Precast concrete meter pit and method and apparatus for making same

Abstract

A precast concrete meter pit consisting of an elongated hollow pipe having a beveled support ledge at one end and notches at the opposite end is fabricated by utilizing a slip form packerhead apparatus in which the beveled support ledge is formed by a radially inwardly inclined trowel edge bearing against a pallet member which is caused to vibrate when concrete is injected into the slip form apparatus.

1 . A meter pit comprising an elongated precast concrete pipe of generally cylindrical configuration having a ledge projecting radially inwardly from one end thereof, said pit being made from the steps comprising: 
 (a) positioning a pallet having a concentric jacket attached thereto on a turntable;    (b) lowering a packerhead assembly within said jacket, said packerhead having a concentric rollerhead provided with a trowel, said trowel having a radially inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge which forms an inner surface of said ledge;    (c) injecting concrete into an annular space between said jacket and said rollerhead for downward flow until the space is entirely filled; and    (d) raising said rollerhead and trowel as said annular space is being filled followed by removing said jacket.    
   
   
       2 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein said rollerhead is rotated as concrete is injected between said jacket and said rollerhead.  
   
   
       3 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein the lower inclined edge of said trowel bears against said pallet.  
   
   
       4 . A meter pit according to  claim 3  wherein said pallet is of annular configuration having a riser at an inner edge thereof engaging said trowel lower edge.  
   
   
       5 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein said ledge includes a top surface squared with respect to a longitudinal axis through said pipe.  
   
   
       6 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein said trowel is a segmented longbottom trowel.  
   
   
       7 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein a TV stand is mounted under said pallet.  
   
   
       8 . A meter pit according to  claim 7  wherein a vibrator unit is mounted under said TV stand.  
   
   
       9 . A meter pit according to  claim 1  wherein said ledge projects radially inwardly beyond an inner wall surface of said pipe.  
   
   
       10 . A meter pit comprising an elongated precast concrete pipe of generally cylindrical configuration having a ledge projecting radially inwardly from one end thereof, said pit being made from the steps comprising: 
 (a) positioning a pallet on a bottom plate and turntable, said pallet having an aligned outer concentric jacket and inner concentric rollerhead provided with a trowel having a radially inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge which defines an inner beveled edge surface of said ledge;    (b) injecting concrete into an annular space between said jacket and said rollerhead for downward gravity flow until the space is entirely filled; and    (c) raising said rollerhead and trowel as said annular space is being filled followed by removing said jacket.    
   
   
       11 . A meter pit according to  claim 10  wherein said rollerhead is rotated as concrete is injected between said jacket and said rollerhead.  
   
   
       12 . A meter pit according to  claim 10  wherein said pallet is of annular configuration having a riser at an inner edge of said pallet and a vibrator unit is mounted in combination with said TV stand under said pallet.  
   
   
       13 . A meter pit according to  claim 10  wherein said beveled edge surface tapers into a bottom surface squared with respect to a longitudinal axis through said pipe.  
   
   
       14 . In apparatus for making a precast concrete meter pipe wherein a packerhead assembly includes a trowel assembly and a rollerhead assembly, a jacket in outer spaced concentric relation to said packerhead assembly, and means for rotating said rollerhead assembly, the improvement comprising: 
 said trowel assembly being of generally cylindrical configuration and terminating in a radially inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge; and    an annular pallet positioned beneath said trowel assembly having a riser circumscribing an inner annular edge thereof and extending upwardly within said trowel assembly.    
   
   
       15 . In apparatus according to  claim 14  including means for vibrating said pallet, said lower edge of said trowel being engageable with an annular surface of said riser.  
   
   
       16 . In apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said riser tapers upwardly to project into said lower edge of said trowel.  
   
   
       17 . In apparatus according to  claim 14  including a cover plate centered on said jacket and said rollerhead assembly including circumferentially spaced lobes extending downwardly from said cover into the space between said jacket and said rollerhead assembly.  
   
   
       18 . A meter pit comprising a precast concrete hollow elongated cylindrical body, said body including circumferentially spaced notches at one end and a circular support ledge at the opposite end thereof, said circular support ledge projecting radially inwardly from said opposite end of said body.  
   
   
       19 . A meter pit according to  claim 18  wherein said opposite end is squared with respect to a longitudinal axis through said body.  
   
   
       20 . A meter pit according to  claim 18  wherein said support ledge includes a beveled surface portion.