Combination mould portion and protective element for pipe

A method of manufacturing a combination mould portion and protective element from a flat cut blank material subject to dimensional changes and using said element to protect and form joint surfaces formed in a socket portion of a concrete pipe adapted to be connected to another pipe, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transporting at least one said flat cut blank to a site where said concrete pipe is to be poured;
• (b) forming at least one of said blanks into an annular shaped element by progressively feeding said blank along an inner annular peripheral surface of an annular shaping device;
• (c) positioning the annular shaped mould portion element in relation to a pair of side mould portions and a bottom ring mould portion to define therewith a cavity forming said socket portion of the pipe;
• (d) pouring concrete into the cavity to form the socket portion, said annular shaped mould portion element defining inner surfaces of the socket portion adapted to sealingly connect with another pipe;
• and
• (e) removing the side mould portions and bottom ring mould portion after the concrete has hardened, said annular shaped element being left intact in tight fitting engagement to protect inner surfaces of said socket portion against contact with water or soil during transportation and storage of said pipe.

A method of manufacturing and using a combination mould portion and protective element from a flat cut blank formed of styrene cellular plastic material to protect therewith inner sealing surfaces of a socket portion of an article adapted to mate with another article in sealing contact, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning the flat cut blank on a guide surface between a pair of drive and driven rollers;
• (b) guiding the blank along an arcuate guide surface with the drive roller so that the blank is progressively formed into an annular element having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface;
• (c) taping abutting ends of said annular element together so that said annular element retains its shape;
• (d) forming said socket portion immediately after shaping said annular element by positioning the annular shaped mould portion element in relation to a pair of side mould portions and a bottom ring mould portion to define therewith a cavity forming said socket portion of the pipe into which cavity a material is poured to form said socket portion;
• and
• (e) removing the side mould portions and bottom ring mould portion after the material has hardened, said annular shaped element being left intact in tight fitting engagement to protect inner surfaces of said socket portion against contact with water or soil during transportation and storage of said pipe.

A device for shaping a generally flat cut, elongated blank into an annular protective element used to mould sealing surfaces of an article and protect same during transportation and storage thereof, comprising:

• (a) a shaping element having an annular inner peripheral shaping surface;
• (b) a guide bar having a guide surface in tangential alignment with a point on the peripheral surface;
• (c) a drive roller and driven roller positioned to contact the blank placed therebetween on the guide surface to drive the blank along the shaping surface, thereby forming the blank into an annular shaped element having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface in contact with the shaping surface;
• and
• (d) tape supply means for supplying a tape-shaped element to the outer periphery of the mould portion and/or protective element while it is driven along the shaping surface, said tape connecting abutting ends of said annular element together.