Making Building Blocks with the ClNVA-Ram Block Press_0.docx
down,lipitintoplaceonitsside.Trytohaveatleasttwomenoperatingthemachine,becauseitisverytime-consumingtohaveonemanmovingfromonesideofthemachinetotheothertopressandeject.Butitcanbedonebyonemanifonlyoneisavai1ab1e.Fourpersonsmakeanidealteamforpressing:onefilling,onepressing,oneejecting,andoneremoving.teamoffourcaneasilyproducetwoblocksaminuteifthemixtureispreparedandcloseby.Stickinq.SomesoiIsstickmorethanothers.Anoccasionalcleaningofthecornersofthepressboxwithametalscrapermaybenecessary.Theblocksshouldcomeoutofthepresswithsharpcorners.Stickingcanbeovercomebyslightlymoisteningthepointswhereitoccurswithabitofkeroseneonarag.RotatiwJobs.Onajobwherethereisenoughlabortohaveallthesteps-digging,screening,mixing,loading,pressing,ejecting,andcarrying-goingonatthesametime,itisfairandgoodformoraletorotatethejobseveryhourorso.MaintenanceandRepairs1.ubrication.Al1movingparts(rollers,pins,pressureplate,guideplates,pistonscylinder,bearingsandsupportsofaxles)shouldbewel1lubricatedeveryfourtoeighthourswithheavyoilorgreasetoinsuresmoothoperationandcutdownonwear(SeeFig.15).Pins.Thepinswhichsecurethepivotshafts,compressionyokeandrolIersshouldbereplacedwhenbrokenbythelargestnailsavai!able,becausetheywilllastlongerthantheaveragecotterpin.IfCringreplacementsarenotavai!able,brokenCringscanbereplacedbywrappingapieceofwireinthegroove.CleanSurfacee.Theinsideoftheboxandtheundersurfaceofthecovermustbekeptclean.Fig.15-1.ubricationPoints52.Adiustments.TheCINVA-Rampressshouldnotbetamperedwithun-necessarily,butthefollowingsuggestionsmayhelpifthepressproducesfaultyblocks.53.BreaksandCracks.Breaksandcracksarecausedbylooseorin-correctlyadjustedguideplates.54.SideBreaks.(SeeFig.16.)Movetheloweradiustingbolts(GandH)side-vaystowardthehighsideofthebreak(seeFig.1).Ifmoreadjustmentismd-needed,movetheupperadjustingbolts(RandP)towardthelowsideofthebreak.ThiscansometimesbedoneFig.16-SideBreaksimplybyha11meringtheboltside-ways(withapieceofwood,sothatthethreadswi1notbedamaged)ratherthanbylooseningandtighteningthenuts.Aftertheboltsarehanrmeredover,tightenthenuts.55.EndBreaks.(SeeFig.17.)Movetheguideplateoppositetheendwherethebreakoccursinwardbyturninglower-14-adjustingboltGorH,dependingontheguideplatetobemoved(seeFig.1):NOTE:Movingoneendofaguideplateinonedirectionforcestheotherendofthesameplateintheoppositedirection.Ifthisloosensthepistonmuchateitherthetoporthebottomoftheguideplate,theotherendoftheplatemustbemovedinward.ThefreeplayshouldbecorrectedbecauseitwiHcausetheQiSlOntocracktheblocksbycompressingtheminonedirectioninthecompressioncycle(withtheuppersaddleasthepivotpoint)andinanotherdirectionintheeject,ioncycle(withthelowerrolIersasthepivotpoint).Also,theguideplatesmustbetightenoughagainstthepistontokeepitfromjerkingandjumpingupwardattheendoftheejectioncycle.56.Ifendcrackingisnotstoppedbytighteningtheplatesagainstthepiston,itmaybenecessarytotilttheguideplatesandthepiston,sothatthepressureplatewillbehigherattheendwhichiscracking,Thisisdonebymovingthetopsofbothguideplatestowardthecrackedend.57.CornerBreaks.cornerbreakiscausedbyacombinationofm-*asidebreakandanendbreak(seeFig.18).(1)Fixthesidecrackbymov-ingtheboltssideways,asFig.18-CornerBreakinparagraph54(usuallyitisonlynecessarytomovethebottomboltontheendwiththecracktowardtheBidewherethecrackoccurs).