A device and a process for the continuous application of a refractory slurry to a surface incorporate a batch reactor (10) for the controlled mixing of the slurry, a product vessel (60) in communication with the batch reactor (10) to contain the mixed slurry, and a variable-rate spraying applicator or nozzle in communication with the product vessel and with an air supply. A controller (100) controls input to, output from, and the operation of, the batch mixer (10), and monitors batch production. The controller (100) monitors the amount of slurry contained in the product vessel (60). If the level of slurry in the product hopper is such that the product hopper cannot accommodate an additional batch of slurry, the controller interrupts batch production and resumes production when the product hopper can accept the contents of the batch reactor (10).

A device and method for measuring slump of concrete in a hopper feeding a concrete pump. A slump sensor generates a signal from either an ammeter to measure current from a power source feeding an electric motor being configured to rotate an agitator shaft or a pressure gauge configured to measure hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic drive hose passing between a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor configured to rotate the agitator shaft. A controlling computer includes a memory in which an operating range may reside, the operating range being a range from a lower slump signal value corresponding to a lower limit of slump value to an upper slump signal value. The controlling computer generates an alert signal when the slump sensor signal falls outside of the operating range. In one embodiment, the controlling computer stops the concrete pump when the alert signal is detected.

A multi-module system for applying a refractory monolithic onto an object includes a power module and a placement module, separated and distinct from the power module. The power module includes a hydraulic pump and a prime mover drivably coupled to the hydraulic pump. The placement module includes a mixer for receiving a dry refractory material and a liquid, the mixer operative to mix the dry refractory material and liquid to produce a wet monolithic, and a pump coupled to the mixer and configured to move the wet monolithic out of the mixer. A hydraulic conduit is couplable between the hydraulic pump and at least one of the mixer or the pump, whereby the at least one of the mixer or the pump is driven by hydraulic power produced by the hydraulic pump.

Methods, systems, and devices, are developed for in-situ placement of a concrete mix that can have the thixotropy to hold vertical dimension without containment, while maintaining pliability to be pumped into place and manipulated to a desired shape, and can be combined with concrete set accelerators, allowing subsequent layers of this concrete mix to be continuously stacked in place to build tall walls and such without the use of forms. Concrete without these special properties is pumped toward the point of placement where it is modified by injecting and mixing, into that line of pumped concrete, an admixture containing thixotropes, thickeners and/or set accelerators or other modifiers to provide these properties and other improvements. This method allows conventional plant batching with commonly available constituent materials for batching an economical concrete that is delivered to a jobsite and then is pumped most of the way to a point of placement.

A device and a process for the continuous application of a refractory slurry to a surface incorporate a batch reactor (10) for the controlled mixing of the slurry, a product vessel (60) in communication with the batch reactor (10) to contain the mixed slurry, and a variable-rate spraying applicator or nozzle in communication with the product vessel and with an air supply. A controller (100) controls input to, output from, and the operation of, the batch mixer (10), and monitors batch production. The controller (100) monitors the amount of slurry contained in the product vessel (60). If the level of slurry in the product hopper is such that the product hopper cannot accommodate an additional batch of slurry, the controller interrupts batch production and resumes production when the product hopper can accept the contents of the batch reactor (10).

Provided is fibrous cellulose used for producing a concrete-pump pressure-feeding primer containing calcium carbonate powder, which is excellent in a dispersion stability and a pressure-feeding property. The fibrous cellulose is used for producing the concrete-pump pressure-feeding primer through mixing with the calcium carbonate powder. The fibrous cellulose contains ultrafine fibrous modified cellulose which has an ionic group and has a fiber width of 1,000 nm or less.

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the delivery rate (P.sub.Q) of a concrete pump (1) for filling a formwork arrangement (2) with a pumpable filling compound (3) as a function of curing-relevant material and environmental parameters (RST), after which the installed filling compound (3) sets within the formwork arrangement (2), comprising the following steps: determining a permissible climbing speed (vsz) for filling the formwork arrangement (2) with the filling compound (3) on the basis of the material and ambient parameters (RST), measuring the static filling compound pressure (p.sub.F) acting on the formwork arrangement (2) during filling, calculating the permissible delivery rate (P.sub.Q) of the concrete pump (1) as a function of the determined permissible rate of ascent (vsz) and the measured static filling compound pressure (p.sub.F) at the formwork arrangement (2).

One aspect of the present invention pertains to methods of forming concrete structures. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to systems for forming concrete structures. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to devices forming concrete structures.

A method for coating a support with a lightweight insulating shotcrete, includes preparing the shotcrete by mixing, in predetermined proportions, at least a fibrous aggregate, a binder and water; pouring the prepared shotcrete in a tank; having at least one outlet; continuously moving the wet shotcrete in the tank until it reaches the or each outlet; sucking the wet shotcrete along a feeding pipe linking the outlet of the tank to a spraying gun, with a Venturi hose fed with pressurized air, included in the spraying gun; spraying the sucked shotcrete on the support with the spraying gun.

The invention relates to a system for extruding cementitious material beads for a robot used for the additive manufacturing of architectural structures, comprising: a head for depositing beads of cementitious material, referred to as printhead (30), comprising an inlet mouth (31) and an outlet nozzle (34) configured to form beads of cementitious material; a feed circuit (20) for said printhead (30), comprising a reservoir (10) for storing cementitious material, a feed conduit (21) connecting said storage reservoir (10) to said printhead (30), and a booster pump (22) for said feed conduit (21), characterized in that it further comprises a sensor (33) for sensing the pressure rate of the cementitious material flowing in said printhead (30), and suitable for transmitting pressure/flow rate measurements to said booster pump (22), and in that the booster pump (22) is configured to control the boosting of the feed conduit (21) on the basis of the measurements transmitted by the sensor (33).