Concrete pumps are construction equipment that are used to convey liquid concrete from the source of concrete to the place of casting. It works by the principle of one piston drawing the concrete from the source and the other one pushing it into the outlet pipe. It is very easy to use and saves a lot of time during construction. You can also directly mount it to the back of a truck or trailer and start concreting.
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What are concrete line pumps?
Concrete line pumps are one of the kinds of concrete pumps and are a convenient way to pump concrete. It uses technology to force liquid concrete via a pipe. Also, it has a long hose connected to the pump at the trailer. The length depends upon the diameter of the hose and varies typically between 10’, 12.5’, 25’, and 50’. It doesn’t matter how far the site is. You can extend the hose virtually as long as you need it and hence are great for horizontal pumping. The pump is easy to transport and maneuver around a job site.
Concrete line pumps may be necessary depending upon the requirements and needs of the construction plan. . It provides you with great flexibility as to where you want to discharge concrete in the construction site. Rather than repositioning the heavy cement mixer or haul it again and again, you just need to connect it to a concrete line pump. Also, they are used at a place where cement concrete is required but is hard for cement mixers to reach. For example, in the middle of a long tunnel or at the top of a building. Concrete line pumps feed concrete to such difficult areas easily without taking a lot of manpower.
Applications:
Concrete line pumps are light in weight and small in size. Because of its lower volume capacity and great portability, a concrete line pump is commonly used in areas with more physical obstacles. Though it doesn’t pour concrete as fast as a boom pump, it will be usually sufficient for smaller projects. But with them, you can reach every small corner that is otherwise difficult for a boom pump.
The common example includes pouring concrete for residential jobs, building a swimming pool, repaving a driveway, single-family home concrete slabs, most ground slabs and more alike.
Benefits:
You can deliver the concrete right where you need it with a concrete line pump. With the pump, you can deliver an exact amount of concrete to the delivery site without extra labor charges.
- Discharges much larger volumes of concrete per hour
- Has a constant flow
- Less wasted man-hours
- Requires less number of labours
- Quicker setup times
Conclusion:
If you are handling a small construction project or a residential job, a line pump is best for you. Line pumps are compact units and hence are most suitable for these construction projects. This article covers all important details of the line pump and how it works. You can also connect to us on the website http://www.concretepumpingauckland.co.nz/ for any expert help.
How many types of concrete pumps are there?
It goes beyond saying that concrete pumps make for the most effective ways to pour concrete. Gather the most important details about the types of concrete pumps to decide which type to use for your job. You have to adjust the machine to your project and the cement mix to get high efficiency. It’s also important to decide if whether you should purchase or rent the pump for your project.
Stationary concrete pumps
Stationary concrete pumps can present three kinds of pumping systems that vary between manufacturers and specifications of every machine. The most common are:
Concrete pump system with balls
The units feature two chambers and steel balls to separate the chambers. Concrete cylinders will absorb the pumped material and allow it to go under pressure through an outlet.
Concrete pump with rock valve
It’s commonly used when working with large stone/aggregate. The system comprises a valve that shifts from the cylinder to the cylinder, pushing concrete through the outlet. A rotation through a kidney seal makes concrete output possible through just one opening.
Concrete pump with “S valve”
It’s typical for high-pressure pumping, and concrete goes through a valve through on the machines.
Boom pumps and concrete pump trucks
Boom pumps represent the machines used most frequently for vast projects, where you have to place concrete in difficult-to-reach locations. The units vary in size and type, and you can choose according to your construction job requirements. The most common kinds of these pumps are:
Line pump
It’s a portable pump that you can move around throughout the worksite. Professionals typically use it for mortar, grout, sludge, and various construction materials.
Concrete boom trucks
These are large trucks with pumps set up on board. The pump kit is strong and provides increased efficiency and speed of work.
Stationary pumps
These are typically used for putting concrete in areas that are difficult to reach with a boom truck. They are large pumps installed on a solid frame and pour massive amounts of concrete over long distances.
