Combination bed concrete casting apparatus

Claim 2

A combination bed casting aparatus for casting either a single elongated concrete structural member in a single elongated casting bed section or for simultaneously casting two elongated concrete structural members in side-by-side parallel elongated casting bed sections comprising a longitudinally extending bottom wall form and oppositely disposed side wall forms, the bottom wall form being divided longitudinally into two supporting sections for supporting the structural member(s) to be cast, the two sections adapted to be positioned in abutting relationship to form with said side wall forms the single casting bed section and spaced from each other by an elongated intermediate wall form, first means for positioning said sections and second means for positioning the intermediate wall form between said two supporting sections and generally parallel to the side wall forms to form with each supporting section and an associated side wall form the side-by-side casting bed sections, said supporting sections and its associated side wall form being moveable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the casting apparatus wherein said second means comprises a lifting mechanism for pivotally positioning the intermediate form by the lifting mechanism in a first position below said moveable section when said two supporting sections are positioned in abutting relationship for forming the single casting bed section and in a second position above and between said supporting sections when said one of the two supporting sections and its associated side wall forms have been moved transversely to form the side-by-side casting bed sections.

Claim 3

A combination bed apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said intermediate wall form is connected to a transverse shift mechanism supported to a moveable supporting section for affecting movement of said intermediate support transversely of the longitudinal axis of the casting apparatus together with transverse movement of the moveable supporting section.

Claim 4

A combination bed apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the movable supporting section is connected to a shifter mechanism having a lost motion linkage which causes said shifter mechanism to be engaged for travel with said moveable section only during a portion of the travel of said moveable section during transverse movement thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claims 2 or 3 wherein one of the two supporting sections is immovably fixed relative to the ground and the other supporting section is moveable relative to the fixed section, said moveable section being supported on a sliding assembly and said first means comprises hydraulic actuating means connected to said sliding assembly for effecting transverse movement of the moveable supporting section.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of spaced transverse tracks disposed below said casting bed apparatus perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bed; roller means mounted to the underside of said moveable section(s) and in rolling engagement with said transverse tracks for supporting said section(s) during transverse movement.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, including an actuating means for transversely moving said casting bed sections wherein said actuating means comprises: an elongated actuator element extending below and along substantially the entire length of said casting bed and mounted for longitudinal movement along the longitudinal axis of said casting bed; at least one swing arm extending between said elongated actuator element and at least the said moveable supporting section(s), said swing arm being pivotally attached to said elongated actuator element and to said moveable supporting section(s) at laterally spaced points; and hydraulic actuator means for longitudinally moving said actuator element to produce a resultant transverse movement of said moveable section(s).

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said elongated actuator element extends along substantially the center of said casting bed, and a plurality of swing arms extend laterally and symmetrically from said actuator element to both of said supporting sections.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said spaced transverse tracks are permanently fixed relative to the ground.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claims 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 further comprising: a plurality of vertical swing arms pivotally attached between said intermediate wall form and a plurality of anchor members fixed relative to the ground such that longitudinal movement of said intermediate wall form produces a resultant vertical movement of said intermediate form; and said second means comprising hydraulic actuator means for longitudinally moving said intermediate form.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said hydraulic actuator means is connected to said intermediate form.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said hydraulic actuator means is connected to the vertical swing arms.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said vertical swing arms are attached to said intermediate wall form by slotted pivot links to accommodate thermal expansion along the length of the form.

Claim 14

A combination bed casting apparatus for casting either a single elongated concrete structural member in a single elongated casting bed section or for simultaneously casting two elongated concrete structural members in side-by-side parallel elongated casting bed sections comprising a longitudinally extending bottom wall form and oppositely disposed side wall forms, the bottom wall form being divided longitudinally into two sections for supporting the structural member(s) to be cast, the two sections adapted to be positioned in abutting relationship to form with said side wall forms the single casting bed section and spaced from each other by an elongated intermediate wall form, means for positioning said intermediate wall form between said two supporting sections and generally parallel to the side wall forms to form with each supporting section and an associated side wall form the side-by-side casting bed sections, said supporting sections and its associated side wall form being moveable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the casting apparatus, said means for positioning said intermediate wall form including an elongated actuator element disposed beneath said bottom wall and adapted for movement along the longitudinal axis of the casting bed and a plurality of swing arms extending laterally from the actuator element and being connected to said supporting sections, a plurality of lift arms extending upwardly and being connected to the intermediate wall form, first actuating means adapted to energized to move said actuator element, and second actuating means adapted means adapted to be energized to pivotally swing said intermediate form by said lift arms between a first position below said supporting sections while said two supporting sections are drawn into abutting relationship for forming the single casting bed section and a second position above and between said supporting sections while said supporting sections and their associated aide wall forms have been moved transversely to form the side-by-side casting bed sections.

Claim 15

A combination bed casting apparatus for casting either a single elongated concrete structural member in a single elongated casting bed section or for simultaneously casting two elongated concrete structural members in side-by-side parallel elongated casting bed sections comprising a longitudinally extending bottom wall form and oppositely disposed side wall forms, the bottom wall form being divided longitudinally into two sections for supporting the structural member(s) to be cast, the two sections adapted to be positioned in abutting relationship to form with said side wall forms the single casting bed section and spaced from each other by an elongated intermediate wall form, means for positioning said intermediate wall form between said two supporting sections and generally parallel to the side wall forms to form with each supporting section and an associated side wall form the side-by-side casting bed sections, said supporting sections and its associated side wall form being moveable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the casting apparatus, said means for positioning said intermediate wall form including an elongated actuator element disposed beneath said bottom wall and adapted for movement along the longitudinal axis of the casting bed and a plurality of swing arms extending laterally from the actuator element and being connected to said supporting sections, a plurality of lift arms extending upwardly and being connected to the intermediate wall form, first actuating means adapted to energized to move said actuator element, and second actuating means adapted means adapted to be energized to pivotally swing said intermediate form by said lift arms between a first position below said supporting sections while said two supporting sections are drawn into abutting relationship for forming the single casting bed section and a second position above and between said supporting sections while said supporting sections and their associated aide wall forms have been moved transversely to form the side-by-side casting bed sections.

Claim 16

A combination bed apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein said intermediate form is pivotally attached to the swing arms.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 or 14 wherein said first and second means are hydraulic actuating means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 further including a plurality of spaced transverse tracks disposed below said casting bed apparatus perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bed; and roller means mounted to the underside side of said moveable sections and in rolling engagement with said transverse tracks for supporting said sections during transverse movement.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said elongated actuator element extends along substantially the center of said casting bed, and said plurality of swing arms extend laterally and symmetrically from said actuator element to both of said supporting sections.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of lift arms are pivotally attached between said intermediate wall form and a plurality of anchor members fixed relative to the ground such that longitudinal movement of said intermediate wall form produces a resultant vertical movement of said intermediate form.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said lift arms are attached to said intermediate wall form by slotted pivot links to accommodate thermal expansion along the length of the form.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said anchor members are centrally disposed beneath said supporting sections and have passageways through which the actuator element freely passes.