CA1115501A - Bell packer - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides a bell packer for moving a pair of pallets located within bell portions of a pair of concrete pipe jackets comprising: a base, a pair of upright posts secured to the base, a carriage slidably mounted on the posts, means connected to the carriage selectively operable to move the carriage to an up position and a down position, a pair of pallet vibrating and turning units mounted on the carriage operable to engage a pair of pallets when the carriage is in the up position, each unit having a rotatable base, a plurality of upright tubular members secured to the base, a plurality of legs, elastic means mounting the legs on the tubular members, a table secured to the legs, pallet engaging means mounted on the table, vibrator means attached to the table, and drive means drivably connected to the base of each unit to concurrently rotate the bases whereby when the drive means and vibrator means are operated the two pallets are concurrently rotated and vibrated.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus and method for simultaneously making two or more concrete pipes. In particular the present invention relates -to a bell packer for moving a pair of pallets located within bell portions of a pair of concrete pipes.
This application is a divisional application of copending application No. 269,255 filed Jan. 6, 1977.
Conventional packer head machines for making a concrete pipe utilize a rotating packer head and a cylindrical outer jacket to form the concrete pipe. A pallet is located on a turntable adjacent the lower end of the jacket. A top table adjacent the upper end of the jacket has a hole for allowing the packer head to be located in the bottom end of the jacket.
Concrete from a hopper and conveyor system is discharged through the hole into the jacket above the packer head. The pipe is formed by simultaneous rotation and elevation of the packer head.
Gourlie et al shows in U.S. Patent No. 3,262,175 a packer head concrete pipe making machine.
The top table can be equipped with a feeding device.
The feeding device has a plurality of blades that are rotatable to move the concrete from the top table into the jacket. An example of a feeding device is shown by Fosse et al in U.S.
Patent No. 3,551,968. Another feeding device is shown by Miller in U.S. Patent No. 1,137,776.
It has been found that to make a satisfactory bell end on a concre-te pipe, a bell packer should be used. A bell packer is a mechanism that rotates and vibrates the pallet during the initial stages of making the pipe. A bell packer structure is shown by Tiller in U.S. Patent No. 3,083,~33.
Conduit foxming machines having a plurality of packer heads are used to form a plurality of openings in a single pipe~
The pipe is formed in a single outer jacket. The plurality of ' ~2-,.lt-~5~

packer heads and cylindrical followers are used to make a plur-ali-ty of passages through the pipe. Norton et al in U.S. Patent No. 3,095,628 shows this type of machine.
A machine for making a plurality of concrete pipes is disclosed by Steiro in U.S. Patent No. 2,926,411. This machine has four jackets that are positioned about four upright cores.
The concrete is placed in the annular spaces between the cores and the jackets to form the pipes. The machine does not use packer heads for making the pipes.
The invention of the copending application is directed to an apparatus and method for simultaneously making a plurality of concrete tubular bodies. More particularly, the apparatus is a machine for simultaneously making two or more concrete pipes.
The machine has a frame extended upwardly from a turntable. A
form assembly having first and second upright outer jackets is mounted on the turntable and positionable in vertical alignment with a pair of packer heads. The packer heads are connected to a gear box mounted on a cross head with a pair of downwardly directed rotatable drive shafts. The cross head movably mounted on the frame controls the vertical position of the packer heads.
A top table having rotatable filler funnels and stationar~ wiper blades is used to direct the concrete into the jackets above the packer heads. Header rings are used to form the male end of the pipes. A bell packer having two vibrating and turning units is used to simultaneously rotate and vibrate the pallets for the pipes to form the bell sections of the pipes.
The invention of the copending application provides a machine that can simultaneously make a plurality of concrete pipes in a single station. The invention also provides an apparatus and method for concurrently making two concrete pipes in a manner which utilizes a minimum amount of labor, time, and energy. The present invention provides a bell packer apparatus ~ :~ . . :; : , : .:

