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US 8,524,138 B2Granted
Concrete block with beveled core opening edge
AssigneeAnchor Wall Systems, Inc.
InventorJay J. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and equipment for forming beveled edge(s) around the core opening in a concrete block are disclosed. The formation of the beveled edge(s) minimizes feathering along the block edges that are beveled as the block is stripped from a mold. Any feathering that does occur is shifted away from the bottom surface of the block to allow the block to lay flat on other blocks when dry stacked in a wall.
Claims12
A method of forming a dry-cast concrete block with at least one core opening therein;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a block mold having a plurality of sidewalls defining a mold cavity with an open top, an open bottom and a core form in the mold cavity at a location to form a core opening in a pre-cured concrete block formed therein;
- depositing dry-cast concrete, in the mold cavity, distributed around and against the core form;
- introducing a plate through the open top of the mold cavity and compacting the dry-cast concrete in the mold cavity to form a pre-cured concrete block;
- the plate having a first surface facing the mold cavity;
- the plate having a core form opening therein configured to allow passage therethrough of the core form;
- and,
- the plate including a beveled ridge on the first surface around at least a portion of the core form opening and projecting from the first surface toward the mold cavity;
- the beveled ridge including a section, facing away from the core form opening, disposed at an angle relative to a direction of travel of the core form through the core opening during forming of the block;
- the step of introducing the plate and compacting the concrete including using the beveled ridge to mold a beveled edge in the dry-cast concrete while compacting;
- the beveled edge beginning at the upper surface of the pre-cured block, as molded, and extending from the upper surface of the pre-cured block to the core opening at an obtuse angle to the upper surface of the pre-cured block;
- discharging the pre-cured concrete block from the mold cavity;
- the step of discharging comprising lowering the pre-cured block relative to the core form until no portion of the pre-cured concrete block engages and surrounds the core form;
- and,
- the step of discharging further comprising discharging from the mold a pre-cured block having:
- a front surface;
- a rear surface;
- side surfaces that extend from the front surface to the rear surface;
- a bottom surface and a top surface;
- and
- a core opening extending into the block from the upper surface as molded toward the lower surface as molded;
- the core opening having a ridgeless perimeter at the portion of the core opening at the upper surface as molded;
- and,
- curing the pre-cured concrete block.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.