Earth block machine

A hydraulically powered earth block forming machine comprising a generally vertical soil supply bin, a generally horizontally disposed compaction chamber below said bin and in communication therewith for gravity flow of soil from the bin into the compaction chamber, a movable plate defining an upper wall for said compaction chamber and selectively closing a flow path for soil into the compaction chamber, a reciprocal ram mounted in said compaction chamber for compressing soil in the compaction chamber into an earth block, said compaction chamber including an openable and closeable outlet for discharge of compressed earth blocks from the compaction chamber, an actuating bar connected to said ram, a linkage mechanism connected to said actuating bar, a piston rod and cylinder mounted in generally perpendicular relation to said actuating bar, said piston rod being pivotally connected to and actuating said linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism including a link movable between a position substantially in alignment with the actuating bar when the piston rod is extended to exert maximum force on the ram to move the ram to soil compressing position and a position in acute angular relation to the path of movement of the actuating bar when the piston rod is retracted to move the ram to retracted position.

A hydraulically powered earth block forming machine comprising a generally vertical soil supply bin, a generally horizontally disposed compaction chamber below said bin and in communication therewith for gravity flow of soil from the bin into the compaction chamber, a movable plate defining an upper wall for said compaction chamber and selectively closing a flow path for soil into the compaction chamber, a reciprocal ram mounted in said compaction chamber for compressing soil in the compaction chamber into an earth block, said compaction chamber including an openable and closeable outlet for discharge of compressed earth blocks from the compaction chamber, an actuating member connected to said ram, a leverage mechanism connected to said actuating member, a hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder assembly connected to said leverage mechanism with the force exerted on the ram increasing as the leverage mechanism is actuated.

A machine for compressing a compressible material comprising a supply of compressible material, a compaction chamber receiving compressible material from said supply, said compaction chamber including an openable and closeable inlet and outlet for introducing compressible material into said compaction chamber and discharge of compressed material from said compaction chamber, a reciprocal ram mounted in said compaction chamber for compressing compressible material in the compaction chamber, a reciprocal actuating member connected to said ram, a leverage mechanism connect to said actuating member, a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder assembly connected to said leverage mechanism, said piston and cylinder assembly including a reciprocal piston, said leverage mechanism including a link pivotally connected to said actuating member and said piston, said link being movable between a position in acute angular relation to the path of movement of the actuating member and a position substantially in alignment with the actuating member when the piston is reciprocated to exert increasing compressive force on said ram as said link approaches alignment with said actuating member.