Method of reinforced cementitious construction by high speed extrusion printing and apparatus for using same
10486330 ยท 2019-11-26
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B33Y10/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B33Y70/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B33Y30/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
C04B2111/00181
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
E04B1/166
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04G21/0463
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04B1/16
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04B1/3505
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
C04B28/02
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
B33Y80/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B28B1/001
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B28B3/2645
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
E04G11/20
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04B1/32
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
B28B3/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B33Y50/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B28B3/2636
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B33Y10/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B28B1/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B33Y50/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B33Y30/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B28B17/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
E04B1/35
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for an automated reinforced concrete construction system for onsite slip-form molding and casting a variety of cementitious mixes in a cast in place leave in place externally moldable flexible reinforced containment sleeve providing a wide variety of interchangeable full-scale molding configurations simultaneously optimizing a wide variety of cementitious mix curing characteristics, further having optional internal reinforcement net(s), for layer wise interlocking additive printed brick deposition providing improved slip-form mold casting of a wide variety of reinforced concrete structures; the present invention further includes a variety of operating platforms suitable for on and offsite construction as disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A full architectural-scale, automated, 3-dimensional slipform molding apparatus, including a vertically stowable, modular, automated construction system, a transporting and operating trailer platform comprising an upper platform, and a slip-form printing reinforced concrete construction system, a support frame, a mounting operating pedestal assembly apparatus having a level indicating systems; wherein the slip-form printing reinforced concrete construction system comprises: a cementitious material pump nozzle that dispenses cementitious material; an external reinforcing containment sleeve that is configured around said cementitious material that is dispensed from the pump nozzle wherein the containment sleeve is a flexible sheet of material; a brick mold coupled to the pump nozzle that moves with the pump nozzle, wherein the brick mold is configured for receiving the dispensed cementitious material from the pump nozzle to form a slip-form printed brick having a slip-form printed brick shape; wherein the external reinforcing containment sleeve moves through the brick mold as the cementitious material is dispensed from the pump nozzle.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing spool for the external reinforcing containment sleeve, wherein the external reinforcing containment sleeve is dispensed from said dispensing spool and configured around said cementitious material, forming said slip-form printed brick.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external reinforcing containment sleeve comprises a woven material.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external reinforcing containment sleeve is a fabric.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sleeve folding apparatus that folds the external reinforcing containment sleeve to form a folded external reinforcing containment sleeve having an overlap to contain the concrete pumped therein.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve folding apparatus is detachably attached to the brick mold having an internal perimeter shape that defines the slip-form minted brick shape for the slip-form printed brick and wherein the folded external reinforcing containment sleeve moves through the internal perimeter shape.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slip-form printed brick shape of the brick mold is interlocking having a female keyway extending along a length of a surface of the slip-form printed brick.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the slip-form printed brick shape defined by the brick mold is interlocking having a male key extending along a length of a surface of the slip-form printed brick.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a ground-engaging and supporting operating base to which robotic arms are coupled to.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus controller that controls the positions of the robotic arms on the basis of control data.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brick mold is interchangeable.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slip-form printed brick shape, defined by the brick mold, is interlocking having a female keyway extending along a length of the brick mold and a male keyway extending along a length of an opposing surface of the brick mold, whereby the slip-form printed brick is interlocking having a female keyway extending along a length of a first surface and a male keyway extending along a length of an opposing surface, whereby successive brick layers are interlocking having the male keyway that extends into the female keyway of an adjacent brick, and wherein the brick mold is interchangeable.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the slip form printing reinforced concrete construction system is configured in a deployed mode, said slip-form printing reinforced concrete construction system has 360 degree rotation operation.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external reinforcing containment sleeve has a plurality of external venting apertures to regulate curing of the cementitious material.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the external venting apertures have a size of between 1 micron and 5 mm.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the slipform printed brick has an internal perimeter shape comprising a height and a width of between 1 inch and 30 inches.
17. The apparatus according of claim 1, wherein the slip-form printed brick is formed at a rate of at least 5.0 cubic ft. per second.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a description of a preferred illustrative embodiment of the inventions cited as an example.
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BOBCAT OPERATING PLATFORM
(57) The slip-form printed bricks may be printed on site or from a mobile trailer, Bobcat, Reference
(58) Trailer Supporting and Operating System
(59) Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible trailer system which when in the open (deployed) position provides onsite automated three-dimensional concrete slip-form printing construction platform, also known within the art as 3D House Printing.
(60) The following section will now briefly describe how to operate the trailer system.
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(64) The integration of the automated system having reinforced concrete slip-form printing components and operation of the robotic construction trailer transport and operating platform system is described herein. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a collapsible transporting trailer system to reduce its standing width and height to be easily moved around onsite such as underneath doors, hallways, corridors, archways, etc. and re-expanded locked in place in the deployed position and easily assembled and operated on and off the construction site while utilizing less materials for lighter weight, ease of manufacture and fuel efficiency. Installing the invention's three dimensional reinforced concrete construction apparatus on a movable trailer system having onsite adjustable pontoons (leg extensions) (Reference
(65) As an option or optionally the automated construction system transporting and operating trailer system is may be easily tilted on end and the top end portion of the trailer can be easily collapsed down to fit underneath a doorway for transporting to another construction area, such as another room. Reference
(66) The transport trailer is easily transported on the construction site or stored tilted on end in the closed position in an upright manner. In the collapsed and closed position, being easily moved through doorways, halls.
(67) A further object of the current invention is to provide a previously unavailable transportable and collapsible trailer system providing easy transport of the current invention's multi-purpose robotic construction system to and on the construction site.
(68) A further object of the invention is to provide onsite conservation of footprint and envelope space having a folded down trailer system that is easily tilted upright onsite into a collapsed and standing movable position.
(69) The first support and second support having adjustable caster wheels mounted thereon, reference
(70) The third caster wheel provides a complete rotation system of the fold down trailer in a confined space. Employing three casters providing tilting upright into position enabling turning 360 degrees or more, thus being able to easily maneuver on the construction site and quickly deployed and operated in a confined space, and additionally being further horizontally and vertically movable (Adjustable).
(71) The transport and operating trailer system may now be easily transported or slidably moved on the construction site such as into or out of slip-form printing construction operations (also known as 3D House Printing) or in storage as needed. Because adjustable caster wheel arms are in an opposed spaced relationship from support legs, provides a larger stable three-point platform.
(72) The movable transportable base is provided for ease of onsite automated construction operations. The caster wheel support assembly thereby provides onsite trailer support and maneuverability to support the trailer system in an upright fixed or mobile position.
(73) The fold down trailer provides ease of transport and deployment to the next onsite slip-form printing location, reference
(74) This trailer's novel design exhibits very desirable features such as the ability to be easily tilted up and stored in a vertical upright position and having a more compact design and easily maneuverable on the construction site preferably having a platform receiving collar that rotates 360 degrees or more (not shown) as needed for ease of a variety of onsite reinforced concrete construction operations having lightweight design and a balanced chassis providing easy transport and easy onsite deployment and operation by one or more operators.
(75) The current invention encompasses wherein a reinforced concrete construction trailer system encompasses installable and removable mounting pedestal systems having laser, compass, acoustic, bubble levels, laser level indicating systems, I.D. plate/serial no., and optional legs/feet as needed.
(76) The current invention encompasses as an option or optionally having two automated construction systems removably attached on a single trailer system (not shown).
(77) Accordingly, it is an object of the current inventions to provide an improved collapsible transporting and operating trailer system providing a novel onsite automated construction system slip-form reinforced concrete construction system having onsite slip-form printing operating platform.
(78) The current invention encompasses as an option or optionally attaching a Global Positioning System preferably Skylink or LoJack system.
(79) The current invention encompasses a vertically stowable modular multi-purpose automated construction transporting system and having onsite operating platform trailer is provided. The trailer system, reference
(80) As an option the operating mesh base encompasses having four adjustable supporting leg extensions (Reference
(81) In a specified embodiment, the current invention encompasses a transporting and operating trailer apparatus and having an adjustable counterweight (not shown).
(82) In a specified embodiment, the current invention encompasses a transporting and operating trailer apparatus and method having an optional adjustable/movable seat (not shown).
(83) For instance, round tubular steel double frame construction has been shown to be lighter than traditional rectangular and square tubing frame designs, while still exhibiting the same structural strength. The ability to manufacture bent tube transporting and operating trailer platform system's frame economically opens up the opportunity to incorporate a variety of improvements in trailer frame designs, such as but not limited to wheel covers that provide a platform or step, that are difficult or very costly to achieve with square or rectangular tubing which does not lend itself well to being bent. By utilizing similar sub-components in various scales and models of trailers, overall costs of manufacturing the various trailer systems may be reduced, and thus, the savings may be passed to the consumer.
(84) According to another aspect of the current invention, when the transporting and operating trailer system is vertically positioned and is mobile, as needed, on the construction site, the pair of adjustable caster wheels are in contact with a ground surface. According to another aspect of the current invention, when the transporting and operating trailer system deployed in the horizontal operating position, the adjustable caster wheels are elevated from the ground.