that simultaneously forms the bell sections of two concrete pipes.
According to ohe aspect of the present invention there is provided a bell packer for moving a pair of pallets located within bell portions of a pair of concrete pipe jackets com-prising: a base, a pair of upright posts secured to the base, a carriage slidably mounted on the posts, means connected to the carriage missing to an up position and a down position, a pair of pallet vibrating and turning units mounted on the carriage operable to engage a pair of pallets when the carriage is in the up position, each unit having a rotatable base, a plurality of upright tubular members secured to the base, a plurality of legs, elastic means mounting the legs on the tubular members, a table secured to the legs, pallet engaging means mounted on the table, vibrator means attached to the table, and drive means ;
drivably connected to the base of each unit to concurrently rotate the bases whereby when the drive means and vibrator means are operated the two pallets are concurrently rotated and vibrated.
According to another aspect thereof the present invention provides a bell packer for moving pallets located within bell portions of concrete pipe jackets comprising: a movable carriage, means for supporting and guiding the carriage for movement to a first position and a second position, a plur-`
ality of turning units mounted on the carriage, each unit having means to engage a pallet, and drive means to rotate said means to engage the pallet; and means for selectively moving the carriage to said first and second positions whereby said turning units are selectively moved into engagement with the pallets and separated from said palletsO
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:

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Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a two packer head machine for simultaneously making two concrete pipes;
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view, partly sectioned, of the midsection of the machine of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is an enlarged front elevational view of the bell packer;
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 8;

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Figure 11 is an enlarged front elcvlticnal. ViC~Y of one ,.
rotating and vibrating ullit engageahle ~it]l a pallet loeated in the bell seetion of a jaeket; r Figure 12 is an enlargecl front elevational view of the pallet positioner in its raisecl position;
Figure 13 is a seetional vie~-7 taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a top view of the pallet ~ositioner vie~Ying along line 14-14 of Figure 1.
DESCRIP1ION OF PR~RR~`D E~113nDI~lr.NI`: ~
Referring to Figure 1~ there is shown an apparatus incli- r eated ~enerally at l0 for simultaneollsly ln.lking t~o eonerete pipes. ~pparatus 10 has an uprigllt frame 12 inelucling a first and seeond u~right front posts 13 ancl 1~. Posts 13 ancl 14 are ~;
`struetural frame members, as I beams, ehallnel beams, or the like. The upper CllClS of posts 13 and 14 are eonneetecl to a eross top member 16. Intermediate portiolls of posts 13 and 14 s are eonneeted to an interme(liate eross member 17. The lower encls ,~
20 of posts 13 ancl 14 are seeurecl to a founclatioll ll as a eonerete floor or like support. Frame 12 has adclitional Upligllt posts and rear~ardly direeteci members ~not sho~n) providing ~llC frame ~ith a generally reetang~ r skeleton.
A movable earriage or eross llead 18 extends transversely between the posts 13 and 14. Cross heacl 18 is slidably mounted on a pair of upright guides 19 allcl 21. Guides 19 and 21 are eylindrieal upright rocls llaving ul~per en(ls see~lrecl to to" eross member 16 ancl lo~.~er encls seeured to intermedilte eross member 17.
Cross hea~ 18 llas a gc.lr hox 22 that is clrivahly eonneete(l to an ;k 30 eleetrie motor 23. ~ pair of clot~nwarclly clirectecl paeker heacl r shaft assem7nlies 24 ancl 26 are ~rivably eonlleete(l to gear box 22 and move vertically with cross he.~J, 18. Sha~t assemblies 24 and 26 have drive shafts eIlclosecI in tu,5)ular housings WlliC]l protect and reinforce the sllalts. Rotatab]e paeker hea(Is 27 _ and 28 are eonnected to the lower ends of shaft assemblies 24 and 26, respectively. Packer ]~eads 27 and 28 c~n be of known construction, sucll as tI~e pacl;er head disclosed in U. S. Patent r~
No. 3,262,175. EaclI packer Ilead 27 an~;l, 28 has a cylindrical body earrying a plurality o~ rollers. llpri~lIt hlades OlI top r of the body operclte to l7,ove concrete from the top of the l~ocly to the annular space betIIeen the bo~,y and the jacket or outer ~ -form. Cage positioners ean be used I~it]I the paeker heads 27 and 28, sueh as tl~e ca~e positioJIer shown in U. S. Patent No. r 3,262,175.
A pair of long hydraulic eylin,lers 29 and 31 are usecI to selectively raise and lower cross IIead 18. Cylinder Z9 posi- F'`
tloned adjaeent the inside of post 13 is attached to a support or foot 32 secured to post 13. The upper end of cy~in~Ier 29 ,~
is:eonneeted to a portion of cross }Iead 18. Cylin,~er 31 is ~' attaehed to a support or foot 33 seeured to post 1~1,. Cylinder 31 extends ~Ip~Yar~Ily from foot 33 adjaeent post 14 to eross head 18. Suitable lines and valves ~not shown) eonneet eylinders ! :~
t:-29 and 31 to the eontrols for operation of apparatus 10. ~,~t ``~
`A eireular turntable 34 surrounds the lo~ler end of post 14.: ~-Sultable rollers or wheels 36 movah,ly support turntable 34 on eurved traclcs or other support sur~aees. A ~lrive unit 37 eon- ~
nected to the eenter portion of turntable 3~ functions: to r sequentially rotate table 34 around post 14 to eIIange tlIe pipe making stations of the maehine. TaI)le 34 covers a pair o~ plts or chambers 38 and 39. Table 34 has:a plurality of pairs of radially ~ligned holes 217 anl 218 for provi~Iing passa~es: for r~
pallet positionors an~ a bell paeker herei~ rtel ~IeseriI~e~l. I, .
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... ~, A two pipe form assembly indicated generally at 41 is supported on table 34 between posts 13 and 14. Form assem-bly 41 comprises first and second upright outer forms or cylindrical jackets 42 and 43 surrounding cylindrical cham-bers for accommodating packer heads 27 and 28. As shown in Figure 2, forms 42 and 43 are connected together with a plural-ity of connector or bracket structures 44. Form 42 has a cylindrical outside wall 46 having an upright longitudinal split which allows the wall to expand so that the form can be ln stripped from a pipe. A plurality of releasable latches 47 , are operable to hold the cylindrical wall 46 in its closed ~: position as shown in Figure 2. An upright control member 48 connected to all latches 47 is movable to concurrently lock or unlock the latches 47. Form 44 has a similar cylindrical wall and latches identified with the same i~eference numbers with suffix A. A detailed disclosure of the two pipe form assembly 41 is found in U. S. Patent 4,134,568.
As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a movable top table indi-ca~ed generally at 49 is located above form assembly 41 be-20 tween posts 13 and 14. Table 49 is slidably mounted on a pair of upright rods or guides 51 and 52. The upper ends of guides 51 and 52 are secured to intermediate cross member 17. The lower ends of guides 51 and 52 are attached to in-wardly directed support brackets 32 and 33 secured to posts 13 and 14, respectively. Two pair of lift rods 53 and 54 secured to opposite sides of top table 49 extend upwardly to cross head 18. Stop nuts 53A and 54A thread on rods 53 - and 54 and engage cross head 18 to lift top table 49 from form assembly 41 when cross head 18 is at its raised or up 3() position. I~hen cross head 18 is lowerecl, top table 49 is lowered into engagement with the top of form assembly 41. A
~` pair of hold down hydraulic cylinders 56 and 57 interposed bet~een table 49 and stop brackets 88 and 89 mounted on guides 51 and 52 hold top table 49 in engagement with the top of form .
~,~ assembly 41. Blocks 86 and 87 mount cylindcrs 56 and 57 on opposite ends of beam 69. As shown in Figure 1, top table 49 is in the raised position spaced above the upper ends of ~he jackets 42 and 43. Turntable 34 can be turned to move form assembly 41 from under table 49 where it is accessible to lift and transport vehicles used to move form assembly 41 and pipes to a pipe curing and form stripping location. Figure 3 shows -table 49 in its lowered position in engagement with the upper ends of first and second jackets 42 and 43. Brackets 88 and 89 can be mounted on guides 51 and 52 at selected elevations so that form assemblies having different heights can be used with pipe ma~ing apparatus 10.
Top table 49 has a horizontal base or platform 58 located between guides Sl and 52. A pair of upright tubular members OT
: slceves 59 and 61 attached to opposite ends of platform 58 slidably

