Title of Invention

EARTH BLOCK FORMING MACHINE.

Abstract THERE IS DISCLOSED AN EARTH BLOCK FORMING MACHINE (10) COMPRISING A PAIR OF ALIGNED OPPOSED MOLDS (14) HAVING AN INNER OPEN END AND AN OUTER CLOSED END (30), COMPACTING MEMBERS (16) RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MOLDS (14) HAVING AN INLET (32) FOR SOIL (36) AND AN OUTLET (34) FOR A COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK (72), SAID INLET AND OUTLET BEING IN ALIGNED VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION FOR GRAVITY FLOW OF SOIL INTO THE MOLD (14)AND GRAVITY DISCHARGE OF COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCKS,AN OPENABLE CLOSURE (38) FOR SAID INLET (32), AN OPENABLE CLOSURE (40) FOR SAID OUTLET (34), A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED POWER STRUCTURE (18) ORIENTED GEERALLY BETWEEN SAID MOLDS (14), SAID POWER STRUCTURE (18) BEING CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID COMPACTING MEMBERS (16) THROUGH SAID INNER OPEN END BY A FORCE INCREASING LEVERAGE SYSTEM (20) PROVIDING FORCE TO SAID COMPACTING MEMBERS.
Full Text BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an earth block forming machine including
opposed compaction chambers each receiving a reciprocal compacting member
to form solid building blocks by compacting soil. The compacting members are
reciprocated by a hydraulically actuated linkage mechanism connected to the
compacting members to produce a very high compaction force while employing a
relatively low hydraulic pressure. Each compaction chamber includes a vertically
spaced and aligned inlet and outlet provided with a hydraulically powered
openable and closable plate to enable inlet of a quantity of soil into each
compaction chamber from a supply bin and discharge of the formed earth blocks
from the compaction chambers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Earth block or adobe building blocks have been used in the construction
of various buildings for many years and continue to be an important building
material. Original adobe block construction involved the positioning of a slurry
material in a mold and letting it dry and cure for an extended period of time. Over
the years, various machines have been provided for compacting soil into earth
blocks which can be stacked as walls and floors for any kind of structure without
the use of mortar or other type of binder material to lock the blocks together.
Also, various types of presses have been developed for compressing or
compacting various materials.
The following U. S. patents disclose various developments in earth block
machines and presses for various purposes.
1,864,769 2,524,683 3,225,409
2,265,771 2,537,920 4,153,404
2,388,679 3,142,105 4,579,706
A number of block forming machines have been patented and built since
the 1930s. Few are still on the market. The first ones had mobility but they were
repeating the technologies of the time: mixture of the material with water and
dropping the same in forms having the block size. In most, the blocks were dried
by the sun (see patent Nos. 1,864,769, 2,524,683 and 3,142,105).
One of the first machines using a hydraulic press of 1000 psi is described
in patent No. 2,265,771. The mold is made of disassembling plates which makes
it easier to charge and discharge the machine. The same inventor patented an
advanced machine producing various shaped blocks (patent No. 2,388,679).
These machines started to use ordinary soil. The block machine
described in patent No. 3,225,409, by using a ram to compress the soil, tries to
produce more blocks per cycle. A continuous supply of soil is described in patent
No.4, 153,404. The soil flow is governed by retaining plates which open at the
proper time.
The block forming machine described in patent No. 4,579,706 also uses
the direct force of a ram to compress soil supplied through a bin. To increase
production, two molds are used, one on each side of a cylinder end. The rod,
protruding out of the cylinder ends, controls the compressing blocks of each
mold. The compression of the soil is done in sequence. All the ram machines
described above use the ram directly on the soil to be compressed. For this
reason, the hydraulic pressure in the rams is very high. This results in after-
shock problems.
The above patents disclose various types of presses including machines
for making earth blocks or adobe blocks including rams which are directly
actuated by a piston rod aligned with a pressure operated cylinder with the ram
being reciprocally received in a compaction chamber or mold. Such direct
application of force by the pressure operated cylinder requires extremely high
fluid pressure in order to obtain an adequate compacting or compressing force
on the ram. The prior art does not disclose an arrangement in which opposed
rams are actuated by fluid pressure actuated linkage mechanisms having a
unique force increasing relationship with the rams and an assembly applying
hydraulically actuated force to the linkage mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is an energy saving mobile machine allowing for high
volume production of compressed soil into earth blocks which can enable
construction of truly affordable housing. This invention, by using on-site soil to
produce the blocks, not only saves energy in the production process but also in
all related uses of the blocks. This invention eliminates the need for construction
of a factory, truck loading of the blocks, transportation to the construction site
and unloading of the blocks all of which contribute heavily to the depletion of
