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EP0619773B1 - Method and device for manufacturing construction blocks from a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand, and water - Google Patents

Method and device for manufacturing construction blocks from a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand, and water Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0619773B1
EP0619773B1 EP92911263A EP92911263A EP0619773B1 EP 0619773 B1 EP0619773 B1 EP 0619773B1 EP 92911263 A EP92911263 A EP 92911263A EP 92911263 A EP92911263 A EP 92911263A EP 0619773 B1 EP0619773 B1 EP 0619773B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mold
mixture
plates
station
block
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP92911263A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0619773A1 (en
Inventor
Jean Brouard
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BROUARD, JEAN
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Individual
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B5/00—Producing shaped articles from the material in moulds or on moulding surfaces, carried or formed by, in or on conveyors irrespective of the manner of shaping
    • B28B5/04—Producing shaped articles from the material in moulds or on moulding surfaces, carried or formed by, in or on conveyors irrespective of the manner of shaping in moulds moved in succession past one or more shaping stations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B17/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for shaping the material; Auxiliary measures taken in connection with such shaping
    • B28B17/0063—Control arrangements
    • B28B17/0081—Process control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
    • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
    • B28B3/00—Producing shaped articles from the material by using presses; Presses specially adapted therefor

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a device. for manufacturing building blocks by molding under high pressure of a mixture of a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand and water.
  • a hydraulic binder such as plaster
  • an inert filler such as sand and water.
  • This process involves molding under high pressure the mixture of plaster, sand and water for a sufficient time, of the order of 2 to 3 mn, corresponding to the hydration under pressure of the plaster which results in an upset expansion of the plaster to inside the mold, as well as by densification and a reorientation of its crystal lattice.
  • the building blocks thus obtained have remarkable characteristics: a compressive strength much greater than 100 kg / cm 2 , a hardness equivalent to that of soft stone, good resistance to humidity and frost, and dimensional accuracy of the order of 1/10 th of a millimeter, which allows them to be mounted directly on top of each other without the interposition of traditional joints between the blocks.
  • the present invention relates to improvements important to the process and the device mentioned above, which further improve the characteristics of the aforementioned building blocks, standardize their quality and reduce their price by come back.
  • the invention provides for this purpose a method of manufacture of building blocks from a mixture a hydraulic binder such as plaster, a inert filler such as sand and water, the binder hydraulic increasing volume during its hydration and the above mixture being molded under pressure for a sufficient time to obtain a hydration under pressure of the hydraulic binder and a densification of its crystal lattice, the process consisting in placing a metered quantity of the mixture in a mold with non-deformable side walls and trays horizontal upper and lower movable in vertical translation in the mold with little play with respect to the side walls, characterized in that it then involves slowly moving at least one of trays towards the inside of the mold on successive strokes pre-determined to tamp the mixture to inside the mold, then to give a height predefined to the block to be obtained by compressing gradually mix in the mold, to keep in places said trays for the aforementioned time hydration of the hydraulic binder by resisting its volume expansion and then to rule out one of trays to unmold the block by moving the
  • the slow compression of the mixture placed in the mold has the effect, successively, of packing the mixture in the mold by reducing its expansion, to drive out the air in the mixture and speed up wetting of the mixture thanks to the pressurization of the water, to drive out out of the mold a possible excess of water compared to the amount of water just necessary for the hydration of the plaster, and precisely define the height (or dimension ink horizontal mold trays) of building block to be obtained. Maintaining mold trays, in the position they occupy at the end of the compression phase, keeps this height during the next phase, which is a phase pressure hydration and thwarted expansion of plaster in the mold.
  • the building blocks thus produced have well-defined dimensions and compressive strength which is at least equal to a predetermined value.
  • this method also consists in detecting the increase in pressure in the mold resulting from thwarted expansion of the hydraulic binder, to define the end of the upset expansion time in the mold and unmold the building block, when this pressure has reached a predetermined value.
  • this predetermined value of the pressure in the mold will only correspond to around 70-90% complete hydration of the hydraulic binder in the mold, so as to reduce the effort required for the demoulding of building blocks and wear of mussels.
  • the invention also provides a device for carrying out this process, comprising a mold non-deformable vertical walls and horizontal plates upper and lower, which are movable in translation in the mold with a small clearance compared to the walls vertical, means for positioning the plate lower in the mold, means for filling the mold by a metered amount of the above mixture, means of positioning the upper plate in the mold, at least one hydraulic press for moving minus one of the trays inside the mold for pack the mixture in the mold and compress it under high pressure to the desired block height at obtain means for removing at least one of the trays of the mold, and demolding means with hydraulic cylinder to remove the block from the mold, characterized in that the press is commanded to slowly move the aforementioned plates inside the mold on races predetermined successions of compaction and compression and in that the device comprises means independent of the press to keep the trays in the mold during the expansion of the binder hydraulic resulting from its hydration.
  • the device can also include means for detecting the increase in pressure of the mixture in the mold, resulting from thwarted expansion of the hydraulic binder.
  • At least the upper tray of the mold includes an oblique rim on at least part from the periphery of its contact face with the mixture in the mold, to form a chamfer (continuous or discontinuous) on at least part of the peripheral edge top of the building block.
  • This chamfer avoids the risks cracking or bursting of the upper peripheral edge of the building block, when the plates of the mold are released at the end of the expansion phase upset, before demolding.
  • the hydraulic press includes upper plates and lower between which the mold is placed and which are connected by a mechanical transmission specific to positively define a determined distance between the press plates, corresponding to the desired height of the building block, and to ensure parallelism of these trays.
  • the invention makes it possible to automate reliably and safely the manufacturing process building blocks, improve and standardize their quality, and very significantly increase their production rate.
  • the building block that was represented in Figures 1 to 3 is substantially identical to that which has been described in the International Application WO 88/03916 and is of rectangular parallelepipedal ton, with dimensions which are for example 15cm x 15cm x 30 cm.
  • the invention allows also the manufacture of blocks having shapes and dimensions different.
  • the upper face 12 of this block has protrusions 14 of low height, square or circular in shape for example.
  • the underside 16 of the block includes a cavity 18 of a relatively large volume (of the order of 30% of the total volume for example), which spans a certain height inside block 10 and the outlet of which on the underside 16 of the block is delimited by longitudinal 20 and transverse 22 edges which define housings of projections 14 on the upper face from another block.
  • the lower face 16 of the block comprises a longitudinal groove or channel 24 extending along its entire length, which communicates with the cavity 18 and which opens at one of its longitudinal ends in a vertical groove 26 formed over the entire height of the block, in one of its vertical end faces.
  • the blocks 10 are intended to be placed on top of each other and next to each other, being all oriented in the same direction, to form a wall with horizontal rows of blocks in which the blocks are offset from each other by half a length from one row to another.
  • Relatively liquid plaster is poured twice into the vertical grooves 26 to partially fill the cavities 18 of the blocks covering the projections 14 of the upper faces lower blocks and then to fill the vertical grooves 26.
  • a chamfer 28 is formed on at least part of the edges peripherals of the upper and lower sides of the block of construction. Identical chamfers can also be formed on the vertical edges of the block.
  • Figures 4 and 5 schematically represent a mold used for the manufacture of the block shown in Figures 1 to 3.
  • This mold has four vertical walls 30 steel, which are rigidly assembled together, of preferably by bolts 32 and which are positioned relative to each other by means of centering pins 34 to precisely define the length and width of the molding cavity, with a tolerance dimensional of the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter.
  • the internal faces of the vertical walls 30 are ground to be perfectly smooth and flat.
  • One of the vertical walls 30, forming one of the small vertical end faces of the mold has on all its height a vertical projection 36 of semi-cylindrical shape intended to form the vertical groove 26 of the block of construction to be obtained.
  • the vertical walls 30 of the mold have a height greater than that of the block to be obtained, so as to receive between them the upper plate 38 and the plate lower 40 of the mold.
  • the vertical walls 30 of the mold will have a height of between 25 and 30 cm approximately.
  • the mold trays are rectangular plates made of steel, sized to be movable by vertical translation inside the mold, with a small clearance of a few tenths of a millimeter with respect to the vertical walls.
  • internal faces of the vertical walls 30 form with the vertical a low draft angle of around 0.5 ° to facilitate demoulding of the building block.
  • the underside of the upper plate 38 of the mold has two small cavities 42, the shapes of which correspond to those of the projections 14 on the upper face of the building block to be obtained, and a ledge oblique peripheral 44 for forming the chamfer 28 of the block to get.
  • This oblique edge can only be provided on part of the periphery of the underside of the tray 38.
  • a small vertical face of the tray 38 has a corresponding semi-cylindrical groove to the vertical projection 36.
  • the upper face of the lower plate 40 carries a core 46 intended to form the cavity 18 and the channel longitudinal 24 in the underside of the block to be obtained.
  • a small vertical face of this tray 40 and of the core 46 has a semi-cylindrical vertical groove, intended to receive the vertical projection 36 of the corresponding side wall 30 of the mold.
  • the upper edge of the plate 40 also has a peripheral rim oblique formation of the aforementioned chamfer 28 of the building block. As before, this ledge oblique can be planned only on part of the periphery of the plate 40.