2() surround guides 51 and 52. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, platform 58 has two openings or holes 62 and 63 concentric with packer head shaft assemblies 24 and 26. Openings 62 and 63 are aligned with the open upper ends of jackets 42 and 43 to permit concrete to be conveyed into the chambers surrounded by jackets 42 and 43.
Platform 58 has a first funnel 64 formed by an annular cone-shaped or inclined wall surrounding opening 62 providing structure for directing concrete toward opening 62. A second funnel 66 formed by an annular downwardly inclined or cone-shaped wall surrounds opening 63. Upwardly directed channel members 67 and 68 are 3l) secured to opposite ends of platform 58 adjacent the inside of ',., ' ~~ ' ' ~
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sleeves 59 and 61, re~pectively. A cross beam 69 is attacllecl b to the upper ends of members 67 and 68. Cross beam 69 llas a i' i!~
pair of holes 71 and 72 for accommodating the packer head shaft r `" assemblies 24 and 26.
A first guide assembly 73 is mounted on tlle top of cross beam 6~ for stabilizing and guiding packer llead shaft assembly 24.
A second ~ui~e assembly 74 mounted on cross beam 69 stabilizes packer head shaft assembly 26. Guide assembly 73 has tllree wheels 76, 77 and 78 circumferentially spaced around the tube of drive shaft 24 an(l en~ageal)le therewitll. Eacll wlleel is loeated between pairs of ears or blocks 79 secured to cross beam 69. A transvers~ pivot pin 81 rotatahly mounts tlle w}leels F
on blocks 79. The seconcl guide assembly 74 llas tlle same wlleel structure as first guide assembly 73. Gui.le assemblies 73 and 74 minimize vibration and whipping of shaft assemblies 24 and 26. ~lounting the guide assemblies on table 49 insures that the r midportions of shaft assemblies 24 and 26 are stabilized at an advantageous position on the apl)aratus.
A pair of cylindrtcal l~eaders or tongue formers 82 ancl 83 are secured to the bottom of platform 58. Ilealer 82, as sho~
in Figure 3, fits into the upper en(l of jacket 42. Ileader 83 fits into the upper end of jacket 44. A plur.llity of circumferen- i :
tially spacel tabs 84 secure~ to tl~e bottom of a plate 85 guide t]le L
upper ends of jackets 42 and 43 into concentric relationship with cylindrical lleaders 82 and 83. ~leaders 82 and 83 form tlle stepped r or male portion of tlle pipes whicll fits i.nto tlle bell end of ad-jacent pipes. Ileaders 82 and 83 carl be mounted in thc upper ends of jackets 42 and 43 indepelldent of platform 58. L
~irst and seconl rotatable support means indicated gener-ally at 91 and 92 rotatably support funnels 64 and 66 respectively on platform 58. Funnels G4 and 66 are rotatablc about uprigllt 9_ j:
' axes concentric witll pac~er heatl sllaft assc~nll~lies 24 and 26.
`~ Referring to Figure G, rotatable support means 91 has a rotat-able annular ring 93 securecl to tlle annlllclr portion of funnel 64. A stationary second ring 94 surrollrlds ring 93 arld is seeure(l tn platfor1n 58. A plurality of roller meml)ers, as balls 96, interposed letween the rings 93 and 94 rotatably mount ring 93 and funnel 64 on ring 94. An annular sprocket 97 is attael~ed to rin~ 93 an(l furlllel 64. ~n endless roller .
`e]lain 98 is trained about sprocket 97. Rotating support means 92 for funnel 66 has t]le same ring ancl bearing structure as sho~n in Figllre 6.
Referring to ~ig~lre 5, chaill 9R extencls aroull(l a clrive sprocket 99 connecte~l to a power unit lnl, as a hydraulic or eleetric motor. An icller sprocket 102 rotatal~ly mounted on plat-form 58 guides ehain 98 for movement to~ard the sprocket 97.
Drive sprocket 99 is rotatably moullte(l on a moval)le plate 103.
Opposite edges of plate 103 are located in generally U-shaped guides 104. A bolt 106 is securecl to plate ln3 ancl carri.es a spring 107 and nut 108. Spring ln7 ~iases the bolt l06 in an outward direction an(l therel)y maintains a resilient tension or biasing force on chain 98. The clrive arrangement for chain 98A
is identical with the drive for cllain 98. The corresponcling partsoftlleclrivestructureforcllain98i~arcthesamereference L
numerals wi.th the suffi~ A as tlle parts of the drive structure for the chain 98.
As shown in Figures 3~ 4, ancl G, a plurality o:E .stationary wiper means extencl downlYardly acliacerlt tlle insicle surfaces of funnels 64 and 66 to direct concrete that may he located on the :~ funnels into the central opellillgs 62 and 63. I~iper means include a first wiper 109 attached to a mounting plate 111 Plate 111 is secure~l to tlle upright channel member 67, l~lacle - 1. 0 - I

