Moulding process and apparatus for making arch-shaped concrete structures

Claim 1

A method of prefabricating curved concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, comprising the steps of: providing a curved, upwardly convex mould having a plurality of reusable mould members arranged along the length of the curve and supported from below by a plurality of vertical pillars, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable, each vertical pillar being connected to one of said mould members by a hinged connection such that the angle between each pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable, the mould members being interconnected by a plurality of hinged connections each disposed between adjacent mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould member is adjustable, whereby the mould members provide a mould surface the curvature of which is variable for moulding prefabricated sections of different curvatures; adjusting the mould to a desired curvature by adjusting the height and spacing between the adjacent said pillars; applying unhardened concrete to the curved, upwardly convex mould surface, the unhardened concrete being applied to form a curved section of predetermined thickness; allowing the concrete to set; and separating the concrete section from the mould members.

Claim 2

A method of prefabricating curved concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, comprising the steps of: providing a curved, upwardly convex mould having a plurality of reusable mould members arranged along the length of the curve and supported from below by a plurality of vertical pillars, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable, each vertical pillar being connected to one of said mould members by a hinged connection such that the angle between each pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable, the mould members being interconnected by a plurality of hinged connections each disposed between adjacent mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould member is adjustable, whereby the mould members provide a mould surface the curvature of which is variable for moulding prefabricated sections of different curvatures; adjusting the mould to a desired curvature by adjusting the height and spacing between the adjacent said pillars; applying unhardened concrete to the curved, upwardly convex mould surface, the unhardened concrete being applied to form a curved section of predetermined thickness; allowing the concrete to set; and separating the concrete section from the mould members.

Claim 7

A method of prefabricating curved concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, using a curved, upwardly convex mould surface provided by a plurality of reusable mould members arranged along the length of the curve and supported from below by a plurality of vertical pillars, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and being arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable, each vertical pillar being connected to a respective mould member by a hinged connection such that the angle between each said pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable, and the mould members being interconnected by a plurality of hinged connections along said curve said disposed between adjacent mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould member is adjustable, the method comprising: adjusting the height of the vertical pillars and the spacing therebetween so as to bring about adjustment of the angles between the pillars and the mould members and of the angles between adjacent mould members, to obtain a desired curvature of the mould surface; applying unhardened concrete to the mould surface to form a curved section of said desired curvature and of predetermined thickness; allowing the concrete to set; and separating the concrete section and the mould members.

Claim 8

A method of prefabricating curved concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, using a curved, upwardly convex mould surface provided by a plurality of reusable mould members arranged along the length of the curve and supported from below by a plurality of vertical pillars, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and being arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable, each vertical pillar being connected to a respective mould member by a hinged connection such that the angle between each said pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable, and the mould members being interconnected by a plurality of hinged connections along said curve said disposed between adjacent mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould member is adjustable, the method comprising: adjusting the height of the vertical pillars and the spacing therebetween so as to bring about adjustment of the angles between the pillars and the mould members and of the angles between adjacent mould members, to obtain a desired curvature of the mould surface; applying unhardened concrete to the mould surface to form a curved section of said desired curvature and of predetermined thickness; allowing the concrete to set; and separating the concrete section and the mould members.

Claim 9

An apparatus for moulding prefabricated, curved, concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, comprising: a curved, upwardly convex mould surface provided by a plurality of reusable mould members; a plurality of vertical pillars for supporting from below the reusable mould members, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and being arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable; a hinged connection means for hingedly connecting each vertical pillar to a respective mould member such that the angle between each said pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable; and a plurality of hinged connection means each disposed between adjacent mould members for interconnecting the mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould is adjustable; whereby the mould members provide a mould surface, the curvature of which is varaible for moulding prefabricated sections of different curvatures, such curvature variation being effected by adjustment of the height of the vertical pillars and the spacing between adjacent pillars, thereby adjusting the angles between the pillars and the mould members and the angles between adjacent mould members.

Claim 10

An apparatus for moulding prefabricated, curved, concrete sections for use in the construction of arched or vaulted structures, comprising: a curved, upwardly convex mould surface provided by a plurality of reusable mould members; a plurality of vertical pillars for supporting from below the reusable mould members, each vertical pillar being of independently adjustable height and being arranged such that the spacing between adjacent pillars is adjustable; a hinged connection means for hingedly connecting each vertical pillar to a respective mould member such that the angle between each said pillar and the respective mould member is adjustable; and a plurality of hinged connection means each disposed between adjacent mould members for interconnecting the mould members such that the angle of each mould member to the adjacent mould is adjustable; whereby the mould members provide a mould surface, the curvature of which is varaible for moulding prefabricated sections of different curvatures, such curvature variation being effected by adjustment of the height of the vertical pillars and the spacing between adjacent pillars, thereby adjusting the angles between the pillars and the mould members and the angles between adjacent mould members.