US2123989A - Machine for laying concrete - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1938. w p DAY MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1936 -lilltlfir- HF- 1.11:: y I I l l l I l -H dl H-s l I I I l I l l n III I 9 M L 6 n W I l l l I I I llhPhHu-llllllll l flv INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 19, 1938. w, P, DAY 2,123,989

MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE Filed July 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N N Q M N 1 N {3 N 1*" ,N v v R Q?) h- $7 Q" i fi gfmoaf /M,M4 /in ATTORNEY.

Jul 19, 1938.. w P, AY 2,123,989

I MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE Filed July e, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I a flVENTOR ATTORNEY.

M 19, 1938. I w. P. DAY 2,123 98 MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE Filed July 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 19, 1938 ATET OFFIE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for laying concrete in roadbeds such as a city street, a highway or a street railway.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for laying concrete whereby a dryer and denser mixture may be laid and the necessity for tamping eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for laying concrete which will cause the concrete to quickly settle and set and which can be carried out in a minimum of time and with a great saving in both equipment and labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide. a method of laying concrete which consists in forming a layer of concrete of predetermined. height and simultaneously applying rapid and violent vibrations to the mass while it is being discharged and after it has been discharged onto the roadbed and at the same time applying vibrations to the surface of the concrete whereby to produce a concrete road which will set quickly and can be opened to traflic in a minimum of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will practice the method herein described and which can be produced at a minimum cost.

Further and more limited objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds and. by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a top plan view of my improved machine for laying concrete; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of the machine in end elevation; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan View disclosing a modified form of machine adapted for laying concrete for forming roads or highways; Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional "view disclosing another modified form of my machine which has means incorporated therein for delivering to the road a mesh or reinforcing grid; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the means for directing the grid into the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine consists essentially of a frame made up of oppositely disposed side frame members i and 2 and transverse members 3 and d. Extending transversely of the machine and parallel with the side members 3 and are a pair of cross members 5 and 6. Theframe is adapted to be supported upon suitably mounted wheels I, 8, 9 and i0 which are adapted to run upon either the railway track or upon form boards. Carried by the side frame member I are a pair of angular brackets l i and i2 and carried by the side frame member 2 are a pair of brackets i3 and i l. Carried by the frame of the machine and adjustably supported with respect thereto is a bin or hopper I5 which extends the full width of the road to be laid and which is supported from the brackets H, i2, i3 and M. Carried by the hopper and disposed at opposite sides thereof are four angular brackets iii, i7, i8 and [9 which are shown mostly clearly in Fig. 2. Carried by the overhanging portion of each of the brackets H, i2, i3 and I4 is a threaded sleeve 20 to the lower end of which is connected a flexible connection 2| having a head portion 22 disposed below the outwardly projecting portions of the brackets l6, ll, i8 and is. A look nut 23 provides means for adjustably supporting the hopper with respect to the frame.

Carried by the hopper and rigidly connected therewith is a strike oif plate or screen 24 the leading edge of which is beveled as shown at 25 and disposed within the discharge from the hopper. A reinforcing bar 26 extends the full width of the hopper and has its lower end connected with the screed 2d and its upper end connected with the hopper. The hopper has a bottom discharge outlet 2! which extends the full width thereof. The forward portion of the hopper is provide-d with a downwardly depending plate portion 28 which extends the full width thereof and the lower edge of which is adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the top of the subgrade. This plate portion 28 is provided with openings 29 and 30 adapted to receive the rails therein when the machine is to be used in laying a roadbed having rails. Secured to the rear face of the plate portion 28 are a series of outwardly projecting plates 3!, 32, 33, (i5, 36, 31, 38, 39, GI,

32 and 43. These plates are disposed within the discharge outlet from the hopper and the plates 32, 36, 38 and 42 are disposed above the lower series of plates and extend above the leading edge of the screed 24.

Carried by the front side of the plate portion 28 of the hopper are a pair of angular brackets 44 and 45 in which is journaled a shaft 46 which has nonrotatably secured thereto an eccentrically mounted or off-center weight 41. Secured to the outer end of the shaft it is a pulley t8 the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Mounted on the frame of the machine is a power unit 49 5-5 which preferably is an internal combustion engine from which leads a shaft 50 on the outer end of which is mounted a pulley 5| which is operatively connected with pulley 48 by means of a belt 52 and drives the shaft 46 which carries the eccentrically mounted weight 41. The power unit is also provided with a lever 53 which operates a suitable clutch and forms a detachable driving connection with the shaft 50.

The motor is capable of operation at a speed up to about 1800 R. P. M., and the size of the pulleys 48 and 5| is such that the shaft 46 may be driven at a speed of from 4000 to 6000 R. P. M. It will thus be seen that very rapid and very violent vibrations are imparted to the hopper and to the series of vibratory members which are disposed within the outlet from the hopper. It will be seen that these rapid and violent vibrations are also imparted to the screed or strike-off plate 24 which is rigidly connected to the hopper l5.

When it is desired to lay a road having railway tracks therein, I first set up form boards 54 and 55 at opposite sides of the road. The machine is then positioned upon the rails 56 and 5'! with the wheels in engagement therewith. The position of the hopper with respect to the frame of the machine is adjusted so that the lower edge of the plate 28 is positioned a slight distance above the top of the subgrade. The hopper when in operation is kept filled with concrete up to about the level shown in Fig. 5. With my machine, I am able to use a very harsh concrete, the consistency of the mix preferably being 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 4 parts coarse aggregate by volume and .from 3 to 4 gallons of water per bag of cement.