  • At least one of the large vertical walls 30 of the mold easily attached to other walls by any suitable means, including for example hinges and / or locking levers. Withdrawal of this large wall 30 of the mold can facilitate the demoulding of the building block.
  • this wall 30 may be intended to receive on its internal face a plate of any suitable material intended for form a facade cladding on the building block.
  • FIG. 6 The different positions of a manufacturing device of a building block according to the invention have have been shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6.
  • the first station of the device according to the invention is a mold filling station 50.
  • the mold 50 rests on a support surface 52, which can be part means of transfer of the molds between the different manufacturing device positions.
  • the lower tray 40 of the mold is also carried by this surface support 52, so as to occupy a position defined at inside the mold.
  • Means 54 allow dumping inside the mold a metered amount of a mixture 56 of a hydraulic binder such as plaster, a inert filler such as sand, and water.
  • the means 54 of this mixture are advantageously designed to also carry out the humidification of a dry mixture of plaster and sand with an amount of water that will be noticeably equal or slightly greater than the quantity of water necessary for the optimal compactness of the mixture (this quantity of water being greater than that necessary hydration of the plaster).
  • the mold is then transferred to the next station, designated by reference B, where the upper plate 38 of the mold is placed in the mold and rests on the mixture 56 of plaster, sand and water.
  • one or other of the A stations and B or both stations can include a vibrating table allowing to carry out an early compaction of the mixture 56 in the mold, an evacuation of the occluded air and better wetting.
  • the next station basically includes a two-wheel hydraulic press movable horizontal plates 58 and 60 between which is placed the mold 50.
  • One or more hydraulic cylinders 62 allow to move the press plates, for example in synchronism, in opposite directions to bring them together and to separate them from each other.
  • the piston rods of the cylinders 62 are supported on the upper plate 58 of the press while their cylinders are carried by a horizontal plate 64 movable in vertical translation and connected by tie rods 66 to the lower plate 60 of the press.
  • the tie rods 66 ensure the obtaining and maintaining the desired distance between the trays of the mold, and are the seat of tension forces that we can measure to check the proper execution of the process.
  • the upper plate 58 of the press applies on the upper plate 38 of the mold while the vertical walls 30 and the lower plate 40 of the mold rest on the lower plate 60 of the hurry.
  • the distance between mold trays 38 and 40, corresponding to the height desired of the block to be obtained, is preferably defined by positively by a mechanical transmission connecting between them the plates 58 and 60 of the press and ensuring their parallelism.
  • station D can include for example means 68 for supporting the mold and the lower plate 40, and support means on the upper plate 38, these means which may be of the mechanical type, for example levers 70 rotatably mounted on a support 72, and / or of the hydraulic type, for example jacks 74 carried by the support 72.
  • the mold 50 is kept at station D for a period sufficient for hydration of the plaster to occur at around 70-90% inside the mold 50. This period can vary from 1.5 to 5 minutes approximately, depending the temperature, type and quantity of plaster used, and the degree of hydration of the plaster that is to be obtained under pressure.
  • the increase in pressure in the mold 50, which results from the contrared expansion of the plaster, can be very significant and reach values of the order of 100 kg / cm 2 .
  • the support means 70, 74 will therefore have a sufficient strength to resist the pressure exerted on the upper plate 38 of the mold.
  • the pressure inside the mold is detected by appropriate means, so that what the support means 70, 74 release the upper plate 38 of the mold as soon as this pressure has reached a predetermined value.
  • Hydraulic cylinders can also be fitted 74 of a pressure relief valve, so that the pressure inside the mold 50 cannot exceed one predetermined value.
  • a means 76 for measuring the pressure in a jack 74 there is shown diagrammatically at station D a means 76 for measuring the pressure in a jack 74, this means 76 being associated with a means 78 actuator.
  • the support means 70, 74 on the upper plate 38 of the mold are separated and the mold is transferred to the next station designated by the reference E, where the upper plate 38 of the mold is removed.
  • the mold is then transferred to the next station, designated by the reference F and which is a position of demoulding.
  • the vertical walls 30 of the mold are immobilized between stops, and one or more hydraulic cylinders 80 exert a significant force on the lower plate 40, to push it upwards and allow the extraction of the block 82 by means 84 for taking and transfer, the block 82 being manipulable and usable as soon as it leaves the mold.
  • the force provided by the jack or jacks 80 can be very large (for example of the order of 100 kg / cm 2 ) over a short stroke, after which the vertical clearance of the faces 30 facilitates movement towards the top of the lower plate 40.
  • the position held the longest by molds is station D where thwarted expansion occurs plaster for a period between 1.5 and 5 mn approximately.
  • the device according to the invention can therefore include several of these stations, arranged to be movable on a path of determined length between the station C and station E, for example by means of a carousel including ten D stations, not turning at not between station C and station E.
  • the entire system can also be present in the form of a rotating carousel between posts A, C and F, and comprising a certain number of D stations, as well as means for installing and removing upper covers 38 of the molds.
  • the production rate is therefore not limited by the duration of operations at station C, which is about fifteen seconds, and can therefore reach 200 blocks / hour approximately.
  • the device according to the invention includes only the stations A, C and F, the upper plate 38 of the mold then being permanently fixed under the upper plate 58 of the press.
  • the compaction operations of the mixture in the mold, compacting and holding the trays in place of the mold during the thwarted expansion of the plaster are carried out at press level.
  • the production rate is then about twenty blocks per hour (if only molds with single imprint are used), but is obtained by a relatively machine simple including only filling stations for molds and mold release blocks and a hydraulic press. Two workers are enough to operate of this machine.
  • the device according to the invention when designed to offer a production rate high, it can be provided at the outlet of an installation plaster production and then use the hot plaster straight out of this facility, which reduces moreover the duration of the thwarted expansion and is favorable to increasing the production rate.
  • the mold consisting essentially of the four vertical walls 30, of the tray upper 38 and lower plate 40, is belted and supported by at least one rigid frame 86 of rectangular shape on the sides of which the vertical walls 30 of the mold are fixed in a removable way.
  • Two adjacent sides of the frame 86 include means 88 associated with corresponding vertical walls 30 of the mold for the move transversely inward and outward of the mold, as indicated by the double arrows in FIG. 8, over a short distance, for example from around 1 to 10 mm approximately.
  • These means 88 can be mechanical, for example screw, cam or lever, or hydraulic.
  • the base of the frame 86 may also include means 90 on which the lower plate 40 rests of the mold.
  • the upper plate 38 of the mold has means 92, for example mechanical, for locking in position between the vertical walls 30 when the upper plate 38 is at a predetermined distance from the lower plate 40, this distance being equal to the height of the block to be manufactured.
  • the installation shown in Figure 9 includes a number of posts A, B, C, D, E, F and G to which the mold of Figures 7 and 8 is successively brought by transfer means shown schematically by the arrows joining the various posts of the Figure 9.
  • transfer means will act on the frame 86 which surrounds and supports the mold well said.
  • the first station A of the installation of the figure 9 is a station for filling the mold with a mixture plaster, sand and water.
  • the set lower 40 of the mold is supported on the means of support 90, and the two movable vertical walls 30 of the mold were brought together, to delimit between them and with two other vertical walls 30 a volume of molding to the size of the block to be manufactured.
  • the tray upper 38 of the mold has been moved aside, to allow the filling the mold with a mixture of plaster and sand and water.
  • the upper tray 38 is placed on the mold and the wet mixture placed in the mold can be lightly packed and compressed as already described with reference to Figure 6.
  • the next item C is the compression station slow mixing in the mold, and includes a press which will act on the upper plate 38 to compress the mix in the mold up to the desired height of the block to be manufactured.
  • the means 92 are actuated to block the upper plate 38 in position on the vertical walls 30 of the mold, then the mold and its frame 86 are transferred from station C at station E of mold opening, journey time between these two posts corresponding to the duration of the thwarted expansion phase D of the plaster in the mold. This time may be sufficient for hydration plaster is complete between stations C and E, which guarantees the dimensional stability of the blocks after their demoulding.
  • the means 92 are activated to release the upper plate 38 and the means 88 are also actuated to spread outwards the two movable walls 30 of the mold.
  • the mold and its frame 86 are then transferred at station F where it is sufficient to lift the lower plate 40 to unmold the building block. Because the prior spacing of the movable walls 30 of the mold, this release takes place without problem and without friction of the block on the internal faces of the walls 30 of the mold, and therefore without significant wear of these faces.
  • the mold and its frame 86 are then transferred at station G, which is a mold cleaning station, for example by means of pressurized air jets or pressurized water jets, which can also be possibly a station for installing a facing plate on the internal face of one of the walls 30 of the mold.
  • station G is a mold cleaning station, for example by means of pressurized air jets or pressurized water jets, which can also be possibly a station for installing a facing plate on the internal face of one of the walls 30 of the mold.
  • the mold and the frame 86 are finally brought back to the filling station A, where the means 88 can be new actuated to replace the movable walls 30 in molding position, before filling the mold with the mixture of plaster, sand and water.
  • the mold of Figures 7 and 8 has advantages very important, as it helps to avoid any problem with demolding, and perform hydration total pressure plaster in the mold, all guaranteeing a high dimensional accuracy of the order of the 10th of a millimeter on the building block thus manufactured.
  • the frame 86 which surrounds the mold is of robust construction to be rigid and undeformable.
  • the frames 86 each equipped with a mold can be juxtaposed, for example by two or by four, to be transferred together from one station to another in the installation of Figure 9, which is then equipped with a press multiple, to double or quadruple the production rate.
  • the method and the device according to the invention are applicable to the manufacture of elements and blocks of construction having different shapes and dimensions those of the block represented in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in particular solid blocks, cavity blocks multiples, planar elements, chains, etc ...

