hope all goes well set up and ready too go.

Nice pics. Never seen a splitter on a system pour before.Whats it for.

Not whats it for but how does it work?

Great pictures, however your caption on the first picture seems misplaced. Hope is not a strategy.  Based on what I am seeing in the pictures, you could experience multiple plugs resulting in extensive down time. Your splitter is going to cause extreme turbulence and instability in the flow of the concrete through the line. In addition it appears, although I can not see for sure that immediately after the splitter you have reducers and then into hose.  In my experience I would never set the line in the configuration you have. I sense the contractor wants to pour with two crews to avoid cold joints. I would consider different options before Monday AM. Good Luck!

I'm going to agree.  If one reducer clogs, you will have to stop the entire pour to take it apart. Further I would think that the concrete won't come out even on both sides and take the path of least resistance (shorter run, hoses that are smoothest on the inside?) This should be a great topic! What about two pumps instead? Please fill us in on how it goes.

What about the possibile air pockets that could develope with the two different  lines? Ive done over a 1000 ft of system before, but never  anything like that.

I don't think the flow will split evenly either...maybe you are plugging two pumps in the other end and having them both come together at the 'Y' pipe to increase output through the single line... 

To which I say: please get video footage, because that's going to be fun to watch.

Anyhoo, you might be better off substituting the 'Y' for a hose and just breaking off and switching back and forth to the other lines when you need to. 

I can appreciate the 'outside of the box' thinking in the set-up.  Innovation = Progression

.  

It appears from the pictures that the pour starts as a single line and splits through the splitter to two, based on the location of the tires, and no one in their right mind would pump through all that hose first and then go to pipe. It is very important to remember several things here. One, concrete slides through pipe and rolls through hose, every hose, elbow, diversion valve, all create turbulence. Even in this scenario there will be incredible surge back, obviously they will want production.  Second, who ever is doing this pour is risking too much to do it the way it has been set up. I personally like the idea of two machines, GET another pump out there, the cost to the customer is only the extra hours of the 2^nd machine.

  The yardage charge is the same whether the concrete goes through 1 machine or 2.    The (insurance) value of two machines on 600 yards is well worth the expense.  In addition the production of the two machines running smoothly will more than make up for the potential mess that is likely here.

I can not stress enough here: Redo the setup or get another machine out there.

Either way, 1 pump or 2,  still wouldnt get equal flow though each. I would like to see how every thing turnsout and to see if it is successfull.  Godd Luck.

hi guys thanks for your input. well where do i start.first the forman off the job only wants one pump which is good for me cause if you seen the street where i am setting up, you would end up only getting single truck fed on both pumps rater the two truck fed on one wich is way quicker in the long run. the y is used cause we do use smaller hoes over here wich as we all know smaller hose creates bigger kick in the hose. so i can get a great pace out off it with out kick i split it too 2 20 meter 3 and a half inch hoses, i am aiming at about 80 too hundred an hour that includes breaking back. if you look at the big picture the it ends up being a 7 seven inch hose so when air comes through from them great truck drivers keeping the hopper full haha it slows it down that much it just has a little spit out the end. now the speed out each hose is always that close you cant really tell them apart. blockages you ask well like i said we use smaller hoes over here so as you know if i ony had one hose on and it blocked would back load the pump also may brake things, but running 2 hoses one will just get faster so either way would have too stop the pour. never had a blockage in the 5 to 4 before the y. i have put thousands through y pieces before and highly recomend you try it. will let you know how it all goes monday.  

Mr wibau-

I've only had experience doing line/system pours 1 way.  You said you've done 1000's of yds through the 'Y' pipe?  I think that's great.  It's all about perspective...thinking outside the box.   

Sometimes the nay sayers are only like that because that's the only way they know how to do something and since it works for them, then there is no other way...

When I see something new (or new to me) like your 'Y' pipe, I'm a little cautious - but I've also got my eyes and ears open.  Innovation doesn't happen when everyone's got blinders on and earplugs in.

If it's possible, get some video footage of this system working.  I'm sure everyone would be interested in seeing it.

You are right there will not be equal flow.  There will be no flow during the plug ups. . The splitter as to go.   Let’s run a what if.  Contractor wants 125, yards per hour, this means we have 125 yards hitting the (what appears to be a homemade) splitter and causing turbulence as it heads down each new system line.  Each line is now @  60 yards per hour.  Not really production for the crews. Crew number 1 bends their hose , stops the flow of concrete and suddenly crew number 2 gets the full force,… just as they were preparing to drag the hose back.   crew number 2 signals for a shutoff which of course needs to be done as we search for a possible plug in line number 1,  realize no plug in line one and ready to go again.  Crew 1 needs mud, crew 2  doesn’t . crew 2 needs mud, crew one dosen’t… Repeat the above process two or three times and the second pump would have paid for itself.  Okay.  Second what if.  Problem with the pump (either small or large) and we have 2x’s the cold joints.   Third what if:  It works!   Positive reinforcement for a negative action.   That is the issue of the pumping industry… Nothing should be done in the industry that can not be done successfully 100% of the time.

Bob where are you are this?   Please post your input,

There also appear to be some bolt clamps along the system? Seems odd

Similar pours:  as soon as problems start on a pour like this.  Any sort of little delays and the concrete companies start to hold up the trucks, the concrete starts its chemical process of hardening, the superintendents’ blood pressure raises…etc, etc, etc.   the smallest issues become so compounded in the few minutes they take to happen.. My only reference would be to refer you to the butterfly effect.

The butterfly effect is a phrase that encapsulates the more technical notion of sensitive dependence on initial conditions in chaos theory. ...

This was not a wonderful idea 30 years ago and I see nothing in these photos that makes me think that it is any better now.

Hooking into that system through a hose is not cool. That sweep 90 won't stay where it is very long. The splitter would better be replaced by a diversion "Y".

If it was a diversion 'y' you could continue to pump on one side while you moved or disconnected system on the other side. The way that you are going to do it - - keep pumping and jerk clamps between strokes and hope no one goes blind is not my idea of a good day.

Thanks, but no thanks. ;~)

well from fellow aussie  GOOD LUCK   80 to 100 cubs an hour lol  never been bigfan of spliter also 5inch whippy to go round corner  good luck holding that line together  would use all steel hp line myslelf and timbers under tyres looking forward to see videoes of that post tension deck getting smash to bits

I have pumped 6000 m3 through a Y , but not on a slab...

It was a 4" system .

It was a tunnel job , and it was only place for one pump and it should rise even on both sides up to the top and the mud rise even on both side . But some times We had to shut one side because that the volume in the rock was uneven so the mud rise quicker on the thin side.

But I hade 3 hammer shut-off valves on the Y if we would get some blockage....And hammer shut-off valves in the formwork to . The only thing was that the Y wear out quikly , but some hardsurface helped us....

But one a slab I think the mud comes out even in both end...

I would tell the contarctor to have a bigger crew and only one line , and speed up the pump . My 2 cents...

I am with Bob,this isnt 1970,a diversion y is so much easier,and safer,never saw or used a splitter,but I sure dont like that idea not when theres proper techniques for jobs of that nature, I dont think this splitter is a technique the ACPA could approve of,just my 2 cents