The present invention pertains to the field of concrete block manufacturing, and more specifically to a concrete block splitting and pitching apparatus and method for splitting a concrete block into two or more sections and pitching the edges of the sections in a single step, using only pitching blades.
Prior art systems and methods for manufacturing concrete blocks have included splitting devices that use two or more diametrically-opposed blades in a press, where the blades cause the concrete block to split into two parts. Some of the prior art concrete block splitters further include ridges or projections to create random variations on the concrete block, so as to manufacture a plurality of blocks that do not appear to be identical, to simulate a hand-made or naturally-occurring block.
In addition, prior art systems and methods have included pitching devices that pitch the edges of a concrete block. These pitching devices are also used to create random variations to simulate hand-made or naturally-occurring block. As such, the prior art concrete block manufacturing systems and methods teach away from creation of features on a concrete block in a controlled manner.
In accordance with the present invention, a concrete block splitting and pitching apparatus and method are provided that allow a concrete block to be split and pitched in a single step.
In particular, a system and method for splitting and pitching a concrete block are provided that allow the pitching of the concrete block to be controlled so as to create controlled features on the pitched surface.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for pitching and splitting a masonry block is provided. The apparatus includes a first pitching blade configured to move in a first direction. A second pitching blade is disposed adjacent to the first pitching blade, and the two pitching blades are separated by a distance that is small enough so that the splits initiated by each blade join into a single plane, thereby pitching and splitting the masonry block without the need for a splitting blade.
The present invention provides many important technical advantages. One important technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus and method for splitting and pitching a concrete block that allows the concrete block to be split and pitched in a single step using two pitching blades only, so as to create a pitched edge on a split face of a masonry block without the need for a splitting blade.
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof on reading the detailed description that follows in conjunction with the drawings.
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawing figures might not be to scale and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
Blade assembly 100 includes splitting blade 102 and pitching blades 104 and 106. Each of splitting blade 102 and pitching blades 104 and 106 are secured in grooves 112, 114 and 110, respectively, of blade holder 108, which can be an interchangeable blade holder assembly, a static blade holder assembly that is part of a larger cutting machine, or other suitable blade assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, pins, screws, clamps, or other suitable devices or materials can be used to secure splitting blade 102 in groove 112 and pitching blades 104 and 106 in grooves 114 and 110, respectively. The shape of splitting blade 102 and pitching blades 104 and 106 can likewise be altered, such as to interlock with grooves 112, 114 and 116, respectively, or for other suitable purposes.
Splitting blade 102 and pitching blades 104 and 106 are made from suitable material for splitting concrete blocks, such as steel or other suitable blade material. Pitching blades 104 and 106 are inset a distance “X1” and “X2,” respectively, from splitting blade 102, such that when blade holder 108 is moved towards the concrete block to be split and pitched, splitting blade 102 encounters the concrete block first and causes the block to split. Pitching blades 104 and 106 then encounter the block after it has been split so as to cause the split edge of the block to be pitched. Furthermore, splitting blade 102 can be used to affect the action of pitching blades 104 and 106, such as by increasing the height difference “X1” and “X2” so that splitting blade 102 applies a force against the split face of the concrete block. In this exemplary embodiment, the spacings “X1,” “X2,” “Y1” and “Y2” as shown can be varied as suitable to create different pitch depths, spacing, to decrease the amount of force required to perform the pitching and splitting operations, to control the quality of the pitching and splitting operations so as to reduce random variations in the split or pitched surfaces, or for other suitable purposes.
Splitting blade 102 and pitching blades 104 and 106 can be removed to allow them to be replaced, such as to modify the height difference “X1” or “X2,” the spacing “Y1” or “Y2,” to replaced blades after they have been damaged or worn, or for other suitable purposes. Further variations of exemplary pitching blades 104 and 106 are shown in side view in
In operation, blade assembly 100 is used in conjunction with other blade assemblies to split a concrete block and to pitch the resulting edges in a single combined splitting and pitching operation. The separation “Y1” and “Y2” between the plane of splitting blade 102 and the planes of pitching blades 104 and 106, respectively, and “X1” and “X2” between the edge of splitting blade 102 and between the edge of pitching blades 104 and 106, respectively, can be varied to control the quality of the pitched edge that is formed after splitting. In one exemplary embodiment, the width of splitting blade 102 can be controlled so as to separate the segments of the split concrete block so as to prevent interference between the segments as they are split, which can create random variations that might not be desired. Other suitable variations described herein can also or alternatively be used to control the pitching of edges after splitting.
