How a Concrete Pump Works

Concrete is an important element for construction, both in residential and commercial jobs. There are tight places where it is impossible to reach with cement mixers. For those instances, concrete pumps need to be used to fill areas without losing any productivity.

There are different types of concrete pumps used in various construction projects. Although these pumps serve the same basic functions, of getting concrete into areas where cement mixers cannot reach, there are differences in the way each pump functions. There are two kinds of concrete pumps: boom pumps and line pumps.

Boom Pumps:

These pumps are big pumps. They are called boom pumps because they are equipped with a boom arm (a crane arm), which carries the plastic pipes that take the flowing cement to where it needs to be poured. Because of their size and the crane attachment, these pumps are particularly beneficial for handling delivery of poured concrete to high-rises with stories above ground level. The concrete is sent through the pipes with an engine. The engine and the driveshaft keep the concrete moving. The driveshaft has a cavity pump with indentations, and these indentations make contact with the chamber holding the concrete, preventing it from taking on any air.

Line pumps:

These types of pumps are much smaller than boom pumps. Their size, though, is compensated for by their mobility. Line pumps are typically contained on the end of a truck and run by a diesel engine. The engine runs a worm gear, which is located in the middle of a funnel, also located on the bed of the truck. The worm gear has tubing emanating from it, and the cement goes into the funnel, pushed down the tubing onto the job site.