(85) A further aspect of the current invention includes the transporting and operating trailer system being configured to transport a variety of operating systems and to transport a variety of slip-form printed concrete construction molds, sleeves and other equipment as disclosed herein such as but not limited to mechanized arms, hoses, piping, gauges, a wide variety of spooled containment sleeves. (Reference
(86) According to another aspect of the current invention, the transporting and operating trailer system further comprises at least one automated construction system removably receiving and adjustable mounting platform system and choke (not shown), having a receiving assembly removably attached to the first upper trailer frame platform.
(87) And another aspect of the current invention includes optionally providing a plurality of antislip/footing grating panels attached to the trailer first and second frame platforms, said grating panels laterally positioned outboard of the planar deck.
(88) Moreover, when the onsite transporting and operating trailer system is moved and the at least one automated construction system receiving and choke assembly may be quickly removed, the generally horizontally oriented common planar frame platform provides a flat automated construction system operating flat platform for an optional automated construction system operator depending upon the configurations ranging between about 5 feet to 7 feet to 7 feet to 10 feet.
(89) A preferred embodiment of the movable and stowable modular transporting and operating trailer construction system may have a weight of about 300 lbs., a transport capacity of about 1200 lbs., having an operating deck area of about 60 inches by 80 inches, having a standing height of about 70 inches, having a width of about 75 inches, having a depth ranging between about 20 inches about 28 inches, and having a length of about 100 inches or scaled as needed. Preferably in a stowable non-deployed configuration which allows the transporting and operating trailer to be quickly compacted into an upright vertical position are quick-disconnects which allow easy installation and removal of the automated construction system having received and adjustable guide rail positions and easily and quickly moved and operated on the construction site as needed (see
(90) The trailer's A-frame which is considered to be the most forward body portion of a trailer frame. It is preferred that all four portions of the A-shaped member are formed from one unitarily hollow bent tube. Having a standard trailer hitch assembly is preferably attached to the distal end of the trailer neck. Preferably, trailer hitch is adapted to receive a ball. The trailer hitch is a component well known in the art, and therefore, is not described in any further detail.
(91) The foldable transporting and operating trailer system front section primarily includes a rear hollow tubular frame. The rear frame preferably comprises a round tube steel double frame construction similar to the forward frame. The round hollow tubing material may vary with regard to strength, weight and dimension (e.g., diameter and thickness) depending on the specified scale and capacity of the transporting and operating trailer system. For instance, the round tubing may be a high strength steel alloy for heavy duty trailer construction or a lightweight high strength aluminum alloy for a light weight build.
(92) Moreover, any other type of frame plate and or mesh materials known in the art may be utilized.
(93) Forward frame support section and foldable front frame support section are rotatably attached via hinge assemblies to form a foldable support frame interface. As a result, a hinged joint is formed between forward support frame support section and foldable forward frame support section. Thus, when transporting and operating trailer system is fully deployed (as shown in
(94) Other components of the stowable modular automated construction trailer system includes wheels and tires, fenders and tail lights.
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(96) The modular transporting and operating trailer system preferably includes a removably attached automated construction system having a receiving and adjustable supporting guide rail system and choke (not illustrated) and having a slidably adjustable guide rail system is configured to receive at least one automated slip-form printing apparatus and operating platform or base having one or more receiving and supporting guide rail pedestal(s) as described herein, reference
(97) It is noted that the scale and dimensions may vary with respect to differing embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, various modular embodiments of the onsite installable and removable automated construction system having a variety of receiving and supporting pedestal(s) or platform(s) may be provided which are configured for the automated construction system supporting pedestal(s) or platform(s) having onsite removably installable and receiving pedestal(s) or platform(s) within specific ranges of widths or as needed. Because the automated construction system receiving and supporting pedestal(s) or platform(s) system are removable and reusable, the transporting and operating trailer system is able to quickly convert having fast assembly characteristics to an onsite flat slip-form printing system operating platform. Thus, this is another aspect which adds onsite reinforced concrete construction versatility to the current invention.
(98) The removably attached adjustable receiving guide rail system depicts an aspect of the design of the current invention (not shown).
(99) The transporting and operating trailer system is provided which is adapted to receive the automated construction system having attachment means when the automated construction system is positioned into the trailer frame's receiving collar (not shown) having an adjustable slip-form printing system receiving and operating pedestal that is preferably centered and secured on the slightly forward end of the trailer platform frame. An optional locking choke is rotatably mounted with a receiving bracket structure such that the choke will automatically accept the insertable slidably adjusted mounting base (pedestal) and locked in place when the automated construction system is fully engaged in the receiving chock and the front of the receiving chock is lying down flat against the receiving guide rail system. A feature of the transporting and operating trailer system receiving chock is that it is capable of holding the assembled automated construction system in an upright position without the assistance of any other bracing members. Once the automated construction system is correctly secured in the receiving choke, the automated construction system is easily onsite assembled and operated as disclosed herein.
(100) The current invention encompasses that a foldable interface is defined thereby creating an onsite automated construction system operating platform. However, when the transporting and operating trailer is not in use, front support section may be folded about the axis defined by the pair of hinge assemblies (see
(101) Another aspect of the present invention is that transporting and operating trailer system has been designed to transport automated reinforcing concrete construction equipment as disclosed herein. As an example, having removable utility boxes (see
(102) Cast in Place Pedestal
(103) The automated slip-form printing reinforced concrete construction method and apparatus is preferably operated on the construction site preferably from inside/within the proposed structure that is to be slip-form printed onsite. The slip-form printing process is preferably carried out from within the inside of the proposed structure.
(104) When casting supporting and operating pedestals onsite and the like, it is often necessary to drill a hole into the ground onsite and then fill the hole with concrete mix which is allowed to sufficiently cure to form a concrete column or pile. It is commonly known, within the prior art, that during the curing phase, the concrete mix may be washed out, dissolved or damaged by certain types of ground water, particularly salt (sea) water or if the water contains acids and the like.
(105) To overcome these and other limitations is an object of the invention when constructing reinforced concrete columns and piles for casting supporting and operating pedestals onsite and the like, the column or footing is formed by a containment sleeve and concrete mixture; it is often necessary to drill a hole into the ground and then fill the hole with a containment sleeve and filling with a concrete mix to engage adjacent hole's surfaces which is allowed to cure to form reinforced concrete columns and piles onsite.
(106) The current invention relates to an external containment reinforcement and protective sleeve that reduces prior art construction time and steps, which remains in place around a cementitious cast-in-place operating and supporting pedestal after the concrete has cured, reference
(107) It is apparent that the pedestal's protective reinforced containment sleeve permanently remaining around the cast in place concrete column or operating and supporting pedestal(s) will effectively protect the operating and supporting column or pedestal against a wide variety of short and long term detrimental effects such as acid containing water, particularly salt water, acid-containing soils, and the like.
(108) The current invention further encompasses a fabric reinforced external containment sleeve preferably having a danier ranging between about 1,100 to 4,000 danier, more preferably ranging between about 1,200 to 2,500 danier, most preferably ranging between about 1,500 to 2,000 danier for onsite constructing structurally supporting columns containment sleeve having sizes larger than about 15 to about 40 inches in diameter, reference
(109) In the beginning of the onsite construction process, the robotic construction platform and or supporting pedestal(s) may be positioned, and operated from, and permanently or quickly removably positioned and installed into the ground onsite.
(110) The current invention encompasses said automated slip-form brick encasing machine having a rotatable support means such as but not limited to one of the many supporting pedestal base configurations disclosed herein, reference
(111) In several specified embodiments encompasses that the automated construction system employs removably mounting on to a wide variety of movable or fixed mounting pedestals preferably having a fixed center that rotates and makes adjustments having tunable dynamic response characteristics and determines the printing directions and angle(s) in fractions of a second.
(112) As an example of one of the automated construction system models having mechanical arm(s) of the current invention has the capability of rotating about a first axis perpendicular to the plane of the automated reinforced concrete construction apparatus base(s) due to the connection existing between the supporting structure pedestal(s) and said base(s). It has the actions of effecting elevational movements by rotating about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis due to the connection existing between the supporting (base) structure(s) and the guides. It is capable of causing the sweeping extension to be rotated about a third axis which is parallel to the second axis.
(113) In other specified embodiments, the current invention encompasses a variety of supporting bases, Reference
(114) One of the many inventive concrete construction systems of the current invention encompasses employing supporting and mounting means for the mechanized support member having retaining means movable or deformable to final position onto a wide variety of mobile or fixed supporting and operating platform(s) or pedestal(s), preferably having a fixed center that rotates and makes quick onsite adjustments and determines the printing angle(s) in fractions of a second and may be removably mounted for onsite (in situ) repositioning and having adjustable supporting apparatus; e.g., having re-arrangeable or rotatable slip-form printing characteristics and movements as disclosed herein.
(115) The current invention encompasses rotating on a removably mounted shaft or swivel mounted yoke having adjustable pedestal mounting systems that tilts relative to supporting base and may be mounted for onsite movement having adjustable supporting systems such as having elongated pedestals extending vertically into the ground and having a variety of shapes, uses, and casting materials onsite within a wide variety of suitable variations. Although the particular case of casting supporting pedestals and columns, especially plinths on which a pedestal, column, or concrete construction supporting pedestal may be positioned and operated for constructing reinforced concrete structures onsite and the like as disclosed herein.
