Apparatus for the Manufacture of Prefabricated Lined Wall Sections

It has been demonstrated that for many types of buildings it is desirable to have wall sections formed of a brick exterior with a lining of tiles affixed to the bricks. Such wall sections have been shown in German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,102,664. It has also been shown that in many instances it is desirable to make preformed wall sections. When constructing wall sections of bricks with a tile lining by hand, however, the procedure is very time consuming and complicated whether for preformed wall sections or those constructed in the field, and sometimes not economically practical.

According to the present invention, preformed wall sections having exteriors of brick, block, or the like with a lining of tile or the like are economically constructed automatically with a minimum of labor and wasted effort, yet the wall sections constructed thereby are of high quality and will remain intact even over extended periods of use. According to the present invention a preformed brick wall panel is disposed in a generally horizontal plane, a lining panel composed of individual tile members is assembled, proper spacings are introduced between the tiles, columns of mortar are disposed along the upper face of the horizontally disposed wall panel, and the lining panel members are transferred in groups or en masse to a position over the wall panel, and are then firmly pressed into engagement with the mortar columns. The mortar columns are preferably arranged so that when a wall section containing the same is in use, the columns will run vertically.

Exemplary apparatus according to the present invention may include vacuum grippers for transferring of the lining panel to position over the wall panel, flatbed cars movable on tracks for locating the wall panels in proper position, automatic means for applying all mortar columns simultaneously onto a wall panel upper face, and spacing means for introducing a predetermined space between various tiles of lining panel including a plurality of sets of plural levers interconnected to form a scissors-like device. Also, the vacuum grippers can be so constructed that they introduce the predetermined spacing between the tiles after lifting thereof from a horizontal surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for constructing preformed wall sections. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary wall section being produced according to the present invention showing a step-by-step completion thereof utilizing exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary lining panel being formed according to the present invention for disposition on a wall panel, utilizing exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a side view of a portion of an exemplary lining panel and supporting apparatus therefor;

FIG. 3b is a detail top plan view with the lining panel removed of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of exemplary vacuum gripping apparatus in operative relationship with portions of a lining panel for movement thereof according to the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4a in operative relationship with portions of a lining panel for pressing thereof into engagement with a wall panel;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of exemplary gripper and spacer means that may be utilized according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view taken generally along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5, showing the apparatus partly in elevation and partly in section; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the vacuum gripper and spacing means of FIG. 5.

Exemplary apparatus according to the present invention for effecting the method of the present invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawings. A horizontally disposed preformed wall panel, shown generally at A in FIG. 1, composed of bricks, blocks, or the like, 10 is preferably disposed on a generally flatbed car 12 or the like, which is movable along a track 14. The preformed wall panel A is adapted to be disposed so that line B--B therethrough is disposed in a vertical plane when a wall constructed with wall panel A is in use, as for forming the wall of a building. The wall panel A is adapted to have a preformed lining panel C, composed of tile members 25 or the like, affixed thereto to thereby form a finished wall section D. When the wall section D is in use -- for example as a wall of a building -- the tile lining panel C will be disposed toward the interior of the building, and the brick wall panel A will be disposed exteriorly thereof.

According to the present invention, the wall panel A and the lining panel C are readily and efficiently assembled. A preformed wall panel A on a car 12 is moved along track 14 until under a mortar applying device, such as shown at 15 in FIG. 1, for applying parallel spaced columns of mortar 16 on the upwardly facing surface thereof. It is preferred that the device 15 apply the mortar along lines parallel to line B--B and over and in grooves 11 between adjacent bricks 10 so that when a finished wall section is in use, the columns 16 will be disposed in a vertical plane.

A lining panel C to be affixed to a wall panel A is preferably formed as shown and with the apparatus in FIG. 2. A conveyor 20 or the like transports individual tile members 25 in the direction shown in FIG. 2 until a row of adjacent tiles is completed, then the tiles 25 are moved by conveyor 26 or the like onto a grouping table 28 or the like, and are aligned thereon with edges 30 of table 28. Each tile 25 may be of the type having a plurality of webs 24 formed on one surface thereof, however, tiles without webs are also readily utilizable. At least two webs 24 preferably are provided adjacent edges 23 of tiles 25 that have webs. Preferably, each of the tiles 25 is approximately of the same width -- or half the width -- as the bricks 10 onto which they are to be disposed.

