Concrete test cylinder mold, system, and method of use
OwnerDavid L. Nickerson, Paul W. Grycelinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A concrete test cylinder mold formed of expandable polystyrene and which is used to form geometrically uniform concrete test cylinders that accurately reflect the structural properties of the concrete mix used to form the test cylinders despite fluctuations in temperature to which the test cylinder may be exposed during formation within the mold. The mold is constructed and configured such that compression testing of the concrete test cylinder may be conducted while the cylinder is still in the mold. A specially designed heat shield may be used in unison with the concrete test mold to form, at least in part, a system by which heat further may be retained within the system during formation of the concrete test cylinder.
Claims7
A system for forming a concrete test cylinder comprising:
- a concrete test cylinder mold comprising:
- a main body comprising:
- a generally frusto-conical shaped side wall having an anterior terminal end oppositely situated to a posterior terminal end, and an exterior side oppositely situated to an interior side, wherein the side wall tapers inwardly from the posterior terminal end towards the anterior terminal end;
- and
- a generally cylindrical-shaped chamber immediately surrounded by the interior side of the side wall and which extends from the anterior terminal end to the posterior terminal end of the side wall of the main body;
- and
- a base comprising a top side oppositely situated to a bottom side and joined thereto by a side wall;
- wherein the side wall of the main body is centrally positioned over the top side of the base, and further wherein the top side of the main body, the side wall of the main body, and the base comprise an expandable polystyrene material;
- and
- a heat shield, wherein the heat shield comprises an expandable polystyrene material, and wherein the mold is disposed within the heat shield.
A method of testing compressive strength of a concrete test cylinder, wherein the method comprises:
- providing a concrete test cylinder mold having a generally frusto-conical shaped main body surrounding a generally cylindrical shaped chamber, wherein the mold further comprises an expandable polystyrene material;
- placing a concrete test mix within the chamber of the mold;
- providing a heat shield, wherein the heat shield comprises a generally cylindrical shaped body having a chamber formed therein, wherein the generally cylindrical shaped body of the heat shield comprises an expandable polystyrene material;
- placing the concrete test cylinder mold and the concrete test mix, which has been placed within the chamber of the mold, within the chamber of the heat shield;
- curing the concrete test mix to form a concrete test cylinder;
- removing the concrete test cylinder mold from the heat shield after the concrete test cylinder has formed and prior to placing the concrete test cylinder and the concrete test cylinder mold within a compression testing machine;
- placing the concrete test cylinder, while it is still within the chamber of the mold, within the compression testing machine;
- and
- performing a compressive strength test.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.