(116) The automated construction systems and pedestals of the current invention encompass a universal attachment having quick installation and removal and operation.
(117) The quickly installed and removed automated construction system supporting pedestal diameter ranges between about 4 feet to 10 feet, Reference
(118) The depth of the automated construction system supporting pedestal ranges between about 4 feet to about 20 feet; most preferred is between 6 to 10 feet deep.
(119) The current invention encompasses a cast-in-place leave-in-place onsite supporting pedestal system providing internal reinforcement mesh or nets in permanent pedestals, reference
(120) The current invention encompasses a cast-in-place leave-in-place onsite supporting pedestal system having about 3 to 10 reinforcement bars, more preferably about 5 to 10 reinforcement bars, most preferably about 5 reinforcing bars generally vertically extending, optionally having a multi-turn coil reinforcement (not shown).
(121) The current invention encompasses providing sufficient stability during operation for supporting an automated construction system installable onsite having removable attachment to receiving pedestal system(s) designed for quick securement and attachment and removal providing support for a variety of automated construction attachments.
(122) The automated construction system's attachment base to the pedestal is compatible with a wide a variety of attachment configurations; note can be quickly removed and reused.
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(124) The current invention encompasses a protective self-conforming cast in place leave in place reinforced containment sleeve casting mold system for keeping the casting mix together for constructing supporting pedestals, supported from the ground and extending vertically comprises a flexible elongated containment sleeve, preferably being slightly elastic and having an opening at one end thereof for supplying cementitious casting mixes therein. The containment sleeve is arranged to be substantially vertical while being filled from a wide variety of cementitious casting mixes introduced through said opening so as to construct onsite a castable containment form having a generally circular cross-section (tube), reference
(125) An object of the present invention is to provide a previously unavailable reinforced cementitious mix self-adjusting casting onsite containment mold of the type defined herein, which provides a variety of previously unavailable advantages to the limitations mentioned herein and associated with prior cementitious casting molds for accurately casting permanent supporting mountable pedestals and columns of the types mentioned and illustrated in this disclosure. Reference
(126) This object is, in accordance with the current invention, obtained by providing a supporting pedestal casting mold comprising a leave in place cast in place external reinforced flexible elongated containment sleeve having a wide variety of reinforcement characteristics further including mix regulating venting apertures and other mix controlling characteristics as disclosed herein, which are slightly elastic and having an opening at one end thereof for supplying a wide variety of reinforcements and cementitious casting materials and mixes, e.g. concretes, said reinforced containment sleeve being arranged to be suitably positioned and held in place substantially vertically during the filling process through said opening (Reference
(127) Thus, the current invention is based on the understanding that a light weight, flexible external elongated reinforcement containment sleeve preferably being slightly elastic which may be filled with a variety of reinforcements and mixes to conform to the excavated hole shape of a generally circular cross-section to protect and contain and regulate the mix curing environment of the casting mix compounds within and at the same time give the support required for assuming and maintaining a vertical extension during the mix pouring and curing phase or process of the cementitious mix compounds. The use of such an inventive external containment sleeve or self-adjusting mold as a cast-in-place leave-in-place flexible protective pre-engineered mold functions onsite quickly, easily, and efficiently. Thus, the mutual co-operation between the cementitious casting compounds, reinforcements, and the external containment sleeve takes place by using the gravitational force of the casting mix compounds having reinforcements for containing the casting sleeve (mold) perpendicular, so that the latter assumes a shape and an extension for keeping the casting mix compound(s) in a pre-engineered or determined self-conforming configuration during the optimized pre-engineered onsite mix curing process or solidification thereof.
(128) In the example shown in
(129) It is apparent that the generally tubular external containment sleeve(s) may have other configurations of various other shapes and sizes, the purpose of which is to facilitate the slight expansion function thus further increasing their conformational tolerances (accuracy) of the external containment sleeve further having a variety of advantages in casting reinforced concrete pedestals, since the friction of the concrete with respect to the fabric reinforced containment sleeve increases and the rigidity of the casting mould is increased, so that higher and larger supporting pedestals can be cast onsite.
(130) The pedestal's reinforcing sleeves are preferably made out of high strength materials such as but not limited to basalt, polypropylene, and may be color coded as necessary or desired.
(131) It is illustrated in
(132) In the accomplishment of the objectives and advantages of the current invention it is desirable to quickly provide a protective external reinforced containment sleeve preferably consisting of light weight reinforcing material(s) as disclosed herein, preferably a plastic woven material, including a plastic textile material(s) as stated in this disclosure. Furthermore, preferably the outer surface of the reinforcing containment sleeve is made in a generally tubular configuration so that it can expand and conform easily into the sides of the generally cylindrical pre-excavated hole having a slightly larger cross-sectional area.
(133) As an option or optionally the external reinforcing containment sleeves of plastic material are preferred since their edges can be easily cut as needed or secured together on site (location), so that the size and length of the external reinforcing containment sleeves may be easily adapted to be just slightly larger than the diameter (size) and depth of the pre-drilled e excavated hole. These external reinforcing containment sleeves can be inserted quickly and easily into the excavated (drilled) holes. Thereupon the reinforced cement mix quickly settles against the slightly larger or expandable surface of the external protective reinforcing containment sleeve so that a reliable, high friction engagement value between the cast concrete supporting pedestal or column and the enclosing soil or ground is produced.
(134) According to an optional feature of the present invention as an option the lower end of the external protective and reinforcing containment sleeve has the shape of a tapering tube with greater expanding capacity than the rest of the containment sleeve (not shown), being made, for example, of a wide variety of plastic mesh/net materials. When it is filled with a semi-liquid cementitious (concrete) mixture, the sleeve will expand when filled with concrete and when concrete solidifies, the pressure of the pile will produce a shaped column or pedestal, which will significantly contribute to the stability of the automated supporting column. Polypropylene and basalt sleeves are preferred.
(135) The lower end of each external protective reinforced containment sleeve is closed by a tube consisting preferably of a pre-engineered textile reinforcing material(s) preferably having pre-engineered spacing (venting apertures) such as woven plastic filaments or threads as disclosed herein.
(136) As an option the concrete mixture may be inserted into the external flexible protective reinforced containment sleeve being slightly larger or expandable than the receiving hole. The process at the moment when the concrete is being pumped or poured into the external reinforcing containment sleeve and before the protective containment sleeve or tube has begun to expand and filling up, primarily to illustrate the initial shape of the inventive external flexible reinforced containment sleeves. Obviously, the external reinforcing sleeve (tubes) will begin to expand and conform to the hole's interior surface irregularities as soon as concrete mix has been pumped or poured into the external flexible reinforced sleeve. Woven reinforced tubular flexible containment sleeves are preferred.
(137) When the supporting pedestal casting is to take place, the inventive external elongated reinforcing containment sleeve still unfilled is properly positioned onsite preferably held hanging by one end onto which the cast-in-place support pedestal is intended to be positioned, and the cementitious casting mix compound, here the concrete mix, may be pumped or poured into the containment sleeve through the above opening at the upper end of the containment sleeve. Optionally the sleeve may be properly positioned and suitably supported either by a person manually holding the upper end thereof or by fastening the upper end thereof to a supporting stand (not shown) or the like, Reference
(138) After completing filling the lower part of the sleeve to the desired or required height as needed, with the preferred casting mix compounds, so that the lower filled part of the external containment sleeve may completely conform to the various irregularities of the excavated hole, as illustrated in
(139) In several specified embodiment the current invention's apparatus having mechanized arm(s) employs an adjustable and fixed positioned removably attached automated construction system and removable supporting pedestal (or attachment and removable supporting pedestal) base or column that is quickly installed and removed preferably having position adjusting means e.g. leveling, rotates and makes adjustments and determines the desired slip-form printing movements, position(s) and angle(s) by employing novel techniques, particularly when constructing on worksites. The inventive construction apparatus may incorporate locating and quick leveling devices such as a compass(es) and/or bubble levels and may be scaled as needed
(140) As an option or optionally any suitable internal reinforcement bars, rods, cables, mesh/net may be inserted into the containment sleeve before, during, or immediately after the filling (pumping) of the external containment sleeve with concrete preferably inserted (pushed down) into the wet concrete mix when this is necessary or desired (Reference as illustrated in
(141) The external reinforcing containment sleeve is preferably made of any suitable synthetic or natural materials, such as but not limited to basalt, polypropylene, cloths, burlap, fabric and the like, under the condition that the material is generally slightly elastic and the sleeve may be filled by any suitable hardenable casting mix compound introduced therein while suitably conforming a generally circular cross-section. Basalt and polypropylene are most preferred.