109 is a generally flat member that extends clown1~ardly ancl in-~ardly into the space surrounded by the insicle l~all of ~unnel 64. Located opposite blade 109 is a second clownwardly and r inwardly inclined blacle 112. The upper end of blacle 112 is secured to a mounting plate 113. ~lounting pl~tc- 113 is attached to an upright post or support 114~ The ~ower encl of support 114 is securecl to platform 58. Post 114 also mounts a second r wiper bla~le 116. Blacle 116 exten~s clownwardly allcl in~arclly in funnel 66. A second bladc 117 is locatecl opposite blac7e 116.
The upper end of blade 117 is securecl to cll.lnnel member 68 with a mount 118. As S]IOI~ll in Figure 5, blacles 109, 112~ 116, and 117 are angularly extended in the direction of the rotation f r funnels 64 and 66 ~ erc?by they acllieve l~iping of the funllels to clirect the concrete from the ~unnels into the openings G2 and 63, respectively.
Referring to Figure 3, a hopper 119 has two downwarc]ly di- r rected discharge fullnels 121 and 122 for directing concrete 126 !~
and 129 onto t~o horizontal conveyors lZ3 and 127. Ilopper 119 can be m~unted on frame 12 with support structure, as vertical :
guides, which permits vertical relocation of tlle l~opper 119 and conveyors 123 and 127. llle discharge encls of conveyors 123 ancl 127 are located in close proxil~ity to the tops of funnels 64 and 66.
. A controlled drive unit 12~ as a l~yclraulic motor, operates to move conveyor 123 to discllarge the concrete to opening 62 adja-cent shat assembly 24. The concrete 126 falls through opening 62 into the chamher surrouncled by jacket 42. In a similar manner, a controlled drive unit 128, as a secon(l hy(lraulic motor drives conveyor 127 to carry the concrete 129 to ol~ening 63 leacling to the chambcr surroundc?d by jacket 43.

