Systems for forming lightweight concrete block
AssigneeAdvanced Building Systems, Inc.
InventorDaniel M. Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for efficiently forming individual building units is provided, generally includes providing a plurality of molds, each capable of simultaneously forming a plurality of building units. Batches of cementitious slurry are individually mixed in order to control the density of each building unit formed. The ingredients are individually measured and combined into the mixing device. The cementitious slurry is then conveyed or transported and poured into one of the molds. The method provides the ability to control the amount of cementitious slurry in each batch in order to control to the extent possible the quantity of cementitious slurry poured into each mold and the ability to precisely control the dimensions of each building unit produced.
Claims23
A system for forming lightweight concrete building units, comprising:
- at least one mold configured for receiving a batch of a lightweight cement slurry therein and for forming at least one building unit;
- an ingredient measuring apparatus configured for measuring each of a plurality of ingredients to form the batch;
- a cement slurry mixing apparatus configured for receiving the plurality of ingredients from the ingredient measuring apparatus, for mixing the plurality of ingredients into the batch, and for pouring the batch into at least one mold, wherein said cement slurry mixing device comprises a vessel rotatably mounted proximate a longitudinal axis thereof to a support frame and including a first drive motor coupled thereto for rotating said vessel to dump a batch contained therein and a second drive motor coupled to said vessel for rotating mixing paddles within said vessel and mixing the batch contained therein;
- and
- a slurry delivery apparatus configured for transporting said cement slurry mixing apparatus to a position proximate said at least one mold so that the batch slurry can be delivered from said cement slurry mixing apparatus to said at least one mold.
A system for forming lightweight concrete building units, comprising:
- a plurality of molds, each configured for receiving a batch of an aerated cement slurry therein and forming a plurality of building units from each batch;
- an automated ingredient measuring apparatus configured for weighing each of a plurality of dry ingredients to form a batch;
- a foam generator for feeding a metered amount of foam for each batch;
- a water source for supplying a metered amount of water for each batch;
- a vessel positionable beneath said measuring apparatus configured for receiving the plurality of dry ingredients from the automated ingredient measuring apparatus, the foam from said foam generator and the water from said water source, said vessel having mixing paddles therein for mixing the plurality of dry ingredients, the foam and the water into a batch of lightweight cement slurry, wherein said vessel is rotatably mounted proximate a longitudinal axis thereof to a support frame and includes a first drive motor coupled thereto for rotating said vessel to dump a batch contained therein and a second drive motor coupled to said vessel for rotating said mixing paddles;
- and
- a slurry delivery apparatus associated with said vessel capable of delivering a batch of lightweight cement slurry to each of said plurality of molds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.