After a group of tiles 25 are disposed on grouping table 28 to thereby form a lining panel C of unconnected tiles according to one embodiment of the present invention a space F is introduced in the direction E between each of the tiles 25 to thereby form a lining panel C of unconnected tiles. Preferably, the spacing of the tiles is accomplished by spreading means shown generally at 32 in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Such spreading means 32 includes a plurality of individual links 34 of equal length pivotally interconnected as points 35 and 36 thereof to form a scissors-like assembly. At each of the points 36 there is provided a pin 38 having an abutment ledge 40 formed thereon for extending upwardly through a slot 29 in grouping table 28 for engaging a web 24 of a tile 25. The pin 38 preferably is guided in slot 29 so that movement of the interconnected levers 34 of assembly 32 results in translational movement of the tiles 25 abutted by the ledges 40 of pins 38. By operation of the assembly 32 it is thus seen that a uniform space F is introduced between each of the tiles 25.

Dividing walls 41 or the like may be provided along the length of grouping table 28 to provide for spacing of the tiles 25 in the direction perpendicular to direction E, or the tiles 25 may be disposed adjacent to each other in that dimension.

After the spaces F have been introduced between the tile members 25 of lining panel C according to one embodiment of the invention, the panel is transferred as a whole (or conveniently segmented portions thereof) to a position directly over a wall panel A having mortar columns 16 disposed on a face thereof. The lining panel C is orientated so that a place passing through spaces F between tiles 25 thereof is parallel to and directly over each of the columns 16. Apparatus for moving the lining panel C into such operative engagement preferably consists of conventional vacuum gripping means, shown generally at 45 in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The means 45 includes a plate portion 47 thereof adapted to make surface-to-surface contact with the tops of the tiles 25 of the panel C, and having a vacuum connection 48 leading to the surface thereof. A vacuum applied through connection 48 causes the tiles 25 to tightly adhere to the plate portion 47, the spaced relationships therebetween being maintained. The tiles 25 may then be lifted by applying an upward force to hooks 50 of assembly 45, as shown in FIG. 4a. The hooks 50 or the like are preferably rigidly attached to a lifting plate 52 which is disposed generally parallel to gripping plate portion 47 and is movable with respect thereto because of the lost-motion connection 54 therebetween, which connection preferably is formed by pins 56 having spaced surfaces 58 and 59 thereof disposed on opposite sides of plate 52. By providing such a lost-motion connection, the chances of damage being done to the vacuum connection 48 are minimized while large forces may be applied with the assembly 45.

After lining panel C is lifted by vacuum gripping assembly 45 and placed into proper position over wall panel A having columns 16 of mortar or the like disposed thereon, the panel C is lowered onto the wall panel A and the tiles 25 thereof are pressed into engagement with bricks 10 or the like and mortar columns 16 thereof by means 45 by the application of a downward force therewith (as shown in FIG. 4b). Ledges 18 and 19 on cars 12 guide the movement of the assembly 45 in its downward path to insure proper positioning of the tiles 25 on the panel A. In the preferred form of the invention, with the mortar columns disposed over the grooves 11 between adjacent bricks 10 or the like, the mortar 16 will hold adjacent tiles 25 together, will be forced somewhat into grooves 11, and will hold the tiles 25 to the bricks 10 of wall panel A. Also, "breathing" spaces G will be provided between the bottom surfaces of the tiles 25 and the top surfaces of bricks 10 whereby proper ventilation is provided for the bricks, allowing for the transportation of the humidity diffusing through the bricks, thereby preventing freezing or loosening thereof due to the weather. The columns 16 also have smooth outside edges which allow water to run off the bricks without getting into the joints and loosening them.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the same apparatus can be utilized for lifting the individual tiles of the preformed panel C and introducing the spacings between the tiles while lifted, and before pressing them into engagement with a wall panel A. Exemplary apparatus for accomplishing this is shown in FIGS. 5-7. Such apparatus may take the form of a plurality of vacuum grippers 64 interconnected by a grid of guide rails 62, 62a, and 63 and movable with respect thereto. The guide rails 62 and 62a may be affixed to a gripper frame 61, and the guide rails 63 and 63a may be movably mounted on guide rails 62 and 62a and on each other. The guide rails 63 and 63a are arranged perpendicularly with respect to each other, as are the guide rails 62 and 62a. Connected at each intersection point of guide rails 62, 62a, 63 and 63a is a vacuum gripper 64 or the like, having guiding pieces 65a and 65b thereof for cooperation with respective guide rails, as shown most clearly in FIG. 7. The guiding pieces provide for relative movement between the grippers 64 and the respective guide rails with which they are associated.