3~ Returning to Figure 1, a bell packer in~licatecl gellerally at 131 is locatecd in pit 38 belo~ turntahle 34. Bell packer 131 is ; movable to an up position and operable to concurrelltly vi~rate alld rotate the pallets located above turntable 34 in tlle bell , - ~
sections of jackets 42 and 43. ~ell packer 131 is used to densify r the concrete at the bell end of the packer to insure that all of the space in thc bcll end of the pipes are fil]ed Witll concrete.
~s sho~n in Figure 8, bell packer 131 comprises a base 132 supported on the bottom of pit 38. A pair of upright posts 133 r and 134 are attached to opposite ends of base 132. The upper ends of posts 133 ancl 134 are attached to in\~ardly directed hrackets or supports 136 and 137 secure(l to tlle lo~er en~ls of frame posts 13 and 14, respectively. I~ movable carria~c 138 extends horizontally bet~-~een posts 133 and 134. A first pair of r cylindrical members or sleeves 139 sliclably mounted on post 133 are attaclled to one sicle of carriage 138. A second pair of cylin-drical members or sleeves 141 attaclled to the opposite end of carria~e 138 are slidably mounted on post 134. A plurality of fasteners 142 secures sleeves 139 to carriage 138. A plurality ; of fasteners 143 secure the sleeves 141 to tlle opposite side of carriage 138. Fasteners 142 and 143 can be nut-and-bolt assem-blies. A pair o upright l~ydraulic cyllnclers 144 and 146 extended between base 13Z and carriage 138 concurrently operate to selectively raise and lower carriage 138 along the linear o extent of posts 133 and 134. The upper end o~ cylinder 144 engages L
a horizontal tab 147 secured to carriage 138. An in~ardly directed tab 148 engages the upper end of cylinder 146. The ~`
lower ends of the cylinders are mounted on blocks or feet 149 and 151, respectively, attacl~ the cylin~lers 144 an-l 146 to base 132. Suitable hy~raulic lines and valve controls ~ithin the access of the operator of the apparatus operatively connected ; 30 to hydraulic cylinders 144 and 146 control the extension and r contraction of the cylinders.

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, A pair of vibrating ancl turning un;ts in~licated generally - at 152 and 153 are mounted on carriage 138. Unit 152 is in vertical alignment with the center longitudinal axis of jacket 42. Unit 153 is in vertical alignment Yith the center longitudinal axis of jacket 43. The following description is limitecl to the unit 152. The parts of unit 153 that correspond to th~ pal~ts of unit 152 have the same reference numerals with the suffix A.
Unit 152 has a horizontal base 154, as a flat disc, rotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. Tl-ree upright tubular members 156 are secured to the top of base 154. Downwardly directed legs 157 extend into tubular members 156. As shown in ~igure 9~ leg 157 is surrounded by an annular elastic cushioning member 158 to insulate carriage 138 from vibrations transmitted to legs 157. Member 158 is annular elastic rubber material.
Returning to Figure 8, a circular horizontal tal)le 159 is secured to the upper encl o legs 157~ Cross plates 161 are supported on the top of tal)le 159 witll a plurality of clownward]y directed support memhers 162. Secured to the center of the bottom of table 159 is a vibrator 163. Vihrator 163 can l)e an electrically hydralllicllly or air operated vibrator operable to impart mechanical vibrations to table 159. A moullt 164 t connects vibrator 163 ~ith the bottom of tahle 159.
Base 154 is rotatably supportecl Oll top of carria~e 138 witl a rotatable mount indicated generally at 166. As shown in ~igure 8, mount 166 has a fixed annular ring 167 secured to carriage 138. A rotatable ring 168 is concentrically positioned within ring 167 and rotatably mountecl thereoll witll a plurality of I ;
rollers or balls 169. Ring lfi8 is secured to an annular spur gear 171. Upwardly directed spacers 172 secure gear 171 to the ~; 30 bottom of base 154. Base 154A is mounted on -top of carriage 138 r with a mount 166A similar to mount 166. A motor 173 mounted on . ' ' I