(142) In other specified embodiments encompasses that the invention does also comprise casting into holes onsite having for example a variety of self-adjusting characteristics and a wide variety of configurations in an un-filled, partially filled, and a filled state, since the cross-sections of a tube are circular, although the diameter thereof changes in the vertical direction of the tube. As an option the external containment sleeve may then be flexible in all direction(s) or select the directions as needed, for example plastic mesh, net configurations, but it would also be possible that the inventive containment sleeve has any suitable stiffness as needed into said generally circular cross-section and enables a circumferential even distribution on the reinforcement containment sleeve, reference
(143) As an option or optionally the reinforcing external containment sleeves may be coated on its outside surfaces with synthetic and or plastic materials and is constructed by weaving the reinforcing containment fabric or fabrics in a sheet(s) in to a generally tubular configuration or other shapes and configurations as needed with basic threads having a given tensile strength with the layers of the sleeve being joined together by auxiliary threads which have a substantially lower tensile strength than the basic threads so that, when the containment sleeve is filled with cementitious materials or other settable/curable materials, the auxiliary threads may be stretched or broken to permit a controlled expansion of the external containment sleeve to its pre-engineered full volume capacity as needed.
(144) In the final condition shown in
(145) The current invention provides cast in place leave in place onsite (casting moulds) requiring a neglectable space with respect to what previously was the case in storage and transport, since they may be transported (reference
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(147) Reusable Pedestals
(148) The current invention encompasses a wide variety of configurations of a moveable reusable, transportable operating and supporting pedestals or variations that is easily moved and positioned onsite in place as needed or optionally cast in place onsite as needed.
(149)
(150) The current invention encompasses a reusable transportable multi-purpose robotic construction system supporting and operating pedestal for removably receiving and onsite mounting the automated construction system having a receiving inlet in the pedestal suitable for filling with water and/or sand for ease of quick onsite filling and draining. Note Inlet and drain (not shown).
(151) The current invention encompasses employing a reusable water and or sand filled reservoir as a pedestal and operating base for supporting the automated construction apparatus preferably being removably mounted with quick connect and disconnects.
(152) The mobile automated construction system supporting pedestal can be easily moved from place to place during the construction of reinforced concrete structures having medium to high numbers of stories as an option or a variation of the invention you can cast in a supporting pedestal on the structures roof to provide the supporting and operating platform to slip-form print the next story, reference
(153) The supporting and operating pedestal apparatus having several configurations encompassed herein preferably encompasses locating and quick leveling devices such as a bubble level(s) and or compass(es).
(154)
(155) Augers
(156) As shown in the drawings
(157) As shown in the drawings
(158) The diameter of the drilling augers will range from about 18 inches to about 6 feet; preferably ranging between about 2 feet to about 5 feet; most preferred ranges between about 4 to 5 feet.
(159)
(160) A receiving and containment hole has been excavated or preferably drilled onsite as by an auger or other suitable system in the ground (soil), but it would be conceivable to use the leave in place external casting containment mold according to the invention when casting below grade supporting pedestal(s) and columns, etc.
(161) An object of the present invention is to improve the prior art construction systems by eliminating the necessity of using a casting mass, by providing a higher friction engagement value between the concrete mix and the surrounding soil encompassing ground irregularities, and in general by simplifying the methods and apparatuses of producing a cast in place reinforced concrete column or supporting pedestal.
Definitions
(162) The term nickel titanium, also known as nitinol (part of shape memory alloy), is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium, where the two elements are present in roughly equal atomic percentages e.g. Nitinol 55, Nitinol 60.
(163) The term venting aperture as used herein is a series of pre-engineered gaps or openings that regulates the desired cementitious mix quantity or rate of water evaporation, thermal transmission to accurately control the cementitious mix curing pre-engineered quality or rate of the cementitious mix and is defined by filament spacings, diameters, shapes, and configurations and encompasses pre-engineered venting apertures such as but not limited to square, rectangular or any combination therein.
(164) The term fabric as used herein is defined in polymeric terms as a manufactured assembly of long fibres of carbons, aramid or glass, plastics, basalts or any combination of these, to produce a flat sheet of one or more layers of woven fibres such as filament windings. The woven fibres are arranged into some form of sheet, known as a fabric, to provide ease of onsite handling. Different ways for assembling woven fibres into sheets and the variety of fibre orientations possible lead to there being many different types of woven fabrics, each of which has its own mechanical characteristics.
(165) The term mesh as used herein is defined as mesh is an open mesh, netting, web, webbing, used for reinforced containment sleeves and internal reinforcement to improve concrete stress transfer and displacement.
(166) The term sleeve, sleeves, external sleeve, containment sleeves, or sleeve containment form as used herein is an apparatus defined as a flexible leave-in-place cast-in-place external reinforcement and moldable containment form(s) tailored to specifically regulate the cementitious materials curing environment. The inventive external fabric reinforced containment sleeve of the current invention serves as having pre-engineered venting apertures that functions as a highly selective transport membrane for a predictably controlling and regulating the encapsulated cementitious mixes evaporation rate and thermal exchange transmissions to the external environment etc. as needed.
(167) The term concrete as used herein is a composite material composed of coarse granular material (the aggregate or filler such as sand, conglomerate gravel, pebbles, broken stone, or slag) embedded in a hard matrix of material (the cement or binder) that fills the space among the aggregate particles and glues them together.
(168) The term versatility and multi-purpose as used herein are interchangeable and means that the automated construction system's robot should have a mechanical structure that it can carry out different tasks onsite or perhaps the same task in different ways.
(169) The terms guide rail as used herein may be referred to as guide, guiding rail, guide rail apparatus, guide rail system since it can be designed and produced as a sliding mechanism that travels in a fixed path.
(170) The term slump as used herein is a measurement of concrete's workability, or fluidity, and is an indirect measurement of concrete consistency or stiffness.
(171) For the purposes of this specification it will clearly understood that the word(s) optional or optionally mean the subsequently described event of circumstances may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances which it does not.
(172) Multi-Story Structures
(173) In several specified embodiments encompasses that the current invention method and apparatus encompasses the fast, accurate, cost effective onsite construction of multi-storied reinforced concrete structures up to virtually any height and number of stories, only limited by structural engineering, reference
(174) The current invention automated construction system encompasses onsite three-dimensional reinforced concrete printing is able to extrude concrete in a single pass or multi-pass on a large scale capable of creating massive multi-story structures. In other specified embodiments encompasses a concrete construction apparatus having a lifting and positioning mechanism to slip-form print multi-story reinforced concrete structures from printing long interlocking bricks onsite.
(175) As a variation, a multistory automated construction system's lifting mechanism may be configured to controllably lift the supporting pedestal platform to a height sufficient for the automated slip-form printing assembly to extrude a Brick layer or layers of reinforced cementitious and non-cementitious material(s) layer-wise on top of the previously extruded or cast foundation or brick layer.
(176) In other embodiments of the onsite reinforced concrete construction systems, to construct multi-story reinforced concrete structures, the robotic construction systems (Reference
(177) Optionally you can cast in place an onsite supporting pedestal on the roof to provide the operating platform to slip-form print the next story, preferably employing a removably attached supporting wheel as disclosed herein, providing large printing zone with virtually no multi-story height limitation.
(178) The automated apparatus may be removably mounted and operated from a variety of supporting, operating pedestals and or guide rail tracking systems and may have a plurality of (multiple) mechanized arms and yokes as needed.
(179) In several embodiments encompasses having apparatuses and methods for filling the containment sleeves and their corresponding mix extrusion volumes or rates that simplifies the prior art's previously complex mix measurement processes, particularly when constructing multi-story structures having complex geometries, (Reference
(180) The inventive apparatus tools and machine may be continuously or intermittently operated by a single operator or operated in tandem with a pair of workers. Tandem operation is preferred.
(181) The method and apparatus of the current invention encompasses constructing a wide variety of, above grade and below grade, reinforced cementitious and non-cementitious structures such as but not limited to houses, apartments, culverts, well liners, buttresses, window and door frames, columns, balconies, water and wine tanks, sewers, retaining walls, reservoirs, fire places, arches, vaults, domes, columns, bridges, silos, walls, dams, ceilings, stairs, amphitheaters, and spiral structures.
(182) The methods and apparatus of the current invention further encompasses constructing reinforced concrete structures that were previously time and cost prohibitive and or unbuildable structures in the prior art cost effectively such as but not limited to constructing on difficult or conventionally unbuildable lots in remote areas.
(183)
(184)
(185) In several specified embodiments encompasses the robotic reinforced concrete construction system employing a plurality of automated robotic construction systems having mechanized slip-form printing assemblies may simultaneously or sequentially be employed onsite, instead of one large automated slip-form printing system, such as a prior art gantry system.
(186) For constructing large multi-story reinforced concrete structures such as apartment buildings, hospitals and schools, etc., the supporting and operating platform system(s) may employ onsite slip-form printing from guide rails to be positioned within and or alongside the structure to be constructed, further including other supporting and operating platform system(s) disclosed herein, or working in tandem in any combination, Reference
(187) Plumbing
(188) The current invention encompasses providing a faster, more accurate (continuous) onsite installation and placement of piping, conduits, plumbing, fiber optics, electrical, reinforcement etc., reference
(189) A three-dimensional structure may include a set of automated slip-form printed encapsulated bricks, spaced at intervals, each comprised of a layer-wise stacked set of extruded brick; then filling in the space between the edges with a suitable cementitious mix as an option may be comprised of a stacked set of separately extruded bricks or layers; optionally a plurality of conduits defined at least in part by the spaced apart bricks (Reference
(190) In other specified embodiments encompasses installing the plumbing and electrical, fiber optics components, etc. optionally positioned within the extruded wall bricks or deposited layers. (Reference
(191) Plumbing may also be positioned and installed as part of the manual, semi-automated or automated construction system. Segments of plumbing pipe may be secured to other segments using semi-automated or automated installation such as threading, gluing or welding techniques.