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Press-Shaping Or Shaping Using Conveyers (AREA)
  • Curing Cements, Concrete, And Artificial Stone (AREA)
  • Investigation Of Foundation Soil And Reinforcement Of Foundation Soil By Compacting Or Drainage (AREA)

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR92/00424 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 12, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 12, 1993 PCT Filed May 14, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/20502 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 26, 1992.A method and apparatus for manufacturing a building block by molding under pressure a mixture of a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand, and water, by passing a mold (50) through various stations, including a station (A) for filling the mold with a measured quantity of the mixture (56), a station (B) for installing a mold top plate (38), a station (C) for compressing the mixture in the mold, a station (D) for keeping the top and bottom plates (38, 40) in place in the mold, a station (E) for withdrawing the top plate (38), and an unmolding station (F).

Description

L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de fabrication de blocs de construction par moulage sous pression élevée d'un mélange d'un liant hydraulique tel que du plâtre, d'une charge inerte telle que du sable et d'eau.The invention relates to a method and a device. for manufacturing building blocks by molding under high pressure of a mixture of a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand and water.

Ces blocs de construction et leur procédé de fabrication ont été décrits dans la Demande Internationale WO 88/03916 du même inventeur.These building blocks and their method of manufacturing have been described in the International Application WO 88/03916 by the same inventor.

Ce procédé consiste à mouler sous pression élevée le mélange de plâtre, de sable et d'eau pendant une durée suffisante, de l'ordre de 2 à 3 mn, correspondant à l'hydratation sous pression du plâtre qui se traduit par une expansion contrariée du plâtre à l'intérieur du moule, ainsi que par une densification et une réorientation de son réseau cristallin.This process involves molding under high pressure the mixture of plaster, sand and water for a sufficient time, of the order of 2 to 3 mn, corresponding to the hydration under pressure of the plaster which results in an upset expansion of the plaster to inside the mold, as well as by densification and a reorientation of its crystal lattice.

Les blocs de construction ainsi obtenus ont des caractéristiques remarquables : une résistance à la compression largement supérieure à 100 kg/cm2, une dureté équivalente à celle de la pierre tendre, une bonne résistance à l'humidité et au gel, et une précision dimensionnelle de l'ordre du 1/10e de millimètre, ce qui permet de les monter directement les uns sur les autres sans interposition de joints traditionnels entre les blocs.The building blocks thus obtained have remarkable characteristics: a compressive strength much greater than 100 kg / cm 2 , a hardness equivalent to that of soft stone, good resistance to humidity and frost, and dimensional accuracy of the order of 1/10 th of a millimeter, which allows them to be mounted directly on top of each other without the interposition of traditional joints between the blocks.

Ces blocs sont de plus utilisables en construction à leur sortie des moules, sans séchage.These blocks can also be used in construction at the exit of the molds, without drying.

Il en résulte une économie de construction considérable, aussi bien en temps qu'en qualification de main d'oeuvre, les frais de construction proprement dits étant divisés par un facteur au moins égal à 2 ou 3.This results in a construction economy considerable, both in time and qualification labor, the actual construction costs being divided by a factor at least equal to 2 or 3.

La demande internationale WO 88/03916 précitée décrit également un dispositif de fabrication de ces blocs, comprenant les moyens décrits dans le préambule de la revendication 4 et dans lequel la presse hydraulique est utilisée pour maintenir les plateaux du moule en place pendant l'hydratation du plâtre et pour résister à l'expansion volumique du plâtre, ce qui amène à laisser le moule dans la presse pendant 2 à 3 minutes environ et ne permet pas une cadence élevée de fabrication des blocs.The international application WO 88/03916 cited above also describes a device for manufacturing these blocks, including the means described in the preamble to claim 4 and wherein the hydraulic press is used to hold the mold trays in place during hydration of the plaster and to resist the volume expansion of the plaster, which leads to leaving the mold in the press for about 2 to 3 minutes and does not allow a high production rate of blocks.

La présente invention a pour objet des perfectionnements importants au procédé et au dispositif précités, qui permettent d'améliorer encore les caractéristiques des blocs de construction précités, d'uniformiser leur qualité et de réduire leur prix de revient.The present invention relates to improvements important to the process and the device mentioned above, which further improve the characteristics of the aforementioned building blocks, standardize their quality and reduce their price by come back.

Elle a également pour objet des moyens permettant de fabriquer ces blocs en grande quantité et à cadence élevée.It also relates to means allowing to manufacture these blocks in large quantities and at a rate high.

L'invention propose à cet effet un procédé de fabrication de blocs de construction à partir d'un mélange d'un liant hydraulique tel que du plâtre, d'une charge inerte telle que du sable et d'eau, le liant hydraulique augmentant de volume au cours de son hydratation et le mélange précité étant moulé sous pression pendant une durée suffisante pour obtenir une hydratation sous pression du liant hydraulique et une densification de son réseau cristallin, le procédé consistant à placer une quantité dosée du mélange dans un moule à parois latérales indéformables et à plateaux horizontaux supérieur et inférieur déplaçables en translation verticale dans le moule avec un jeu faible par rapport au parois latérales, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste ensuite à déplacer lentement au moins l'un des plateaux vers l'intérieur du moule sur des courses successives prédeterminées pour tasser le mélange à l'intérieur du moule, puis pour donner une hauteur prédéfinie au bloc à obtenir en comprimant progressivement le mélange dans le moule, à maintenir en place lesdits plateaux pendant la durée précitée d'hydratation du liant hydraulique en résistant à son expansion volumique et ensuite à écarter l'un des plateaux pour démouler le bloc par déplacement de l'autre plateau vers l'intérieur du moule.The invention provides for this purpose a method of manufacture of building blocks from a mixture a hydraulic binder such as plaster, a inert filler such as sand and water, the binder hydraulic increasing volume during its hydration and the above mixture being molded under pressure for a sufficient time to obtain a hydration under pressure of the hydraulic binder and a densification of its crystal lattice, the process consisting in placing a metered quantity of the mixture in a mold with non-deformable side walls and trays horizontal upper and lower movable in vertical translation in the mold with little play with respect to the side walls, characterized in that it then involves slowly moving at least one of trays towards the inside of the mold on successive strokes pre-determined to tamp the mixture to inside the mold, then to give a height predefined to the block to be obtained by compressing gradually mix in the mold, to keep in places said trays for the aforementioned time hydration of the hydraulic binder by resisting its volume expansion and then to rule out one of trays to unmold the block by moving the other tray towards the inside of the mold.

La compression lente du mélange placé dans le moule a pour effet, successivement, de tasser le mélange dans le moule en réduisant son foisonnement, de chasser l'air contenu dans le mélange et d'accélérer le mouillage du mélange grâce à la mise en pression de l'eau, de chasser hors du moule un éventuel excès d'eau par rapport à la quantité d'eau juste nécessaire à l'hydratation du plâtre, et de définir avec précision la hauteur (ou dimension encre les plateaux horizontaux du moule) du bloc de construction à obtenir. Le maintien en place des plateaux du moule, dans la position qu'ils occupent à la fin de la phase de compression, permet de conserver cette hauteur pendant la phase suivante, qui est une phase d'hydratation sous pression et d'expansion contrariée du plâtre dans le moule.The slow compression of the mixture placed in the mold has the effect, successively, of packing the mixture in the mold by reducing its expansion, to drive out the air in the mixture and speed up wetting of the mixture thanks to the pressurization of the water, to drive out out of the mold a possible excess of water compared to the amount of water just necessary for the hydration of the plaster, and precisely define the height (or dimension ink horizontal mold trays) of building block to be obtained. Maintaining mold trays, in the position they occupy at the end of the compression phase, keeps this height during the next phase, which is a phase pressure hydration and thwarted expansion of plaster in the mold.

Les blocs de construction ainsi produits ont des dimensions bien définies et une résistance à la compression qui est au moins égale à une valeur prédéterminée.The building blocks thus produced have well-defined dimensions and compressive strength which is at least equal to a predetermined value.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, ce procédé consiste également à détecter l'augmentation de pression dans le moule résultant de l'expansion contrariée du liant hydraulique, pour définir la fin de la durée d'expansion contrariée dans le moule et démouler le bloc de construction, lorsque cette pression a atteint une valeur prédéterminée.According to another characteristic of the invention, this method also consists in detecting the increase in pressure in the mold resulting from thwarted expansion of the hydraulic binder, to define the end of the upset expansion time in the mold and unmold the building block, when this pressure has reached a predetermined value.

De préférence, cette valeur prédéterminée de la pression dans le moule ne correspondra qu'à 70-90% environ de l'hydratation complète du liant hydraulique dans le moule, de façon à réduire l'effort à fournir pour le démoulage des blocs de construction et l'usure des moules. Preferably, this predetermined value of the pressure in the mold will only correspond to around 70-90% complete hydration of the hydraulic binder in the mold, so as to reduce the effort required for the demoulding of building blocks and wear of mussels.

L'invention propose également un dispositif pour l'exécution de ce procédé, comprenant un moule à parois verticales indéformables et à plateaux horizontaux supérieur et inférieur, qui sont déplaçables en translation dans le moule avec un jeu faible par rapport aux parois verticales, des moyens de positionnement du plateau inférieur dans le moule, des moyens de remplissage du moule par une quantité dosée du mélange précité, des moyens de mise en place du plateau supérieur dans le moule, au moins une presse hydraulique pour déplacer au moins l'un des plateaux à l'intérieur du moule pour tasser le mélange dans le moule et le comprimer sous pression élevée jusqu'à la hauteur désirée du bloc à obtenir, des moyens de retrait d'au moins un des plateaux du moule, et des moyens de démoulage à vérin hydraulique pour sortir le bloc du moule, caractérisé en ce que la presse est commandée pour déplacer lentement le ou les plateaux précités à l'intérieur du moule sur des courses successives prédéterminées de tassement et de compression et en ce que le dispositif comprend des moyens indépendants de la presse pour maintenir en place les plateaux dans le moule pendant l'expansion du liant hydraulique résultant de son hydratation.The invention also provides a device for carrying out this process, comprising a mold non-deformable vertical walls and horizontal plates upper and lower, which are movable in translation in the mold with a small clearance compared to the walls vertical, means for positioning the plate lower in the mold, means for filling the mold by a metered amount of the above mixture, means of positioning the upper plate in the mold, at least one hydraulic press for moving minus one of the trays inside the mold for pack the mixture in the mold and compress it under high pressure to the desired block height at obtain means for removing at least one of the trays of the mold, and demolding means with hydraulic cylinder to remove the block from the mold, characterized in that the press is commanded to slowly move the aforementioned plates inside the mold on races predetermined successions of compaction and compression and in that the device comprises means independent of the press to keep the trays in the mold during the expansion of the binder hydraulic resulting from its hydration.

