RAMMED EARTH TIRE PACKING

PROCESS DESIGN
DEREK SCHROEN BRADEN PIERCE RYAN GRYBA

https://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/house-fire-kindles-desire-for-recycled-eco-friendly-home/
 Earthship Overview

http://newsfrombrighton.co.uk/brighton-property-news/brightons-eco-houses-to-open-their-doors-to-the-public/
 Current Methods Innovative Solution

http://spanners-in-the-works.blogspot.com/2008/05/tales-from-north-coast.html
http://www.adamtglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/question2-724662.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXws6X7rEsI
 Project Objectives
 Portable, Lightweight
 Drastically reduce manual labour
 Reduce Cycle time
 Consistent packing density
 Cost Effective
Concept Evolution
 Small Scale Testing

Test 1 - Current Method

Test 2 – Sidewall Removal

Test 4 – Raised Sidewall

Test 3 – Packing Methods
 Process Design
Two primary designs selected for packing a tire:

Lateral Packing Device

Vertical Tamping Device

Difficult to pack under sidewall

Four bar linkage was designed to give access to sidewall region

The devices are to be used together in a 2-stage process.

 Hydraulic Lateral Packer
Ergonomic design integrating many “off the shelf”
components
Hydraulic
Handle Control Valve

Components:
 Double acting cylinder, for directional control
 Top and Bottom plates
 Handle fixed to the cylinder to facilitate ease of use
 Hydraulic Control Valve on Handle for actuation of piston

Process:
1. Soil placed in sidewall region
2. Assembly placed in tire center using handle fixture
3. Piston extended to pack soil using Hydraulic Control Valve
4. Piston retracted using Hydraulic Control Valve
5. Assembly rotated in 45 degree increments to pack soil
6. Process repeated until sidewall region is fully packed

Before After
 Vertical Tamper Selection
• Sullair MTB-6 pneumatic backfill tamper Air Valve

• Used to pack center tire region with vertical vibration

Handle
• Delivers 500 blows per minute at 32 CFM

• Light weight design, total weight < 25 [kg]

• Total height of 4 ft for operator compatibility

• Low cost

Direction of Vibration
Packing Plate

http://www.sullair.com/Files/Sullair/Global/US-en/construction/mbt_20080821.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A3IKF2C1b8
Sidewall Lifting Mechanism
Features:
 Simple, 4-Bar Clamping Mechanism
 Accommodates a full range of tire sizes and profiles
 Increases accessibility to tire interior
 Secures tire position on wall during packing

Process:
1. Make adjustment for tire profile and width
2. Attach Bead Hook to underside of tire upper sidewall
3. Swing handle down, lock in place
4. Repeat on other side of tire
 Rammed Earth Tire Packing
Designed Process
1. Fill and pack the sidewall region of the tire
using the Hydraulic Lateral Packer

2. Deploy 2 Raised Sidewall Fixtures on

opposite sides of the tire.

3. Pack central region of tire with the

Pneumatic Backfill Tamper.
 Project Summary
Advantages / Drawbacks
 Drastic reduction in labour input

 No time savings projected, more consistent cycle time

Cost
 Components total ~$1600

Schedule
Project Final Report delivered to client December 6, 2010
 Project Recommendations
 Prototype the Hydraulic Cylinder Assembly
and Raised Sidewall Fixture

 Acquire a Sullair MT-6 Backfill Tamper

 Conduct further testing to validate design performance

 Build a Rammed Earth Tire Structure

Questions?