energy. This invention will produce blocks which require no mortar or any other
type of binder to lock the blocks together. This invention addresses the needs of
worldwide low cost housing, emergency military quarters and other low cost
structures. This invention requires less energy to produce its product than any
other form of block forming technology and provides the quickest and least
expensive type of construction. Building materials such as wood, which in
developing countries requires forest destruction, adversely impact the
environment and require vast amounts of energy for reforestation. This invention
will produce blocks with a potential life span equaling or exceeding that of all
existing building materials, in addition to being 100% recyclable, and have less
impact on the environment than any other building material extracted from the
earth.
One advantage of this earth block forming machine over other soil
compacting machines on the market is its ability to achieve high compaction with
low hydraulic pressure. Current machines require hydraulic pressure of 4000 to
5000 psi to drive their ramming systems which causes constant breakdowns
within the hydraulic mechanism. In contrast, this invention"s hydraulic system will
operate at 750 psi. This low hydraulic pressure in turn will drive a leverage
ramming system which will compress the blocks at approximately 3000 psi. The
leverage ramming system contrasts with the direct hydraulic force used by
current machines to drive the ramming system. This invention, by using a
leverage system, is not impacted by the perpetual stress experienced by the
other block forming machines using direct hydraulic ramming. The current block
forming machines on the market produce between 300 to 400, 12" X 10" X 4",
blocks per hour. This invention will produce 1200 or more 12" X 10" X 4" blocks
per hour achieving a compressive resistance as high or higher than that of the
other machines.
The positive energy impact of this invention is twofold. First, the
production of blocks to be manufactured by this invention will use less energy
than current block machines. Second, this invention has a dual ramming system
which uses the same amount of energy as the single ramming system of other
machines, while tripling production of the other machines thereby reducing the
energy to produce one block by 66%. In addition to this twofold energy saving in
the manufacturing process, there are substantial savings from the elimination of
transportation of blocks from the manufacturing source to the construction site.
Many areas suitable for large scale, low cost, housing projects and areas where
emergency military quarters are needed, are long distances from a
manufacturing source. This often requires transporting high volumes of building
materials hundreds of miles. This invention eliminates this need of transporting
blocks, resulting in major energy savings. One further source of energy saving
would be the exceptional insulation qualities provided by earth blocks.
Adobe building blocks have been used in construction for thousands of
years. Throughout North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and other
parts of the world, adobe blocks continue to be an important building material.
The invention takes the ancient adobe method of making blocks to a state of the
art technology. The invention eliminates the weeks and months of curing time
required by conventional adobe blocks. As quickly as the invention produces
blocks, the blocks can be stacked as walls and floors for any kind of structure.
Block manufacturing plants are normally located in places where the
prime raw material is abundant and easy to obtain. The blocks are then
transported to the place of use, in many cases hundreds of miles. This invention
eliminates the cost of transportation, thereby saving vast amounts of fuel by
fabricating the blocks at the place of use. Thus, every building site becomes an
instantaneous block factory. There are several block forming machines on the
market that produce blocks at the place of use. However, these machines have
severe problems caused by the constant high pressure of the fluid used in their
hydraulic system. In addition, the aftershock caused by releasing the high
pressure during their working cycle is very deleterious. These adverse effects
reduce the effective working time of the machines by over 60%. The mean
pressure used by these machines is 5000 psi. The machine of this invention
uses a pressure of only 750 psi and compresses the soil at a higher pressure.
This is made possible through the use of a mechanical leverage system driven
by a low-pressure hydraulic system. This machine compresses soil at up to 3000
psi and thus obtains a solid block which is better than the blocks obtained with
the traditional method.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an earth block
forming machine utilizing opposed compaction chambers or molds and opposed
compacting members or rams reciprocal in relation to the compacting chambers
with a hydraulically actuated power mechanism connected to the compacting
members by a mechanical leverage system that enables an extremely high
compaction or compression pressure to be exerted on soil in the compaction
chambers while using a reduced hydraulic pressure.
Another object of the invention is to provide an earth block forming
machine in accordance with the preceding object in which the hydraulic
mechanism includes a pair of opposed generally aligned hydraulic piston and