Par ailleurs, le dispositif peut également comprendre des moyens de détection de l'augmentation de pression du mélange dans le moule, résultant de l'expansion contrariée du liant hydraulique.Furthermore, the device can also include means for detecting the increase in pressure of the mixture in the mold, resulting from thwarted expansion of the hydraulic binder.

De préférence, au moins le plateau supérieur du moule comprend un rebord oblique sur au moins une partie de la périphérie de sa face de contact avec le mélange dans le moule, pour former un chanfrein (continu ou discontinu) sur au moins une partie du bord périphérique supérieur du bloc de construction.Preferably, at least the upper tray of the mold includes an oblique rim on at least part from the periphery of its contact face with the mixture in the mold, to form a chamfer (continuous or discontinuous) on at least part of the peripheral edge top of the building block.

La présence de ce chanfrein évite les risques de fissuration ou d'éclatement du bord périphérique supérieur du bloc de construction, lorsque les plateaux du moule sont libérés à la fin de la phase d'expansion contrariée, avant le démoulage.The presence of this chamfer avoids the risks cracking or bursting of the upper peripheral edge of the building block, when the plates of the mold are released at the end of the expansion phase upset, before demolding.

Par ailleurs, en prévoyant un chanfrein identique sur le bord périphérique inférieur du bloc de construction, on améliore l'aspect d'une construction formée par la pose de ces blocs les uns sur les autres.In addition, by providing for an identical chamfer on the lower peripheral edge of the block construction, we improve the appearance of a construction formed by placing these blocks on top of each other.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, la presse hydraulique comprend des plateaux supérieur et inférieur entre lesquels est placé le moule et qui sont reliés par une transmission mécanique propre à définir de façon positive une distance déterminée entre les plateaux de la presse, correspondant à la hauteur désirée du bloc de construction, et à assurer le parallélisme de ces plateaux.According to another characteristic of the invention, the hydraulic press includes upper plates and lower between which the mold is placed and which are connected by a mechanical transmission specific to positively define a determined distance between the press plates, corresponding to the desired height of the building block, and to ensure parallelism of these trays.

On évite ainsi d'utiliser des butées mécaniques sur lesquels les plateaux de la presse viendraient en appui, et l'on peut mesurer les efforts de tension ou de compression auxquels sont soumis des éléments de cette transmission mécanique lors de la phase d'expansion contrariée du liant hydraulique dans le moule, pour définir la fin de cette phase d'expansion contrariée.This avoids the use of mechanical stops on which the press plates would come in support, and one can measure the tension forces or of compression to which elements of this mechanical transmission during the expansion phase upset of the hydraulic binder in the mold, to define the end of this phase of thwarted expansion.

De façon générale, l'invention permet d'automatiser de façon fiable et sûre le procédé de fabrication des blocs de construction, d'améliorer et d'uniformiser leur qualité, et d'augmenter très sensiblement leur cadence de fabrication.In general, the invention makes it possible to automate reliably and safely the manufacturing process building blocks, improve and standardize their quality, and very significantly increase their production rate.

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres caractéristiques, détails et avantages de celle-ci apparaitront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite à titre d'exemple en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • les figures 1, 2 et 3 sont des vues schématiques de dessus, en coupe verticale et de dessous respectivement, d'un bloc de construction selon l'invention;
  • la figure 4 est une vue schématique en coupe verticale d'un moule de fabrication de ce bloc;
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique de dessus de ce moule, dont le plateau supérieur a été retiré;
  • la figure 6 illustre schématiquement les différents postes de fabrication de ce bloc, dans une réalisation de l'invention;
  • les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues en coupe verticale et de dessus, respectivement, d'une variante de réalisation d'un moule;
  • la figure 9 représente schématiquement les postes d'une installation utilisant le moule des figures 7 et 8.
The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figures 1, 2 and 3 are schematic views from above, in vertical section and from below respectively, of a building block according to the invention;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a mold for manufacturing this block;
  • Figure 5 is a schematic top view of this mold, from which the upper plate has been removed;
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the various stations for manufacturing this block, in one embodiment of the invention;
  • Figures 7 and 8 are views in vertical section and from above, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a mold;
  • FIG. 9 schematically represents the stations of an installation using the mold of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Le bloc de construction qui a été représenté dans les figures 1 à 3 est sensiblement identique à celui qui a été décrit dans la Demande Internationale WO 88/03916 et est de tonne parallépipédique rectangle, avec des dimensions qui sont par exemple de 15cm x 15cm x 30 cm. Un bloc selon l'invention, ayant ces dimensions, pèse un peu plus d'une dizaine de kilos et est facilement manipulable à la main. Bien entendu, l'invention permet également la fabrication de blocs ayant des formes et dimensions différentes.The building block that was represented in Figures 1 to 3 is substantially identical to that which has been described in the International Application WO 88/03916 and is of rectangular parallelepipedal ton, with dimensions which are for example 15cm x 15cm x 30 cm. A block according to the invention, having these dimensions, weighs a little over ten kilos and is easily manipulated by hand. Of course, the invention allows also the manufacture of blocks having shapes and dimensions different.

La face supérieure 12 de ce bloc comporte des saillies 14 de faible hauteur, de forme carrée ou circulaire par exemple.The upper face 12 of this block has protrusions 14 of low height, square or circular in shape for example.

La face inférieure 16 du bloc comprend une cavité 18 d'un volume relativement important (de l'ordre de 30% du volume total par exemple), qui s'étend sur une certaine hauteur à l'intérieur du bloc 10 et dont le débouché sur la face inférieure 16 du bloc est délimité par des bords longitudinaux 20 et transversaux 22 qui définissent des logements des saillies 14 de la face supérieure d'un autre bloc.The underside 16 of the block includes a cavity 18 of a relatively large volume (of the order of 30% of the total volume for example), which spans a certain height inside block 10 and the outlet of which on the underside 16 of the block is delimited by longitudinal 20 and transverse 22 edges which define housings of projections 14 on the upper face from another block.

En outre, la face inférieure 16 du bloc comporte une rainure ou un canal longitudinal 24 s'étendant sur toute sa longueur, qui communique avec la cavité 18 et qui débouche à l'une des ses extrémités longitudinales dans une rainure verticale 26 formée sur toute la hauteur du bloc, dans une de ses faces verticales d'extrémité. In addition, the lower face 16 of the block comprises a longitudinal groove or channel 24 extending along its entire length, which communicates with the cavity 18 and which opens at one of its longitudinal ends in a vertical groove 26 formed over the entire height of the block, in one of its vertical end faces.

Comme cela est expliqué dans la Demande Internationale précitée, les blocs 10 sont destinés à être posés les uns sur les autres et les uns à côté des autres, en étant tous orientés dans le même sens, pour former un mur comprenant des rangées horizontales de blocs dans lesquels les blocs sont décalés entre eux d'une demi-longueur d'une rangée à l'autre. Du plâtre relativement liquide est versé en deux fois dans les rainures verticales 26 pour venir remplir partiellement les cavités 18 des blocs en recouvrant les saillies 14 des faces supérieures des blocs inférieurs, puis pour remplir les rainures verticales 26.As explained in the International Application mentioned above, the blocks 10 are intended to be placed on top of each other and next to each other, being all oriented in the same direction, to form a wall with horizontal rows of blocks in which the blocks are offset from each other by half a length from one row to another. Relatively liquid plaster is poured twice into the vertical grooves 26 to partially fill the cavities 18 of the blocks covering the projections 14 of the upper faces lower blocks and then to fill the vertical grooves 26.

Comme on le voit sur les figures 1 à 3, un chanfrein 28 est formé sur au moins une partie des bords périphériques des faces supérieure et inférieure du bloc de construction. Des chanfreins identiques peuvent aussi être formés sur les bords verticaux du bloc.As seen in Figures 1 to 3, a chamfer 28 is formed on at least part of the edges peripherals of the upper and lower sides of the block of construction. Identical chamfers can also be formed on the vertical edges of the block.

Les figures 4 et 5 représentent schématiquement un moule utilisé pour la fabrication du bloc représenté dans les figures 1 à 3.Figures 4 and 5 schematically represent a mold used for the manufacture of the block shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Ce moule comprend quatre parois verticales 30 en acier, qui sont assemblées rigidement entre elles, de préférence par des boulons 32 et qui sont positionnées les unes par rapport aux autres au moyen de pions de centrage 34 pour définir de façon précise la longueur et la largeur de la cavité de moulage, avec une tolérance dimensionnelle de l'ordre de quelques centièmes de millimètre. Les faces intérieures des parois verticales 30 sont rectifiées pour être parfaitement lisses et planes. L'une des parois verticales 30, formant une des petites faces verticales d'extrémité du moule, comporte sur toute sa hauteur une saillie verticale 36 de forme semi-cylindrique destinée à former la rainure verticale 26 du bloc de construction à obtenir.This mold has four vertical walls 30 steel, which are rigidly assembled together, of preferably by bolts 32 and which are positioned relative to each other by means of centering pins 34 to precisely define the length and width of the molding cavity, with a tolerance dimensional of the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter. The internal faces of the vertical walls 30 are ground to be perfectly smooth and flat. One of the vertical walls 30, forming one of the small vertical end faces of the mold, has on all its height a vertical projection 36 of semi-cylindrical shape intended to form the vertical groove 26 of the block of construction to be obtained.

