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LaCeta Ram: Una Maquina para Producir Blmus

Buecos de Suelo Ccmentq
by: Roberto E. Lou Ma
Published by:
Centro de Experimentation en Tecnologia
Apropiada
15 Ave 14-61, Z-10
Guatemala
Paper copies are $2. Booklet in Spanish with an
English summary.
Available from:
Centro de Experimentation en Tecnologia
Apropiada
15 Ave 14-61, Z-10
Guatemala
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lxperimentation en Tecnologia Apropiada.

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 ‘IHii CZTA-R&I: i &XlM11, lWR TROlXJCII1GXZLO;‘~ BLU.,UING BLOCKSOF
SLILMC!&JjJ, tiALdL,Oi4 i’iti GENERALUESIGJ OS’TilE CINVA-RAM
(Abstract)
21new machine, based on the general design of the CINVA-RAM, has
been developed by the author, for the Droduction of hol.low buil-
ding blocks from a damp mix-i;ure of earth and a stabilizing addi-
tive, generally cement.
Tile machine IXXJ been named CETA-RAM, honoring the Centro de Expe-
rimentscidn en l’ecnologia Asroqiada (Guatemala), where it was
develo?ed, and the Chilean engineer Rati Ran&z, creator of the
gII;‘j&;m.

I’he CJiA-RAX is composed of three nain assenolies:

1. Erame, with mold box and lid (Figure 3)
2. ‘,old
‘. box bottom ylate (Figure 4)
3. Lever device (Figure Sj
‘The bottom nla tc has two tubular guides (B), that engage the two
cilyndrical columns (A) bolted to the base of the frame. The lever
device, similar in operation to that in the CINVA-RAM, activates
the bottom plate to compress the damp soil-cement mixture inside
the closed mold box to form the block, and also to eject the block
from the mold after the lid is opened. The finisbsd block is then
nand carried to a cool place and allowed to set h, -ure for a
minimum of seven days.
Picures 3 to 14 are a ?hotograpilic sequence of the CETA-RAISin
operation.
irhen working with sandy soils, a pallet (Figure 5) is used to handle
the freshly molded blocks without danger of disintegrating. Before
filling tile box, the 7allet is droqoed on the bottom; after the
formed block is ejected, it is carried civay on the nallet, nlacdd
on the ground, and carefully turned on its side, thereby freeing
the ?allet for inmediate reuse.
\
Tie blocks Traduce: by the SEI’A-Rdt; have tile shanc and dimensions
shown in Figure 2. ?he holes sin?lify the placement of reinforcing
rods in aseismic wall construction. The length of three blocks yhs
joints , add exactly one meter. This sirn?lifics the planning and
excecution of low cost housing projects, as it allows a modular
coordination on the basis of 50 or 100 centimeters.
It is the intc:ition of CXl!A to continue research with other versions
of the Zu’L’&i-Xl, , to qroduce blocks of other sin:nes nnd dimensions, ,
of soil-cement mixtures and other ?ossiblc mcterials.

Roberto E. Lou Ida

Guatemala, February 1977
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