Abstract: A process is disclosed for fast and uniform hydration of uncured concrete products. Pressurized and superheated water is supplied to a manifold supporting a plurality of small diameter orifice nozzles housed inside a curing room which also houses the products during curing. Water is ejected by the nozzles in very fine particulate form, creating a mist or suspension of superheated water particles that surrounds the products and creates the desired high humidity, moderately high temperature environment for promoting hydration. The water preferably is softened before it is pressurized and supplied to the nozzles. Under favorable conditions, the hydration reaction supplies sufficient heat to maintain a desired temperature within the curing room, eliminating the need to heat the water before it is supplied to the nozzles.

Abstract: A spacer is provided for locating a reinforcing cage or fabric, with respect to a form, when manufacturing reinforced concrete articles such as piping, manhole sections, walls and the like. The spacer is formed from a single length of heavy gauge steel wire, and includes a mounting section which wraps around a longitudinal rod of the reinforcing framework and abuts a transverse rod at its junction with the longitudinal rod. An intermediate section of the spacer extends transversely from the mounting section and is approximately parallel to the transverse rod. A hook at the end of the intermediate section remote from the mounting section is positioned to latchingly engage the transverse rod responsive to elastic deformation of the spacer, thereby to securely maintain the spacer on the reinforcement framework. A spacing loop of a predetermined dimension is provided along the intermediate section.

Abstract: A process for fast and uniform hydration of uncured concrete products includes supplying pressurized and superheated water to a manifold supporting a plurality of small diameter orifice nozzles housed inside a curing room which also houses the products during curing. The superheated water is ejected by the nozzles in very fine particulate form, creating a mist or suspension of water particles that surrounds the products and creates the desired high humidity, moderately high temperature environment for promoting hydration. The water preferably is softened before it is pressurized and supplied to the nozzles. Under favorable conditions, the hydration reaction supplies sufficient heat to maintain a desired temperature within the curing room. The water is heated before it is supplied to the nozzles after pressurization.