cylinder assemblies with the piston of each of the assemblies being connected to
a pair of links which move the opposed compacting members in a reciprocal
manner in relation to the compacting chambers.
A further object of the invention is to provide an earth block forming
machine in accordance with the preceding objects in which each of the
compaction chambers includes a vertically spaced inlet opening and outlet
opening in which the inlet openings are communicated with a supply bin for soil
to be compressed into a solid building block.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an earth block forming
machine in accordance with the preceding objects in which the inlets and outlets
are opened and closed by sliding plates actuated by hydraulically powered piston
and cylinder assemblies operated independently of the piston and cylinder
assemblies for reciprocating the compacting members.
Another significant object of this invention is to provide an earth block
forming machine that is hydraulically operated to compress soil at a very high
pressure until the soil becomes a solid building block with the soil to be
compressed being supplied from a supply bin into a pair of opposed, aligned and
spaced compaction chambers each of which receives a reciprocal compacting
member with the compacting members being in opposed aligned relation and
connected to a pair of links at their proximal ends with the links converging and
pivotally connected to the piston of one of a pair of opposed hydraulically
operated piston and cylinder assemblies whereby the links will be moved from a
mechanism includes a pair of opposed generally aligned hydraulic piston and
cylinder assemblies with the piston of each of the assemblies being connected to
a pair of links which move the opposed compacting members in a reciprocal
manner in relation to the compacting chambers.
A further object of the invention is to provide an earth block forming
machine in accordance with the preceding objects in which each of the
compaction chambers includes a vertically spaced inlet opening and outlet
opening in which the inlet openings are communicated with a supply bin for soil
to be compressed into a solid building block.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an earth block forming
machine in accordance with the preceding objects in which the inlets and outlets
are opened and closed by sliding plates actuated by hydraulically powered piston
and cylinder assemblies operated independently of the piston and cylinder
assemblies for reciprocating the compacting members.
Another significant object of this invention is to provide an earth block
forming machine that is hydraulically operated to compress soil at a very high
pressure until the soil becomes a solid building block with the soil to be
The objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent
reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter
described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRA WINGS
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the earth block forming machine of
the present invention illustrating the relationship of the components of the
machine.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine with the supply bin removed
illustrating the structural details of the components.
Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 1 with the supply
bin and piston and cylinder assemblies actuating the links being removed and
the rams in extended position.
Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view on an enlarged scale, of one side
wall of the compaction chamber and closure plates for the inlet and outlet.
Figure 5 is a transverse, sectional view on an enlarged scale, along
section line 5-5 illustrating further structural details of the hydraulically operated
mechanism for moving the compacting members and actuating the closure
plates for the inlet and outlet of the compaction chambers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention as
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of
clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific
embodiment illustrated and terms so selected; it being understood that each
specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner
to accomplish a similar purpose.
Referring specifically to the drawings, the earth block forming machine of
the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10, and
includes a vertically disposed supply bin 12 receiving a quantity of soil to be
compressed into solid earth blocks for use as building blocks in constructing any
suitable type of building, housing or the like. The earth block forming machine
includes a pair of opposed, horizontally disposed, aligned compaction chambers,
generally designated by reference numeral 14, each of which reciprocally
receives a compacting member or ram, generally designated by reference
numeral 16, that is reciprocated by a hydraulically powered assembly, generally
designated by reference numeral 18, with a mechanical leverage system,
generally designated by numeral 20, interconnecting the hydraulically powered
assembly 18 and the compacting members 16.
The supply bin 12 includes a peripheral wall 22 oriented vertically and
including an inverted V-shaped central baffle 24 which combines with the
generally rectangular peripheral wall 22 to define a pair of horizontally spaced,
vertically disposed soil discharge areas 26. Each of the compaction chambers 14
includes a pair of parallel side walls 28 oriented vertically and extending
horizontally in spaced parallel relation to each other as illustrated in Figure 2.
