Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
lOS'~Z9'7
This invention is in the field of clevices for producing concrete
floors.
Concrete slabs are used in animal pens to form slotted floors.
The slabs are spaced apart to allow for the animal droppings to pass there-
through to a pit or ditch located beneath the floor. It is desirable for
the concrete slabs to have a smooth top surface thereby allowing for the
easy removal of the animal droppings from the slabs. In order to obtain the
smooth top surface for each slab, I have provided a mold disclosed in my
U.S. Patent No. 3J915,422, issued October 28, 1975, wherein the slabs are
poured upside-down. The mold is provided with a smooth bottom surface there-
by forming a smooth top surface of the slabs which are simultaneously poured
into an integral section.
Heretofore, a floor section composed of a plurality of slabs has
been formed by manually filling and handling the mold. This method limits
the number of floor sections pourable in a single day and provides for
inefficiency. I have therefore provided a system for pouring a plurality
of molds. The system disclosed herein allows for a far greater number of
floor sections to be produced in a single day.
The invention provides an apparatus for producing concrete floors
comprising: a main frame, a mold for producing a concrete floor with a
smooth top surface, said mold includes a bottom part with a smooth finish
top surface extending thereacross to form said smooth top surface of said
floor, said bottom part including a plurality of longitudinally extending
ridges extending upwardly from said top surface, said bottom part includes
a separate recess formed in said top surface between each of said ridges,
each recess is concave and includes opposite longitudinally extending edge
portions adjacent said ridges, said mold further includes a top part mounted
atop said bottom part, said top part includes a pair of side walls and end
walls connected together forming an enclosure for holding poured concrete,
said mold includes spaced apart slab separators having an elongated configur-
ation extending in the direction of said side walls, said separators are
spaced from said end walls allowing concrete to extend completely around
~ .
. ~
1059'~7
each separator forming integrally joined concrete slabs, each separator has
a bottom end contacting said ridges of said bottom part and opposite side
surfaces diverging from said bottom end allowing said separators to be
withdrawn upon solidification of concrete within said mold and surrounding
said separators, said mold further includes locating means on said mold to
align said ridges with said separators; a table movably mounted on said
frame and adapted to receive and support said mold; a source of floNable
concrete positioned adjacent said table and having an outlet positioned over
said mold directing concrete to flow from said source into said open top
of said mold; shaking means connected to and between said frame and said
table and operable to shake said table and mold settling concrete within -
said mold, first conveying means extending away from said table being sized
to supportingly receive said mold and operable to convey said mold from said
table to a first location; mold turning over means located at said first
location being sized to supportingly receive said mold from said first con-
veying means and operable to turn said mold upside-down with said open top
facing downwardly, and, second conveying extending toward said table, said
second conveying means being siz~d and positioned to supportingly receive
said mold when said mold is upside-down and operable to turn said mold right-
side-up with said open top facing upwardly.
From another aspect, the invention provides a mold for producing
a floor with a smooth top surface and having integrally joined concrete
slabs for supporting animals comprising: a bottom part with a smooth finish
top surface extending thereacross to form said smooth top surface of said
floor, said bottom part including a plurality of longitudinally extending
ridges extending upwardly from said top surface, said bottom part includes
a separate recess formed in said top surface between each of said ridges, :
each recess is concave and includes opposite longitudinally extending edge
portlons adjacent said ridges; a top part mounted atop said bottom part, ~ :
said top part includes a pair of side walls and end walls connected together
forming an enclosure for holding poured concrete, said mold includes spaced
apart slab separators having an elongated configuration extending in the
-2-
'
l(~S~3'~7
direction of sald side walls, sald separators are spaced from said end walls
allowing concrete to extend completely around each separator forming
integrally joined concrete slabs, each separator has a bottom end positioned
adjacent said ridges of said bottom part and opposite side surfaces diverging
from said bottom end allowing said separators to be withdrawn upon solidifi-
cation of concrete within said mold and surrounding said separators; locating
means on said mold to align said ridges with said separators, said locating
means includes a plurality of clips positioned between said separators and
said ridges, said clips being engaged with said separators and said ridges
with said locating means being operable to allow release of said concrete to
facilitate removal of said separators from said ridges.
