US 4,395,220 A · Apparatus for forming construction blocks

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus and a process for forming building blocks by consolidating a mixture of cement and fibrous material. The process involves placing a charge of the mixture into a mold, compressing the mixture within the mold, inserting rotors into the mixture within the mold to consolidate and displace the mixture while forming hollow cores through the formed block, and removing the rotors from the formed block and the block from the mold. The apparatus includes a mold, a mold cover, means that apply pressure to the mold cover to compress the material placed within the mold rotors, means for spinning the rotors as they are lowered into and raised from the mixture by raising and lowering means. The block is formed on a removable pallet resting on lips within the mold. The pallet defines apertures substantially aligned with the rotors; the apertures allow for release of pressure when the rotors are withdrawn from the formed block. The rotors are uniquely configured to properly compact and displace the mixture and to form smooth hollow cores through the block.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A rotor for displacing and compacting materials smoothly and evenly while producing a cylindrical hollow core through a formed block, comprising:

a continuous smooth cylindrical outer surface formed about a center axis;
a curved vane projecting axially outward from one end of the cylindrical surface to an outer edge lying within a plane perpendicular to the axis of the smooth cylindrical surface;
said curve vane having a radial edge that intersects said outer edge and is an extension of said cylindrical surface;
the vane presenting a transversely curved convex face in the intended direction of rotation of the rotor;
the face of the vane having a radial orientation at the center axis of the cylindrical surface and constantly receding from the direction of rotation spirally to a tangential orientation at the cylindrical surface.

2 more elements

An apparatus for forming construction blocks from a mixture of cement and fibrous materials, comprising:

a confining mold having an interior for receiving and shaping a controlled charge of the mixture;
a mold cover having a circular aperture formed through it;
means for applying pressure to the mold cover in a first direction for pressing the mixture into the confining mold;
a rotor for displacing and compacting material smoothly and evenly while producing a cylindrical hollow core through the construction blocks, including:
(a) a continuous smooth cylindrical outer surface having a constant radius about a center axis equal to the radius of said circular aperture;
(b) a curved vane projecting axially outward from one end of the cylindrical surface to an outer edge lying within a plane perpendicular to the axis of the smooth cylindrical surface;
(c) said curved vane having a radial edge that intersects said outer edge and is an extension of said cylindrical surface;
(d) the vane presenting a transversely curved convex face in the intended direction of rotation of the rotor;
(e) the face of the vane having a radial orientation at the center axis of the cylindrical surface and constantly receding from the direction of rotation spirally to a tangential orientation at the cylindrical surface;
means for inserting and withdrawing the rotor relative to the mold interior through the circular aperture in the mold cover;
and
means operably connected to the rotor for rotating it about its center axis.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for forming construction blocks

Life of this patent

Apparatus for forming construction blocks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10