72
Operation
SP 500 / 750-15 / 750-18 / 1000 / 1250 Operation Manual
portland cement, and do not set like cement. If you use
these products, pay close attention to the instructions
and warnings on the package.
If you only have portland cement for lubricating your
pipeline, you will have to wrestle with the weight. Be-
fore you begin to mix the slurry, put on your breathing
mask and the rest of your personal protection equip-
ment. Choose one of the methods shown below, based
on the job situation.
Barrel Method
If you have a helper assigned to work at the pump, you
can mix the slurry in a barrel. The barrel method allows
you to get good consistency and to break up clumps of
cement in the slurry (Figure 14). However, you will need
to lift the barrel, which weighs 200 to 300 pounds, and
pour the slurry into the hopper. You should not attempt
to lift this barrel alone. To use this method, lay a sack
of portland on top of the barrel that has been lled with
about 25 gallons of water. Use a shovel blade to break
open the sack, allowing the cement to fall into the bar-
rel. When the bag is empty, set it o to the side and mix
the cement and water with the shovel blade. Break up
any cement clumps and continue mixing until the mix-
ture is smooth and creamy. You will need a helper to
assist in lifting the barrel and pouring the mixture into
the hopper (Figure 15). It may not cover the openings
to the material cylinders, but this is not important at the
moment.
Figure 14
Mixing Slurry In Barrel
Make one barrel of mix for each 100 feet of laid pipeline
that the concrete. If the concrete will be going through
more than 200 feet of pipe, you, your boss, or the job
site supervisor should arrange to have a grout mixture
supplied to you by the ready-mix plant. Unless you have
at least 1/2 yard of grout mixture delivered to the pump,
do not try to pump this mix yet. Using the barrel meth-
od, you can add a little sand, if needed, to stretch the
amount of slurry mixed. This is helpful if you must pump
through 300 feet of line, but you have only two sacks of
cement available.
Figure 15
Pouring Slurry into Hopper
Hopper Method
If you have no one to help you lift the barrel, lay the sack
of cement on the hopper grate and break it open.
Amputation/crushing hazard. Never
stand on hopper grate.
Get a water hose and direct the spray into the hopper,
aiming at the edge of the pile of cement. This will wash
the cement into the bottom of the valve housing and
will mix the cement as well. Try to break up clumps of
cement with the spray, but do not put your hands or
any other body part into the hopper. Mix more slurry
as needed for the length of the pipeline, as described
above.
To Next Page
Loading...