(192) The installation of horizontal plumbing pipe segments, under manual and or automated robotic installation control. The automated robotic systems and associated slip-form printing assemblies, described herein, can slip-form print utility conduits within the brick walls. Reference
(193) Semi-automated plumbing installation is thus made possible from the automated construction system configuration for installation of pipe sections having generally horizontal configurations. As an option, the automated construction system robotic arm(s) may have a hollow tubular shape, and may include an inner pipe, tube, or sleeve. The removably secured pipe sections may be fed through the piping system of the robotic construction arm(s) from a feeding magazine (not shown).
(194)
(195)
(196) After placing each pipe segment within the brick keyway receiving channels or conduit, a variety of cementitious mixes and/or foam(s) that quickly cure may be injected into the remaining keyway space or as needed.
(197) As an option, once cured, the mix or cements or foam(s) may be covered with cement mix(es) that secures the piping system(s) in position, and provides long-term environmental protection and shielding of plumbing and other networks and facilitates accurate alignment when adding successive piping system(s).
(198) As a variation, electrical wiring may be quickly and easily installed during construction as part of the manual, semi-automated or automated reinforced concrete construction system as disclosed herein. Communication network's electrical wires may be housed in modules or conduits that are connected together and positioned within the printed brick receiving channels positioned and cast in the slip-form printed walls, foundations, and roofs, etc., again under manual and or robotic or mechanized control as needed.
(199) This approach may be similar to the modular approach used in building plumbing system networks as described herein. The electric modules (not shown) contain segments of wires or other conductive elements, such as power and communication lines. Optionally these conductive segments may be encapsulated in nonconductive slip-form printed brick blocks, which may be partially or completely composed of nonconductive materials including but not limited to ceramic(s), plastics. The ends of the conductive segments have other forms conventionally employed in electrical and electronics outlets, jacks, etc. Modules of many different types of electrical components may be made and used, allowing for the creation of any desired electric network as needed.
(200) The only manual part of the electrical work may be the task of simply inserting fixtures into the semi-automatically constructed electronic network (not shown). Plastering, tiling and painting may be similarly done under manual, mechanized or automated robotic control, or any combination therein.
(201) The process for tiling and or cladding of roofs and of walls is similar to the process for tiling of floors (not shown). Both the mix feeding tube(s) (not shown) and the mechanized and or robotic arm(s) that pick up the tile, may tilt to conform to both floor and wall and roof tiling and or cladding applications as needed. In case of vertical, or near vertical, tile placement, if a distance is desired between the tiles, a plurality of conventional small spacers may be placed on the sides of each tile which faces upward or downward. The spacers may help accurately space apart and stop the movement (drift) of tiles. One of the major time saving aspects of the tiling methods may be the elimination of the task of aligning the tiles, which takes up significant time during a conventional manual tiling installation process.
(202) Fiber Reinforced Concrete
(203) The inventive containment sleeve apparatuses and methods are compatible with, and improves the potential casting outcomes from, a wide variety of micro-reinforcements having a variety of significant structural implications for onsite slip-form printing of fiber-reinforced concrete (F.R.C.) such as enhancing the concrete mix behavior including improving stiffness and reducing deflection, further including realizing more of the mix's performance potential as disclosed herein, for brick walls and members including with and without conventional reinforcement. The (F.R.C.) can decrease complex stress in the reinforcement component or structure. This is particularly important when slip-form printing thin brick sections and cement-based mixes requiring internal reinforcement where the geometry and profile play an important role in controlling deflection. As an option in the method and apparatus described for when slip-form printing of fiber-reinforced concrete materials on site by extruder printing techniques. In this reinforced concrete slip-form printing construction system, one or more compartments of the feed hopper may contain standard-grade concrete mix, while the other compartment is filled with fiber-reinforced mix. In this manner, the slip-form printing control gate of the feed hopper discharge openings can be controlled to adjust the feeding ratios of the different slip-form printing concrete mixes so as to obtain a specifically designed slip-form printed brick product. The primary function of this apparatus is to provide construction versatility for homogenous and/or nonhomogeneous distribution of micro-fiber reinforcement throughout the entire cross section of the slip-form printed brick product as needed.
(204) Such use of higher-strength concrete mix(es) including having micro-fiber-reinforcement at the brick wall end portion in some applications reduces or eliminates the need for conventional iron reinforcing bars, rods, cables or fibers at the support-load-bearing area of the printed brick wall, a possibility that in the slip-form printing prior art has been almost impossible to implement without essentially degrading the cost-efficiency of mass production slip-form printing. Now the disclosed inventive automated system slip-form printing technology according to the current invention increases the range of printed brick wall applications and thus improves the competitive advantages of the concrete construction branch of reinforced concrete brick products.
(205) Hence, the concrete mix grade may be quickly and easily varied as necessary or desired, e.g., so that printing a long slip-form printed brick wall may be of the same or different cementitious (concrete) mix or grades than that of the other slip-form printed walls. Also different portions of a given slip-form printed wall or walls, as for example, may be made from same or different cementitious (concrete) mixes or grades, such as but not limited to memory return concrete, smog absorbing concrete, humidity regulating concrete, etc. e.g., so that the ends of a given brick wall may be constructed from a different grade mix than that used for the middle portion of the slip-form printed brick wall. Generally, the most commonly used cementitious (concrete) mix grades that are different from the basic concrete mix grade can be a higher-strength or lower-strength grade, as for example fiber-reinforced and or colored or dyed concrete mixes or any suitable combination. Among others, the current invention offers the following significant benefits: Use of optimized-grade concrete gives savings in the consumption of extra amounts of cement and admixtures. This is an object of the invention.
(206) In several embodiments encompasses inventive apparatuses and methods for the use of a higher-grade or such as but not limited to fiber-reinforced type(s) of concrete mixes allows additional reinforcing bars, cables, rods, etc. otherwise required for a given individual section of a brick wall or layer to be reduced or omitted from the entire length of a slip-form printed wall being slip-form printed on the casting layer. As an example thus the walls to be provided with a large number of openings can be constructed onsite from a special high performance grade concrete mix to increase durability and sustainability and to significantly reduce micro-cracking.
(207) Micro-Filament Reinforced Concrete
(208) The current invention further encompasses employing reinforcement from micro-filaments improving the Generalized Quality Control and performance Specifications of the inventive onsite slip-form printed bricks, provides improved strengthening, proportions, production, and delivery, having placement and protection of a variety of embedded item as needed.
(209) The symbiotic combination of the inventive methods and apparatus of the current invention improves the specifications for Tolerances for both hot and Cold Weather onsite reinforced concrete Construction applications.
(210) High Performance Concretes
(211) Some printing material's specifications may not be realized or obtained onsite without employing the inventive slip-form printed containment sleeves of the current invention having pre-engineered characteristics manufactured to optimize onsite printing such as but not limited to successfully slip-form printing on the construction site sustainable cementitious materials lasting for hundreds of years, or, theoretically, thousands of years. Note, most reinforced concrete structures are engineered to last about 50 years, some about 100 years. Thus, employing the current invention enables the concrete industry to be more sustainable.
(212) The current invention enables the reinforced concrete industry to be more sustainable and more cost effective and more environmentally friendly at equivalent cost or potentially at reduced costs.
(213) The prior limitation for casting of high performance concrete mixes in a factory environment is conventionally limited to about 20 inches; the current invention methods and apparatuses is theorized to be able to slip-form print about (25) inches or more on the construction site.
(214) The current invention provides previously unavailable advantages for slip-form printing, particularly for printing high performance concretes mixes onsite to predictably cast within a wider range of temperatures and humidity ranges, thus expanding the field of engineering of high performance concrete mixes such as but not limited to air filtering concrete, smog absorbing concrete mixes, memory return concrete, humidity regulating, ultra-high performance, further containing potash and/or fly ash having advantages for casting highly insulating concrete mixes and or ultra-high insulating concrete mixes on the construction site.
(215) In some applications, the current invention eliminates factory environment autoclaving steps (air entrainment), thus providing previously unavailable onsite printing, that has previously required casting in a factory environment that requires a controlled humidity and temperature range.
(216) In several embodiments encompasses inventive methods and apparatus for controlling the mechanisms of a wide variety of cementitious mixes curing environments to enhance the onsite casting components and mechanisms and optimizes the cementitious materials mix proportions whose properties and characteristics have been designed to meet specific engineering needs, such as required for high performance concretes such as fiber reinforced concrete, memory return concrete, humidity regulating concrete, smog absorbing concrete, air and or gas entrained concrete, EMF shielding concrete, etc.