Les parois verticales 30 du moule ont une hauteur supérieure à celle du bloc à obtenir, de façon à recevoir entre elles le plateau supérieur 38 et le plateau inférieur 40 du moule. Lorsque la hauteur du bloc à obtenir est de 15 cm, les parois verticales 30 du moule auront une hauteur comprise entre 25 et 30 cm environ.The vertical walls 30 of the mold have a height greater than that of the block to be obtained, so as to receive between them the upper plate 38 and the plate lower 40 of the mold. When the height of the block to be obtained is 15 cm, the vertical walls 30 of the mold will have a height of between 25 and 30 cm approximately.

Les plateaux du moule sont des plaques rectangulaires en acier, dimensionnées pour pouvoir être déplaçables par translation verticale à l'intérieur du moule, avec un jeu faible de quelques dixièmes de millimètres par rapport aux parois verticales. Par ailleurs, les faces internes des parois verticales 30 forment avec la verticale un angle de dépouille faible de l'ordre de 0,5° pour faciliter le démoulage du bloc de construction.The mold trays are rectangular plates made of steel, sized to be movable by vertical translation inside the mold, with a small clearance of a few tenths of a millimeter with respect to the vertical walls. In addition, internal faces of the vertical walls 30 form with the vertical a low draft angle of around 0.5 ° to facilitate demoulding of the building block.

La face inférieure du plateau supérieur 38 du moule comporte deux petites cavités 42, dont les formes correspondent à celles des saillies 14 de la face supérieure du bloc de construction à obtenir, et un rebord périphérique oblique 44 de formation du chanfrein 28 du bloc à obtenir. Ce rebord oblique peut être prévu uniquement sur une partie de la périphérie de la face inférieure du plateau 38. Une petite face verticale du plateau 38 comporte une rainure semi-cylindrique correspondant à la saillie verticale 36.The underside of the upper plate 38 of the mold has two small cavities 42, the shapes of which correspond to those of the projections 14 on the upper face of the building block to be obtained, and a ledge oblique peripheral 44 for forming the chamfer 28 of the block to get. This oblique edge can only be provided on part of the periphery of the underside of the tray 38. A small vertical face of the tray 38 has a corresponding semi-cylindrical groove to the vertical projection 36.

La face supérieure du plateau inférieur 40 porte un noyau 46 destiné à former la cavité 18 et le canal longitudinal 24 dans la face inférieure du bloc à obtenir. De plus, une petite face verticale de ce plateau 40 et du noyau 46 comporte une rainure verticale semi-cylindrique, destinée à recevoir la saillie verticale 36 de la paroi latérale 30 correspondante du moule. Le bord supérieur du plateau 40 comporte également un rebord périphérique oblique de formation du chanfrein 28 précité du bloc de construction. Comme précédemment, ce rebord oblique peut être prévu uniquement sur une partie de la périphérie du plateau 40.The upper face of the lower plate 40 carries a core 46 intended to form the cavity 18 and the channel longitudinal 24 in the underside of the block to be obtained. In addition, a small vertical face of this tray 40 and of the core 46 has a semi-cylindrical vertical groove, intended to receive the vertical projection 36 of the corresponding side wall 30 of the mold. The upper edge of the plate 40 also has a peripheral rim oblique formation of the aforementioned chamfer 28 of the building block. As before, this ledge oblique can be planned only on part of the periphery of the plate 40.

Dans une variante de réalisation de ce moule, au moins l'une des grandes parois verticales 30 du moule est fixée de façon facilement amovible aux autres parois par tout moyen approprié, comprenant par exemple des charnières et/ou des leviers de verrouillage. Le retrait de cette grande paroi 30 du moule peut faciliter le démoulage du bloc de construction. De plus, cette paroi 30 peut être destinée à recevoir sur sa face interne une plaque d'une matière quelconque appropriée destinée à former un parement de façade sur le bloc de construction.In an alternative embodiment of this mold, at least one of the large vertical walls 30 of the mold easily attached to other walls by any suitable means, including for example hinges and / or locking levers. Withdrawal of this large wall 30 of the mold can facilitate the demoulding of the building block. In addition, this wall 30 may be intended to receive on its internal face a plate of any suitable material intended for form a facade cladding on the building block.

Les différents postes d'un dispositif de fabrication d'un bloc de construction selon l'invention ont été représentés schématiquement en figure 6.The different positions of a manufacturing device of a building block according to the invention have have been shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6.

Dans cette figure, le dessin du moule 50 a été simplifié, mais il est bien entendu que ce moule peut être identique à celui représenté schématiquement dans les figures 4 et 5.In this figure, the drawing of the mold 50 has been simplified, but it is understood that this mold can be identical to that shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5.

Le premier poste du dispositif selon l'invention, désigné généralement par la référence A, est un poste de remplissage du moule 50. A ce poste, le moule 50 repose sur une surface de support 52, qui peut faire partie de moyens de transfert des moules entre les différents postes du dispositif de fabrication. Le plateau inférieur 40 du moule est également porté par cette surface de support 52, de façon à occuper une position définie à l'intérieur du moule. Des moyens 54 permettent de déverser à l'intérieur du moule une quantité dosée d'un mélange 56 d'un liant hydraulique tel que du plâtre, d'une charge inerte telle que du sable, et d'eau. Les moyens 54 d'amenée de ce mélange sont avantageusement conçus pour réaliser également l'humidification d'un mélange sec de plâtre et de sable avec une quantité d'eau qui sera sensiblement égale ou légèrement supérieure à la quantité d'eau nécessaire à la compacité optimale du mélange (cette quantité d'eau étant supérieure à celle nécessaire à l'hydratation du plâtre).The first station of the device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference A, is a mold filling station 50. At this station, the mold 50 rests on a support surface 52, which can be part means of transfer of the molds between the different manufacturing device positions. The lower tray 40 of the mold is also carried by this surface support 52, so as to occupy a position defined at inside the mold. Means 54 allow dumping inside the mold a metered amount of a mixture 56 of a hydraulic binder such as plaster, a inert filler such as sand, and water. The means 54 of this mixture are advantageously designed to also carry out the humidification of a dry mixture of plaster and sand with an amount of water that will be noticeably equal or slightly greater than the quantity of water necessary for the optimal compactness of the mixture (this quantity of water being greater than that necessary hydration of the plaster).

Pour la fabrication d'un bloc de construction tel que représenté aux figures 1 à 3, et ayant des dimensions de 15cm x 15 cm x 30 cm, on utilise un mélange comprenant environ 6 kg de sable, 4 kg de plâtre et 1,3-1,5 litres d'eau selon les granulométries du sable et du plâtre. Ce mélange est déversé dans le moule en quelques secondes.For the production of a building block as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and having dimensions 15cm x 15cm x 30cm, a mixture comprising about 6 kg of sand, 4 kg of plaster and 1.3-1.5 liters of water according to the grain sizes of the sand and plaster. This mixture is poured into the mold in a few seconds.

Le moule est ensuite transféré au poste suivant, désigné par la référence B, où le plateau supérieur 38 du moule est placé dans le moule et repose sur le mélange 56 de plâtre, de sable et d'eau.The mold is then transferred to the next station, designated by reference B, where the upper plate 38 of the mold is placed in the mold and rests on the mixture 56 of plaster, sand and water.

Eventuellement, l'un ou l'autre des postes A et B ou les deux postes, peuvent comprendre une table vibrante permettant de réaliser un début de tassement du mélange 56 dans le moule, une évacuation de l'air occlus et un meilleur mouillage.Optionally, one or other of the A stations and B or both stations, can include a vibrating table allowing to carry out an early compaction of the mixture 56 in the mold, an evacuation of the occluded air and better wetting.

Le poste suivant, désigné par la référence C, comporte essentiellement une presse hydraulique à deux plateaux horizontaux mobiles 58 et 60 entre lesquels est placé le moule 50. Un ou plusieurs vérins hydrauliques 62 permettent de déplacer les plateaux de la presse, par exemple en synchronisme, dans des directions opposées pour les rapprocher et pour les écarter l'un de l'autre. Par exemple, les tiges de piston des vérins 62 s'appuient sur le plateau supérieur 58 de la presse tandis que leurs cylindres sont portés par une plaque horizontale 64 déplaçable en translation verticale et reliée par des tirants 66 au plateau inférieur 60 de la presse.The next station, designated by the reference C, basically includes a two-wheel hydraulic press movable horizontal plates 58 and 60 between which is placed the mold 50. One or more hydraulic cylinders 62 allow to move the press plates, for example in synchronism, in opposite directions to bring them together and to separate them from each other. For example, the piston rods of the cylinders 62 are supported on the upper plate 58 of the press while their cylinders are carried by a horizontal plate 64 movable in vertical translation and connected by tie rods 66 to the lower plate 60 of the press.

Les tirants 66 permettent d'assurer l'obtention et le maintien de la distance voulue entre les plateaux du moule, et sont le siège d'efforts de tension que l'on peut mesurer pour contrôler la bonne exécution du procédé.The tie rods 66 ensure the obtaining and maintaining the desired distance between the trays of the mold, and are the seat of tension forces that we can measure to check the proper execution of the process.