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carriage 138 Wit}l a gencrally U-sllaped bracket 174 powers a ', drive gear 176 having external teeth in driving engagement with the teeth of thc gears 171 and 171A. ~otor 173 operates r to concurrently rotate the gears 171 an-l 171A thcreby rotating the vibratin~ ancl turning units 152 and 153.
A vibration ring 177 is mountecl on the cross members of platform 161. Vibration ring 177 is an annular ring member having a plurality of upl~arclly directed pallet engaging members or ears 178 and downwardly directed support members 179. A
plurality of bolts 181 secure support members 179 to cross members 161. Cross members 161 have a l)lurality of holes for accommod~ting vibration rings of different cliameters. r Referring to Figure 11, pallet 182 is located in the bell or lo~ler end of jackct 43 above turntable 37. Pallet 182 is in concentric relation witl~ holc 183 in turntal)le 37 ancl packer - head 27. Packer head 27 has an annular skirt 27A that projects through the centcr hole in pallet 182 acljacent the vibration ring 177. 1~ plurality of relcasablc? latclles 184 retain thc pallct ', in asselr.bled relation with jacket 43. Pallet 182 has a plurality '' of downl~lardly directecl lugs 186 wllicll are aligned with ears 178 on vibration ring 177. Rotating packer head 27 and rotating vibration ring 177 opc?rate togetller to insure that concrete 187 is properly formed in the bell scctioll of ,iacket 43. L
Returning to Figure 1 t a pallet positioner indicated ~ener-- ally at 188 is locatecl in pit 39 belo~l turntable 34. Turntable 34 has two holes or openings 217 and 218 opell to pit 34. Pallet positioner 188 functiolls to concentrically locate the pallets relative to the opcnings 217 cllld 218 and hold the pi-llets in an elevated position so tllat the jackets can bc placed over the '~ 30 pallets and the pallets lock'ed in the bell sections of the r jackets.
i -14-As S]IO~ in Figure 12, pallet positioner 188 is in a raised position and locates a pair of pallets 189 and 191 ahove turntable 34. Pallet posi.tioner 188 ilas a horizontal b~se 193 carrying two upright side supports 194 and 196. An : u~wlrclly directecl movable frame indicate(l generally at 197 is located bet~een sup~orts 194 and 196. Frame 197 has a pair : of upwardly dir~cte~ side angle members 198 and 199 connected to an upper cross plate 102. ~ pair of bottom cross members r 102 are secured to the lower ends of angle members 198 and 199.
10 A flat horizontal top plate 203 is secured to tlle top ends o~ ¦
angle members 198 and 199 and the top o cross plate 201. A q first pair of rollers 204 is rotatably mounted on support 194 r ~ith balls 205. Rollers 204 have V grooves located in engagement with the apex section of allgle member 98. The second pair of rollers 206 rotatably mounted on support 196 with balls 206A.
Rollers 206 h~ve V grooves located in engagement with an apex : section of angle member 199. An upright hy~raulic cylinder 207 is operable to selectively raise and lower fra~e 197. A
lower pin 208 mounts tl-e bottom of cylinder 207 to a lower ~- 20 cross plate 211 attlclled to base 193 and support members 194 an~ 196. An upper pin 209 connects the rod end of cylinder 207 to midportion of upper cross plate 201.
pair of circular tables 212 and 213 are mounted on top of plate 203. As shown in Figure 14, tables 212 and 213 have dia- L
meters smaller than openings 217 and 218, thereby allowing tables 212 and 213 to be located above the upper surface of turntable 34.
Table 212 has a plurality of downwardly directed legs or spacers ~ :
214 secured to top plate 203 with bol~s 215. A plurality of downwardly directed legs 116 mounts table 213 to top plate 203.
Bolts 220 secure legs 216 to plate 203. A first guide and r centering structure 219 is secured to the top of table 212.

