Adjustably suspended mold sections for forming a concrete room

Claim 2

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; and support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting saids bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for horizontal linear movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means, and said suspension frame means supporting each of said corner panel means independent of the side and end panels for horizontal movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels along a linear path generally bisecting the corner between said corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels.

Claim 3

The molding device as set forth in claim 1, and fluid pressure cylinder means at the corners between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said outer mold and disposed at an angle of 45° to the latter said adjacent panels, said cylinder means including at least one cylinder at each corner affixed to one of said latter said adjacent panels and having a piston rod, said piston rod having an outer end affixed to the other of said latter said adjacent panels.

Claim 4

The molding device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said outer mold have side edges, a frame member mounted on each of said side edges and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said one cylinder and its piston rod, said cylinder being affixed to one of said frame members and said outer end of said piston rod to the other frame member.

Claim 5

The molding device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a supporting base for said inner and outer molds, said bottom panel means of said outer mold including metal plate means affixed to said supporting base.

Claim 6

The molding device as set forth in claim 1, and operating means supported by said suspension frame means and operable to displace each said corner panel means toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels, said operating means including a pair of spaced apart parallel rods extending inwardly of said inner mold from each said corner panel means at an angle of 45° to said adjacent side and end panels, each rod having an inner end, drive means including reciprocable drive member means within said inner mold, connecting link means having opposite ends pivotally connected one to the inner end of each said rod and the other to said drive member means, and means to guide movement of said rod along a linear path at said angle in response to reciprocation of said drive member means.

Claim 7

The molding device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the length of each of said rods is adjustable.

Claim 8

The molding device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said guide means includes a plate for each rod and supported by said suspension frame means, said plate having a guide groove slidably receiving the corresponding rod.

Claim 9

The molding device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive means includes threaded shaft means rotatably supported by said suspension frame means and said reciprocable drive member means includes internally threaded rider means on said shaft means movable therealong in response to shaft rotation.

Claim 10

The molding device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suspension frame means includes beams overlying and extending outwardly beyond each side panel and end panel of said inner and outer molds, and means slidably mounting said side and end panels on corresponding ones of said beams.

Claim 11

The molding device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means slidably mounting said panels includes roller means attached to each panel and in rolling engagement with corresponding ones of said beams.

Claim 12

The molding device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said roller means includes rollers and brackets supporting said rollers, said brackets each being attached to a corresponding one of said side and end panels and removably attached to at least the side and end panels of said inner mold.

Claim 13

The molding device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one pair of corresponding ones of said side panels and end panels of said inner and outer molds are provided with openings therethrough, and mold frame means in said openings and spanning the space therebetween.

Claim 14

The molding device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said mold frame means are supported on the panel of the outer mold for movement in opposite directions axially of said openings.

Claim 15

The molding device as set forth in claim 12, and guide frame means for guiding said mold frame means, said guide frame means including flange means extending about the opening through the panel of the outer mold and projecting outwardly from said panel, hook members secured to said mold frame means and including portions spaced from said mold frame means to define recesses therewith opening towards and receiving said flange means.

Claim 16

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; and fluid pressure cylinder means at the corners between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said outer mold and disposed at an angle of 45° to the latter said adjacent panels, said cylinder means including one cylinder at each corner affixed to one of said latter said adjacent panels and having a piston rod, said piston rod having an outer end affixed to the other of said latter said adjacent panels, said cylinder means including a second cylinder and piston rod at each corner spaced from and parallel to said one cylinder at the corresponding corner, a toothed slide rod parallel to each cylinder and having an end attached to said one of said latter said adjacent panels, a pinion for each said rod and mounted on said other of said latter said adjacent panels in meshing engagement with the corresponding toothed slide rod, and shaft means interconnecting the two pinions at each corner for rotation together.

Claim 17

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; and fluid pressure cylinder means at the corners between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said outer mold and disposed at an angle of 45° to the latter said adjacent panels, said cylinder means including one cylinder at each corner affixed to one of said latter said adjacent panels and having a piston rod, said piston rod having an outer end affixed to the other of said latter said adjacent panels, said cylinder means including a second cylinder and piston rod at each corner spaced from and parallel to said one cylinder at the corresponding corner, a toothed slide rod parallel to each cylinder and having an end attached to said one of said latter said adjacent panels, a pinion for each said rod and mounted on said other of said latter said adjacent panels in meshing engagement with the corresponding toothed slide rod, and shaft means interconnecting the two pinions at each corner for rotation together.

Claim 18

The molding device as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one pair of said shaft means at adjacent ones sof said corners are interconnected by shaft and gear means therebetween for rotation together.

Claim 19

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; and support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means fo said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels, said means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold including supporting base means, said side and end panels of said outer mold having lower ends including flange means overlying said base means, said base means and flange means having aligned openings therethrough, bolts on each said side and end panels of said outer mold, means supporting said bolts for reciprocating movement axially of said openings and between extended and retracted positions relative to said openings, said bolts having heads spaced below the openings in said base means when said bolts are in the extended position, and means on said base means displaceable to interengage said bolt heads against movement of said bolts from the extended to the retracted positions thereof.

