BUILDING METHODS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 7

BUILDING METHODS

ECONOMICAL CONCRETE DISTRIBUTOR

When Mr. Leonard Mills, of Messrs. Hansford and Mills, contractors, was in New York eighteen months ago. his attention was drawn to the latest method of handling concrete on a big wide-sprUad job. The old method was to fill a wooden box with concrete from tho mixer, hoist it to the working top by a crane, and then run it along to the exact spot in barrows. That method entailed a great deal of labour, and was much too slow in operation, where concrete in any quantity was being used. In search for improvements. the Ingsley plant was invented, and it is such a plant that is now in daily operation on the. big match factory being erected for Brynnt nnd May, Bell and Co. im Tory Street. There is an electric hoist of latticed steel, which is sunk about 15 feet in the ground. This is to enable a steel hopper to descend to a point opposite tho spoilt of a mixer, which is oreotofl under,c) ouiid. »’i order that the gravel, sand, and cement may be worked by gravitation—a little variation in method which has effected mi big saving. Tho hoist, erected as conveniently as possible to the centre of the iob, /rises to a height of 140 ft., and so dominates tho whole of the work. The gravel and cement is run into a hopner, and then into a mixer, from which it passes into tho stool carrier. A switch is onerated, and the load ( is lifted into the a>r until tho signal to stop is received. From that point flexible steel channels lead to the various points where concrete work is in progress, and, by gravity, the concrete flows to its appointed place. That is not the only improvement in methods to b© seen on .this big job. Hutt River, gravel is being used, and a steel rope operated by a drum and electric motor, gcoops up th© gravel in great style to the honper-mouth. It is stated that under the old style of workin'l the greatest amount of concrete which could be handled was 75 yards per day, but with the new plant 230 yards can be handled —whilst only half the number ' f men are employed.