(2)Fixtheendcrackbymovingtheloweradjustingboltoppositethecrackingendinwardagainstthepiston,asinparagraph55.58.Taperiq.Taperingiscausedbyincorrectlyadjustedguideplates.59.SideTaper,(SeeFig.19.)Firstmovetheguideplateonthethickersideoutward:thenmovetheotherguideplateinward(seeFig.1).Theguideplatesshouldbekeptparalleltoeachother.Moveboththetopsandbottomsofbothguideplatesthesamedistance.B.Fig.19-SideTaper60.EndTaper.(SeeFig.20.)Movethetopsofbothguideplatestoward-the,thinend.Movethebottomsofbothguideplatestowardthethickend.(SeeFig.1).Thetopsshould/bemovedasfarinonedirectionasthebottomsareintheother.1.!izzlFig.20-EndTaper-15-61.62.63.64.65.66.67.CuringandStackinutheBlocks.Thecuringoftheblocksisanotherimportantstepwhichmustbetakenwithcare.Tobecomecarelessatthispointcouldruinal1thecarefulworkthathasgonebefore.Themoistureintheblocksmustcomeoutslowlyandevenly.ITheblocksshouldhelaidonflat,unwarped,cleanplankswideenoughtosupportthefullwidthoftheblocks(seeFig.22).Ifsuchtoardsarenotavailable,theblocksshou1dbeplacedonsmoothgroundcoveredwithpaperorleavessothattheywillnotbeindirectcontactwiththeground.Theblocksshouldnotbevushedintoanotherpositionafterbeinpplaced.Ifitisnecessarytomovetheblocksatthispointwhentheyareveryweak,Fig.22.-BlockastackedforfirsttheyshouldbecarefulIy1iftedandS-daycure,carefullyplacedagain.Iftheblockscannotbeputinsideorunderashelter,coverthemwithheavypaper.(Papercementbagscarefullyopenedandseparatedmakeexcellentcoverings.)Ifthereisashortageofstoragespace,theblockscanbestackedfiverowshighafterthreeorfourhoursofdrying-iftheyareverycarefullyhandled.CornerTauer.(SeeFig.21.)cornertaper(onecornerthinnerthantherest)iscausedbyacombinationofasidetaperandanendtaper(secFig.1.1First,fixthesidetaperbymovingtheguideplatesasinparagraph59.Second,fixtheendtaperbymov-ingtheguideplatesasinpara-graph60.PiIIFig.21.-CornerTaperThenextday,thefirstonerationistomovetheblockstomakeroomforanotherdaysproduction.Aftertheovernightdrying,theblocksshouldstillbeprotectedfromtheweatherbecausetheymuststillcureslowlyforfourorfivemoredays.Soakingwillharmtheblocksatthisstage.Sunshinewi11makethemcuretooquickly,reducingtheirstrength.Inveryhotclimates,blocksshouldbekeptmoistduringthisperiod.Inanyclimate,theyshouldbepreventedfromcuringtoofast.Forthefirstfourdays,theyshouldbesprinkledlightlywithwatertwiceaday.If1imeisused,doublethecuringtime.Theblockscanberestackedtenrowshighonedgeforthenextcuringperiodof10days.Theblocksmustnotbestackedsolidly;thereshouldbeaspaceofaboutaninchbe-tweenblockstoletthemcureproperly.Agoodstackingarrangement-16-68.69.70.71.72.73.isthreeblockssidebysidewithaninchspacebetweenthemcrossed6%withthreeblocksehcvz.C,1:-.:i.I,.:.I:1.ti,Tg-feachlayer(seeFig.23).1.I:'lg.23-BlocksstackedtarN-daycureIncarryingoutthecuringprocess,trytobemovingtheblocksclosertotheconstructionsite.Neverunderestimatetheimportanceofcarefulcuring.VariationsofBlocks,FloorTiles.TheCINVA-Rcmpress'Sbox,whenusedwithoutanyinserts,producesasolidblock11-12by5-1/2by3-1/2inches.Insertsforthebox,whichareincludedwiththeCIN'A-Ramwi11changethesizeorshapeoftheblocks.Frog.woodenfrog(seeFig.24)isusedintheboxtoproduceablockwithapartiallyhoilowcore.Theadvantageofthisblockisthatitusesonlyfour-fifthsthemixtureusedinaregularblock-reducingbothcostandlabor.Theseblocks:,-e-arealsoidealfordesigningpatternsinwa11susingblockslaidonedge.Thefrogmustbekeptclean.SomesoiIswillsticktothewoodeni11.mold.quickwipewithakerosene-dampenedragwi1overcomethis.Blockscanbemadewithhollowcoresrunningthewholelengthoftheblock,butthistakesalittlemoretime,Thepropermoldsfortheseblockshavetobemade(seeFig.251,Theydonotcomewiththepress.Theseblockscanbeusedwheremetareinforcingrodsaretoberunthroughthelaidblocks.