US3032853A - Cement drain tile casting machine - Google Patents

Description

May 8,1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1 Arne/v5) May 8, 1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I02 /06 I04 //2 M0 .96

/Z JNVENTOR.

May 8, 1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 4 $heets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

yin/ w 3,032 853 CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Douglas C. Burdette, RD. 2, Box 328, Aberdeen, Md. Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,274 1 Claim. (Cl. 25-100) The present invention relates to a casting machine generally, and in particular to a machine for casting cement drain tile.

Presently in use and previously proposed have been drain tile casting machines each embodying a mold and a charging and forming device mounted for movement into and out of the mold. Such machines as have been proposed have not been wholly successful for many reasons. Casting machines presently in use form the drain tile from an uncured cementitious mixture. The tile, as cast, are in a semi-solid condition and require transfer from the casting machine to a place or area of curing. Handling of the uncured cement tile entails a moderate amount of skilled labor and considerable time. The uncured tile are subject to breakage when handled and losses due to the breakage impair the efficiency of the casting machine employed. Additionally, it is preferable to cure the formed drain tile in an area of temperature and humidity within predetermined limits. The curing area is generally of a higher temperature and of a greater degree of humidity than the area in which the machine operation takes place. For this reason, drain tile formed on casting machines of the type described, are generally transported a relatively long distance after they are formed, adding to the hazard of breakage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cement tile casting machine which is automatic in operation, one which requires a minimum of skilled labor to operate, one having means for advancing the cast and uncured tile to an area of storage or place of curing, and

one which is highly effective in action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cement tile casting machine which may 'be adapted for casting cement tile or the like in all practical sizes, one which lends itself to foolproof operation, one simple in structure, one sturdily constructed, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the casting machine according to the present invention, a portion of the conveyor being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the portion of the conveyor omitted from FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the casting machine according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and it comprises a base 12 adapted for support upon a supporting surface. A frame 14 rises from the base 12 and carries intermediate the ends thereof a motor 16.

By means of pulleys 18 and 20, a belt 22, a clutch mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 24, a cross shaft 26, gearing 28, and a spindle 30, a vertically reciprocating charging device, designated generally by the reference numeral 32, is connected to the frame 14 for movement into and out of a pair of mold half sections 34 and 36', which are arranged in face-toatent face abutting relation (FIG. 2), and are connected to the frame 14 for movement from the abutting position to positions away from each other, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The means provided by the present invention for shifting the mold half sections 34 and 36 from the abutting position to the away position consists in a fluid pressure cylinder assembly operatively connected to each of the mold sections 34 and 36. One such assembly is shown in FIG. 2 and designated generally by the reference numeral 38. The fluid pressure cylinder assembly is of con ventional construction and includes an actuating arm 40 having one end secured to a piston within the cylinder of the assembly 38. The piston is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 within the cylinder 44 of the assembly 38 associated with the mold half section 36.

A travelling conveyor, designated generally by reference numeral 46, having an upper flight 48 and a lower flight 50, in disposed so that the upper flight 48 is adjacent to and below and is in registry with the lower ends of the mold half sections 34 and 36.

The upper flight 48 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. A horizontally disposed plate 52 is carried between the links 54 of the conveyor 46, and on the plate 52 is detachably secured a ring 56 within which is cast the end portion of a cement drain tile 58, the latter being shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, and with a portion broken away.

Means are provided by the present invention operatively connected to the conveyor 46 for effecting stepby-step movement of the upper flight 48 in one direction. Specifically, this means embodies a ratchet wheel 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) mounted upon a drive shaft 62 journaled inbearing box 64. The drive means includes a rocker arm 66 rockably supported on the shaft 62 and carrying on one end a pawl 68 engaged in the teeth of the, ratchet wheel 60. The other end of the rocker arm 66 is pivotally connected to the free end of an actuating arm 70 of a fluid pressure actuating means designated generally by the reference numeral 72 in FIG. 4.

The fluid pressure actuating means includes a cylinder 74 having slidably mounted therein a piston 76, shown in dotted lines. The piston 76 is mounted upon the end of the actuating arm 70 remote from the rocker arm 66.

A control valve 78 is carried on the frame 14 and has one end connected by a conduit 80 to a pilot valve 82. Another conduit 81 connects the other end of the control valve 78 to a second pilot valve 84.

A rotatable cam 86 is carried by the frame 1.4 intermediate the ends of and adjacent to the cross shaft 26 on which is a worm gear 27 drivably engaging the cam 86.

A roller 88 engages the perimeter of the cam 86. The roller 88 is carried on a lever 90 intermediate the ends of the latter. A toggle 91 connects one end of the lever to the spindle 30, the other end of the lever being pivotally connected to the frame.

The spindle 30 is keyed to the one gear 29 of the gearing 28 for sliding movement therethrough responsive to upward and downward movement of the free end of the lever 90.

Rotation of the cam 86 effects the upward and downward movement of the spindle 30.

