Method and apparatus for making soil plugs
US4422990A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1982 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01G24/60
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for continuously and rapidly forming trays of highly uniform elastomeric soil plugs comprises means for continuously mixing a water-containing soil slurry with a water-reactive pre-polymer compound, means for supplying the soil slurry and the pre-polymer compound to the mixing means at respective controlled rates, and means for delivering the mixed soil slurry and pre-polymer compound to a dispensing station for dispensing into mold receptacles; the receptacles are disposed in a closed path and carried by transport means seriatim past the dispensing station. Releasable bias means biases a tray mold member against a base mold member within each receptacle so as to extrude soil-pre-polymer mixture into plug-molding cavities of the tray mold member. The bias means is released after the plugs within the tray mold member have cured. The operation of the apparatus coordinates the various steps in the plug-molding process with stages of the chemical reaction between the water and pre-polymer compound to form highly uniform plugs at the maximum rate allowable by the chemical reaction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.