Means for moving the respective guide rails with respect to each other for introducing spacing between tiles 25' held by grippers 64 preferably comprise one or more push rods 66 in each dimension of the grid. Each push rod is preferably powered by a hydraulic cylinder 70 or other suitable power means for effecting movement thereof. At each intersection between a rod 66 and a guide rail over which it passes are a pair of collars 67 or the like for cooperation with a plate 72 or the like operatively connected to the respective rod 66. Each pair of collars 67 have a predetermined spacing therebetween. Movement of the respective guide rails by the respective push rods 66 results in movement of each of the grippers 64 attached to a particular guide rod. Such movement is transferred to the grippers by stops 68 operatively connected to preselected guide rails, which stops 68 cooperate with clamping plates 69 or the like on grippers 64. Although all grippers 64 may have plates 69 and stops 68 associated therewith, only the grippers around the periphery of the grid may have them, as shown in FIG. 5.

The operation of the gripper-associated separating means shown in FIGS. 5-7 is apparent from an inspection of the drawings. After tiles 25' or the like (such means may be used with tiles with or without webs) are picked up by vacuum grippers 64 cylinders 70 and 70' are actuated, which move the respective push rods 66 connected thereto a predetermined distance H. Because of the relative spacing between the collars 67 of rods 66, and the predetermined spacings of the stops 68, each of the grippers 64 within a row or column is moved a predetermined distance with respect to the grippers in the other rows and columns and the plate 61 to effect spacing of the tiles 25'. For instance, the grippers 64 in the row closest to cylinder 70 are moved a distance H1, while the grippers in the next row are moved a distance H2<H1, the grippers in the fourth row are moved only slightly or not at all. The same is true with respect to the grippers in the columns. Of course, the distances H, H1, H2, etc. can be set to any value by adjustment of the collars 67 and stops 68 (the collar spacing is inversly proportional to the stop spacing), and the distance H can be varied between the columns and rows so that greater or lesser spacing is introduced along each of the directions J and K.

The method of producing a finished wall section utilizing apparatus according to the present invention includes the following steps: A wall panel A formed of bricks, blocks, or the like is disposed in a generally horizontal plane. The panel A is adapted to be disposed vertically when serving as a finished wall section. A plurality of tiles 25 or the like, having webs 24 formed on a surface thereof, are arranged in a generally horizontal plane so that the webs 24 are on the bottom of the tiles 25', to thereby form an unconnected lining panel C. Uniform spaces F are introduced -- as in direction E -- between the individual tiles 25 or 25'. When the spreading means 32 is utilized, the spacing is introduced before the individual tiles of the preformed panels are lifting from the table 28 by vacuum grippers 45 or the like, while when the vacuum grippers 64 are utilized the predetermined spacings are introduced after the tiles are lifted from the table 28. The lining panel C is then in condition to be transferred directly over to a wall panel A, for application thereto.

A wall panel A has a plurality of evenly-spaced columns 16 of mortar or the like applied over the upwardly facing surface thereof, as with means 15. Preferably, the columns 16 are arranged so that when the finished wall section of which panel A will be a part is in use, the columns 16 will be vertical. Also, the columns 16 are preferably applied over the grooves 11 between the bricks 10 making up the wall panel A.

After columns 16 are arranged on panel A, and lining panel C is assembled and the tiles therein properly spaced, and are transferred in groups or en masse to a position just above the panel A, they are ready to be attached to panel A. The panel C may be arranged so that the spaces F between the tiles 25 are parallel to and just above mortar columns 16 (the webs 24, if any, being adjacent the spaces F). Then with the help of guide ledges 18 and 19 on car 12 or the like on which the panel A is disposed, the lining panel C is brought into engagement with the panel A, and is pressed down thereon by means 45 or 64, resulting in the tiles 25 or 25' being secured to the bricks 10 of panel A by the mortar 16.

Simple and efficient apparatus according to the present invention is provided for producing high-quality pre-formed finished wall sections with tiles with or without webs. While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention. For instance, other mortar applying means, gripping means, and spacing means could be utilized, or the mortar columns could be orientated in a different manner. Also, other materials could be used. Other modifications are also possible. Thus it is intended that the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.