In operation, blade assembly 200 is moved towards a concrete block in the direction of the arrow to split the concrete block and to pitch the edges of the concrete block in a single step. In one exemplary embodiment, blade assembly 200 can be part of a hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or mechanical press that simultaneously moves blade assembly 200 down onto the concrete block to be split, two other blade assemblies sideways against the concrete block, and one additional blade assembly upwards against the concrete block. When blade assembly 200 is used for each blade assembly, each edge of the two block pieces that are formed from the concrete block that is being split can be pitched. The pitched surface created using blade assembly 200 can be controlled to have predetermined characteristics based on the orientation of splitting blade 102 and pitching blade 104, such as by increasing the planar separation “Y2” or the edge height separation “X1” as shown in
In addition, pitching blades 304, 306, 308 and pitching blades 310, 312, and 314 are separated from splitting blade 302 by a distance of Y4, Y5, Y6, Y1, Y2 and Y3, respectively, and the cutting edge of pitching blades 304, 306, 308 and pitching blades 310, 312, and 314 are separated from the cutting edge of splitting blade 302 by a distance of X4, X5, X6, X1, X2 and X3, respectively. In this manner, the separation between the pitching blades and the splitting blade can be controlled so as to reduce the amount of force required to split and pitch the concrete block, to control the pitching of the concrete block edges after splitting so as to eliminate unwanted random variations, and for other suitable purposes.
As previously discussed, the spacing of splitting blades 906A and 906B relative to pitching blades 908A, 908B, 910A and 910B can also be varied so as to control the location of the pitch break. For example, if the difference in height between the splitting blades and the pitching blades is sufficient, the splitting blades will provide an axial force to the split face of each concrete block section that will cause the pitch break to elongate as shown. Even a slight difference in height between the splitting blades and the pitching blades will affect the dimensions of the pitch break, making the dimensions more controlled due only to the presence of pitching blades adjacent to the splitting blades and the presence of the newly-split concrete block sections adjacent to each other. In this manner, the dimensions of the pitch break are controlled not only by the pitching blades but also by the configuration of all of the blades in the blade assembly as well as the combined splitting and pitching operation that leaves the split concrete block sections adjacent to each other during the pitching operation.
In operation, blade holder 1008 is moved downwards, such as by a pneumatic press or other suitable presses capable of providing sufficient force to split concrete block 1026. Likewise, base 1002 can be recessed so as to hold concrete block 1026 up and can include movable splitting blade 1004 and pitching blade 1006 that can be raised, such as by a pneumatic press, in coordination with splitting blade 1012 and pitching blade 1010. In this manner, splitting blades 1012 and 1004 interact with concrete block 1026 so as to create a split through concrete block 1026.
Likewise, blade holders 1014 and 1020 are moved laterally so as to cause splitting blades 1018 and 1024 to interact with concrete block 1026 at the same time that splitting blades 1012 and 1004 interact with concrete block 1026 so to form a uniform split through concrete block 1026. After concrete block 1026 has been split by splitting blades 1004, 1012, 1018 and 1024, pitching blades 1006, 1010, 1016, and 1022 interact with concrete block 1026 so as to pitch the edges of concrete block 1026 along the split. In this manner, concrete block 1026 can be split into two blocks and the edges of each block can be pitched in a single action.
Although exemplary embodiments of a system and method of the present invention have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications can be made to the systems and methods without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/583,194, filed Oct. 18, 2006, entitled “CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING AND PITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD,” which is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/583,192, entitled “CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING AND PITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD,” and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/583,592 entitled “MASONRY BLOCK MULTI-SPLITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD,” commonly owned, and incorporated by reference for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11583194 | Oct 2006 | US |
Child | 12848800 | US |