Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for placing steps in a concrete pipe or riser immediately after the pipe has been cast but before it is cured. A movable carriage is mounted upon a support column that is arranged to move a step driving mechanism vertically along the inner wall of the riser before the riser is removed from the casting jacket. The position of the carriage is automatically indexed to sequentially place the driving mechanism at the desired vertically spaced step locations. The drive mechanism is actuated at each location to drive a bifurcated member horizontally into the wall of the riser. In one embodiment of the invention the bifurcated member is a step that is automatically gravity loaded into the mechanism from an overhead supply magazine. In this embodiment of the invention the step is embedded in the riser and is set in place during curing. In another embodiment of the invention, the bifurcated member is a hole forming tool for accurately placing a pair of step receiving holes in the riser wall into which the steps are subsequently locked in place.

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First Claim