(217) In several embodiments the invention encompasses methods and apparatuses such that the containment sleeves apparatus may be composed of singular or multi-layered materials, from a wide variety of compositions and materials, such as but not limited to a wide variety of fabrics, filaments, foils, plastics, fiber weaves, binding agents, mesh sizes, weaving patterns, venting apertures (spacing), crossing angles, including hybrid materials, multiple laminated and non-laminated layering such as optionally having two or more reflective and sealing materials, etc. to contain and regulate the mix casting environment for a wide variety of cementitious and non-cementitious mixes to suit a wide variety of onsite automated slip-form printing applications specifically for optimizing a variety of curing characteristics to obtain the complex potentials of generic to high performance concrete mixtures by accurately controlling (regulating) the necessary and required mechanisms of the curing environment to enhance the mix components mechanisms and optimize the materials and mix proportions whose properties have been designed to meet specific engineering needs i.e. such as high performance concrete (HPC) or blended cementitious materials such as fly ash (ground granulate slag from blast furnaces) (iron), providing high workability onsite having an initial high strength, high toughness, optionally employing High Volume Fly Ash (HVFA) concrete mixes' slip-form printed in place on the construction site for increasing the significant component of sustainable durability and or high durability to exposure conditions.
(218) The wide variety of containment sleeves of the current invention that regulates water tightness and improves durability such as to exposure conditions such as encapsulating (containing) blended high performing cementitious materials such as fly ash, to obtain high degree of onsite printing predictability, having very high initial strength, high toughness, optionally employing High Volume Fly Ash (H.V.F.A), for increasing the significant brick component sustainable durability to predictably minimize onsite autogenous shrinkage and thermal cracking, more specifically the interfacial transition zone in H.V.F.A. concrete printing, enabling the onsite development of crack-resistance, reducing thermal cracking from alkali-silica expansion and to obtain a more durable onsite printed bricks with higher insulation per mass volumes and provides resistance from sulfate attack and is compatible with a variety of minerals or synthetic admixtures.
(219) In other specified embodiments, the current invention encompasses that employing the inventive pre-engineered sleeve having previously unavailable onsite performance characteristics that reduces or eliminates the interfacial transition zone, such as when slip-form printing HVFA concrete, enabling the development of a more crack-resistant and more durable print having improved dimensional stability, i.e. less drying shrinkage and promotes a higher ultimate strength. This is an object of the invention.
(220) Note: due to the volumes of the fines and a low water content, fresh concrete mixes of the HVFA mixes are often very cohesive and do not exhibit bleeding or segregation
(221) Note that HVFA is a non-bleeding, low-water cement concrete mixe(s) that are prone to plastic shrinkage and cracking, including autogenous cracking from shrinkage.
(222) In several specified embodiments, the current invention encompasses that methods and apparatuses employing the current invention fabric reinforced sleeve(s) eliminates the prior art steps such as covering the surface with a heavy sheet immediately after placement as the concrete surfaces must be protected from rapid and uneven water loss or by the prior art use of a water fogger around the just printed structure during the moist curing period for a minimum of 67 days. Overcoming these and other limitations is an object of the invention.
(223) In most applications, the current invention's methods and apparatus may eliminate the prior art steps of vibrating concrete.
(224) In other specified embodiments encompasses that the fabric reinforced containment sleeves improves air entrainment methods and or a variety of gases' (i.e. nitrogen, argon) entrainment. This is an object of the invention.
(225) The sleeve is compatible with a variety of air entrainment, up to about 2%, and or a variety of optimized gas entrainment methods and apparatuses such as argon, nitrogen, etc. (not shown).
(226) Note that these H.P.C. non-bleeding, low-water cement concrete mixes are highly prone to plastic shrinkage and cracking, particularly autogenously cracking from shrinkage. Thus, employing the current invention containment sleeve having pre-engineered curing and venting apertures reduces or eliminates these prior limitations that optimizes and or eliminates the prior art steps of wetting and shading the cast concrete. This is an object of the invention.
(227) Air Purifying Concrete
(228) Conventional technology is currently unable to cast smog absorbing/air purifying concrete on site in a reliable and cost-effective manner, thus the current invention provides a previously unavailable method and apparatus for slip-form printing air purifying concrete on the construction site as needed within the art.
(229) In a specified embodiment encompasses cost effectively constructing/slip-form printing walls or sections of walls etc. may be slip-form printed (cast) on the construction site with a cementitious mix that is specifically designed and formulated to control and regulate the structure's internal air purity, such as trapping carbon chains having suitable molecular chelating characteristics or adjusted as needed depending upon the application.
(230) For example, the slip-form printing apparatus that shapes/molds external slip-form printed (extruded) interlocking, encapsulated, molded bricks contained in flexible reinforced containment sleeves may be deposited in succeeding brick layers, one slip-form printed brick, positioned layer-wise on to the receiving interlocking face of the other, in single or multiple passes, or any combination as needed. These onsite molded and printed bricks could be of the same or different material(s). For example, optionally humidity regulating cementitious brick materials may be printed onto the previous brick surface during a first pass and memory return concrete or smog (pollution) capturing cementitious materials may be printed onsite and positioned on top of the humidity regulating brick material during a second pass in a layer wise interlocking manner.
(231) Memory Return Concrete
(232) Conventional technology is currently unable to cast memory return concrete on a construction site in a reliable and cost-effective manner, thus the current invention provides a previously unavailable method and apparatus for slip-form printing memory return concrete mixes onsite as needed within the art.
(233) Humidity Regulating Concrete
(234) Conventional cementitious technology is currently unable to cast humidity regulating concrete on site in a reliable and cost-effective manner, thus the current invention provides previously unavailable methods and apparatus for slip-form printing internal humidity regulating concrete mixes onsite as needed within the art for automatic adjusting and self-regulating within the pre-engineered and preferred internal humidity range.
(235) In a specified embodiment encompasses that the slip-form printed brick walls or sections of walls may be slip-form printed with a pre-engineered cementitious mix that is specifically designed and formulated to control and automatically self-regulate a structure's internal humidity range for automatic adjusting and self-regulating within the pre-engineered and preferred humidity range ranging between about 30% to 60%, preferably self-regulating between 45% to 55% or adjusted as needed depending upon the design characteristics and application.
(236) The current invention encompasses method and components to optimize thermal storage and obtain a self-regulating humidity/balancing effect.
(237) The current invention further encompasses casting a variety of cementitious materials having pre-engineered wicking characteristics as needed. The current invention encompasses improving onsite slip-form printing such as but not limited to optimizing the slipform printed cementitious mixes grain boundary, wall effects, aggregation, permeability, porosity resistance, sheer strength, alkali resistance, oxidation resistance, erosion resistance, weight or mass, compressive strength, tension resistance, memory return, ductility, freeze thaw resistance, durability, stress displacement, etc.
(238) The current invention further encompasses slip-form printing insect-repelling walls onsite.
(239) In several specified embodiments, the current invention encompasses onsite slip-form printing autonomous shielding against radiation, i.e. EMP shielding concrete and EMF shielding concrete mixes.
(240) Temporary and Emergency Structures
(241) Another advantage of the current invention is that emergency structures are easily constructed more rapidly onsite, which is particularly important in natural and man-made disaster ravaged areas.
(242) The current invention's methods and apparatuses encompasses quickly and cost effectively printing a variety of durable emergency and temporary structures onsite (in one to four hours) that may incorporate multiple simplified slip-form printers per mechanized arm(s) optionally having multiple adjustable simplified light-weight arms working simultaneously and or sequentially operating multiple construction tools simultaneously such as per room, or rooms, and or constructing near monolithic multi-room structures.
(243) The inventive construction methods and apparatus offers previously unavailable simplicity, speed, and versatility that enables constructing a wide variety of slip-form printed structural configurations onsite, including temporary and or emergency structures in a wide variety of sizes and shapes from the same basic components using the same basic construction techniques and as an option may include constructing temporary unsupported arches and temporary wall sections in permanent structures e.g. doorways, walls, etc. further including slip-form printing temporary unsupported concrete arches up to about a 4 ft. span and slip-form printing temporary wall sections, and structures.
(244) As an option the bricks may be slip-form printing on top of temporary and or removable supports including constructing removable temporary cast in place temporary structural supports or bracing or imitation beam supporting structures compatible with a variety of structural component(s).
(245) As an option the current invention encompasses constructing temporary portions of a structure, e.g. doorways that look permanent, wall(s), arches and buttress, flying arch, flying buttress.
(246) The current invention optionally provides the ability to 3D print homes using native (indigenous) clays, which could contribute to affordable housing. As an option homes could be printed out of local clays which are abundant in many locales, and often the areas most in need of emergency or affordable shelters.
(247) The method and apparatus of the current invention further increases the compression and tension strength of bricks over the prior art, and quickly and cost-effectively constructs temporary structures that are weatherproofed and resistant to natural disasters such as fire, hurricane-force winds, snow loads, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, and atmospheric radiation. Some slip-form printed structures may be flooded and dug out with minimum or no structural damage such as in tsunamis and flooding.
