Abstract: A mobile concrete pumping vehicle including a reduced-weight boom arm. The pumping vehicle includes a boom arm that is extendible between a folded position and an extended position. The boom arm carries molded and fabricated composite boom pipe sections. Each pipe section is formed from a composite material having a reinforcing outer layer and a wear resistant inner layer. Preferably, the outer layer is formed using a filament winding process while the inner layer is molded of wear resistant urethane. Each boom section is formed by centrifugal molding a urethane tube then secondarily winding carbon fiber onto the exterior of the tube. The centrifugal force created by the rotating mold provides a bubble free urethane tube. The filament winding provides the hoop strength needed to withstand the internal pressures of the concrete pumping process.

Abstract: A concrete pumping unit, such as a mobile pumping vehicle, including a reduced-weight and/or lengthened boom arm. The pumping vehicle includes a boom arm that is extendible between a folded position and an extended position. The boom arm carries a supply pipe formed from a plurality of pipe sections formed from a lightweight urethane. Each pipe section is formed from a composite material having a reinforcing outer layer and a wear resistant inner layer. Preferably, the outer layer is formed from a braided fiber material while the inner wear resistant layer is formed from urethane. Each boom pipe section includes a pair of end couplings adhesively attached to the outer surface of the boom pipe section.

Abstract: A method of forming a reinforced urethane product having a urethane wear layer and a integral reinforcing member. A reinforcing member is formed from a woven fiber material that has a shape generally corresponding to the desired urethane product, such as a composite urethane pipe. The reinforcing member is initially stiffened through application of a sizing compound. Once stiffened, the reinforcing member is inserted into a mold and a supply of urethane is forced outward toward the inner wall of the mold cavity such that the urethane penetrates into the woven fibers of the reinforcing member. The urethane is cured in the mold and the completed reinforced urethane product is removed from the mold for use. The liquid urethane is preferably forced outward within the mold through application of either a centrifugal force or the application of positive pressure.