-17-Fig.25,Block1.engthMold74.75.76.77.78.79.Withalittleexperience,operatorswillbecomeefficientinmakingtheseblocks.FloorTiles,TilesproducedwithCIWA-RamBlockPressmakeine-pensive,attractiveanddurableflooring.Thetileinsertisawoodenblockwithametalface(seeFig.26).ThewearinnsurfaceonthetiIeismadewithacementmixture.(2)(3)(5)(6)(7)Fig.26-TileMoldScreenthesandforthismixtureasfinelyaspossible:thefinerthesand,thesmootherthetilefacewillhe.Mixtwopartssandwithonepartcement.Mineralcoloringcanbeaddedtoproducedifferentcoloredtiles.Mixwaterwiththesandcementmix,asinparagraphs37-39.Placethetile-makinginsertinthebox.Spreadthemixtureovertheinsert,toadepthofone-quartertothree-eightsofaninch.ddthesoi1-cementmixturetothis,withoutcompletelyfillingthebox.Thetwomixturesshouldbeequallywet.Thetileisthenpressedandejectlclinthesamewayastheblocks.(Seeparagraphs45and46.)Apalletishelpfulincarryingthenewlypressedtiles.Thetiles,whicharethinnerthantheblocks,aremoreeasiIydPnagcdinhandIing.Curedorpartlycuredblockscanbeusedaspallets.Thetilesareturnedoverwhenremovedfromthemachineandcuredfaceup.Theycanbecarriedontheinserttothecuringspotifpalletsarenotused,andtheninvertedwhenplaceddown;butthisoperationisalittleawkwardandslowsthetile-making.Itisextremelyimportantthatthetilesrestonaflatsurfaceforthefirstdayofcuring.bowedsurfacewillmakethetilesagtothebowandthetilewilleithercureinawarpedshapeorcrack.differentmethodoffacingistoplaceadrymixtureofcement,sandandcoloringintotheboxandthenaddasoil-cementmixturewhichisslightlywetterthanusual.Thissavesthetimeittakestomakeawetmixture.11alsospreadsouteasierontheinsert.Thetilefacingmaysticktotheinsert.Rustonthemetalfacecancausethim.Ifnothingelsestopsthesticking,putasheetofplasticorapieceofheavypaper(oneplyofpapercementbagwilldo)cutortorntothesizeoftheinsertintoboxbeforefilling.Theplasticorpapercanbepeeledoffthefaceofthepressedtile.Onepaperwi11lastforabouttwentytiles.-18-80.CuriaandStacking.Tilesarecuredinthesamewayastheblocks,buttheyarestackedonlytwohigh,withthefacestogether.81.OtherinsertsprovidedWiththeCINVA-RamBlockPresscanbeusedtomakeX-shapedblocks,blocksforutilityconduction,andlintelblocks(forplacingdoorsupports).82.TestingtheBlocks.Thestrengthofthecuredblocksshouldbetested.Mostcountrie:haveauniversitywhichcanbesttheblocks.V.BIJI1.DING83.84.85.86.87.88.89.Motar.ThemortarjointsbetweenCINVA-Ramblocksandtilesshou1dbeone-halfinchthick.Sincetheblocksare11-12x5-1/2x3-1/2inches,thebuildingunitis12X6x4inches.Inflooring,the11-1/2x5-1/2inchtilesplusthehalfinchmortarjoint,makeaunitof12x6inches.Thefoundationfortheblocksmustbefirm.Useacement-sandmortarforthefirsttwolayers,toallowwaterproofing.ThemortarrecommendedfortherestofthebuiIdingisonepartcement,twopartslimeandninepartsofthesamesoi1usedtomaketheblocks.1.imcisUSedbecauseitformsamoreplasticmortar:sinceitsetsmoreslowlythancement,itislesslikelytocrack.Themortarshouldbeamoistmixturewhichdoesnotflowasfreelyascement