' Jan.

5, 1971

N. T. FOSSE ETAL

'

3,551,958

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE PIPE MACHINE

Filed March 1, 1968

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NAVARRO T. FOSSE
BY HARVEY N. PENINGER

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'Jan. 5, 1971

3,551,968

' N. -r. FOSSE ETAL

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE PIPE MACHINE

Filed March 1-,

1968 V I

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FEEDING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE PIPE MACHINE ,

Filed March 1, 1968

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United States

3,551,968
Patented Jan. 5, 1971

3,551,968

upright cylindrical mold 13 used in the formation of the

concrete pipe. A horizontal feeder table 14 is positioned

11 mounted on a base 12. The frame 11 is located over an

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE PIPE

MACHINE
Navarro. T. Fosse, Nashua, and Harvey N. Peninger,

Jefferson, Iowa, assignors to Hydrotile Machinery Com

pany, Nashua, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa
~

Filed Mar. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 709,626

adjacent the upper end of mold 13. Feeder table 14 verti

cally mounted on upright guides 18 is operable to be
raised and lowered to accommodate different sized molds.

A packer head concrete pipe machine for making a

cylindrical pipe in an upright mold. Concrete is moved

When table 14 is raised the ?nished pipe and mold can

be removed from the machine and a new mold placed
under the feeder table 14. Mounted on the feeder table
14 is a concrete feeding device 19 of the invention oper
able to direct the concrete discharged from a conveyor 16
into the mold and store surplus concrete left over in
the formation of a pipe for discharging into a subsequent
mold.

tioned adjacent the top of the mold. A rotatable packer

guide rods 22 for movement toward and away from the

head is carried upwardly with a vertically movable car

feeding device 19. Carriage 21 is raised and lowered in

Int. Cl. B28b 13/00, 21/26

US. Cl. 2536

12 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

from a hopper by a conveyor into a feeding device posi 15

A movable carriage 21 is slidably supported on upright

any suitable manner, for example a winch illustrated

schematically at 23 supported from the top of the frame.
Hydraulic cylinders or rotating screw shafts may be used
to raise and lower the carriage 21. Projected downwardly
from carriage 21 is a support tube enclosing a drive shaft
pair of scraper blades moves around the cone-shaped
26 for a rotatable packer head 27. The motor 28 mounted
funnel on operation of a ?uid motor to push the concrete
on the carriage 21 drives a power transmitting unit (not
into the mold.
25 shown) operable to rotate the shaft 26 and packer head
27. The packer head 27 is similar to the packer head
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
shown in US. Pat. No. 3,262,175.
Packer head concrete pipe machines utilize a vertically
Referring to FIG. 2, the upright cylindrical mold 13 ?ts
moving rotating packer head in the formation of con
over a forming ring or pallet 29- resting on the base 12.
crete pipe in a mold. When the packer head emerges 30 The pallet 29 is used to form the bell in the end of con
through the top ring of the mold it brings with it sur
crete pipe 31. Embedded within the pipe 31 is a rein
plus concrete which is spilled over on the table surround
forcing wire cage 32 which extends the entire length of
ing the top of the mold. This excess concrete must be
the pipe. In the formation of the pipe the packer head 27
moved back into the next mold by an operator using a
rotates in the direction of the arrow 33 and is moved
35
shovel, trowel or a hoe. This operation requires time and
vertically to place and Work the concrete in a cylindrical
labor and is not suitable toward automatic machines that
form about the reinforcing cage 32. As the packer head
do not require an operator. The concrete pipe machine
27 moves through the top opening of the mold excessive
shown in Pat. No. 3,262,175 is an example of a packer
or surplus concrete 34 is carried upwardly onto the feed
head concrete pipe machine in which surplus concrete is 4.0 ing device 19. This surplus concrete is stored on the
moved up onto a table. This concrete must {be manually
feeding device until a new mold is inserted under the
feeder table 14.
moved back into the next mold.
A cylindrical header 36 secured to the bottom of the
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
feeder table is located in the top- of the mold 31 to form
The invention relates to concrete pipe machines having
the steeped or male portion of the pipe which ?ts into
a feeding device which diverts concrete into a mold. Lo 45 the bell of an adjacent pipe. Header 36 surrounds an
cated for movement through the mold is a rotating packer
opening 37 in the feeder table ?oor which allows the
head which moves in an upright direction to form the
packer head to move vertically in the mold and provides
concrete pipe. The feeding device has a member with a
a passageway into the mold 13 for the concrete delivered
funnel-shaped surface which cooperates with a plurality
from the conveyor 16.
of moving scraper blades used to direct and force the
As shown in FIG. 4, concrete feeding device 19
concrete on the member into the mold. Drive means
mounted on the feeder table 14 comprises a downwardly
operate to selectively move the scraper blades to de
converging funnel or cone member 38 secured to an
posite excess concrete carried up by the packer head on
annular angle support 39 mounted on table 14. The upper
the member into another mold.
or large end of the cone is reinforced with an annular
ring 41. The diameter of the cone 38 can vary with the
IN THE DRAWINGS
size of the opening 37 so as to accommodate different
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a concrete pipe
diametered molds. Surrounding the cone member 38 is