Le plateau supérieur 58 de la presse s'applique sur le plateau supérieur 38 du moule tandis que les parois verticales 30 et le plateau inférieur 40 du moule s'appuient sur le plateau inférieur 60 de la presse. The upper plate 58 of the press applies on the upper plate 38 of the mold while the vertical walls 30 and the lower plate 40 of the mold rest on the lower plate 60 of the hurry.

La compression du mélange 56 dans le moule est réalisée de façon lente, de préférence en deux temps :

  • une premier temps au cours duquel le mélange 56 est simplement tassé dans le moule par descente du plateau supérieur 38 à l'intérieur du moule, sur une course de plusieurs centimètres (de 4 à 10 cm par exemple), la durée de cette course étant de plusieurs secondes (par exemple de 5 à 10 s environ);
  • un deuxième temps au cours duquel le plateau supérieur 38 est enfoncé dans le moule sur une course de plusieurs centimètres jusqu'à ce que la distance séparant les plateaux 38 et 40 du moule soit égale à la hauteur désirée du bloc de construction. La durée de ce deuxième temps est de plusieurs secondes et la pression appliquée au mélange 56 à l'intérieur du moule atteint des valeurs comprises entre 50 et 100 kg/cm2 environ, selon les cas.
The compression of the mixture 56 in the mold is carried out slowly, preferably in two stages:
  • a first stage during which the mixture 56 is simply packed into the mold by lowering the upper plate 38 inside the mold, over a stroke of several centimeters (from 4 to 10 cm for example), the duration of this stroke being several seconds (for example from 5 to 10 s approximately);
  • a second step during which the upper plate 38 is pressed into the mold over a stroke of several centimeters until the distance separating the plates 38 and 40 from the mold is equal to the desired height of the building block. The duration of this second time is several seconds and the pressure applied to the mixture 56 inside the mold reaches values of between 50 and 100 kg / cm 2 approximately, depending on the case.

Ces deux temps de compression peuvent être réalisés soit par déplacement d'un des deux plateaux 38, 40 à l'intérieur du moule, soit par déplacement des deux plateaux 38,40 l'un vers l'autre.These two compression times can be produced either by displacement of one of the two plates 38, 40 inside the mold, either by moving the two trays 38.40 towards each other.

Au cours de la compression du mélange 56 dans le moule, l'air contenu dans ce mélange est chassé par le jeu entre les parois verticales et les plateaux du moule, l'eau se répartit uniformément dans le mélange de plâtre et de sable grâce à la pression exercée, et un éventuel excès d'eau est chassé par le jeu entre les parois verticales et les plateaux du moule. La distance entre les plateaux 38 et 40 du moule, correspondant à la hauteur désirée du bloc à obtenir, est de préférence définie de façon positive par une transmission mécanique reliant entre eux les plateaux 58 et 60 de la presse et assurant leur parallélisme.During the compression of the mixture 56 in the mold, the air contained in this mixture is expelled by the clearance between the vertical walls and the mold plates, the water is distributed evenly in the plaster mixture and sand thanks to the pressure exerted, and a possible excess water is removed by the play between the vertical walls and the mold trays. The distance between mold trays 38 and 40, corresponding to the height desired of the block to be obtained, is preferably defined by positively by a mechanical transmission connecting between them the plates 58 and 60 of the press and ensuring their parallelism.

Lorsque les plateaux 38 et 40 du moule ont été amenés à la distance voulue correspondant à la hauteur du bloc à obtenir, ils sont immobilisés. La pression dans le moule va alors chuter sensiblement pendant un laps de temps bref, puis va augmenter progressivement au fur et à mesure de l'expansion du plâtre, résultant de son hydratation.When the mold plates 38 and 40 have been brought to the desired distance corresponding to the height of the block to be obtained, they are immobilized. The pressure in the mold will drop significantly during a period of short time and then will gradually increase as measurement of the expansion of plaster, resulting from its hydration.

En conséquence, lorsque les plateaux 38 et 40 du moule ont été amenés à la distance voulue l'un de l'autre par les vérins hydrauliques 62 de la presse, ces vérins sont à nouveau commandés pour écarter les plateaux 58 et 60 et permettre le transfert du moule 50 au poste suivant, désigné par la référence D, où les plateaux 38 et 40 du moule sont maintenus dans une position correspondant à la hauteur désirée du bloc à obtenir. Pour cela, le poste D peut comprendre par exemple des moyens 68 de support du moule et du plateau inférieur 40, et des moyens d'appui sur le plateau supérieur 38, ces moyens pouvant être du type mécanique, par exemple des leviers 70 montés à rotation sur un support 72, et/ou du type hydraulique, par exemple des vérins 74 portés par le support 72.Consequently, when the trays 38 and 40 of the mold were brought to the desired distance one of the other by the hydraulic cylinders 62 of the press, these cylinders are ordered again to spread the trays 58 and 60 and allow the transfer of the mold 50 to the station next, designated by the reference D, where the plates 38 and 40 of the mold are kept in a corresponding position at the desired height of the block to be obtained. For this, station D can include for example means 68 for supporting the mold and the lower plate 40, and support means on the upper plate 38, these means which may be of the mechanical type, for example levers 70 rotatably mounted on a support 72, and / or of the hydraulic type, for example jacks 74 carried by the support 72.

Le moule 50 est maintenu au poste D pendant une durée suffisante pour que l'hydratation du plâtre se produise à 70-90% environ à l'intérieur du moule 50. Cette durée peut varier de 1,5 à 5 mn environ, en fonction de la température, du type et de la quantité de plâtre utilisé, et du degré d'hydratation du plâtre que l'on veut obtenir sous pression. L'augmentation de pression dans le moule 50, qui résulte de l'expansion contrariée du plâtre, peut être très importante et atteindre des valeurs de l'ordre de 100 kg/cm2.The mold 50 is kept at station D for a period sufficient for hydration of the plaster to occur at around 70-90% inside the mold 50. This period can vary from 1.5 to 5 minutes approximately, depending the temperature, type and quantity of plaster used, and the degree of hydration of the plaster that is to be obtained under pressure. The increase in pressure in the mold 50, which results from the contrared expansion of the plaster, can be very significant and reach values of the order of 100 kg / cm 2 .

Les moyens d'appui 70, 74 vont donc avoir une résistance suffisante pour s'opposer à la pression exercée sur le plateau supérieur 38 du moule.The support means 70, 74 will therefore have a sufficient strength to resist the pressure exerted on the upper plate 38 of the mold.

De préférence, la pression à l'intérieur du moule est détectée par des moyens appropriés, de façon à ce que les moyens d'appui 70, 74 libèrent le plateau supérieur 38 du moule dès que cette pression a atteint une valeur prédéterminée. On peut, pour cela, mesurer par exemple la pression à l'intérieur des vérins hydrauliques 74 et mettre ces vérins à l'échappement dès que la pression atteint une valeur prédéterminée, ou bien mesurer l'effort exercé sur les leviers 70 et les faire pivoter pour libérer le plateau 38 quand cet effort atteint une valeur déterminée. On peut également mesurer la tension de biellettes reliant les supports 68 et 72 et commander la libération du plateau supérieur 38 dès que cette tension atteint une valeur prédéterminée.Preferably, the pressure inside the mold is detected by appropriate means, so that what the support means 70, 74 release the upper plate 38 of the mold as soon as this pressure has reached a predetermined value. We can, for this, measure by example the pressure inside the hydraulic cylinders 74 and exhaust these cylinders as soon as the pressure reaches a predetermined value, or measure the force exerted on the levers 70 and rotate them to release the plate 38 when this effort reaches a determined value. You can also measure the voltage of rods connecting supports 68 and 72 and order the release of the upper plate 38 as soon as this tension reaches a predetermined value.

On peut également équiper les vérins hydrauliques 74 d'un limiteur de pression, de façon à ce que la pression à l'intérieur du moule 50 ne puisse dépasser une valeur prédéterminée.Hydraulic cylinders can also be fitted 74 of a pressure relief valve, so that the pressure inside the mold 50 cannot exceed one predetermined value.

A titre d'exemple, on a représenté schématiquement au poste D un moyen 76 de mesure de la pression dans un vérin 74, ce moyen 76 étant associé à un moyen 78 de commande du vérin.By way of example, there is shown diagrammatically at station D a means 76 for measuring the pressure in a jack 74, this means 76 being associated with a means 78 actuator.

A l'issue de cette phase d'expansion contrariée du plâtre dans le moule 50, les moyens 70, 74 d'appui sur le plateau supérieur 38 du moule sont écartés et le moule est transféré au poste suivant désigné par la référence E, où le plateau supérieur 38 du moule est retiré.At the end of this phase of thwarted expansion plaster in the mold 50, the support means 70, 74 on the upper plate 38 of the mold are separated and the mold is transferred to the next station designated by the reference E, where the upper plate 38 of the mold is removed.

Le moule est ensuite transféré au poste suivant, désigné par la référence F et qui est un poste de démoulage.The mold is then transferred to the next station, designated by the reference F and which is a position of demoulding.

