US3556049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning and oiling system for molding apparatus
Assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
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Filing: 1968-04-16
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A system for cleaning and lubricating the cavity of a mold to prepare the mold for receiving a fresh charge of concrete mix or the like. The system embodying the features of the present invention includes means for thoroughly cleaning the end portions, bottom wall and sidewalls of the mold which define the mold cavity, to loosen the dust and debris contaminating the mold cavity; means to collect substantially all of the contaminating dust and other debris and to remove the same from the entire mold cavity; and means for lubricating the interior surfaces of the mold cavity to assure that a fresh charge of concrete mix or the like will not adhere to the interior surfaces of the mold cavity. In the preferred form of the invention the end wall portions, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls of the mold are separately cleaned by successive operations, and means are provided to simultaneously collect and remove the major portion of the dust and debris loosened from the interior surfaces of the mold cavity during each separate wall-cleaning operation.
Inventors
- 👤 William P Hidden
- 👤 Robert E Hunt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:56
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28B; B28B7/00; B28B7/38; B28B7/386; B28B7/388
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In a system for manufacturing concrete members which employs a portable mold having a mold cavity defined by longitudinal mold side and bottom walls and transverse mold end walls which are movable into an open position spaced from said side and bottom walls, apparatus for cleaning and lubricating the interior surfaces of said walls defining said mold cavity, said apparatus comprising: means to convey said mold along a predetermined path of travel; cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and operably engageable with said mold within said mold cavity to forcefully abrade said interior surfaces of said mold walls with said end walls in said open position and thereby clean contaminants from said walls; Collecting means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and adapted for association with said mold to forcefully collect and remove the contaminants cleaned from said mold walls by said cleaning means; and lubricating means positioned adjacent said conveying means and adapted to coat said interior surfaces of said walls with a substantially uniform layer of lubricant, whereby said apparatus cleans and lubricates the cavity of said mold and thereby prepares said mold for receiving a fresh charge of concrete mixture within said mold cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a system for manufacturing concrete members which employs a portable mold having a mold cavity defined by longitudinal mold side and bottom walls and transverse mold end walls which are movable into an open position spaced from said side and bottom walls, apparatus for cleaning and lubricating the interior surfaces of said walls defining said mold cavity, said apparatus comprising: means to convey said mold along a predetermined path of travel; cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and operably engageable with said mold within said mold cavity to forcefully abrade said interior surfaces of said mold walls with said end walls in said open position and thereby clean contaminants from said walls; Collecting means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and adapted for association with said mold to forcefully collect and remove the contaminants cleaned from said mold walls by said cleaning means; and lubricating means positioned adjacent said conveying means and adapted to coat said interior surfaces of said walls with a substantially uniform layer of lubricant, whereby said apparatus cleans and lubricates the cavity of said mold and thereby prepares said mold for receiving a fresh charge of concrete mixture within said mold cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cleaning means comprises a plurality of cleaning heads and wherein each head is engageable with said interior surfaces of at least one of said mold walls to abrade and clean said mold end, bottom and sidewalls with said end walls in said open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said cleaning heads includes collecting means adapted to collect and remove a substantial portion of contaminants from said mold cavity as said walls are cleaned by said heads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said collecting means comprises a vacuum head dimensioned for insertion within said mold cavity closely adjacent said mold side and bottom walls and adapted to collect contaminants from the full length of said mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lubricating means comprises a spraying head dimensioned for insertion within said mold cavity and adapted to spray a substantially uniform coat of lubricant onto the interior surfaces of said mold walls.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for cleaning and lubricating a portable mold having a mold cavity defined by longitudinal mold sidewall means, bottom wall means and transverse mold end wall means, said system comprising: means to convey said mold along a predetermined path of travel; a first cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a first cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of one of said wall means of said mold; a second cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a second cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of a second of said mold wall means; a third cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a third cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of a third of said wall means of said mold, whereby contaminants are cleaned from said mold walls; collecting means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and adapted for association with said mold to forcefully collect and reMove the contaminants from said mold cavity; lubricating means positioned adjacent said conveying means and adapted to coat said interior surfaces of said mold walls with a substantially uniform layer of lubricant; and means to releasably retain said mold in a predetermined fixed position during the operations of each of said cleaning, collecting and lubricating means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for cleaning and lubricating a portable mold having a mold cavity defined by longitudinal mold sidewall means, bottom wall means and transverse mold end wall means, said system comprising: means to convey said mold along a predetermined path of travel; a first cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a first cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of one of said wall means of said mold; a second cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a second cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of a second of said mold wall means; a third cleaning means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path of travel including a third cleaning head adapted to abrade and clean the interior surfaces of a third of said wall means of said mold, whereby contaminants are cleaned from said mold walls; collecting means positioned adjacent said conveying means along said path and adapted for association with said mold to forcefully collect and reMove the contaminants from said mold cavity; lubricating means positioned adjacent said conveying means and adapted to coat said interior surfaces of said mold walls with a substantially uniform layer of lubricant; and means to releasably retain said mold in a predetermined fixed position during the operations of each of said cleaning, collecting and lubricating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said cleaning heads includes brushes adapted to engage with the associated mold wall means and wherein said brush on each of said heads is configured to conform to the interior surface of the associated mold wall means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said brush included in said cleaning head associated with said mold end wall means is adapted to translate transversely across said mold end wall means, and wherein said brushes included in said cleaning heads associated with said side and bottom wall means translate longitudinally through said mold cavity, so that said brushes abrade and thoroughly clean said associated mold wall means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said collecting means comprises a vacuum head adapted for insertion within said mold cavity and further adapted to translate longitudinally along substantially the full length of said mold cavity, to thereby thoroughly vacuum the contaminants from said cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said lubricating means comprises a spraying head adapted for insertion within said mold cavity and further adapted to spray lubricant onto the interior surfaces of said mold walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cleaning means and said collecting and lubricating means are spaced adjacent said mold conveying means along said path of travel, and operate separately to successively thoroughly clean and lubricate said portable mold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said cleaning means, collecting means, and lubricating means operates substantially simultaneously within a selected time interval with a portable mold stationed at each of said cleaning, collecting, and lubricating means, so that a plurality of said molds can be handled by said system within said time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a mold cleaning system, a portable mold having first and second wall means which join together to define corners of a hollow mold cavity and which are movable with respect to each other to temporarily open said mold corners defined thereby, and cleaning means engageable with said wall means when said mold corners are temporarily opened to forcefully abrade and clean the interior surfaces of said wall means and remove contaminants therefrom, whereby the cleaning of said mold cavity is greatly facilitated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a mold cleaning system, a portable mold having first and second wall means which join together to define corners of a hollow mold cavity and which are movable with respect to each other to temporarily open said mold corners defined thereby, and cleaning means engageable with said wall means when said mold corners are temporarily opened to forcefully abrade and clean the interior surfaces of said wall means and remove contaminants therefrom, whereby the cleaning of said mold cavity is greatly facilitated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |