AU5955099A - A method and apparatus for casting a pipe - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 7462349/AJC Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

u Name of Applicant: Address for Service: Invention Title: Bruno Altin Co Pty Ltd Hillston Road, Griffith, New South Wales 2680, Australia DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street, Sydney, 2000 "A method and apparatus for casting a pipe" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\58196.BRU 16/11/99 -1- A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING A PIPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for casting a pipe, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for casting a concrete pipe which has its ends formed *o to compatibly engage and interconnect with adjacent pipe members.

*o At present, the casting of concrete, clay or like pipes is a slow and labourious process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a method and apparatus for casting a pipe which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art methods.

The present invention also seeks to provide a method an apparatus for casting a pipe which is performed substantially automatically by the sequential movement of various casting members.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a method of casting a pipe, comprising the steps of: positioning a first end of an outer mould casing adjacent a first end mould means; providing a mix into said outer mould casing via an second end thereof; introducing an inner mould casing into said first end of said outer mould casing through said end mould means, and moving said inner mould casing within said outer mould casing, such that pipe walls become formed from said mix therebetween; forming a second end of said pipe utilising an end former brought adjacent said second end of said mould casing; moving said mould casing relative to said inner mould casing, and subsequently removing said end former, such that said formed pipe remains.

II

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 -2- Perhaps most preferably, the present invention provides a method of casting a pipe, comprising the steps of: positioning a lower end of an outer mould casing atop a base mould base means; providing a mix into said outer mould casing via an upper end thereof; introducing an inner mould casing into a lower end of said outer mould casing through said mould base means, and moving said inner mould casing within said outer mould casing, *go.such that pipe walls are formed therebetween; S. ".forming an upper end of said pipe utilising a top end former brought adjacent upper 1ends of said mould casings; removing said mould casings by raising said mould casing and lowering said inner mould casing, and subsequently removing said top end former, such that said formed pipe Sremains supported on said base mould.

Preferably said upper end of said inner mould casing is provided with an impeller means adapted to spin as said inner mould casing is raised within said outer mould casing.

Also preferably, said outer mould casing is adapted to oscillate, vibrate and/or rotate as said inner mould casing is moved thereinto.

In a preferred form, said base mould is secured to a turntable means, said turntable means being adapted to rotate.

Preferably, said top end former is provided with openings serving as excess concrete outlets.

Preferably, prior to said positioning step, reinforcement mesh is provided into said base mould.

Also preferably, after said removing step, said formed pipe is picked up on said base mould and removed to a curing location.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 -3- In a preferred form, in said providing step, said mix is provided by a retractable feed conveyor.

The most preferred form of the invention is wherein said steps are automatically performed by a control means.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for casting a pipe, comprising: a substantially vertically disposed longitudinal outer mould casing; a base mould, upon which said outer mould casing is adapted to be seated; an inner mould casing adapted to be axially moved within said outer mould casing; and a top end forming means adapted to form a top portion of said pipe.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises impeller means provided on the upper end of said inner mould casing and adapted to spin or as said inner mould casing is moved within said outer mould casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an elevational view of the apparatus; Figs. 2(b) and 2(c) show the apparatus of Fig. 1 at various stages during the operation of the apparatus; Figs. 3(a) to 3(d) detail sectional views through lines 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4, of Fig.

1; and, Fig. 4 details of the rotating head, Fig. 4(a) showing a plan view thereof and Fig.

4(b) showing an elevational view thereof.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC&587196.BRU 16/11/99 -4- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREE1R iED 1OB1)ENTS Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be utilised to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus coprises an. uter mould casing 10, and an inner mould casing 26. Each of these mould casi 10 a 26are adapted to be moved such that they may be separated, or, such that the innermoi ing 26 may be provided entirely withinp he outer mould casing 10. A flangebase it11is a to receive the outer mould casing 10 on it's upper surface, and, is prvied within orifice therethrough, through which the inner mould casing 26 may pass. The flange base mould 11 is provided on a turntable 16, for rotation thereof.