The side walls 28 are interconnected by an end wall 30 perpendicular to the side
walls 28 and rigidly fixed thereto as illustrated in Figures 1-3. The top of the
compaction chamber 14 includes an inlet opening 32 and the bottom of the
compaction chamber 14 includes an outlet opening 34. The openings 32 and 34
are vertically aligned with the inlet opening 32 being in communication with the
discharge area 26 for supplying soil 36 to be compressed into the compaction
chamber 14 so that the compacting member 16 can compact the soil into a solid
block that can be discharged from the outlet 34 after it has been compressed.
The vertical orientation of the inlet and outlet enables gravity flow of soil into the
compaction chamber 14 and gravity discharge of the blocks from the outlet 34 of
the compaction chamber onto a conveyor or other structure to collect the blocks
for use.
The top of the compaction chamber is closed by a sliding plate 38 and the
outlet 34 is closed by a sliding plate 40 which are horizontally received in and
guided by grooves 42 in the side plates 28 with the distal end of the plates being
received in grooves 50 in the end wall 30 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
Each of the compacting members or rams 16 includes a piston or ram 52
slidable in the compaction chamber between the side plates 28 and between the
closure plates 38 and 40 as illustrated in Figures 1-4. The piston 52 is connected
to an elongated rod or bar 54 that extends longitudinally of the structure defining
the compaction chambers 14 and centrally between longitudinal frame members
44 which interconnect the compaction chambers 14 and supports the bin 12. The
rods 54 are connected to the respective pistons 52 by a transverse pin or bolt 56.
The end of the rod 54 remote from the piston 52 is provided with a pair of
opposed lugs or brackets 58 rigid therewith with the brackets extending vertically
from the top and bottom of the rod 54 as illustrated in Figure 1. The brackets 58
are associated with the leverage system 20 in a manner to reciprocate the piston
52 upon actuation of the hydraulic assembly 18. The leverage system 20 is
oriented symmetrically above and below the longitudinal center of the earth block
forming machine in generally vertical alignment.
Each leverage system includes a pair of links 60 and 62. Each of the links
60 and 62 has a bifurcated end 63 pivotally connected to the brackets or lugs 56
by a pivot pin 64. The ends of the links 60 and 62 remote from the lugs 58 are
positioned in overlying relation to each other and are connected to a piston rod
66 extending from a hydraulic cylinder 68 by a pivot pin 70. The hydraulic
assembly illustrated includes a pair of hydraulically powered piston and cylinders
oriented in transverse, generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of
the compaction chambers 14 and the compacting members 16. As the piston
rods 66 are extended and retracted, the links 60 and 62 of each leverage system
20 will move from an outwardly converging acute angular relation as illustrated in
Figure 1 to a generally aligned relation as illustrated in Figure 3 thereby causing
the piston or ram 52 to move outwardly toward the end wall 30 of the compaction
chamber 14 to compress the soil 36 as illustrated in Figure 1 into a solid soil
block 72 as illustrated in Figure 3.
Each of the compression rods or bars 54 connected to the pistons or rams
52 has its inner end guided by a pair of opposed guide surfaces 74 supported
from frame 44 engaged by rollers 76 (see Figs. 3 and 5) journalled on the end of
an axle or shaft 56 rigid with the rod or bar 54. The rollers 76 engage the guide
surfaces 74 to guide and stabilize the end of the rod 54 remote from the piston
52 during its reciprocation between the positions illustrated in Figures 1 and 3
thus stabilizing the longitudinal movement of the bar 54 and maintaining the
piston 52 in appropriate alignment with the side walls 28 and the plates 38 and
40 for relative sliding movement of the piston 52 in the compaction chamber 14.
The hydraulic cylinders 68 are supported for pivotal movement by
trunnions 78 which extend outwardly and are journalled in sockets 80 (Figure 2)
in a side frame structure 46 extending from frame 44 which enables the piston
and cylinder assemblies to rock slightly or pivot slightly when the amount of soil
36 in one of the compaction chambers or molds 14 is greater than in the other,
thus enabling the soil in the opposed compaction chambers to be equally
compressed and enable the piston and cylinder assemblies to compensate for
the different volumes of soil in the compaction chambers.
When it is desired to adjust the spacing of the piston 52 in relation to the
end wall 30, an adjustable stopper 82 is provided to regulate the effective length
of extension of the piston rod 66 when pressure is supplied to the piston and
cylinder assembly.
The top plate 38 on each of the compaction chambers 14 has its inner
end connected to a piston rod 84. The piston rods 84 extend into a hydraulic
cylinder 86 with a piston on the inner end of each piston rod in a conventional
manner so that when pressure is supplied to or exhausted from the cylinder 86,
the plates 38 will be moved outwardly simultaneously to the closed position or
inwardly to an open position by being moved inwardly toward each other.
Likewise, the bottom plates 40 which close the outlet 34 are connected to piston
rods 88 which are received in a cylinder 90 with the pistons in the cylinder 90
being extended or retracted as the hydraulic pressure is supplied to or exhausted