A ce poste, les parois verticales 30 du moule sont immobilisées entre des butées, et un ou plusieurs vérins hydrauliques 80 exercent un effort important sur le plateau inférieur 40, pour le pousser vers le haut et permettre l'extraction du bloc 82 par des moyens 84 de prise et de transfert, le bloc 82 étant manipulable et utilisable dès sa sortie du moule. Au début du démoulage, l'effort fourni par le ou les vérins 80 peut être très important (par exemple de l'ordre de 100 kg/cm2) sur une faible course, après quoi la dépouille verticale des faces 30 facilite le déplacement vers le haut du plateau inférieur 40.At this station, the vertical walls 30 of the mold are immobilized between stops, and one or more hydraulic cylinders 80 exert a significant force on the lower plate 40, to push it upwards and allow the extraction of the block 82 by means 84 for taking and transfer, the block 82 being manipulable and usable as soon as it leaves the mold. At the start of demolding, the force provided by the jack or jacks 80 can be very large (for example of the order of 100 kg / cm 2 ) over a short stroke, after which the vertical clearance of the faces 30 facilitates movement towards the top of the lower plate 40.

Il faut ensuite redescendre (par exemple au moyen des vérins 80) le plateau inférieur 40 en position dans le moule, qui est alors transféré au poste A, pour être à nouveau rempli d'un mélange de plâtre, de sable et d'eau.Then you have to go back down (for example at cylinders 80) the lower plate 40 in position in the mold, which is then transferred to station A, to be refilled with a mixture of plaster, sand and of water.

Le poste occupé le plus longtemps par les moules est le poste D où se produit l'expansion contrariée du plâtre pendant une durée comprise entre 1,5 et 5 mn environ. Le dispositif selon l'invention peut donc comprendre plusieurs de ces postes, agencés pour être déplaçables sur un trajet de longueur déterminée entre le poste C et le poste E, par exemple au moyen d'un carrousel comprenant une dizaine des postes D, tournant pas à pas entre le poste C et le poste E.The position held the longest by molds is station D where thwarted expansion occurs plaster for a period between 1.5 and 5 mn approximately. The device according to the invention can therefore include several of these stations, arranged to be movable on a path of determined length between the station C and station E, for example by means of a carousel including ten D stations, not turning at not between station C and station E.

L'ensemble du dispositif peut également se présenter sous forme d'un carrousel tournant entre les postes A, C et F, et comportant un certain nombre de postes D, ainsi que des moyens de pose et de retrait des couvercles supérieurs 38 des moules.The entire system can also be present in the form of a rotating carousel between posts A, C and F, and comprising a certain number of D stations, as well as means for installing and removing upper covers 38 of the molds.

La cadence de fabrication n'est alors limitée que par la durée des opérations au poste C, qui est de l'ordre d'une quinzaine de secondes, et peut donc atteindre 200 blocs/heure environ.The production rate is therefore not limited by the duration of operations at station C, which is about fifteen seconds, and can therefore reach 200 blocks / hour approximately.

On peut augmenter largement cette cadence en réalisant le premier temps de compression du mélange dans le moule au poste B, et le deuxième temps au poste C.We can greatly increase this rate by performing the first compression time of the mixture in the mold at station B, and the second time at station C.

Si nécessaire, on peut, pour augmenter encore cette cadence, utiliser des moules à empreintes multiples, ce qui permet de multiplier la cadence de fabrication par le nombre d'empreintes que comprend chaque moule.If necessary, we can, to further increase at this rate, use multi-cavity molds, which allows to multiply the production rate by the number of footprints that each mold.

Dans une forme simplifiée de réalisation, le dispositif selon l'invention ne comprend que les postes A, C et F, le plateau supérieur 38 du moule étant alors fixé à demeure sous le plateau supérieur 58 de la presse. Dans ce cas, les opérations de tassement du mélange dans le moule, de compactage et de maintien en place des plateaux du moule pendant l'expansion contrariée du plâtre, sont réalisées au niveau de la presse. La cadence de fabrication est alors d'une vingtaine de blocs par heure (si l'on n'utilise que des moules à empreinte unique), mais est obtenue au moyen d'une machine relativement simple ne comprenant que des postes de remplissage des moules et de démoulage des blocs et une presse hydraulique. Deux ouvriers suffisent pour assurer le fonctionnement de cette machine.In a simplified embodiment, the device according to the invention includes only the stations A, C and F, the upper plate 38 of the mold then being permanently fixed under the upper plate 58 of the press. In this case, the compaction operations of the mixture in the mold, compacting and holding the trays in place of the mold during the thwarted expansion of the plaster, are carried out at press level. The production rate is then about twenty blocks per hour (if only molds with single imprint are used), but is obtained by a relatively machine simple including only filling stations for molds and mold release blocks and a hydraulic press. Two workers are enough to operate of this machine.

Inversement, lorsque le dispositif selon l'invention est conçu pour offrir une cadence de production élevée, il peut être prévu en sortie d'une installation de production de plâtre et utiliser alors le plâtre chaud sortant directement de cette installation, ce qui réduit d'ailleurs la durée de l'expansion contrariée et est favorable à l'augmentation de la cadence de production.Conversely, when the device according to the invention is designed to offer a production rate high, it can be provided at the outlet of an installation plaster production and then use the hot plaster straight out of this facility, which reduces moreover the duration of the thwarted expansion and is favorable to increasing the production rate.

On a représenté schématiquement dans les figures 7 et 8 une variante de réalisation du moule selon l'invention.Schematically shown in the figures 7 and 8 an alternative embodiment of the mold according to the invention.

Dans cette variante, le moule constitué essentiellement des quatre parois verticales 30, du plateau supérieur 38 et du plateau inférieur 40, est ceinturé et supporté par au moins un cadre rigide 86 de forme rectangulaire sur les côtés duquel les parois verticales 30 du moule sont fixées de façon démontable. Deux côtés adjacents du cadre 86 comportent des moyens 88 associés aux parois verticales 30 correspondantes du moule pour les déplacer transversalement vers l'intérieur et vers l'extérieur du moule, comme indiqué par les doubles flèches en figure 8, sur une faible distance, par exemple de l'ordre de 1 à 10 mm environ. Ces moyens 88 peuvent être mécaniques, par exemple à vis, à came ou à levier, ou hydrauliques. In this variant, the mold consisting essentially of the four vertical walls 30, of the tray upper 38 and lower plate 40, is belted and supported by at least one rigid frame 86 of rectangular shape on the sides of which the vertical walls 30 of the mold are fixed in a removable way. Two adjacent sides of the frame 86 include means 88 associated with corresponding vertical walls 30 of the mold for the move transversely inward and outward of the mold, as indicated by the double arrows in FIG. 8, over a short distance, for example from around 1 to 10 mm approximately. These means 88 can be mechanical, for example screw, cam or lever, or hydraulic.

La base du cadre 86 peut également comprendre des moyens 90 sur lesquels repose le plateau inférieur 40 du moule.The base of the frame 86 may also include means 90 on which the lower plate 40 rests of the mold.

De plus, le plateau supérieur 38 du moule comporte des moyens 92, par exemple mécaniques, de verrouillage en position entre les parois verticales 30 lorsque le plateau supérieur 38 se trouve à une distance prédéterminée du plateau inférieur 40, cette distance étant égale à la hauteur du bloc à fabriquer.In addition, the upper plate 38 of the mold has means 92, for example mechanical, for locking in position between the vertical walls 30 when the upper plate 38 is at a predetermined distance from the lower plate 40, this distance being equal to the height of the block to be manufactured.

On va maintenant décrire, en référence à la figure 9, la façon dont le moule des figures 7 et 8 est utilisé pour la fabrication de blocs de construction selon l'invention.We will now describe, with reference to the Figure 9, how the mold of Figures 7 and 8 is used for making building blocks according to the invention.

L'installation représentée en figure 9 comprend un certain nombre de postes A, B, C, D, E, F et G auxquels le moule des figures 7 et 8 est successivement amené par des moyens de transfert représentés schématiquement par les flèches joignant les divers postes de la figure 9. Avantageusement, ces moyens de transfert vont agir sur le cadre 86 qui ceinture et supporte le moule proprement dit.The installation shown in Figure 9 includes a number of posts A, B, C, D, E, F and G to which the mold of Figures 7 and 8 is successively brought by transfer means shown schematically by the arrows joining the various posts of the Figure 9. Advantageously, these transfer means will act on the frame 86 which surrounds and supports the mold well said.

Le premier poste A de l'installation de la figure 9 est un poste de remplissage du moule par un mélange de plâtre, de sable et d'eau. A ce poste, le plateau inférieur 40 du moule est en appui sur les moyens de support 90, et les deux parois verticales mobiles 30 du moule ont été rapprochées, pour délimiter entre elles et avec des deux autres parois verticales 30 un volume de moulage à la dimension du bloc à fabriquer. Le plateau supérieur 38 du moule a été écarté, pour permettre le remplissage du moule par le mélange de plâtre, de sable et d'eau.The first station A of the installation of the figure 9 is a station for filling the mold with a mixture plaster, sand and water. At this position, the set lower 40 of the mold is supported on the means of support 90, and the two movable vertical walls 30 of the mold were brought together, to delimit between them and with two other vertical walls 30 a volume of molding to the size of the block to be manufactured. The tray upper 38 of the mold has been moved aside, to allow the filling the mold with a mixture of plaster and sand and water.

Au poste suivant B, le plateau supérieur 38 est placé sur le moule et le mélange humide placé dans le moule peut être légèrement tassé et comprimé comme déjà décrit en référence à la figure 6. At the next station B, the upper tray 38 is placed on the mold and the wet mixture placed in the mold can be lightly packed and compressed as already described with reference to Figure 6.