-sandmortar.SurfaceCoating.1.etthemortardryforaboutaweek.Then,usinganarrowbrush,paintal1thejointswithathincementwashwhichcanbebrushedintoanyfinecracks.Stirthecementwashfrequently.Wherelargecracksdevelopmtheyshouldbegougedouttoholdapackingofsoi1-cementmortar.Wetthecrack.Pressthemortarinandsmoothitoff.Theblocksalonehaveanattractivefinishbuttheycanalsobegiventhisfinish:afteraday,paintal1theexteriorwallswithacementwashofaboutrichmilkconsistency.Workintheshade,keepingthecementwashWeIlstirred.Threecoatsarerecommended.Thecoatsshouldbethintokeepfrombuildingupacrustofcement.Allowadaybetweeneachcoat.limewashcanbeappliedtomakethebuiIdingwaterproof.Thisusuallyneedstobedoneagaineveryyear.Asi1iconebasewash(clearinappearance)isanexcellentwaterre-pellentforveryrainyareas.Inexperiments,thissolutionhaswater-proofedblockswhichwerenotcoatedwithacementwash.Inareasabovethefrost1ine,experimentationshouldprecedetheuseofCINVA-Ramblocks.90.(1)ManualfortheSupervisionofSelf-HelpHomeConstructionwithStabi1izedEarthBlocksMadewiththeCINVA-RamPortableBlockPress,-19-'._.-.-byPa.31M.Campbell,FCHConipany,Inc.,Chicago.(PreparedfortheGovernmentofJamaicainJanuary1959).(2)ManualforSupervisingSof-HclpHomeConstructionwithStabiIizedEarthBlocksMadeintheCINVA-RamMachine,byChrisAhrens,housingspecialist,StateofWestVirginiaEconomicOpportunityAgency.(3)CINVA-RamHandbook,byJohnR.Hansen,volunteerinAmericanFriendsServiceCommitteeSuznmcrProject,July1963,Patzicia,Guatemala.(4)WhatistheCINVA-RamMachine?byaPeaceCorpsVolunteer.(5)EarthenHomeConstruction:AFieldand1.ibraryCompiIationwithanAunotatedBibliography,by1.yleA.Wolfskill,WayneA.DunlaandBobM.Gallaway,TexasTransportationInstitute,.M.CollegeofTexas,BulletinNo.18,March1962.(6)EarthforHomes,IdeasandMethodsExchangeNo.22,U.S.HousingandHomeFinanceAgency,3rdprinting,revised,September1963.VIIOT®RMCHINESFORMAKINGB1.OCRSFROMSTABI1.IZEDEARTHt91.1.andcrete,manufacturedbyMessrs.1.andsboroughFindlay(SouthAfrica)1.ts.,Johannesburg,andTranS-AtIaS1.td.,15DukeSt.,Dublin2,Ireland,we11-designedhand-operatedtogglepress,sturdilyconstructedandsimpletooperate.92.Winnet,manufacturedbyMessrs.Winget1.td.,Rochester,England.A-hydraulicpresspoweredbyagasolineengine.Thequalityoftheblocksproducedishelpedbyhighoperatingpressures,but.thc,pro-ductionrateisthesameasthatofahand-operatedmachine.93.EllsonBlockmaster,numufacturedbyEllsonEquipments(Pty.)1.td.,.Johannesburg,SouthAfrica.Themachineusesatoggleswitchleversystem,givinga.constantlengthstrokewhichstandardizesthethich-nessoftheblocks.Ifyouneedr.c)reinformationonthematerialinthismanualoronothertechnicalmatters,VIT(VolunteersofInternationalTechnicalAssistance)cansendittolyou.Ifyouhzvespecificquestions,VIT.canputyouincontactwithanexpertwhocananswerthem.VTTisaninternationalassociationofscientists,engineers,techniciansandbusinessmenwhovolunteertheirsparetimetoconsultonquesticnsfrom-personsindevelopingareas.Simplysendyourrequestto:VIT230StateStreetSchenectady,N.Y.12305i_U.S.A._J,;*.-*o-.:TohelptheVITAvolunteerwhoanswersyourrequest,youshould1.Bequantitative-givemeasurements,costs,materialsavai!able,sketcheswhenpossible.2.Describethebestsolution,ifany,foundnearbyandanylimitingculturalfactors.3.Indicateadeadlineforaction.YouwillheardirectlyfrcnntheVITvolunteer;keepincontactwithhim;informtheVITAOfficeifcorrespondencestops.-21-