from the cylinder 90 in a well known manner. This structure enables the closure
plates 38 and 40 to be operated in a manner to open the upper plates 38 after
compacted blocks have been discharged and the bottom plates 40 closed. This
will admit the soil 36 into the compaction chambers after which the upper plates
38 are closed and the pistons or rams 52 are moved outwardly to compress and
compact the block 72. After compaction, the bottom plates 40 are retracted
along with the piston or ram 52 so that the compacted block 72 will be
discharged by gravity onto a conveyor to move the finished block to a position of
use or storage. The bottom plates 40 are then closed and the top plates 38
opened while the piston 52 remains retracted so that soil can fill the compaction
chamber by gravity after which the top plates 38 are closed and the pistons 52
extended and moved toward the end plates 30 for compacting the blocks.
In this machine which is hydraulically operated, the soil will be
compressed at a very high pressure until it becomes a solid block. The machine
is symmetrical, excluding the bin 12, with respect to the common axis of the
vertically oriented cylinders 68 and about the longitudinal axis of the compaction
chambers 14 and the path of movement of the compacting members 16. In
Figure 1, the earth block forming machine is at the beginning of the cycle with
the cylinder 86 retracting the plates 38 thus permitting the soil in the bin to fall
onto the bottom plates 40 which are in closed position. When the compaction
chamber or mold is filled with soil, the top plates 38 are returned to their closed
position and the piston rods 66 are moved towards each other with the pins 70
also moving towards each other. The ends of the links 60 and 62 connected to
the lugs 58 are moved away from each other in a horizontal direction with the
pistons 52 thus being moved outwardly by the piston rods or bars 54. The
illustration in Figure 3 shows the final position of the components when the soil
has been compacted into earth blocks 72. After the earth blocks have been
compressed, the plates 40 and pistons or rams 52 are retracted after a small
time delay and as the plates 40 are fully retracted, the blocks drop onto a
conveyor and are removed. In asmuch as it is difficult to have exactly the same
amount of soil in each of the compaction chambers or molds and to exert the
exactly the same hydraulic pressure on each of the vertical cylinders, the vertical
cylinders 68 are trunnion mounted on pin 78. This allows the cylinders 68 to
oscillate and the pins 70 to move arcuately horizontally to compensate for the
different volumes of soil in the compaction chambers depending upon the
quantity of the soil. Also depending upon the quality of the soil, the distance of
the piston 52 and its adjacency to the end plate 30 of the compaction chamber
can be changed by use of the adjustable stopper 82 which regulates the rod
reaction of the vertical hydraulic cylinders 68.
When the piston rods 66 of hydraulic cylinders 68 reach their maximum
extension, the position of the links 60, 62 is almost horizontal, about 5° from
horizontal alignment as illustrated in Figure 3. The force P of the hydraulic
cylinders have two equal components: T is transmitted to the piston rods or bars
54 by means of the pins 64. The horizontal component of force component T is
H. H compresses the soil in the mold. Note that the total force compressing the
soil in the compaction chamber 14 is 2H. The vertical component of force
component T is V acting on pin 64 of the top links is elided by the vertical
component V of the force component T acting on the lower links.
The movement of piston rod or bar 54 is restrained along a horizontal axis
by guide rollers 76.
V = T • sina, where a is the angle formed by the link with horizontal.
Also, P/2 = H • tana.
When forming a 12" X 10" X 4" block or brick, the required force 2H to
produce a pressure of 3,000 psi is 144,000 lbs. Therefore, H is 72,000 lbs.
P = 2 • 72,000 • tana = 144,000 tan 5° = 12,598 lbs.
A 6" bore hydraulic cylinder has a cross-sectional area of: 28.26 in2. The
pressure to generate above load is:
P = 12,598 / 28.26 = 446 psi
A 5" bore hydraulic cylinder has a cross-sectional area of 19.625 in2. and
P = 12,598/19.625 = 692 psi
A 4" bore hydraulic cylinder has a cross-sectional area of 12.56 in2 and
P = 12,589 / 12.56 = 1002.3 psi
Theoretically there is no vertical force on piston rod or bar 54, making its
motion easy. The size of the selected hydraulic cylinder is a 5" bore. Since a 750
psi hydraulic fluid pressure is used, the load required is easily obtained.
The machine is perfectly symmetric with respect to the hydraulic cylinder
axes and includes a left side mold and a right side mold. The soil enters the mold
or soil chambers by gravity through the discharge areas 26 in bin 12. The
compression is done by the rams or pistons 52, which are connected to the
compressing bars 54. When the hydraulic cylinders 68 extend the piston rods 66
and the link ends 63 move outwardly in opposite directions, the two soil
compressing rams or pistons 52 move in the same direction. The soil is
compressed up to 3000 psi and becomes solid as rams or pistons 52 reach the
end of their travel.
To remove the blocks 72, the bottom plates 40 are slid inward, allowing
the block to fall on a belt conveyor (not shown). The pistons 52 move inward at
the same time. When the lower plates 40 closes the outlet and the hydraulic
cylinders 86 and piston rods 84 retract and top plates 38 retract inwardly, leaving