(248) The current invention encompasses methods and apparatuses to slip-form print wind and sand fixation walls, and vertical green walls onsite for the desertification control of sand and wind.
(249) Earth Sheltering
(250) The current invention's method and apparatus encompasses cost effectively printing onsite earth bermed (sheltered) and underground structures (not shown). Earth sheltering provides thermally stabilized environments with superior energy efficiency and lower life cycle costs for reliable protection against seasonal temperature extremes with substantially reduced or potentially near zero-point energy usage.
(251) The current invention encompasses quickly and easily constructing earth bermed and underground structures onsite having the following benefits: Easily constructs structures on sites not suitable for conventional construction, provides quieter living environment, easily incorporates and improves earth tube performance characteristics, and the current invention is compatible with air formed domes (berms, etc.).
(252) Retrofitting and Refurbishing
(253) The method and apparatus of the current invention encompasses innovative versatile onsite reinforced concrete construction methods and apparatuses such as employed for cost effective and energy efficient retrofitting and refurbishing such as brown fields projects and or significantly structurally upgrading a wide variety of structures such as but not limited to repairing, remodeling, and or adding to sustainability, providing additional structural reinforcement, insulation, seismic and wind resistance, etc. as needed.
(254) The method and apparatus provides a previously unavailable onsite seismic rehabilitation technique by the rehabilitation of reinforced concrete members such as footings, walls, slabs on grade or subgrade, forms, reinforcement, placement, consolidation, finishing, and having improved onsite curing characteristics and speeds as disclosed herein.
(255) The structures' construction methods are easily expanded (added on to) with minimal disturbance to the original structure.
(256) Specialty Structures
(257) The current invention quickly and cost effectively constructs a wide variety of specialty concrete structures including fortified structures having cladding.
(258) In one specified embodiment encompasses that methods and apparatuses of the current invention are suitable for onsite construction in remote locations such as slip-form printing extraterrestrial structures such as on the moon.
(259) In one specified embodiment, the method and apparatus of the current invention is suitable for underwater reinforced concrete construction.
(260) In other specified embodiments encompasses inventive methods and apparatuses such that upon the inventive structure's collapse or rupturing such as from structural stressing, the reinforced external containment sleeve(s) and/or the internal reinforcement mesh, reduce the quantity and severity from shrapnelizing effects particularly in combination with different sizes and types of reinforcing loops/coils when compared to conventional reinforced concrete structures. This is an object of the invention.
(261) As an option or optionally, the current invention may employ carbon fiber containment sleeves and internal reinforcement that resists projectile penetration.
(262) The current invention encompasses quickly and cost effectively constructs bunkers, silos, and disaster shelter, as well as a variety of other fortified structures including cost effective construction of structures for long term encapsulating of toxic substances.
(263) Such innovatively reinforced structures preferably employing said synergistic reinforced containment sleeves having attached reinforcing ring/coil system having significant S-wave canceling characteristics constructed with the method and apparatuses of the current invention may withstand seismic forces (Earthquake resistance) three times higher than the most stringent code requirements or more if necessary or required. As further examples, such as but not limited to wellheads, infrastructures, stadiums, and additionally may provide a wide variety of encountered explosions and ground accelerations (earth quakes) mitigation solutions for protection of above and below grade facilities, and other reinforced structures. Memory return metals are preferred.
(264) Additional examples encompassed by the current invention further includes armoring and reinforced concrete impact (earthquake) cancellation characteristics such as but not limited to print in place, leave in place memory return reinforcement, as in an exemplary illustration of
(265) The overlapping continuous non-touching reinforced memory return such as wire and or cable coils rings may significantly improve encountered S-wave impact force attenuation characteristics in new and highly complex ways, as disclosed herein, reference
(266)
(267) Additionally, having versatile seismic resistant structural reinforcement characteristics in a variety of arrays of configurations of the current invention such as reinforcement modules (to be embedded in a wide variety of compatible cementitious materials) as disclosed herein. As for example, cubical geometric forms having non-touching overlaps can be achieved by a suitable draft angle, which interlocks and nests the cubical and or curvilinear reinforced seismic resistant memory return brick wall system or units together (not shown). These non-touching reinforced memory return units cubes may overlap more densely than as illustrated, reference
(268) Most preferably composed of alloys of nitinol reinforcement wire and or cables and its variants etc., as described and disclosed herein, such as incorporating into the inventive seismic resistant continuous reinforcing external containment sleeves, preferably embedded with a compatible cementitious mix or other bonding composites or other materials as needed depending upon the specific application.
(269) Several specified embodiments encompass that the inventive memory return seismic resistant reinforcing apparatuses may be accurately positioned and secured and slipform printed together onsite for reinforcing the lesser composites. The coil surfaces comprising one memory return reinforcing modules (cubes) may be pre-engineered and manufactured, such as but not limited to continuous bar, rod, cable, wire, or filament(s) etc., as needed reference
(270) Other specified embodiments encompass having economic advantages. The lesser seismic resistant memory return reinforcement material can be used for terminal anchoring, contained within each memory return reinforcing brick unit(s) as needed. A specified embodiment encompasses in a method aspect for computer controlled bending and twisting of a wide variety of seismic resistant memory return characteristics as needed.
(271) Configurations as disclosed herein preferably allow accurate cubic scaling for ease of manufacture of a wide variety of seismic resistant memory return reinforcements as needed, preferably having overlapping, non-touching memory return coils rings printed (cast) within a variety of protective seismic resistant configurations.
(272)
(273) As a further example, preferably a series of overlapping enhanced continuous non-touching cable and or wire coils or rings, reference
(274) In several exemplary embodiments, the current invention encompasses methods and apparatuses having an innovative seismic resistant advantage of memory return reinforcing 3-dimensional overlapping continuous non-touching coils loops cubes or rings to leverage the memory return high tensile strength having advantages upon a compressive space.
(275) As an option, additional application of smaller cable and or wire continuous overlapping non-touching reinforced memory return coils rings are preferably orthogonally positioned and may be advantageously positioned to further reinforce and simultaneously attenuate the shared shell zones as needed. These smaller overlapping continuous seismic resistant non-touching (non-frequency transferring) wire and or cable coils rings (not shown) preferably, sufficiently pervade the seismic resistant zone to help sufficiently resist shearing and other highly complex seismic resistance from encountered impact frequency generated forces.
(276) The more attenuating of the highly complex encountered S-wave impact force will therefore have the inventive advantage of not presenting compounded stresses at a single point along a reinforcement member or members.
(277) Memory return reinforcement(s) is illustrated herein, Reference
(278) A specified embodiment encompasses the specific said memory return reinforcement(s) (annular reinforcement apparatus) and components specifications may vary as needed depending on the specific seismic resistant application. In some specific reinforcement applications, the reinforcing and seismic resistant systems of the current invention may fit within a seismic resistant near monolithic structures.
(279) It is contemplated and intended to be within the scope of the current invention that any type of seismic resistant overlapping continuous non-touching memory return reinforced wire and or cable coils rings disclosed herein may be used as needed. In addition, any type of memory return seismic resistant reinforcement preferably in synergistic combination with the external containment sleeve having a variety of weaves, mesh, or net are encompassed, as disclosed herein.
(280) Such said reinforcing seismic resistant overlapping continuous non-touching memory return coils loops rings, reinforcements, preferably employed in combination with weave, mesh, or net reinforcements as disclosed herein may optionally comprise continuous, fixed linkage between reinforcement elements as disclosed herein, providing additional reinforcing section(s) and or brick layer(s) that is positioned adjacent or proximate the interlocking brick inside edges. Overlapping continuous non-touching reinforced memory return wire and or cable coils or rings may be a series of rings or coils, and the series of seismic resistant reinforced overlapping continuous non-touching memory return coils rings may be positioned in seismic resistant non-touching overlapping rows as needed.
(281) The external reinforcing brick apparatus incorporation with the memory return reinforcement rings coils, may be combined to form a seismic resistant printed structure. Alternatively, adjustments may be made as to the amount of cementitious filler or bonding material(s) that is used on either side of the overlapping reinforced continuous non-touching memory return coils loops or rings that may be closer to, or farther from, the middle portion of the cementitious filler layer. Weave, mesh, or net reinforced materials also may be used in place of, or in conjunction with, overlapping memory return continuous non-touching coils loops or rings, including but not limited to those patterns and arrangements shown in
(282) Seismic resistant reinforced memory return wire and or cable coils loops rings may also comprise untied rings configurations as an option or as an alternative. The overlapping reinforced continuous seismic resistant non-touching memory return coils rings apparatus may employ, and preferably is specifically tailored to, a much wider selection of cementitious mixes that economically improves the ultimate seismic resistant encountered impact strength and having enhanced encountered seismic resistant impact attenuation control characteristics for the entire seismic resistant printed structure allowing for this inventive synergy provided from previously unavailable seismic resistant methods and apparatus and materials.
(283) This innovative seismic resistant reinforced memory return apparatus and system produces and obtains an extension of the tensile range and strength over the entire seismic resistant memory return reinforcement(s) surface(s) or near surface of the printed brick(s). This is an object of the invention.