The vibrations imparted to the hopper and to the screed 24 and the vibratory members which are disposed in the discharge outlet from the hopper facilitate the flow of concrete from the hopper and cause it to settle rapidly. These vibrations also tend to thoroughly mix the concrete and to reduce the moisture content thereof. The plate 24 acts as both a vibrating screed and as a strikeoif plate.

At the first operation, the concrete is caused to flow rearwardly under the vibrating strike-off screed 24 and to be packed thereunder. The machine is moved over the roadbed by any suitable means in the direction of the arrow in Fig. at the rate of about 1 to 3 feet per minute, depending upon the nature of the concrete and how rapidly the concrete is being fed to the hopper. As the machine is moved forward, the leading edge of the strike-off screed 24 cuts through the mass of concrete. This vibrating screed determines the height of the layer. The concrete may be laid in a continuous operation and the speed of the machine is limited only by the speed at which concrete may be fed into the hopper. It will be seen that rapid and violent vibrations are imparted to the concrete both above and below the surface thereof while it is being laid and that vibrations are simultaneously applied to the surface of the layer of concrete. With my method and apparatus I am able to use what is known as no slump concrete.

In order to prevent the vibration of the hopper being imparted to the frame of the machine, I have provided a plurality of bumper plates 58, 59, 60 and 6| which are mounted on the frame of the machine and are urged against the bar 26 by strong coil springs. These springs tend to insulate the hopper from the frame of the machine and to reduce the vibration imparted to the frame.

In Fig. 6, I have disclosed a slightly modified form of machine which is particularly adapted for use in laying roads where no rails are present. This form of machine is identical with that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive except that the wheels (only two of which are shown) I and III are disposed adjacent one edge of the frame so that they may roll upon the form boards instead of upon the railway rails and an additional vibratory member is interposed between the members 33 and 35 and between the members 39 and 4| so that there are six upper vibratory members and seven lower Vibratory members disposed within the discharge outlet from the hopper.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there is disclosed another slightly modified form of my machine which is particularly adapted for use in laying roads where it is desired to incorporate into the road a metal mesh or grid for reinforcing the road. This form of the invention is identical with that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive except that provision is made for allowing the mesh to pass through the hopper as the machine is moved forward. In this form of the invention, the brackets 44- and 45 are replaced by smaller brackets 45 which support the shaft 46 which is connected with the pulley 5| by the belt 52. The front wall of the hopper is provided with a transversely extending slot or opening 6| which extends substantially the full width of the hopper and which is of sufficient size to permit the mesh 62 to pass therethrough. Also carried by the front wall of the hopper are a pair of brackets 63 disposed at opposite sides of the hopper and which support a roller 64 which extends substantially the full Width of the hopper and which forms a support for the mesh as it passes through the slot in the front wall of the hopper. In order to reinforce the front wall of the hopper, I provide a plurality of angle irons 28' which are preferably welded to the hopper and serve to connect the upper and lower portions thereof. I have provided a lower series of vibrating plates 3| and an upper series of vibrating plates 32' which are arranged as disposed and preferably welded to the front wall of the hopper. The upper and lower plates 3 and 32 are spaced a slight distance apart as shown most clearly in Fig. 9 so as to permit the mesh to pass therebetween. Disposed between the upper plates 32' and preferably welded to the front wall 28 of the hopper are a plurality of somewhat resilient metal plates 65 the lower ends of which are slightly rounded, as shown, and adapted to bear against the top of the mesh. These plates 65 being rigidly connected with the hopper which is vibrated, tend to transmit the vibrations directly to the mesh itself so that the mesh as well as the concrete is being vibrated while being laid.

This form of the machine is operated in the same manner as the machine disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and it will be seen that when the" machine is in operation the vibrations will be imparted to the mesh and also to the concrete while it is being discharged and also to the surface of the concrete as it is being formed.

It will now be clear that I have provided a. method and apparatus for laying concrete which will accomplish the objects of the invention as hereinbefore stated. It will of course be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are merely illustrative and are not to be considered in a limiting sense as various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. The invention is therefore limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for laying concrete comprising a wheeled vehicle, a hopper carried by said vehicle and having a discharge outlet, a member extending across said hopper and forming one side of the discharge outlet and having a series of projections thereon which extend substantially across said discharge outlet, a strike off screed beneath which the concrete is formed, some of said projections being disposed below and others being disposed above the plane of said screed and means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said screed and to said projections.

2. A machine for laying concrete comprising a hopper having a discharge outlet, a strike-off screed disposed adjacent said discharge outlet, a plurality of vibratory members disposed within said discharge outlet and below said screed, means for directing a reinforcing grid through said discharge outlet and means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said vibratory members and to said grid.

3. A machine for laying concrete comprising a hopper having a. discharge outlet, a strike-off screed disposed adjacent said discharge outlet and having its forward edge projecting within the discharge outlet, a plurality of vibratory members disposed within said discharge outlet and below the plane of said screed, means for directing a reinforcing mesh through one wall of said hopper and means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said hopper and to said reinforcing mesh.

4. A machine for laying concrete comprising a hopper having a discharge outlet, a strike-off screed beneath which the concrete is formed, a series of vibratory members disposed in the discharge outlet from said hopper in difierent vertical planes, means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said screed and to said vibratory members, the front edge of said screed projecting into the discharge outlet from said hopper adjacent said vibratory members.

WILLIAM P. DAY.

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