Claim 20

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; and support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means fo said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels, said means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold including supporting base means, said side and end panels of said outer mold having lower ends including flange means overlying said base means, said base means and flange means having aligned openings therethrough, bolts on each said side and end panels of said outer mold, means supporting said bolts for reciprocating movement axially of said openings and between extended and retracted positions relative to said openings, said bolts having heads spaced below the openings in said base means when said bolts are in the extended position, and means on said base means displaceable to interengage said bolt heads against movement of said bolts from the extended to the retracted positions thereof.

Claim 21

The molding device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said means supporting said bolts includes fluid pressure operable piston and cylinder means mounted on each said side and end panels of said outer mold.

Claim 22

The molding device set forth in claim 18 wherein each said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder mounted on the corresponding one of said side and end panels of said outer mold and a piston rod extending axially of the corresponding ones of said openings and having an outer end, support plate means affixed to the outer end of said piston rod and extending transverse to the axes of said corresponding openings, said bolts having ends spaced from said heads and interconnected with said support plate means.

Claim 23

The molding device as set forth in claim 19, wherein said ends of said bolts are interconnected with said support plate means for axial adjustment of said bolts relative thereto.

Claim 24

The molding device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said displaceable means on said base means includes actuating plate means slidable relative to said base means between engaging and releasing positions, said actuating plate means including openings having a first portion of a size which permits the passage of said bolt heads therethrough and a second portion continuous with said first portion and of a size substantially the same as the diameters of said bolts, and wedges on said actuating plate means adjacent said second portions of said openings, the thickness of said wedges increasing in the direction from the ends of said second portions communicating with said first portions, said wedges engaging said bolt heads when said actuating plate means is in said engaging positions.

Claim 25

The molding device as set forth in claim 21, wherein said actuating plate means includes a pair of aligned actuating plate members having opposed adjacent inner ends, and fluid operated piston and cylinder means interconnecting said adjacent inner ends and including a cylinder mounted on one of said actuating plate members and a piston rod having an outer end attached to the other of said plate members.

Claim 26

The molding device as set forth in claim 22, wherein said base means includes guide means slidably supporting said actuating plate members.

Claim 27

The mold device as set forth in claim 23 wherein said guide means includes a plurality of parallel spaced apart guide plates each having a recess receiving and slidably supporting a corresponding one of said actuating plate members.

Claim 28

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; operating means supported by said suspension frame means and operable to displace each said corner panel means toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels, said operating means including a pair of spaced apart parallel rods extending inwardly of said inner mold from each said corner panel means at an angle of 45° to said adjacent side and end panels, each rod having an inner end, drive means including reciprocable drive member means within said inner mold, connecting link means having opposite ends pivotally connected one to the inner end of each said rod and the other to said drive means, and means to guide movement of said rod along a linear path at said angle in response to reciprocation of said drive member means, the length of each of said rods being adjustable; and actuating plates mounted on and extending inwardly of said inner mold from each said corresponding side and end panels, said actuating plates having overlapping inner end portions overlying a corresponding one of said corner panel rods, said overlapping portions of said actuating plates having slots therethrough, pin means extending through said slots and affixed to said corresponding corner panel rod, said slots and pin interengaging in response to movement of said corner panel rod to displace said corresponding side and end panels inwardly and outwardly perpendicular to the respective planes thereof.

Claim 29

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; operating means supported by said suspension frame means and operable to displace each said corner panel means toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels, said operating means including a pair of spaced apart parallel rods extending inwardly of said inner mold from each said corner panel means at an angle of 45° to said adjacent side and end panels, each rod having an inner end, drive means including reciprocable drive member means within said inner mold, connecting link means having opposite ends pivotally connected one to the inner end of each said rod and the other to said drive means, and means to guide movement of said rod along a linear path at said angle in response to reciprocation of said drive member means, the length of each of said rods being adjustable; and actuating plates mounted on and extending inwardly of said inner mold from each said corresponding side and end panels, said actuating plates having overlapping inner end portions overlying a corresponding one of said corner panel rods, said overlapping portions of said actuating plates having slots therethrough, pin means extending through said slots and affixed to said corresponding corner panel rod, said slots and pin interengaging in response to movement of said corner panel rod to displace said corresponding side and end panels inwardly and outwardly perpendicular to the respective planes thereof.

Claim 30

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; and support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; and said bottom panel means of said inner mold including a central panel portion having side and end edges, and peripheral portions along said edges and pivotal downwardly relative thereto.

Claim 31

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold including bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; and support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; and said bottom panel means of said inner mold including a central panel portion having side and end edges, and peripheral portions along said edges and pivotal downwardly relative thereto.