The molds are provided with open tops and as a result, the mold
must first be turned over in order to remove the mold from the poured floor
section. The mold when filled with concrete is exceptionally heavy there-
fore requiring a hoist or other device for lifting and turning the mold over.
Disclosed herein is an automatic system for turning the mold over as the
mold progresses down a conveyor line. Likewise, it is necessary to turn the
mold right-side-up once the mold has been removed from the floor section.
Disclosed herein is a return conveyor which rotates the mold to a right-side-
up position. A shaker table is provided allowing for settling of the con-
crete within the mold.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concrete slotted floor.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mold for producing the con-
crete slotted floor of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken
along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the metal framework within the
concrete slotted floor of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan view of an apparatus for producing the concrete
slotted floor of Figure 1 with the mold of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 5 looking in
the direction of arrows 6-6.
-3-
l~S~97
Figure 7 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 5 looking in
the direction of arrows 7-7.
Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus of Figure 5
looking in the direction of arrows 8-8.
Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional fragmentary view taken
along the line 9-9 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles
of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated
in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.
It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications
in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustra~ed therein being contemplated as would normally
occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Now referring more particularly to Figures 1 through 4, there is
shown a concrete slotted floor 10 having a plurality of ribs 11 and 12 joined
integrally together at their opposite ends 13 and 14 with the ribs separated
apart by slots 15 extending completely through floor 10. The top surface 16
of the slotted floor is smooth to facilitate the cleaning of the floor. A
similar floor is disclosed in my U.S. Patent 3,915,422.
Slotted floors 10 may be installed in a variety of animal pens.
The slots in the floor are provided to facilitate the removal of the animal
droppings which fall onto top surface 16. In many cases, the animal droppings
do not fall through the slots and as a result, the floors must be cleaned
periodically. The top surface of the floor is therefore smooth enabling
the floor to be readily cleaned. The bottom surface 17 has a rough and
uneven finish.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mold 20 for receiving poured
concrete to produce the slotted floor of Figure 1. Mold 20 is a four-sided
box 21 having an open
-3a-
1~5~ ~7
top ~ncl a closed bottom. A plurality of ribs 22 are mounted
atop the floor 23 of the mold. EclCll rib 22 includes a spr~i~ng
biased clip 26 ~hich is frictionally enKaged with upstanding
portion 25' (~:igure 3). The longitudinally extending side
portions of clip 26 are biased against the opposite sides of
upstanding portion 25'. In order to remove the ribs from the
mold, upward force is applied to the ribs to disengage clips 26
from the upward portions 25'. A concave surface 24 is provided
between the upraised portions 25' providing a rounded contour
surface for each rib 11 and 12 (~igur.e 1) of floor 10.
Prior to pouring the concrete into mold 20, a metal
framework 30 is inserted into the mold. ~ramework 30 includes
a pair of end metal rods 31 and 32. A plurality of horizontal
rods 33 are fixedly attached to rods 31 and 32 and are spaced
upwardly from the bottom floor of the mold by the downwardly
turned legs 34 and 35 of rods 31 and 32. Metal framework 30
becomes an integral part of the slotted floor increasing the
strength of the floor.
The apparatus 40 for producing the concrete slotted
floors 10 with molds 20 is shown in Figure 5. Apparatus 40
includes a main frame 41 (Figure 8) with a table 42 movably
mounted atop frame 41 and adapted to receive and support mold
20. A source 43 of flowable concrete is positioned adj~cent
table 42 having an outlet 44 extending over mold 20 so as to
direct concrete to flow from the source and into mold 20
through the open top of the mold.
Table 42 is mounted atop frame 41 but is spaced there-
from by a plurality of flexible isolators 45 thereby allowing
table 42 to shake apart from frame 41. A conventional electric
motor 46 is mounted to frame 41 and has a rotatable output
shat 47 engaged with a conventional continuous belt 48. An
~(~59Z97
eccentric 49 is rotatably mounted to table 42 and is also
engaged with belt 48. Activation of motor 46 causes the
rotatable output shaft 47 to rotate thereby clri.ving belt 48
in turn causing rotation of eccentric 49 thereby imparting
a shaking motion to table 42.
A plurality of upstancling rigid members 50 are
fixedly mounted to and atop table 42 supporting molcl 20.
A pair of conventional roller conveyors 51 and 52 extend over
table 42 but are located beneath the upper surface of supports
50 thereby insuring that roller conveyors 51 and 52 do not
normally engage mold 20. The outer end portions of conveyors
51 and 52 rest atop platforms 53 and 54 respectively fixedly
attached to arms 55 and 56. Arms 55 and 56 are respectively
pivotally mounted to members 57 and 58 w}lich are pivotally
mounted to frame 41. A pair of pedals or handles 59 and 60
are respectively fixedly mounted to arms 57 and 58. Downward
pressure to handles 59 and 60 results in platforms 53 and 54
being raised thereby causing conveyors 51 and 52 to support
and engage mold 20. Thus, the operator may apply downward
pressure to handles 59 and 60 in order to lift mold 20 of.f
of the table and to allow tlle mold to then move in a direction
away from the table.
A pair of runners 24 and 25 are fixeclly attachecl to
the bottom floor of mold 20 and are arranged to be slidingly
supported by conveyors 51 and 52 when tlle conveyors are caused
to move upwardly beyond the top supporting surface of supports 50.
Conveyors 51 ancl 52 (Figure 5) extend approximately
160 feet from table 42 to the mold turning over device 61.
As a result, consecutive molds may be filled with concrete
continuously for a duration of approximately four hours until
the molds are backed up from device 61 to table 42. In a
four hour periocl witll device 61 located approximately 160
~-
lOS9Z97
feet a-~ay frolll t.lhle 42, approximately 80 molds of ~ slats
each may be filled with concrete. A hoist 62 is provided
for conveying the ribs 22 from the mold to a storage area.
Only a short duration of time is required to allow the
concrete to set sufficiently to enable removal of ribs 22
without destroying the structural integrity of the slotted
floor. In order to remove the slotted floor from the mold,
it is necessary to turn the mold upside-aown allowing the
slotted floor to move from the mold. The top smooth surface
16 (Figure 1) of the slo~tted floor is initially in contact
with the bottom floor 23 of the ~old. Thus, the top surface
of the slotted floor is automatically smooth and does not
require subsequent finishing of the concrete. Tlle bottom
surface 17 of the mold, however, is rough since the concrete
is not smoothed adjacent the open top side of the mold,
It is unnecessary to provide a smooth bottom surface 17 of
the concrete slotted floor since the bottom surface does not
require cleaning when used in an animal pen. Device 61 is
provided for turning the mold upside-down allowing the mold
to be removed from the slotted floor and returned to the
shaker table for subsequent refilling of concrete.
Deyice 61 includes a first support 65 and a second
support 66. Support 65 will now be described it being under-
stood that a similar description applies to support 66.
Support 65 includes a right angle bracket 67 fixedly mounted
atop an elongated member 68 pivotally mounted by fasteners 69
to frame 41. Elongated member 68 has a distal end portion 70
which extends toward shaker table 42 and extends downwardly
beneath conveyors 51 and 52. Flange 71 is fixedly attached
to elongated member 68 and in turn is connected to the extend-
able piston rod 72 of a hydraulic cylinder motor 73 mounted
iO5~Z97
to frame 41. ]3y ex~enclillg piston rod 72, clongated member G8
and bracket 67 is causecl to rotate in the clirection of arr~ow.74
about fastener 69. Likewise, a second cylinder motor 75 is
provided with an extendable piston rod connected to support 66
for pivoting bracket 77 in the direction of arrow 76.
Conveyors 51 and 52 direct molds 20 against the right
angle bracket 67 of support 65 whicll then pivots upwardly
simultaneously with the upward pivoting movement of support 66.
Mold 20 is thereby lifted from a right-side-up position and in
a horizontal plane-to a vertical plane and to a position atop
bracket 77 of support 66. With support 65 in a vertical and
stationary position, support 66 is thell pivoted downward in a
direction opposite of arrow 76 carrying the mold 20 from the
vertical plane to a horizontal plane in an upside-down position.