an opening for the soil to drop onto the lower plates 40. the position of the top
plate controls the soil quantity needed to form the right size block.
The compressing bar 54 is guided in its motion by two opposed guide
surfaces 74 and two rollers 76. The high compression load on the soil is reached
when the links 60 and 62 reach an almost horizontal position as shown in Figure
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur
to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
WE CLAIM:
1. An earth block forming machine (10) comprising a pair of aligned opposed
molds (14) oppositely oriented in spaced relation, each of said molds (14) having an inner
open end and an outer closed end (30), compacting members (16) reciprocably mounted in
said molds, each of said molds (14) having an inlet (32) for soil (36) and an outlet (34) for a
compressed earth block (72), said inlet and outlet being in aligned vertically spaced relation
for gravity flow of soil into the mold (14) and gravity discharge of compressed earth blocks, an
openable closure (38) for said inlet (32), an openable closure (40) for said outlet (34), a
hydraulically actuated power structure (18) oriented generally between said molds (14), said
power structure (18) being connected to each of said compacting members (16) through said
inner open end by a force increasing leverage system (20) providing force to said
compacting members.
2. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said openable
closures (38) for the inlet and outlet for each mold (14) is a reciprocably sliding plate (40),
said plates being movable between an open position and a closed position by linear
movement generally parallel to the movement of the compacting members.
3. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of
said plates (40) is connected to a piston (84, 88) and cylinder (86, 90) for
movement between said open and closed positions.
4. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
leverage system (20) connected to each compacting member (16) comprises a
pair of diverging links (60, 62) having proximal ends connected to said power
structure (18), said links having their distal ends (63) spaced apart and pivotally
connected to said compacting members (16), said power structure (18) moving
said proximal ends of said links toward a position aligned with the distal ends
when the power. structure exerts force on said links (60, 62) to move the
compacting members toward the closed ends (30) of the molds (14) to compact
soil into compressed blocks (72).
5. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
power structure (18) comprises a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and
cylinder assemblies (68) oriented in opposed generally aligned relation, each of
said piston and cylinder assemblies having a piston rod (66) pivotally connected
to the proximal ends of a pair of diverging links (60, 62) with extension and
retraction of the piston rods (66) causing reciprocation of the compacting
members (16).
6. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of
said pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies (68) is operated by
hydraulic pressure.
7. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
piston and cylinder assemblies (65) are aligned and mounted for pivotal
movement about an axis transverse to the piston and cylinder assemblies (68)
to enable arcuate movement of the connection between said piston rods (66)
and said links (60, 62).
8. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
openable closures (38) for the inlet and outlet for each mold is a reciprocably
sliding plate (40), said plates (40) being movable between open and closed
positions by linear movement generally parallel to the movement of the
compacting members.
9. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of
said plates (40) is connected to a piston (84, 88) and cylinder (86, 90) for
movement between said open and closed positions.
10. A hydraulically powered earth block forming machine (10) comprising a
generally vertical soil supply bin (12), a generally horizontally disposed
compaction chamber (14) below said bin and in communication therewith for
gravity flow of soil (36) from said bin (12) into the compaction chamber (14), a
movable plate (40) defining an upper wall for said compaction chamber (14) and
selectively closing a flow path for soil into the compaction chamber, a
reciprocable ram (16) mounted in said compaction chamber (14) for
compressing soil in the compaction chamber into an earth block (72), said
compaction chamber (14) having an openable and closeable outlet (34) for
discharge of compressed earth blocks (72) from the compaction chamber, an
actuating bar (54) connected to said ram, a linkage mechanism (20) connected
to said actuating bar (54), a piston rod (66) and cylinder (68) mounted in
generally perpendicular relation to said actuating bar, said piston rod (66) being
pivotally connected to and actuating said linkage mechanism (20), said linkage
mechanism comprising a link (60) movable between a position substantially in
alignment with the actuating bar (54) when the piston rod (66) is extended to
exert maximum force on the ram (16) to move the ram to soil compressing
position and a position in acute angular relation to the path of movement of the
actuating bar (54) when the piston rod (66) is retracted to move the ram (16) to
retracted position.
11. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein a
support frame (44) rigidly supports said compaction chamber (14), said frame
