Concrete Pump Rate Control Under Curing and Formwork Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual control of concrete pump delivery rates in construction is prone to errors, leading to potential formwork damage, safety risks, and increased construction time due to unpredictable quality fluctuations from material and environmental factors.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine a permissible rate of rise for filling formwork based on material and environmental parameters, using sensors to measure static filling pressure and calculate the optimal delivery rate for the concrete pump, ensuring controlled filling speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the concrete pump delivery rate is increased to reduce construction time, then productivity improves, but the risk of formwork damage and safety incidents increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction timeVSAvoidformwork safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the fill level in the formwork arrangement using sensors and automatically adjusts the concrete pump delivery rate based on real-time feedback. When the formwork approaches its maximum fill level, the system reduces or stops the delivery rate to prevent overloading, while maintaining high productivity during safe filling phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The concrete pump delivery rate is dynamically adjusted during the concreting process rather than maintaining a constant rate. The system varies the delivery rate based on real-time conditions such as formwork fill level, concrete placement rate, and environmental factors, optimizing both safety and productivity throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the concrete pump delivery rate is manually controlled to ensure formwork safety, then reliability improves, but productivity decreases due to conservative filling speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformwork safetyVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of the concrete pump delivery rate without requiring continuous manual intervention. Sensors automatically detect formwork fill level and concrete properties, and the control system autonomously optimizes the delivery rate to maintain safety while maximizing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical control of the concrete pump by the driver is replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and processors to monitor and adjust the delivery rate. This substitution eliminates human error and conservatism, enabling both high safety standards and optimal productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If environmental factors such as temperature are not considered, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to unpredictable concrete setting behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidconcrete quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors and responds to changes in environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and wind conditions that affect concrete setting behavior. Based on these parameter changes, the system automatically adjusts the concrete pump delivery rate and curing processes to maintain consistent concrete quality regardless of environmental variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3946866B1Computer-aided method and device for optimized control of the delivery rate of a concrete pump or the like
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 PERI GMBH
  • EP3946866B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3946866B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3946866B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the delivery rate (PQ) of a concrete pump (1) for filling a formwork arrangement (2) with a pumpable filling compound (3) in dependence on curing-relevant material and ambient parameters (RST), in accordance with which the placed filling compound (3) sets within the formwork arrangement (2), comprising the following steps: - determining an admissible rate of rise (vSZ) for the filling of the formwork arrangement (2) with the filling compound (3) on the basis of the material and ambient parameters (RST), - measuring the static filling compound pressure (pF) acting on the formwork arrangement (2) during the filling, - calculating the admissible delivery rate (PQ) of the concrete pump (1) in dependence on the determined admissible rate of rise (vSZ) and the measured static filling compound pressure (pF) of the formwork arrangement (2).