riage to pack the concrete against the cylindrical mold to

form a cylindrical pipe. The feeding device has a cone
shaped funnel mounted in the top table for directing the
concrete into the top of the mold. A ring carrying a

making machine equipped with the concrete feeding device

an upright octagonal-shaped frame 42 comprising channel
of the invention;
60 members secured to the table 14. A cover plate 43, shown
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
in FIG. 3, having a circular center opening is attached to
line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the rotary packer head located
the top of the frame 42. Located between the frame and
above the pipe mold;
the upper portion of the cone member 38 is a rotatable
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
member indicated generally at 44. As shown in FIG. 4,

line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away to show the 65 member 44 comprises an annular ring member having an
drive and roller support for the scraper ring;
outwardly directed channel cross-section. Referring to
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of
FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower ?ange of ring 46 rides on the
FIG. 3; and
plurality of circumferentially spaced support rollers 47
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
rotatably mounted on upright plates 48 secured to the
line 55 of FIG. 3.
70 frame 42. The upper ?ange of ring 46 projects under
Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1, a
inner peripheral circular edge of the cover plate 43. As
concrete pipe making machine 10 having an upright frame
shown in FIG. 3, the rotatable member 44 is horizon

3,551,968
3

tally positioned with respect to the frame 42 by a plu

rality of spaced laterally positioned rollers 49 carried on

While there have been shown and described a concrete

feeding device in conjunction with a concrete pipe mak

inwardly directed brackets 51 mounted on frame 42.

Rollers 49 engage the outer peripheral surface of the bot
tom ?ange of the ring 46. Secured to the top of the an
nular ring 46 is a ?at annular top plate 52 adjustably

ing machine, it is to be understood that various changes

in the machine and feeding device may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The invention is de?ned in the following claims.

carrying a pair of inwardly and downwardly directed

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive

property or privilege is claimed are de?ned as follows:
1. A feeding device for a concrete pipe forming ma

scraper units indicated generally at 53 and 54 located

adjacent the inner surface of the cone member 38. The

outer peripheral edge of plate 52 is circular and located 10 chine having a vertically movable and rotatable packer
head comprising: a stationary member having an upper
adjacent the inner edge of plate 43. Scraper units 53 and
opening, a lower opening smaller than the upper opening
54 are identical in construction. The parts of scraper unit
and around the packer head, and an inner funnel-shaped
54 which correspond to the parts of scraper unit 53 are
surface between the upper opening and lower opening for
indicated with the same reference numeral having the
storing concrete adjacent the packer head and directing
su?ix A.
concrete into a mold for concrete pipe,.scraper means
Returning to FIGS. 3 and 4, scraper unit 53 comprises
having a portion located adjacent said surface, movable
a plate 56 carrying a downwardly and inwardly projected
generally ?at annular ring means supporting the scraper
arm 57. Arm 57 has an upright face for supporting a
means, said annular ring means located transversely of
?exible scraper blade 58 in an upright position generally
perpendicular to the inside surface of the cone member 20 and surrounding the upper opening, whereby substantial

ly the entire center area of the stationary member is

38. The blade 58 can be made of ?exible plastic or rubber.
open for the movement of concrete into the mold, and
A holding bar 59 is used with nut and bolt assemblies to
drive means for moving the movable means whereby the
clamp the scraper blade 58 to the arm 57. The plate 56 lies
scraper means moves relative to the funnel-shaped surface
flat on the top surface of top 52. The middle of plate 56
has a pair of radially directed slots 61 receiving bolts 62 25 to deposit concrete on the surface into the mold.
2. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein the member
used to adjustably mount the scraper unit on the top.
is an inverted cone-shaped funnel.
As shown in FIG. 4, the inner edge 63 of the scraper
3. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein the scraper
blade can 'be moved into cleaning engagement with the
means includes at least one scraper unit mounted on the
inner surface of the cone 38 by adjusting the plate 56
relative to the top 52. The blade 58 can be located at a 30 movable means.

