Open Mould External Closure for Reinforcement Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing molds for manufacturing profiled elements with protruding reinforcements are prone to variable quality due to concrete residue buildup, require complex and costly mechanisms for closure, and suffer from premature aging, leading to high maintenance and replacement costs.
Innovation Solution
A mold with fixed walls and external closure means that eliminate direct contact with concrete and formwork oils, featuring a rigid bottom and movable or fixed sealing members to ensure precise positioning and reproducibility of seam reinforcements, suitable for mechanized or automated industrial processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rubber bottom mold is used to receive protruding reinforcement, then the mold is easy to manufacture, but the depth becomes variable due to concrete residues and quality is random
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is divided into two distinct parts: a fixed formwork structure and a separate closure means assembly. This segmentation allows the formwork to maintain its geometric stability while the closure means can be independently positioned and secured, preventing concrete residue from affecting the overall depth measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure means is extracted from the formwork structure and arranged externally. This separation eliminates the direct contact between the closure mechanism and concrete residues, ensuring that the closure position remains consistent and the depth measurement is not compromised by contaminated surfaces.
2Reliability
If a closure seal inside the mold is used to close the bottom tightly, then sealing is improved, but the mechanism becomes complex, bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The closure means is extracted from the internal cavity and arranged externally on the formwork. This external arrangement eliminates the need for complex internal actuation mechanisms while maintaining effective sealing through the external closure means that directly contacts the protruding reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the closure mechanism inside the mold cavity and actuating it from within, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the closure means outside the formwork. This inversion simplifies the mechanism by eliminating the need for internal actuation systems while achieving the same sealing function.
3Manufacturing precision
If mold bottoms are periodically removed for cleaning, then quality consistency is maintained, but the operation becomes restrictive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The closure means is extracted from the formwork and arranged externally, creating a design where the formwork itself does not require frequent removal for cleaning. The external closure means can be easily accessed and maintained without dismantling the entire formwork structure, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention design allows the formwork to be retained and reused without requiring periodic removal for cleaning. The external closure means can be easily removed and replaced if needed, while the formwork structure itself maintains its integrity and can be recovered for continued use, improving overall productivity.
4Reliability
If closure seals are used in opening molds, then sealing is improved, but the seals wear out quickly under form oils and heating cycles requiring periodic replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The closure means is extracted from the internal environment and arranged externally on the formwork. This external positioning protects the closure means from direct exposure to form oils and heating cycles within the mold cavity, significantly extending its service life while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The external arrangement of the closure means creates a protective interface between the sealing element and the harsh internal environment. The closure means acts as an intermediary that maintains sealing function while being protected from the degrading effects of form oils and thermal cycling, extending its operational duration.
Data Source
Figure 1~2C
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
The mould (10), suitable for mounting on a fixed bench or a carousel unit, consists of at least one shuttering assembly (11) with side walls, and a base with a slot for projecting reinforcing members. It differs in having a closer (30) for each of the slots, located outside the shuttering and having a seal element (31, 31') that interacts with a thrust element (32) on the opposite side of the slot. The closers, which are in the form of brushes or blades, are mobile and connected to actuators (50) with lever arms (51) and links (52) coupled e.g. to rotary shafts.