~' ' --^ --Guide and centcring structure 219 has four uprigl~t mcmbers 22Z
connected to cross menlbers 224. rhe outer end of cross members 224 are upwardly and inwardly inclined to provide sloping r surfaccs which permit the pallets to fit acljacent the outside edges of upright mcmbers 222. A seconcl guide ancl centcring structure 221 is secured to table 213. The structure of guide ~,; .
and centering structure 221 is identical with the structure - of guide ancl ccntering structure 219. Likc parts have the : same refcrence numeral with the suffi~
- 10 In use~ pallet positioner 188 is movccl to the raised posi- L
tion by actuating hy~lraulic cylinder 207. Tables 212 and 213 move througll openings 217 and 218 and turntable 37. Pallets r 189 and 191 are located about guide ancl centering structures f 219 and 221 respectively. The lower outwar(lly directed flanges i of the pallets arc positioned above the top s~lrface of turntahle L~
34. A form assembly, as form assembly 41, is placed over the pallets and dressed on thc turntable 34. The latc1~es on the bottom of the forms are placed in position wl~ereby the pallets ,;
are locked into the bell sections of the jackets 41 ~ncl 42.
Turntable 34 is then rotated to locatc form assembly 41 below top table 49 ancl above bell packer 131 as sllol~n in Figure 1. Cross head 18 is lowered to simultallcously lower top table 49 and packer heacls 27 and 2S. The top table 49 moves down until it engages the tops of jackets 42 and 43. At this time, the tongue ; ormers or heads 82 and 83 are in position in the upper portions of jackets 42 ancl 43. The hyclraulic cylinclers 56 and 57 are j~
actuated to firmly holcl top table 49 in its operativc clown posi-tion in engagement with the upper ends of jackets 42 an~ 43.
Cross head 18 continucs to move dol~n along thc ~uidcs 19 ancl 21 30 until packer heads 27 an~l 28 are positioned in the bcll sections r of jackets 42 and 43. As show]l in Figurc 11~ thc lowcr portions -or skirts 24A of each packer head extends through the pallets.

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The bell en(ls of the concre~c pipes arc formed by placing concrete 187 in the chambers of the pipes above pac'ker heads 27 and 28~ Conveyors 123 and 127 are operated to (lirect the con- r crete throu~h open ends 62 and 63 of funnel 64 and 66 respec~ivcly.
The bcll packer 131 is raised into operative vibratillg and rotat-ing relationship ~ith the pallets 182~ lly(lraulic cylinders 144 and 146 are extended to raise vibration rings 177 and 177A into engagement l~ith lugs 186 of the pallcts. Tllc pallets 182 arc raised a short distancc so tllat they clcar the latchcs 184 and 10 are free to rotate relative to jackets 4Z and 43 The bell sections of the pipes are formed by rotating packer heads 27 and 28~ This directs tlle concrete into the annular r area above an~ around the pallets. The bell packer 131 is operated during thc rotation of the packer heads. ~lotor 173 operates to drivc tlle vibration rings 177 and 177Ao With tlle ears 178 in'driving enga~ement with lugs 186 secured to the pallets, the pallcts are rotated. Vibrators 163 and 163A are operated to impart vibrations to vibrating rings 177 and 177A
whereby pallets 182 and 182A are concurrently rotated and vi-20 brated to form an~ finish the concrete pipe in thc bell sections of the concrete pipes. After the bell sections of thc pipes ; are formed, a bell packer is turned off and retracted to its lower position. Packer hcad 27 and 28 continue to rotate~ L
The hydraulic'cylinders 129 and 131 are actuated to raise cross head 18. This raises packer heads 27 ancl 28~ Convcyors 123 and 127 continue to opcrate to discharge concrete into jackets 42 and 43. Thc o~crator o thc machi;lc Cilll individually control the speed of operation of eacll conveyor, thereby insuring that a continuous supply of concrete is discharged into jackets 42 30 and 43. r The movement of the concrete into jackets 42 and 43 is facilitated by rotatillg fullllels 64 and 66. ~lotors 101 and lOlA