(284) Having significant advantages over the prior art are: 1) ease of placement of annular memory return reinforcement; 2) less aggregates or bonding plastic or resin including reduction of micro-shrinkage during curing phase; 3) unrestricted curvilinear structural shapes and sizes; 4) lighter and stronger printed brick placement practicalities; 5) provides for a wider range of printed brick thicknesses; 6) combined near monolithic reinforced seismic resistant printed structures and finishing processes in onsite and offsite continuous single-pass and or multi-pass printing step(s); 7) addresses and reduces the critical S-wave frequency ranges from encountered impacts over the prior art; 8) lighter weight to strength ratio and 9) ease of onsite slip-form printing having memory return micro-fibers and continuous overlapping non-touching wire and or cable coils rings.
(285) The advantage of the preferably combined mesh net configurations with coil ring seismic resistant reinforcements includes: 1) ease in reinforced memory return encapsulation through filler or bonding resins (cement) encapsulating overlapping continuous non-touching memory return coils rings reinforcement surfaces. By contrast, generally the penetration of cementitious mixes further including plastics and resins through overlapping meshes is more difficult. 2) Seismic resistant meshes and nets costs more industrial effort (time) to manufacture. Overlapping continuous non-touching wire/cable seismic resistant coils configurations may be cost-effectively mass-produced, or as an option or alternatively in contiguous flat wire and or cable coiled spirals. 3) Transport and handling is simpler than restrictively sized mesh products. 4) Reduces and cancels the specific S-wave frequency range from encountered impacts having previously unavailable S-wave frequency controlling and canceling characteristics over the prior art.
(286) Other specified embodiments encompass methods and apparatuses that operate on different dimensions and principles. In another embodiment, the current invention encompasses a wide variety of O.D. sizes (outside diameters) of reinforced seismic resistant memory return non-touching spaced apart overlapping continuous wire and or cable coils loops rings apparatuses, reference
(287) The use of seismic resistant reinforcement materials, such as plastic(s), carbon fibers, fiberglass, or other high tensile strength materials is encompassed by the current invention, including other composite materials that are suitable for reinforcing a wide variety of seismic resistant structures.
(288) In an exemplary embodiment encompasses that the inventive seismic resistant methods and apparatus is that: high tensile reinforced memory return overlapping continuous non-touching coils rings reinforcements may be combined with the low cost compressive cementitious filler material(s), such as additives such as plastics and or resins; as an example, the reinforced memory return overlapping non-touching coils rings may be chained by compressive linking instead of by prior art tensile continuum. Therefore, a new inventive seismic resistant apparatus and methods of reinforcing memory return compressive transferring and chaining is encompassed in this disclosure herein and having the further advantage of having less weight/mass.
(289) As a non-limiting example, the reinforcement overlapping continuous non-touching memory return wire and or cable coils loops rings may be configured to having overlaps ranging between one to ten overlaps per each coil loop ring or as needed, reference
(290) In other exemplary embodiments encompasses that the overlapping seismic resistant continuous non-touching coils loops rings provides previously unavailable or unknown in the prior art seismic resistant characteristics providing a higher percentage of compression characteristics from encountered S-wave (earthquake) impact attenuation transfer when compared to the prior art's simple tension transfer characteristics.
(291) Furthermore, as the prior art does not consider or ignores that, these and other highly complex colliding (collapsing) earthquake generated frequencies producing shockwaves and other encountered impact forces or waveform frequencies that need to be captured and simultaneously attenuated and dampened to provide previously unavailable seismic safety protection from encountered impacts and provides protection from a wider range of encountered earthquake impact(s) having previously unavailable seismic capturing and attenuation characteristics as disclosed herein.
(292) The amplitude and magnitude of encountered seismic impact(s) is relatively critical due to its effect on printed structures, and the prior art's existing mechanisms that fail to provide satisfactory or significant reduction characteristics of encountered seismic impacts. The direction of the encountered impact forces generally coincides with the longitudinal axis of the structure's encountered impacts. For these and other reasons, improvements in the design and operation of seismic safety are desired in the art.
(293) The innovative approaches of the current invention taken herein make a more effective reinforced memory return seismic cancellation system from encountered seismic energy and, in particular, recycle (and return), as much encountered seismic vector forces as possible, the encountered impact energy and generated frequency forces by departing from the conventional prior art models. Additionally, the present invention addresses the limitations associated with conventional seismic safety systems, and having improved safety methods and apparatuses for nullifying a wider range of encountered impact(s) as disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is to reduce and cancel out the amplitude and or consequences of encountered highly complex impacts in general. This results in many new safety design possibilities and safety improvements.
(294) One of the fundamental principles of the present invention seismic safety is the transfer of encountered S-wave frequency impact vector generated forces to a direction outside of the longitudinal axis of the encountered impact source or sources.
(295) The mechanism(s) that captures and transfers these highly complex encountered S-wave forces are preferably configured and accurately oriented (positioned) along the longitudinal axis of the memory return reinforcement seismic safety coils, rings, preferably combined with printed mesh, or netting, etc. to effectively attenuate or nullify the highly complex S-wave frequency collisions, particularly the S-wave frequency collisions (collapsing) producing train waves as needed in the art. This is an object of the invention.
(296) A specified embodiment encompasses that the memory return reinforcement apparatus as stated herein is useful where the reinforcement(s) is to be positioned and contained within the external reinforcing containment sleeve. As for example certain cements or bonding resins. Also, the preferred alloys of nitinol ratios material(s) may be selected so that the memory return reinforcement(s) has a desirable amount of tensile range(s) and having sufficient S-wave frequency capturing and canceling characteristics further including elasticity, encountered energy absorption, canceling, and dissipation that is required within the art.
(297) Other specified embodiments encompass the memory return reinforcement apparatus preferably having nitinol alloy material(s) and methods and apparatuses, which may be coated on their outside surfaces with synthetic and or plastic materials and are optionally constructed by weaving nitinol threads in a variety of laminate(s) or sheet(s) or any configurations, preferably having nitinol threads having a given tensile strength of about 180,000 to 200,000 PSI with the two or more layers of the threads being joined together such as but limited to by overlapping reinforced continuous non-touching seismic resistant annular coils loops rings, or having a similar or greater tensile range or strength than the basic mixes' fillers.
(298) The printed brick(s) may incorporate multiple layers of the same or different memory return S-wave frequency capturing and canceling configurations and materials pre-engineered to a variety of cementitious mixes having custom aggregates, admixtures, resins or plastic mixes to obtain predictable S-wave capturing and canceling characteristics as needed.
(299) As described in several of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, the capturing and transfer of encountered forces, particularly S-wave forces, such as encountered from earth quakes, explosions, wind forces, snow loads, etc. are captured by the reinforcing ring coil canceling apparatus that reverse (reflect) and thus disperse and dissipate and cancel highly complex encountered impact forces, particularly S-waves, including reversing the impact characteristics and thereby reduces the impact moment of said structures.
(300) The current invention provides previously unavailable capturing and guiding of such encountered waves (impact forces) and directs those forces in the form of attenuated waves in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the reinforced brick. Throughout this disclosure, the use of the term impact apparatus or impact controlling apparatus can refer either to a single or to multiple parts or masses. The component masses of the impact controlling apparatus of the invention may optionally serve additional functions, such as providing reinforcement and armoring protection to or for a wide variety of structures and their components for emplacements equipped with the present invention and may also further include pre-engineered printed armor plating.
(301) An aspect of the present invention is the use of the inventive encountered impact absorbing and guiding controlling system as force and wave guides to the movement(s) such that the impact canceling components or apparatus dissipates and or follows, depending upon the application, as an example, re-directing such encountered forces to a direction along the longitudinal axis of the reinforced printed brick, thereby transferring the encountered impact forces and other detrimental effects described herein.
(302) The current invention may also print a wide variety of specialty reinforced concrete structures quickly and accurately constructed onsite such as but not limited to cooling towers, ice houses, wind tunnels, ice towers, windcatchers (qanats), sand fixating walls, etc.
(303) Concrete Testing
(304) This new technology incorporates previously unavailable pre-engineered cementitious external reinforced containment sleeves, preferably having pre-engineered venting apertures ensuring that test specimens are optimally printed in a containment sleeve and preferably cured onsite (preferably printing the mix inside a tubular sleeve). These innovations better adapt their construction methods and tools to the realities of actual field construction. As an example, low concrete strength test results are primarily due to casting in hot weather and are often caused by poor mix curing protection and the initial curing rate of mixes test specimens.
(305) Although now having described certain embodiments of the invention's slip-form printing assemblies having multi-purpose mechanized and or robotic systems, and having automated and or semi-automated reinforced concrete construction printing of the invention as disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the concepts implicit in these embodiments may be used in other embodiments as well. In short, the protection of this application is limited strictly by the claims.
(306) As noted previously the current invention(s) by the scope of the embodiments listed, the figures or the examples, rather, one of skill in the art can employ the principles and examples to design/make, and use a number of embodiments not specifically disclosed herein that are fully within the scope of the current invention.
(307) The components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages that have been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated, including embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages. The components and steps may also be arranged and ordered differently.
(308) In these claims, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference, and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.