The upper end portion of the spindle 30 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and is designated by the numeral 92. A collar 94, carried on the spindle portion 92 abuts against a trip element 96 of the pilot valve 82 in the course of downward travel of the spindle 30. Upon upward travel of the spindle 30, a head 98 on the upper end of the portion 92 abuts against another trip element 100 of the other pilot valve 84. A main conduit 102 is connected or has one end connected to a source of fluid under pressure and is connected in communication with both of the pilot valves 82 and 84. Through the pilot valves 82 and 84 and conduits 83, 8 5- the main conduit 1021 is also connected to the cylinders 44 of the assemblies 38 which shift the mold half sections 34 and 36 toward and away from each other.

Another pilot valve 104 is positioned in axial alignment with the head 98 of the spindle portion 92 and is actuated thereby when the spindle portion 92 reaches the uppermost limit of its movement. The pilot valve 104 is operatively connected to a control valve 106 which is connected by a conduit 108 to one end of the conveyor drive cylinder 74.

A compression spring 110, circumposed about a portion of the actuating arm 70 of the fluid pressure actuating means 72, is operable to return the rocker arm 66 to the position shown in FIG. 4, upon movement of the head 98 out of engagement with the trip lever or button 112 of the pilot valve 104.

Each of the valves '78 and 106 are provided with an exhaust port 114 and 1 16 respectively, for exhausting the respective cylinders 44- and the cylinder 74.

In operation, the charging device 32 is fed a charge of uncured cementitious mixture from a tray or supply body 118. The charging device 32 has means for spread ing and compacting the mixture against the inner Walls of the mold half sections 34 and 36, this means not being shown or further described as not forming a part of the present invention.

Upon downward movement of the spindle 30 into the mold half sections 34 and 36 in response to rotation of the cam 86, the charging device 32 reaches the bottom of the mold half sections 34 and 36 and deposits upon the inner walls thereof a mixture hardening into a cement tile. As the spindle portion 92 moves downwardly, the collar 94 trips the trip element 96 to actuate the pilot valve 82 and to admit air into the cylinders 44 so as to move the sections 34 and 36 together. This is accomplished on the downward movement of the spindle 30 prior to casting of the cement tile. As the spindle 30 moves upwardly, the trip element 100 is contacted by the head 98 on the portion 92 and the pilot valve 84 is actuated to admit air to the other ends of the cylinders 44 and to exhaust therefrom the air previously admitted to the outer ends of the cylinders 44, This shifts the mold half sections 34 and 36 away from each other. Upon further movement upwardly of the head 98, the button 112 is depressed to actuate the pilot valve 104 to admit air through the control valve 106 to the conduit 108 and then to the one end of the cylinder 74 of the fluid pressure cylinder means 72 adjacent the rocker arm 66 and effect the rocking movement of the rocker arm 66 and through the pawl 68, rotary movement of the ratchet wheel 60 in a counter-clockwise direction, which serves to move the upper flight 48 of the conveyor 46 a distance sufiicient to shift the one plate 52 out of registry with the mold sections and to shift the next plate 52 into registry with the mold sections, carrying along with the first plate the formed tile 58.

The reciprocating movement of the charging device 32 continues with each rotation of the cam 36 and each of the pilot valves 82, .34, and 104 are operated in sequence to repeat the operation of bringing into registry with the mold half sections one of the plates 52, closing of the mold half sections to the abutting position, opening of the mold half sections, and step-by-step movement of the conveyor flight 48 to shift the formed cylinders out of the casting machine and, if the conveyor 46 is of a sufficient length, to an area for curing.

In place of the aforesaid fluid control means operatively connecting the conveyor and the mold half sections to the charging device, electrical means may be employed, if desired.

Further, numerous changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim, and the machine of the present invention may be employed with other castings machines in which there are mold sections movable toward and away from each other in a conveyor which is moved in sequence with respect to movement of such mold sections.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A cement cylindrical drain tile casting machine assembly comprising a frame, a fixed casting station on said frame, said casting station including a molding mechanism fixed at said station and comprising a vertically disposed mold having relatively horizontally movable cylindrical half sections, said mold being open at the top and bottom, means at the station for horizontally moving the sections of the mold toward and away from each other to open and close the mold, a vertically reciprocating charging device positioned on said frame for moverrient into and out of said mold when the latter is closed, said charging device cooperating with said mold to .cast a cylindrical article against the walls of the mold, endless conveyor means movable past said station relative to said mold, disposed below said mold in position to close the open bottom of the mold and support the article cast therein during and after the casting operation, means for imparting a step by step movement to said conveyor, means for vertically reciprocating said charging device, and means controlled by the movement of said charging device for timing the operation of the means for moving the mold sections toward and away from each other and the means for imparting a stepwise movement to the conveyor to cause, upon movement of said charging device in the direction out of the mold, movement of said mold sections away from each other and movement of the conveyor a step to remove the cast article from between the mold sections and to cause, upon movement 'of said charging device 'in a direction toward the mold, movement of the mold sections toward each other to close the mold while said conveyor remains stationary.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,298 Craigen Oct. 15, 1918 1,301,048 Frey Apr. 15, 1919 1,835,914 Stockdale Dec. 8, 1931 2,415,462 Cherry et a1 Feb. 11, 1947 2,492,415 Coates et al. Dec. 27, 1949 2,496,016 Nelson Jan. 31, 1950 2,779,080 Chidester Jan. 29, 1957 2,835,016 Dixon May 20, 1958 a "Wm

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