That is, the open top of mold 20 now opens downwardly as sup-
port 66 is pivoted downward. The distal ena portion 78 of
support 66 now extends away from table 42 and beneath conveyors
80 and 81. A second pair of conveyors 80 and 81 ~igure 1)
are spaced apart to receive the upside-down positioned mold.
The mold may then be removed from the concrete slotted floor.
Conveyors 51 and 52 are spaced apart a fixed dis-
tance less than the distance between conveyors 81 and 80.
Conveyors 51 and 52 support the lower runners 24 and 25 of
the mold whereas conveyors 80 and 81 support the concrete
slotted floor produced by the mold. The solidified concrete
floor having a metal framework therein possesses more strength
than tlle box configured mold. Thus, the mold is supported
with a pair of conveyors 51 and 52 located relatively close
together whereas the concrete slotted floor is supported by
conveyors 80 and 81 relatively far apart. The solidified
concrete floor will not tend to sag in the middle as compared
to the mold.
,
..
lOS9Z~7
~ hoist 82 is mounted across conveyors 80 and 81
and the return conveying mealls 83. ~loist 82 includes a pa'i~
of extendable cables 84 and 85 (Figure 6) mounted to slide 86
engaged with runner 87. Slide 86 may be moved from atop
conveyors 80 and 81 to a position atop return conveying
means 83. Cables 84 and 85 are connectable to the mold by
conventional fastening means secured to the mold. Cables 84
and 85 are mounted to wheel 96 which may be pivoted so as to
rotate the mold with the length of the mold extending in the
direction of arrow 97 (Figure 5) when atop ~onveyors 80 and 81
to a position wherein the length~ of the mold extends in the
direction of arrow 98 when positioned atop conveyor 89.
Return conveying means 83 includes a pair of roller
conveyors 88 and 89 mounted to frame 41. The mold is supported
on its bottom surface by conveyor 89 when deposited thereon
by hoist 82. The molds move across conveyors 51, 52 and 80,
81 with the width of each mold extending in the direction
of travel whereas the molds return on conveying means 83
with the length of the molds extending in the direction of
travel. The open top of each mold faces-downwardly when hoist
82 removes the mold from atop conveyors 80, 8i to a position
atop conveyor 89. It is therefore desirable to rotate the mold
so as to move the mold back to the shaker table in a right-
side-up condition. Conveyor 89 extends horizontally away
from hoist 82 to convey the mold in a horizontal plane with
conveyor 89 then twisting about return axis 90 (Figure 5)
at location 91 untiI conveyor 89 is located above conveyor 88
turning the mold right-side-up with the open top of the
mold once again opening upwardly. Conveyor 88 starts (Figure 7)
from a non-horizontal position at the location where con-
veyor 89 starts to twist about the return axis 90.
~ 05~Z97
Conveyor 88 graclually assulnes a llorizontal position as the
mold is rotatecl about the return axis so thàt the open top~af
the mold will move from an initial dowl-warcl facing position
to a final upward facing position. Eventually the mold will
fall onto conveyor 88 from conveyor 89 with conveyor 89 ter-
minating once the mold is adequately supported by conveyor 88.
An optional conveyor 94 may be positioned beneath conveyors
88 and 89. Conveyor 94, or in the alternative, a horizontal
shelf beneath conveyors 88 and 89 prevents the mold from
slipping from between canveyors 88 and 89 as the mold is
moved from an upside-down position to a right-side-up position.
An auxillary conveyor 92 (~igure 5) then conveys
the right-side-up mold back to the shaker table 42. A release
agent dispensing means 93 is located adjacent return con-
veying means 83 being operable to force a release agent spray
into the mold. Hoist 62 is identical to hoist 82 with the
same description applying for hoist 82 as for hoist 62.
Hoist 62 is provided for removing ribs 22 from mold 20 after
the concrete has partially solidified but prior to the mold
being turned over by device 61.
While the invention has been illustrated and
described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description,
the same is to be considered as illustrative and not re-
strlctive in character, it being understood that only the
preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that
all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of
the invention are desired to be protected.