4. The feeding device of claim 3 including means to

slight angle from the radial position shown in FIG. 3 by
adjustably mount the scraper units on the movable means.
changing the position of plate 56 on top 52.
5. The feeding device of claim 1 including means
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, rotatable member 44 is
mounting the movable annular means for rotation about
driven by a ?uid motor 64 operatively connected to the
'
annular ring 46 with a power transmitting roller chain 35 the longitudinal axis of the annular means.
66. Motor 64 has a drive sprocket 67 which moves the

chain 66 about a pair of guide sprockets 68 and 69 used

to position the chain in the channel of the annular ring 46.
Motor 64 is secured to a plate 71 slidably carried in
guides 72 and 73 mounted on a housing 76 secured to

the frame 42. A spring 74 biases the plate 71 and motor

64 in an outward direction to keep a constant tension on

the chain 66. Spring 74 is attached to the housing 76

with an adjusting nut and bolt assembly 77.
In operation, concrete is delivered from a hopper to
a conveyor 16 which discharges the concrete into the top
end of the feeding device 19. The packer head 27 is
located initially in a recess or hole 78 in the base 12 so

that the concrete positioning, rolling and smoothing por

tions of the packer sequentially place and pack concrete
in a cylindrical column adjacent the inside of mold 13.
In the formation of the concrete pipe, the packer head
27 is concurrently rotated and raised so that the wall of

the pipe is continuously formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, as the packer head 27 emerges

6. The feeding device of claim 5 including motor means

operable to rotate the annular means.
7. A feeding device for a concrete pipe forming ma

chine having a vertically movable and rotatable packer

head comprising: a stationary member having an upper
opening, a lower opening around the packer head, and a

surface between the upper opening and lower opening for

storing concrete adjacent the packer head and directing
concrete into a mold for concrete pipe, a support ad

jacent the stationary member, scraper means having a

portion located adjacent said surface, a generally ?at ro
tatable annular ring located transversely of and around
the upper opening supporting the scraper means, whereby
substantially the entire center area of the stationary mem
ber is open for the movement of concrete into the mold,

means rotatably mounting the ring on the support, and

drive means operable to rotate the annular ring on the

support for movement around the upper opening whereby

concrete on the surface of the stationary member is di
55 rected into the mold by the moving scraper means.

8. The feeding device of claim 7 wherein the stationary

member is funnel-shaped, and said mounting means :com
excess concrete 34 is piled on the cone member 38. This
prises rollers located below the upper opening of the
excess concrete is deposited in the next mold by the oper
stationary member mounting the ring for rotation about
ation of the feeding device. After the concrete pipe is
the longitudinal axis of the stationary member.
formd the feeder table 14 is raised and the mold 13 and 60
9. The feeding device of claim 7 wherein the scraper

from the top of the mold 13 through the opening 37,

concrete pipe 31 are removed from the machine. A new

mold is placed under the feeding table 13 in alignment

with the opening in the header 36. The feeder table is
lowered placing the header 36 within the top of the mold.
The packer head 37 is then lowered into the recess 78 in

means includes at least one scraper unit adjustably mount

ed on the annular ring.

10. The feeding device of claim 7 wherein the support
includes a generally horizontal table located adjacent the
top of a mold, said table having an opening aligned with

the base 12 prior to the discharge of concrete into the

mold.

the top of the mold, said stationary member comprising

the scraper blades 58 of the scraper units 53 and 54

means includes a motor and power transmitting means

a downwardly converging funnel member secured to the

The excess concrete 34 is pushed from the cone mern~
table with the upper and lower openings aligned with the
ber 38 on operation of the fluid motor 64. The motor 70 opening in the table.
64 drives the rotatable member 44 which in turn moves
11. The feeding device of claim 10 wherein said drive
around the inside surface of the cone member 38. The

connecting the motor with the ring whereby on opera

concrete located on the cone member is forced or moved

tion of the motor the scraper means rotate relative to

into the mold by the scraper blades 53 and 54.

the funnel member.

3,551,968
5

12. The feeding device of claim 7 wherein said drive

1,137,776

5/1915

Miller _____________ _- 25-30

means include an endless ?exiblemember surrounding

1,162,924

12/1915

Horning g __________ __ 2536

and engaging a cylindrical portion of the annular ring,

a motor for driving the ?exible member and biasing means

3,262,175

7/1966

Gourlie ____________ __ 25-36

_

acting on the motor and ?exible member to hold the ?eX-

1- SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary EXaIIllIlef

ible member in driving engagement with the cylindrical

B_ D_ TO'BOR Assistant Examiner

portion.

References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

1,126,571

1/1915

Rogers __________ __ 25-103X 1

U-S- C1- X.R.

2s_-30, 103