tube, said conveyor moving the cement-like material over the forming element, and a high frequency vibrator in said forming element to liquify the cement-like material around said element and the adjacent reinforcing member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the supporting tube is mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis thereof, and comprising means for rotating the tube around said axis between a position having the slot thereof opening upwardly and a position having said slot opening downwardly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8 comprising a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold immediately following the conveyor, said conveyor moving the cement-like material over the forming element, a high frequency vibrator on said forming element to liquify the cement-like material around said element and the adjacent reinforcing member, said supporting tube being mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis thereof, and means for rotating the tube around said axis between a position having the slot thereof opening upwardly and a position having said slot opening downwardly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8 comprising a forming element of any cross sectional shape in the mold immediately following the spiral conveyor and adjacent an end of the support tube, said conveyor moving the cement-like material over the forming element, said forming element being mounted so as not to be rotated by the conveyor.