Concrete Control Fitting for Segregation-Free Formwork Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling formwork in construction often result in poor quality concrete due to discontinuous filling and segregation, especially when a placing boom is not available, leading to suboptimal compaction and surface quality.
Innovation Solution
A control fitting system with a housing, inlet, outlet, and passage connections, featuring a movable piston that allows for continuous filling of formwork with liquid concrete, ensuring uniform quality and preventing segregation, by connecting multiple horizontal lines that can be controlled independently to manage the flow and compaction of concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If concrete buckets are used for discontinuous filling, then the formwork can be filled without a placing boom, but the concrete quality deteriorates due to segregation and poor compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery line is divided into multiple horizontal lines arranged one above the other, with each line equipped with its own control fitting. This segmentation allows the formwork to be filled in controlled sections, maintaining concrete quality while enabling continuous filling without a placing boom.
Solution Approach 2:
Control fittings act as intermediary devices between the liquid concrete pump and the formwork. These fittings with their pistons and passages enable controlled delivery of concrete to specific locations in the formwork, replacing the function of a placing boom while maintaining concrete quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If concrete buckets are used for transport, then formwork filling is possible, but production speed is reduced due to discontinuous filling
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous filling of the formwork through multiple horizontal delivery lines that can operate simultaneously. The liquid concrete pump continuously delivers concrete through the controlled passages, eliminating the discontinuous filling associated with bucket transport and significantly increasing production speed.
3Manufacturing precision
If a placing boom is used for continuous filling, then concrete quality is maintained, but the system becomes complex and less adaptable to certain formwork configurations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex placing boom, the system segments the delivery function into multiple simpler horizontal lines with control fittings. Each control fitting is a simple piston-based device, making the overall system less complex while maintaining the ability to achieve uniform concrete placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control fittings serve as simple intermediary devices that replace the complex placing boom mechanism. These fittings use basic piston and passage geometry to achieve controlled concrete delivery, reducing system complexity while maintaining concrete quality through controlled, continuous filling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, uniform filling of formwork without segregation or air inclusion, improving the quality and speed of concrete production, even over large heights, and allowing for the production of high-quality exposed concrete surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
liquid concrete fed into the housing under pressure via the inlet socket
Implementation Method 2
the piston sealingly engaging in the outlet connection in its closed position and being pulled out of it in its open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a control fitting (10) for high-viscosity materials, in particular for liquid concrete. The control fitting (10) comprises a housing (14) having an inlet port (16), an outlet port (18), and a through-port (20) in which a control member (22) is disposed. One feature of the control fitting (10) is that the outlet port (18) communicates with the inlet port (16) in an open position of the control member (22), and is blocked off from the inlet port (16) in a closed position of the control member (22), and that the through-port (20) communicates with the inlet port (16) in both the open position and the closed position of the control member (22). The control fitting (10) according to the invention is preferably used in an arrangement for introducing high-viscosity material, in particular liquid concrete, into a formwork (36) that is delimited by at least one formwork wall (34). To this end, a feed line (12) connected on the inlet side to a high-viscosity material pump is disposed on the outside of the formwork wall (34), comprising at least one horizontal strand (48', 48"). At least one control fitting (10) is coupled into the at least one horizontal strand (48', 48") with the inlet port (16) and the through-port (20) of said control fitting, the outlet port (18) thereof opening into the formwork (36) through an opening (28) in the formwork wall (34).