What Is a Mortar Pump?
A mortar pump is a piece of concrete-related equipment used to pump mortar at a construction site. It is also known as a grout pump.
There are gun-type pumps with simple structures, foot-operated pumps, and electric pumps that run on 100 V or 200 V. The machines themselves are small, so are useful for use on construction and civil engineering work sites.
Examples of situations where mortar pumps are used include repairing and repairing concrete construction structures, reinforcing cracks, sewer work, filling floor slabs, and filling floating mortar sections.
Uses of Mortar Pumps
Mortar pumps are used when working in areas where construction vehicles that pump fresh concrete cannot enter, when pumping frequently, or when cost is an important consideration. The gun type is most suitable for use in confined spaces.
1. Mechanical Type
Mechanical mortar pumps are used for pumping no-shrink mortar (called grout) and self-leveling materials (called floor preparation materials) from the mixer to the work area (where they are poured or sprayed).
Mechanical mortar pumps can handle a wide variety of materials, including cement (mortar), glass, and synthetic resins, and are used at various sites, such as earthquake reinforcement, ground improvement, tunnel construction, and bridge pier reinforcing material injection works.
2. Gun Type
The gun type is used to fill gaps between frames and walls when steel fittings are installed. In the case of reinforced concrete construction or ALC, sash frames are installed by welding.
This type is ideal not only for use around fittings, but also for filling gaps between dirt floors and walls, for example, when the quantity is small and a small amount is needed.
Principle of Mortar Pump
Mortar pumps consist of a hopper, which is a large container for holding mortar, and a pump that pumps the mortar through a hose. Some models are integrated into a single unit.
The usage is simple. The material to be pumped is fed into the hopper, and a hose of the required length is connected to the pumping point.
There are two types of mortar pumps: the piston type and the squeeze type.
1. Piston Type
In the piston type, the mortar in the hopper is sucked into the cylinder like a water pistol when the piston moves backward, and the mortar is pushed out and pumped when the piston moves forward. Compared to the squeeze type, the piston type has superior pumping capacity, enabling pumping to high-rise floors and over long distances, and is used in high-rise building construction and large-scale civil engineering work sites.
The disadvantage however, is that it generates noise and vibration.
2. Squeeze Type
In the squeeze type, a pumping tube is set in a cylindrical drum and squeezed out with a roller like a tube of toothpaste.
Due to the structure of the pump, the tube is pushed by the roller, which may cause wear and tear (concrete leaks inside the pump). Another disadvantage is that it cannot pump very hard or fluid materials.
Compared to the piston pump, the squeeze pump is easier to use because of its lower impact during pumping. They are mainly used on small sites and for single-family homes.
Types of Mortar Pumps
In addition to motorized mortar pumps, there are also manual types. There are two types: the gun type, which can be held by hand, and the pedal type, which is pressed with the foot to pump mortar and other materials.
Manual types are used to fill the gap between the frame and sash from the inside when steel fittings are installed in RC construction or when the exterior walls are made of ALC.
Since this is a detailed work, a manual type is more suitable than a motorized type.