The upper end of the inner mould casing 26 isprovided with an impeller 19 which is adapted to spin as said inner mould casing 26, is ris iin te outer mould casing 10. A top end former 6 is also adapted to be raised and lowered ad rought into position adjacent the top end of the outer mould casiing10 t6o form the top nd flange of the pipe. The remainder of the components shown inFlig. w h ae I hereinbelow, are provided to permit and perform the raising and lowering movement of these main components hereinbefore mentioned, and to control the oscillation, vibration, rotation, etc., thereof.

1. Oscillating turn table standard series 21/520i,(K 210) 2. Hydraulic ram drive (76mm bore 32mm sh*ft 15mm stroke) 3. Hydraulic ram with square outer casing (130mm bore 75mm shaft 1200 stroke) 4. 100 dia high tensile solid shaft (platform guide) Extension tubing 130 dia 6. Oscillating top edge former (interchangeable) 7. Excess concrete outlets 8. Oscillating turntable standard series 21/1200 (KD 210) ri:I=~~~~iCil:i P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 9. Hydraulic ram drive (76mm bore 32mm shaft 100mm stroke) Oscillating outer mould casing (interchangeable) 11. Oscillating flanged base mould (interchangeable) 12. Outer mould rising and lowering platform (200x100x10 RHS 20mm top plate) 13. Outer platform hydraulic rams 2 off (130mm bore 75mm shaft 3900mm stroke) 14. Inner platform hydraulic rams 2 off (130mm bore 75mm shaft 3225mm stroke) 15. Ram anchoring plate 16. Oscillating turntable standard series 21/1200 (kd 210) 17. Hydraulic ram drive (76mm bore 32mm shaft 200mm stroke) 10 18. 100 dia high tensile solid shaft (platform guide) 19. Impeller blade to detachable rotating head 20. ring connecting sleeve 21. Detachable spline shaft 22. Hydraulic motor planetary gear box effective displacement 1000cc (60 rpm) 23. High frequency Hydraulic vibration unit (9000 rpm) model HA9-1600 *24. Upper centering and clamping taper 25. Centering inner hollow tube (170mm ID) fixed 26. Inner mould casing interchangeable from 230 dia to 900 dia 27. Lower centering and clamping taper 28. Locking flange 29. Base platform External frame (above ground) 200xl00xl0mm RHS 31. Wall of concrete pit (below ground) 32. Anchoring bush 33. Sliding bush 34. Anchoring bush plate Double mounting plate 36. Hydraulic ram anchoring flange 37. Internal frame (below ground) 100xl00xl0mm RHS base 90x90x6mm RHS uprights 38. Inner mould rising and lowering platform (150xl00xl0mm RHS)

'V

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 -6- 39. Ground level In use, the operation of the machine is intended to be fully automatic, and is preferably computer controlled. The operation of the device will be hereinafter described.

Firstly, the flange base mould 11 is placed into position and secured to the turntable 16. When a preset button is activated, the top of the inner mould casing 26 rises to a position adjacent the flange base mould 11. Reinforcement mesh may then be provided into place on to the flange base mould 11. A preset button may then be activated to begin the cycle. The cycle commences with the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. where the outer mould casing 10 drops down into position and locates on to the flanged base mould 11, while the inner mould casing 26 rises sufficiently the block the opening in the base mould. The turntable 16 then begins to oscillate for, say, about 60 seconds. The feed conveyor moves into position above the opening of the outer mould casing and begins to pour concrete mix.

•oo•2 The vibration unit 23 switches on while the outer mould casing 10 begins to oscillate. The impeller 19 on the rotating head then begins to spin.

ooo i The inner mould casing 26 then begins to rise inside the outer mould casing 10 until the tip of the impeller blade 19 reaches the top of the outer mould casing 10 in the position shown in Fig. The feed conveyor then stops and retracts. The oscillating top end former 6 descends into position between the casing moulds 10 and 26 while internal casing mould 26 is still rising, forcing excess concrete mix through the outlets 7. A vibrating unit 23 and impeller 19 then switch off while the oscillating turntable 8 switches off, say, about second later.