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are selectively operated by the o~erator of the machinc to rotate funnels 64 and 66, respectively. The concrete on the inclined inner surfaces of the funnel is moved through the opening 62 and 63 by the stationary wiper blades 109 112 116, and 117.
Cross head 18 continucs to be moved in an upward direction.
When cross head 18 approaches its uppcr position it cngages stop bolts 53A and 54A attached to lift rods 53 and 54. The upward movement of cross head 18 carries top table 49 in an upward direc-10 tion thereby separating the top table 49 from the upper end of form assembly 41~ as shown in Figurc 1. At this point tlle packer heads 27 and 28 also move through openings 62 and 63 r of top table 49~
Turntable 34 is then indexed to another position to move form assembly 41 along with the pipes formed therein to a posi- !7 tion outside of frame 12. A new form assembly is simultancously located in longitudinal alignment Wit]l table 49. The process of ; making a second pair of pipes is repeated. Form assembly 41 is transported with a transport vchicle or overhead crane to a 20 stripping or curing area. Releasable latches ~7 and the jackets 42 and 43 are discngaged, allowing the cylindrical ~all 46 to expand. Form assembly 41 can then be stripped from the concrete pipes by movement in an upward dircction. Tllis is commonly achieved with an overhead crane or lifting apparatus. The pallets are left under the pipes until the concrete of the pipes R~
` is cured. r-l~hile there has been s]lown and described a preferrcd embodi-- ment of the apparatus and method for simultaneously making two concrete pipes, it is understood that more than two concretc 30 pipes can be made by adding additional jackets packer heads, r , and bell packers to the machine. It is also ullderstood that changes in the sizes, strtlcture, ~nd parts can be made by those slcilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is defined in the follow- i ing claims. L
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Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A bell packer for moving a pair of pallets located within bell portions of a pair of concrete pipe jackets com-prisings: a base, a pair of upright posts secured to the base, a carriage slidably mounted on the posts, means connected to the carriage selectively operable to move the carriage to an up position and a down position, a pair of pallet vibrating and turning units mounted on the carriage operable to engage a pair of pallets when the carriage is in the up position, each unit having a rotatable base, a plurality of upright tubular members secured to the base, a plurality of legs, elastic means mounting the legs on the tubular members, a table secured to the legs, pallet engaging means mounted on the table, vibrator means attached to the table, and drive means drivably connected to the base of each unit to concurrently rotate the bases whereby when the drive means and vibrator means are operated the two pallets are concurrently rotated and vibrated.

2. The bell packer of Claim 1 wherein: the means connected to the carriage are selectively operable to move the carriage and includes a pair of upright hydraulic cylinders mounted on the base and connected to the carriage.

3. The bell packer of Claim 1 wherein: the elastic means mounting the legs on the tubular members comprises annular elastic members surrounding the legs and located within the tubular members.

4. The bell packer of Claim 1 wherein: the pallet engaging means comprises a ring having a plurality of ears adapted to engage a pallet, and a plurality of radially outward-ly directed plate members mounting the ring on the table.

5. The bell packer of Claim 1 including: a mount secured to the vibrator means and connected to the bottom of the table.

6. The bell packer of Claim 1 wherein: the drive means includes a gear drivably connected to each rotatable base, a drive gear engageable with each gear, a motor mounted on the carriage and drivably connected to the drive gear whereby on operation of the motor the bases are simultaneously rotated.

7. A bell packer for moving pallets located within bell portions of concrete pipe jackets comprising: a movable carriage, means for supporting and guiding the carriage for movement to a first position and a second position relative to the pallets, a plurality of pallet turning units mounted on the carriage, each unit having means to engage a pallet, and drive means to rotate said means to engage the pallet, and means for selectively moving the carriage to said first and second posi-tions whereby said turning units are selectively moved into engagement with the pallets and separated from said pallets.

8. The bell packer of Claim 7 including: vibrator means for vibrating the means to engage the pallet whereby the pallet is vibrated.

9. The bell packer of Claim 7 wherein: each turning unit has a base, a mount rotatably mounting the base on the carriage, a table mounted on the base, and means mounting the means to engage the pallet on the table.

10. The bell packer of Claim 9 including: vibrator means mounted on the table for vibrating the means to engage the pallet.

11. The bell packer of Claim 10 including: upright means having elastic members mounting the table on the base.

12. The bell packer of Claim 7 wherein: the drive means for rotating the means to engage the pallet includes a gear operatively coupled to the means to engage the pallet, a drive gear engageable with said gear, a motor mounted on the carriage drivably connected to the drive gear whereby on opera-tion of the motor the means to engage the pallet is rotated.