Le poste suivant C est le poste de compression lente du mélange dans le moule, et comprend une presse qui va agir sur le plateau supérieur 38 pour comprimer le mélange dans le moule jusqu'à la côte de hauteur désirée du bloc à fabriquer. A la fin de cette compression, les moyens 92 sont actionnés pour bloquer le plateau supérieur 38 en position sur les parois verticales 30 du moule, puis le moule et son cadre 86 sont transférés du poste C au poste E d'ouverture du moule, la durée du trajet entre ces deux postes correspondant à la durée de la phase d'expansion contrariée D du plâtre dans le moule. Cette durée peut être suffisante pour que l'hydratation du plâtre soit complète entre les postes C et E, ce qui garantit la stabilité dimensionnelle des blocs après leur démoulage.The next item C is the compression station slow mixing in the mold, and includes a press which will act on the upper plate 38 to compress the mix in the mold up to the desired height of the block to be manufactured. At the end of this compression, the means 92 are actuated to block the upper plate 38 in position on the vertical walls 30 of the mold, then the mold and its frame 86 are transferred from station C at station E of mold opening, journey time between these two posts corresponding to the duration of the thwarted expansion phase D of the plaster in the mold. This time may be sufficient for hydration plaster is complete between stations C and E, which guarantees the dimensional stability of the blocks after their demoulding.

Au poste E, les moyens 92 sont actionnés pour libérer le plateau supérieur 38 et les moyens 88 sont également actionnés pour écarter vers l'extérieur les deux parois mobiles 30 du moule.At station E, the means 92 are activated to release the upper plate 38 and the means 88 are also actuated to spread outwards the two movable walls 30 of the mold.

Le moule et son cadre 86 sont ensuite transférés au poste F où il suffit de soulever le plateau inférieur 40 pour démouler le bloc de construction. Du fait de l'écartement préalable des parois mobiles 30 du moule, ce démoulage s'effectue sans problème et sans frottement du bloc sur les faces internes des parois 30 du moule, et donc sans usure sensible de ces faces.The mold and its frame 86 are then transferred at station F where it is sufficient to lift the lower plate 40 to unmold the building block. Because the prior spacing of the movable walls 30 of the mold, this release takes place without problem and without friction of the block on the internal faces of the walls 30 of the mold, and therefore without significant wear of these faces.

Le moule et son cadre 86 sont ensuite transférés au poste G, qui est un poste de nettoyage du moule, par exemple au moyen de jets d'air sous pression ou de jets d'eau sous pression, et qui peut être aussi éventuellement un poste de pose d'une plaque de parement sur la face interne d'une des parois 30 du moule.The mold and its frame 86 are then transferred at station G, which is a mold cleaning station, for example by means of pressurized air jets or pressurized water jets, which can also be possibly a station for installing a facing plate on the internal face of one of the walls 30 of the mold.

Le moule et le cadre 86 sont enfin ramenés au poste de remplissage A, où les moyens 88 peuvent être à nouveau actionnés pour replacer les parois mobiles 30 en position de moulage, avant le remplissage du moule par le mélange de plâtre, de sable et d'eau.The mold and the frame 86 are finally brought back to the filling station A, where the means 88 can be new actuated to replace the movable walls 30 in molding position, before filling the mold with the mixture of plaster, sand and water.

Le moule des figures 7 et 8 présente des avantages très importants, dans la mesure où il permet d'éviter tout problème au démoulage, et d'effectuer une hydratation totale du plâtre sous pression dans le moule, tout en garantissant une précision dimensionnelle élevée de l'ordre du 10ème de millimètre sur le bloc de construction ainsi fabriqué.The mold of Figures 7 and 8 has advantages very important, as it helps to avoid any problem with demolding, and perform hydration total pressure plaster in the mold, all guaranteeing a high dimensional accuracy of the order of the 10th of a millimeter on the building block thus manufactured.

Le cadre 86 qui ceinture le moule est de construction robuste pour être rigide et indéformable. Les cadres 86 équipés chacun d'un moule peuvent être juxtaposés, par exemple par deux ou par quatre, pour être transférés ensemble d'un poste à l'autre dans l'installation de la figure 9, qui est alors équipée d'une presse multiple, pour doubler ou quadrupler la cadence de fabrication.The frame 86 which surrounds the mold is of robust construction to be rigid and undeformable. The frames 86 each equipped with a mold can be juxtaposed, for example by two or by four, to be transferred together from one station to another in the installation of Figure 9, which is then equipped with a press multiple, to double or quadruple the production rate.

Le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention sont applicables à la fabrication d'éléments et de blocs de construction ayant des formes et des dimensions différentes de celles du bloc représenté dans les figures 1 à 3, et notamment des blocs pleins, des blocs à cavités multiples, des éléments plans, des chaíneaux, etc...The method and the device according to the invention are applicable to the manufacture of elements and blocks of construction having different shapes and dimensions those of the block represented in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in particular solid blocks, cavity blocks multiples, planar elements, chains, etc ...

Claims (15)

  1. A method for manufacturing blocks from a mixture of a hydraulic binder, such as plaster, an inert filler, such as sand, and water, the hydraulic binder increasing in volume during its hydration and the said mixture being molded under pressure during a period of time that is sufficient for obtaining hydration under pressure of the hydraulic binder and obtaining a densification of its crystal lattice, the method consisting in placing a measured quantity of the mixture in a mold having undeformable side walls (30) and top and bottom horizontal plates (38, 40) that are movable in vertical translation inside the mold with small clearance relative to the side walls, in slowly displacing at least one of the plates in the mold on successive predetermined strokes so as to settle the mixture inside the mold and to impart a predefined height to the block to be obtained by progressively compressing the mixture in the mold, in keeping said plates in place during the above hydration period of the hydraulic binder by resisting its volumic expansion, and then in moving one of the plates away for the purpose of unmolding the block by displacing the other plate towards the inside of the mold.
  2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in detecting the pressure increase in the mold that results from the hydration of the hydraulic binder for defining the end of the above period and then in unmolding the building block once this pressure has reached a predetermined value.
  3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists in displacing some of the side walls of the mold over a short distance in an outward direction in order to facilitate unmolding.
  4. An apparatus for carrying out of the method according to claims 1, 2 or 3, comprising a mold having undeformable side walls (30) and top and bottom horizontal plates (38, 40) which are movable in translation inside the mold with a small clearance relative to the side walls, means (52, 90) for positioning the bottom plate in the mold, means (54) for filling the mold with a measured quantity of said mixture, means for installing the top plate (38) in the mold, at least one hydraulic press (62) for displacing at least one of the plates (38, 40) inside the mold to settle the mixture inside the mold and to compress it under high pressure until the desired height of the block to be obtained, means for withdrawing at least one of the plates from the mold, and hydraulically actuated unmolding means (80) for extracting the block from the mold, characterized in that the press (62) is controlled for slowly displacing one or both of said plates inside the mold over successive predetermined settling and compressing strokes and in that the device comprises means (70,74,90,92) independent from the press for keeping the plates in place in the mold during the expansion of the hydraulic binder resulting from its hydration.
  5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means (76) for detecting a pressure increase of the mixture in the mold that results from the hydration of the hydraulic binder.
  6. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the vertical walls of the mold are surrounded by at least one rigid support frame (86) which includes means (88) for transverse displacement of at least two adjacent vertical walls of the mold over a short distance.
  7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one station (A) for filling the mold, a station (C) for compressing the mixture inside the mold and an unmolding station (F) and means for transferring the mold between these three stations.
  8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it also comprises means (84) for grasping and transferring the block extracted from the mold.
  9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that at least the top plate (138) of the mold includes an oblique rim (44) over at least a fraction of a periphery of its face that comes into contact with the mixture in the mold for forming a chamfer (28) over at least a fraction of a top peripheral edge of the building block.
  10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the bottom plate of the mold includes at least one projecting core (46) on its face that comes into contact with the mixture in the mold, the core enabling at least one cavity (18) to be formed in the building block.
  11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that said press comprises top and bottom plates (58, 60) between which the mold is placed, and which are connected by a mechanical transmission suitable for positively defining a minimum distance between the plates of the press that corresponds to the height desired for the building block, and for ensuring that the plates of the press are parallel.
  12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the means (70, 74, 90, 92) for keeping the mold plates in place in the mold are mechanical and/or hydraulic means.
  13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the means for keeping the mold plates in place comprise bearing means (70, 72) or locking means (92).
  14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that at least one of the large vertical walls (30) of the mold is designed to receive a plate for decorating the building block.
  15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that it is disposed at an outlet from an installation for producing plaster.
EP92911263A 1991-05-15 1992-05-14 Method and device for manufacturing construction blocks from a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand, and water Expired - Lifetime EP0619773B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9105870A FR2676386A1 (en) 1991-05-15 1991-05-15 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS FROM A HYDRAULIC BINDER SUCH AS PLASTER, AN INERT LOAD SUCH AS SAND AND WATER.
FR9105870 1991-05-15
PCT/FR1992/000424 WO1992020502A1 (en) 1991-05-15 1992-05-14 Method and device for manufacturing construction blocks from a hydraulic binder such as plaster, an inert filler such as sand, and water

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EP0619773A1 EP0619773A1 (en) 1994-10-19
EP0619773B1 true EP0619773B1 (en) 2000-03-15

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US (1) US5507996A (en)
EP (1) EP0619773B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH06509290A (en)
AT (1) ATE190549T1 (en)
AU (1) AU670748B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69230802D1 (en)
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EP0619773A1 (en) 1994-10-19
JPH06509290A (en) 1994-10-20
FR2676386A1 (en) 1992-11-20
WO1992020502A1 (en) 1992-11-26
OA09844A (en) 1994-08-15
DE69230802D1 (en) 2000-04-20
ATE190549T1 (en) 2000-04-15
AU1908492A (en) 1992-12-30
US5507996A (en) 1996-04-16
AU670748B2 (en) 1996-08-01

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