having guide means (74) engaging said actuating bar (54) in spaced relation to
said compaction chamber (14) to maintain straight line movement of said
actuating bar and its connection to said link (60).
12. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said actuating bar (54) is provided with a roller (76) on the end thereof remote
from said ram (16), said guide means (74) comprising a guide surface (74) on
said frame (44) engaged by said roller.
13. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
outlet (34) is located below said ram (16), a movable plate (40) selectively
opening and closing said outlet to enable gravity discharge of compressed earth
blocks (72).
14. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
movable plates (40) are reciprocably mounted in the compaction chamber (16)
for movement parallel to the ram (16), and a hydraulically operated piston (84,
88) and cylinder (86, 90) is connected to said reciprocable plates (40) for
movement independent of each other and independent of the ram.
15. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein a
support frame (44) rigidly supports said compaction chamber (14), said frame
(44) having guide means (74) engaging said actuating bar (54) in spaced relation
to said compaction chamber to maintain straight line movement of said actuating
bar and its connection to said link (60).
16. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein said
actuating bar (54) is provided with a roller (76) on the end thereof remote from
said ram (16), said guide means comprising a guide surface (74) on said frame
(44) engaged by said roller.
17. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 10, comprising a
second compaction chamber (14), a second ram (16) and a second actuating
bar (54) oriented in opposed relation to said compaction chamber, ram and
actuating bar, said second compaction chamber being in communication with
said bin (12), a second movable plate (40) defining an upper wall for said second
compaction chamber and selectively closing a flow path from said bin (12) to
said second compaction chamber (14), said second compaction chamber having
an openable and closeable outlet (34) for discharge of compressed earth blocks,
said linkage mechanism (20) comprising a second link (62) with one end pivotally
connected to said second actuating bar (54), said piston (66) being pivotally
connected to an opposite end of said second link (62) to move said links (60,
62) from acute angular relation to each other to substantially aligned relation for
increasing force exerted on the opposed rams (16) as the links (60, 62) approach
aligned relation.
18. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said bin
is provided with an inverted V-shaped baffle (24) defining a pair of discharge
areas associated independently with said compaction chambers (14).
19. The earth block forming machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein an
additional piston rod (66) and cylinder (68) is mounted in opposed relation to the
piston rod (66) and cylinder (68) as claimed in claim 17, said second piston rod
(66) being pivotally connected to said second link (62) pivotally connected to said
actuating bars (54), said links (60, 62) connected to said piston rods (66) being
moved between acute angular relation and generally aligned relation with the
force exerted on the rams (16) increasing as the links (60, 62) approach aligned
relation.
20. A hydraulically powered earth block forming machine comprising a
generally vertical soil supply bin (12), a generally horizontally disposed
compaction chamber (14) below said bin and in communication therewith for
gravity flow of soil (36) from the bin (12) into the compaction chamber (14), a
movable plate (40) defining an upper wall for said compaction chamber (14) and
selectively closing a flow path for soil into the compaction chamber, a
reciprocable ram (16) mounted in said compaction chamber (14) for
compressing soil (36) in the compaction chamber into an earth block (72), said
compaction chamber (14) having an openable and closeable outlet (34) for
discharge of compressed earth blocks from the compaction chamber, an
actuating member (54) connected to said ram (16), a leverage mechanism (20)
connected to said actuating member, a hydraulically actuated piston (66) and
cylinder (68) assembly connected to said leverage mechanism (20) with the
force exerted on the ram (16) increasing as the leverage mechanism is actuated.
21. An earth block forming machine, substantially as herein described,
particularly with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
There is disclosed an earth block forming machine (10) comprising a pair of aligned
opposed molds (14) oppositely oriented in spaced relation, each of said molds (14) having
an inner open end and an outer closed end (30), compacting members (16) reciprocably
mounted in said molds, each of said molds (14) having an inlet (32) for soil (36) and an
outlet (34) for a compressed earth block (72), said inlet and outlet being in aligned vertically
spaced relation for gravity flow of soil into the mold (14) and gravity discharge of compressed
earth blocks, an openable closure (38) for said inlet (32), an openable closure (40) for said
outlet (34), a hydraulically actuated power structure (18) oriented generally between said
molds (14), said power structure (18) being connected to each of said compacting members
(16) through said inner open end by a force increasing leverage system (20) providing force
to said compacting members.