Claim 32

The molding device as set forth in claim 81, wherein said suspension frame means includes bottom panel frame means supporting said central panel portion, means pivotally interconnecting each of said peripheral portions with said bottom panel frame means, and fluid pressure operable piston and cylinder means for pivotally displacing each said peripheral portion relative to said bottom panel frame means, said piston and cylinder means including cylinder means affixed to said bottom panel frame means and piston rod means having an outer end pivotally interconnected with said peripheral portion.

Claim 33

The molding device as set forth in claim 81, wherein said suspension frame means includes bottom panel frame means for said central panel portion, said bottom panel frame means including an outer portion extending outwardly beyond said side and end edges of said central panel portion, each said peripheral portions including a portion overlying the corresponding outer portion of said frame means.

Claim 34

A molding device as set forth in claim 81, wherein said suspension frame means includes a bottom frame supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold and top frame means spaced above said bottom frame and supporting said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds, a plurality of columns between said bottom frame and top frame means and affixed to said bottom frame, and means releasably interconnecting said top frame means and said columns.

Claim 35

A molding device as set forth in claim 84, wherein said top frame means includes platform means having openings therethrough, said means interconnecting said top frame means and columns including bolt means fixedly supported by said columns and projecting through said openings in said platform means and having threaded outer ends, and nut means on said outer ends.

Claim 36

A molding device as set forth in claim 30, wherein said bolt means have shank portions of a diameter larger than that of said threaded outer ends, an washer means between said platform means and said nut means.

Claim 37

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold inculding bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; at least one pair of corresponding ones of said side panels and end panels of said inner and outer molds being provided with openings therethrough; and mold frame means in said openings and spanning the space therebetween, said mold frame means being supported on the panel of the outer mold for movement in opposite directions axially of said openings, and fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder means interconnecting said mold frame means and said panel of said outer mold for displacing said mold frame means in said opposite directions.

Claim 38

A molding device for producing a box-type concrete block, comprising: an outer mold including bottom panel means, a pair of opposed parallel side panels, and a pair of opposed parallel end panels at right angles to said side panels; an inner mold inculding bottom panel means spaced above said bottom panel means of said outer mold, a pair of side panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, a pair of end panels each spaced inwardly from and parallel to one of said side panels of said outer mold, and corner panel means between adjacent ones of said side and end panels of said inner mold; support means for said outer and inner molds including means supporting said bottom panel means of said outer mold and suspension frame means supporting said bottom panel means of said inner mold, said suspension frame means further supporting each said side and end panels of said outer and inner molds for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the corresponding bottom panel means and supporting each of said corner panel means for movement toward and away from the corresponding ones of said adjacent side and end panels; at least one pair of corresponding ones of said side panels and end panels of said inner and outer molds being provided with openings therethrough; and mold frame means in said openings and spanning the space therebetween, said mold frame means being supported on the panel of the outer mold for movement in opposite directions axially of said openings, and fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder means interconnecting said mold frame means and said panel of said outer mold for displacing said mold frame means in said opposite directions.

Claim 39

The molding device as set forth in claim, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes cylinders mounted on said panel of the outer mold and having piston rods extending toward said openings, said mold frame means being attached to said piston rods.

Claim 40

The molding device as set forth in claim 32, wherein said mold frame means has an end adjacent the opening through the panel of the inner mold, a plurality of bolts secured to said mold frame means at said inner end and extending axially of the opening of said panel of the inner mold, the latter said panel having apertures to receive said bolts, said bolts having heads spaced from said panel of said inner mold in the direction inwardly of said inner mold, said apertures being of a size permitting the passage of said heads of said bolt, and fastening means on said panel of said inner mold for engaging said heads against displacement through said apertures in the direction outwardly of said inner mold.

Claim 41

A molding device as set forth in claim 34, wherein said fastening means includes plate members slidably supported on said panel of the inner mold, said plate members having holes therethrough, said holes including a first portion of a size permitting the passage of said heads of said bolts and a second portion continuous with said first portion and of a size substantially the same as the diameter of said bolts, wedges on said plate members adjacent said second portions of said holes, the thickness of said wedges increasing in the direction from the ends of said second portions communicating with said first portions, said plate members being slidable between engaging and releasing positions, and said wedges engaging said bolt heads when said plate members are in said engaging positions.

Claim 42

The molding device as set forth in claim 35 wherein said plate members have opposed adjacent ends, and fluid operated piston and cylinder means interconnecting said adjacent ends and including a cylinder mounted on one of said plate members and a piston rod having an outer end attached to the other of said plate members.

Claim 43

The molding device as set forth in claim 36, wherein each of said plate members is U-shaped and bounds a portion of the opening through said anel of the inner mold, the ends of the legs of the U-shaped members being positioned to define said adjacent ends.

Claim 44

The molding device as set forth in claim 36, and means on said panel of the inner mold for guiding said sliding movement of said plate members.