Then, while the top edge former stays locked into place, holding the freshly cast concrete pipe in position, as shown in Fig. 2(c) the outer mould casing rises clear of the pipe at the same time the inner mould casing 26 descends to the bottom of the pit. The freshly cast concrete pipe is then left self standing ready for removal. An hydraulic lifting trolley may be used to pick up the completed concrete pipe by the flange base mould and carted to a XI I II P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 -7curing yard. The next cycle is then ready to restart.

For a fuller understanding of the actual apparatus, various cross-sectional and plan views are shown in Figs. 3(c) and being cross-sectional views through lines 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Also, for further understanding, details of a rotating head in accordance with the S. preferred embodiment of the invention are shown in Fig. 4.

10 It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides a fully automatic computer controlled apparatus for manufacturing a concrete or like pipe. Duration of the cycle is quite short and typically might vary from 5 to 7 minutes depending upon the size of the pipe being manufactured.

15 It will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications to the apparatus and method as hereinbefore described will be envisaged by persons skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (15)

1. A method of casting a pipe, comprising the steps of: positioning a first end of an outer mould casing adjacent a first end mould means; providing a mix into said outer mould casing via an second end thereof; introducing an inner mould casing into said first end of said outer mould casing through said end mould means, and moving said inner mould casing within said outer mould casing, such that pipe walls become formed from said mix therebetween; .forming a second end of said pipe utilising an end former brought adjacent said second S" end of said mould casing; 10 moving said mould casing relative to said inner mould casing, and subsequently removing said end former, such that said formed pipe remains. S

2. A method of casting a pipe, comprising the steps of: positioning a lower end of an outer mould casing atop a base mould base means; providing a mix into said outer mould casing via an upper end thereof; %ago.: introducing an inner mould casing into a lower end of said outer mould casing through said mould base means, and moving said inner mould casing within said'outer mould casing, such that pipe walls are formed therebetween; forming an upper end of said pipe utilising a top end former brought adjacent upper ends of said mould casings; removing said mould casings by raising said mould casing and lowering said inner mould casing, and subsequently removing said top end former, such that said formed pipe remains supported on said base mould.

3. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, said second/upper end of said inner mould casing is provided with an impeller means adapted to spin as said inner mould casing is moved/raised within said outer mould casing.

4. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, said outer P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\587196.BRU 16/11/99 -9- mould casing is adapted to oscillate, vibrate and/or rotate as said inner mould casing is moved thereinto.

A method of casting a pipe as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said base mould is secured to a turntable means, said turntable means being adapted to rotate.

6. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in, any one of claims I to 5, wherein said top :end former is provided with openings serving'as excess concrete outlets. 10

7. A method of casting a pipe as claimed i any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein prior to said positioning step, reinforcement mesh is provided into said base mould.

8. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, after said removing step, said formed pipe is picked up on said base mould and removed to a curing location. e:

9. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in any one of claims I to 8, wherein in said providing step, said mix is provided by a retractable feed conveyor.

10. A method of casting a pipe as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said steps are automatically performed by a control means.

11. An apparatus for casting a pipe, comprising: a substantially vertically disposed longiud outer mould casing; a base mould, upon which said outer mould casing is adapted to be seated; an inner mould casing adapted to be axially moved within said outer mould casing; and a top end forming means adapted to form a top portion of said pipe.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: X- i; 1:~ P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\587196.BRU 16/11/99 impeller means provided on the upper end of said inner mould casing and adapted to spin or as said inner mould casing is moved within said outer mould casing.

13. A method of casting a pipe, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. An apparatus for casting a pipe, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1* 0 10 DATED this 17th day of November, 1999 BRUNO ALTIN CO. PTY. LTD. By Its Patent Attorneys

15 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE C 0