Abstract: A building structure has an outer shell including sidewalls and an integrated roof projecting upwardly therefrom. The sidewall and roof include an inner plurality of supporting studs with a mesh member secured abutting the inner side of the studs. A plastic outer wall is formed from a plurality of polystyrene panels. The panels are located in abutting relation and interconnected to each other and to the studs to define a plastic wall and defining a concrete receiving space. T-bars are located between abutting panels and abut the exterior of the panels. A tie-rod connects the T-bars to the studs to support the insulating wall in spaced relation to the mesh. The panels are recessed to form columns within the wall and roof structure. Reinforcing bars are located within the columns. Wet concrete is deposited into the concrete space and thereby integrally interconnected to the inner wall unit and to the outer insulating wall to form a continuous integral wall and roof.

Abstract: Concrete is transmitted from a hopper forming a part of a mobile concrete pumping apparatus to the deposit site through a flow line having a Y-pipe inlet. The pumping apparatus includes two piston-cylinder concrete pumps mounted in side-by-side relationship adjacent the hopper, which has an auger to rapidly charge a pump with concrete through one of two discharge pipes. Each pump is pivotally mounted, to locate the cylinder aligned with the discharge pipe or with one inlet of the Y-pipe inlet. Each pump has a valve plate pivoting with the cylinder to alternately close the hopper opening and the inlet line. Hydraulic cylinder units are coupled to the valve plates to pivot the pumps. A floating valve plate has coupling pipes attached to the hopper and a hydraulic cylinder urges the same into sliding sealing engagement with the rotating valve plate.

Abstract: A swivel coupling apparatus includes a pair of aligned metal pipe sections having grooved outer ends for connecting to hoses and rigid pipes by releasable clamp units. A gasket is disposed between the smooth end faces and an outer clamp housing encircles the end portions to mechanically connect the pipe sections. The pipe sections have outer shoulders with inclined clamp walls. The clamp housing includes a pair of semi-circular members having bolt clamping lugs for drawing the members onto the shoulders. The members having outer side clamp legs defining a cavity. A central rectangular spacer projects partially into the cavity for location between the outer portion of the end faces. The cavity has annular base walls between the spacer and side legs aligned with and outwardly spaced from the outer peripheral walls of the shoulders. Grease fittings to the opposite sides of the spacer provide for introducing of grease into the free space. The spacer has a smooth inner wall forming a backing for the gasket.

Abstract: Concrete is transmitted from a hopper forming a part of a mobile concrete pumping apparatus to the deposit site through a flow line having a Y-pipe inlet. The pumping apparatus includes two piston-cylinder concrete pumps mounted in side-by-side relationship adjacent the hopper, which has an auger to rapidly charge a pump with concrete through one of two discharge pipes. Each pump is pivotally mounted, to locate the cylinder aligned with the discharge pipe or with one inlet of the Y-pipe inlet. Each pump has a valve plate pivoting with the cylinder to alternately close the hopper opening and the inlet line. Hydraulic cylinder units are coupled to the valve plates to pivot the pumps. A floating valve plate has coupling pipes attached to the hopper and a hydraulic cylinder urges the same into sliding sealing engagement with the rotating valve plate.

Abstract: Concrete pumping conduits are connected by releasable hinged couplers. The ends of the conduits include metal pipes formed with annular grooves including a circular peripheral base. The coupler has a cup-shaped cross-section and a sealing gasket is located within the base of the cup-shaped recess with a tongue-like ridge projecting between the two end faces of the pipe ends. The tongue is formed with a rectangular or triangular cross-section. The gasket is provided with small recesses adjacent the ridge with inclined outer sidewalls defining lips in sealing engagement with the conduit. The peripheral ends of the pipes are chamfered and engaged by the sealing lips.

Abstract: A swivel coupling apparatus includes a pair of aligned metal pipe sections having grooved outer ends for connecting to hoses and rigid pipes by releasable clamp units. A gasket is disposed between the smooth end faces and an outer clamp housing encircles the end portions to mechanically connect the pipe sections. The pipe sections have outer shoulders with inclined clamp walls. The clamp housing includes a pair of semi-circular members having bolt clamping lugs for drawing the members onto the shoulders. The members having outer side clamp legs defining a cavity. A central rectangular spacer projects partially into the cavity for location between the outer portion of the end faces. The cavity has annular base walls between the spacer and side legs aligned with and outwardly spaced from the outer peripheral walls of the shoulders. Grease fittings to the opposite sides of the spacer provide for introducing of grease into the free space. The spacer has a smooth inner wall forming a backing for the gasket.

Abstract: A pivotal pipe valve unit for concrete supply hoppers having a pair of concrete pumps of the piston-cylinder type which includes a shuttle valve pipe mounted within the hopper for pivoting about a discharge line. The inlet end is spaced slightly from a wear plate which encompasses the cylinder openings to the hopper and is pivoted for alternate alignment with the discharge opening from the pump cylinders. An outer base member is secured to the inlet end and has an annular recess receiving a wear ring. A hydraulic source is coupled to the chamber and creates a pressurized liquid backing of the ring. An annular seal with a metal backing is located to the backside of the ring. An accumulator tank is connected to the hydraulic supply system to firmly hold the ring in sliding sealing engagement with the wear plate with a cushioned type support. The wear ring is slightly thinner than the annular recess and may tilt such that the ring and wear plate sealing surfaces remain parallel.

Abstract: Concrete pumping conduits are connected by releasable hinged couplers. The ends of the conduits include metal pipes formed with annular grooves including a circular peripheral base and a stepped end wall immediate adjacent the end of the pipe to define a pair of generally parallel and radially extended, inclined sidewalls. The coupler is formed with inwardly projecting legs with the inner walls similarly stepped and defining a pair of generally inclined radial sidewalls offset in accordance with the offset of the grooved siewalls, but slightly less than such spacing. A sealing gasket is located within the base of the cup-shaped recess with a tongue-like ridge projecting between the two end faces of the pipe ends. The first radially outermost sidewalls of the coupler and the radially innermost sidewalls of the groove engage upon closing to provide a mechanical connection. The gasket is collapsed to seal the joints.