Specialized usage pump
They are made for specialized job sites like tunnels and mines. You can also find skid set up, and rail mounted concrete pumps, but the high costs and specialized mechanism make them less frequent to use.
The needs and type of work you have to do will affect the pump you have to use for your project. The characteristics of the material you have to pump, the distance to be pumped, and the layout of the construction site are factors that weigh in when selecting the pump.
What’s the most effective way to select a concrete pump?
The requirements of the construction project represent the crucial aspect to examine when selecting the concrete pump. The following parameters will also help you identify the most appropriate concrete pump for your work:
- The purpose of the concrete pump
- The manufacturer of the concrete pump
- The cost and financial aspects
- The complexity of the construction project in terms of casting
The purpose of the concrete pump
The concrete pump has to help you accomplish the purpose you bought/rent it in the first place. If you buy a pump to fill the mid-portion of the tunnel under construction, the pump is useless for your project. Both the contractor and the constructor should verify if the concrete pump is versatile and functional for the project.
The manufacturer factor
We recommend you look for the best manufacturer of concrete pumps in your region. Ask for advice from contractors in your area and look for assistance from reliable manufacturers. Check out your options online and examine the highly rated concrete pumps. Take some time and read the customer reviews as well.
The concrete pumping process takes place under high pressure. A reliable concrete pump will withstand the pressure for a long time. If the concrete pump’s quality is below the average, it will break down and impact the construction project.
The cost and financial aspects
The concrete pump you buy should have a reasonable price and perform as expected. Don’t take any chances by buying low-quality concrete pumps. Make sure you pick the pump according to its performance and price.
The construction work
When you select the concrete pump based on work, you need to check out two fundamental factors:
Volumetric concrete output
You need to identify the maximum volumetric concrete output necessary per hour for concrete construction. The pressure of the pump was issued to pick the concrete pump. The required concrete work (Q) and the pumping pressure (P) will affect the power of the driving unit of the concrete pump. Here’s how you determine the hydraulic output (H):
H = Q x P eq.(1)
Here are also factors to consider when choosing the concrete pump:
- Size of aggregate or stone
- Concrete mix design
- Horizontal and vertical distances
- The volume of concrete you need to pump
As a result, you should:
- Use a boom/truck-mounted concrete pump for the construction of highways and huge roads
- Use a boom concrete pump for concrete pouring at various altitudes and in locations with difficult access
- Get a line concrete pump/stationary pump for construction of slabs and sidewalks
- Get concrete boom pumps to set up two or three robotic pump lines that work as a multi-purpose robotic arm if the labor team is small.
Extra tip: use the Nomograph
You can use Nomograph to calculate the needed pressure capacity of the concrete pump. It includes factors such as slump, discharge, pipeline to discover the necessary pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will you pay for a concrete line pump?
Expect to pay around $19,000 for entry-level pumps and up to $60,000 for high-volume pumps with high pressure. A worker can operate the pump, which commonly comes with remote control to adjust the concrete delivery. Hoses and various accessories are also available.
Can you rent a concrete pump? For how much?
You can rent concrete pumps by the hour. Typically, the hourly rates range between $150 and $200. The region where you build and the amount of competition in the area will impact the costs of renting a concrete pump.
What is the best pump for concrete?
A truck-mounted or a boom concrete pump is the most reliable type of pump in vast projects as road and highway constructions. Concrete pouring at various altitudes has limitations in concrete pouring, with a boom concrete pump as the most dependable option for such work.
How does the concrete line pump work?
A concrete truck discharges the concrete into a hopper on the back of the pump truck. The hopper comes with a mesh grate so that concrete falls through. This way, large rocks, and chunks won’t end up in the pump truck hoses.
When should you get a concrete pump?
If your work involves large volumes of concrete or tight time, a concrete pump is highly functional. You should also use one when you lack the workforce to use wheelbarrows. If the concrete mixer truck cannot come near the pour area or has restrictions to access the site, a pump for concrete is the solution.