Documents:

00362-cal-1998-abstract.pdf

00362-cal-1998-assignment.pdf

00362-cal-1998-claims.pdf

00362-cal-1998-correspondence.pdf

00362-cal-1998-description (complete).pdf

00362-cal-1998-drawings.pdf

00362-cal-1998-form 1.pdf

00362-cal-1998-form 13.pdf

00362-cal-1998-form 2.pdf

00362-cal-1998-form 3.pdf

00362-cal-1998-form 5.pdf

00362-cal-1998-gpa.pdf

00362-cal-1998-letter patent.pdf

00362-cal-1998-priority document.pdf

00362-cal-1998-reply f.e.r.pdf

362-CAL-1998-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

362-CAL-1998-FORM 27.pdf


Patent Number 211053
Indian Patent Application Number 362/CAL/1998
PG Journal Number 42/2007
Publication Date 19-Oct-2007
Grant Date 16-Oct-2007
Date of Filing 06-Mar-1998
Name of Patentee EARTH- BLOCK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
Applicant Address 7150 S.W. 62ND AVENUE , SUITE 103, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33143, USA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 OSCAR PRONI 4501, MONROE STREET, HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA 33021, USA.
PCT International Classification Number B28B 3/06
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 08/814,786 1997-03-10 U.S.A.