Concrete pump facts for kids

A concrete pump in action.

A concrete pump is a special machine that helps move liquid concrete from one place to another. Think of it like a giant, powerful hose that can push concrete exactly where it needs to go. This is very useful on construction sites, especially when building tall buildings or large structures.

How Concrete Pumps Work

Concrete pumps use strong pistons to push the concrete. Imagine a syringe: as the plunger pushes down, the liquid inside moves out. A concrete pump works in a similar way, but on a much bigger scale. It has two pistons that work together. While one piston pulls concrete into the pump, the other piston pushes concrete out through a long pipe or hose. This continuous action keeps the concrete flowing smoothly.

Using a pump makes it much faster and easier to place concrete than moving it by hand or with buckets. It also helps make sure the concrete is placed evenly and without too much effort from workers.

Types of Concrete Pumps

There are a few main types of concrete pumps, each designed for different jobs:

• Truck-mounted concrete pumps: These are the most common type you'll see. They are built right onto a truck, making them easy to move from one construction site to another. They often have a long, jointed arm called a "boom" that can unfold and reach high places or far distances. This boom can be controlled by a worker, allowing them to place concrete very precisely.
• Trailer-mounted concrete pumps: These pumps are smaller and are pulled by another vehicle, like a truck. They don't have a boom, so the concrete is pumped through separate hoses that workers connect. These are great for smaller jobs or places where a large truck might not fit.
• Stationary concrete pumps: These pumps are usually very large and are set up in one place for a long time, often on very big construction projects like dams or tunnels. They can pump concrete over very long distances or to very high levels.

Why Concrete Pumps Are Important

Before concrete pumps were invented, moving concrete was a very difficult and slow job. Workers had to carry it in buckets or use cranes to lift large containers of concrete. This was not only hard work but also took a lot of time.

Concrete pumps changed the construction world. They made it possible to build bigger and taller structures much faster. They also made the job safer for workers by reducing the need for heavy lifting. Today, almost every large construction project uses concrete pumps to make sure concrete is placed efficiently and correctly.

History of the Concrete Pump

The idea of pumping concrete started to become popular in the early 20th century. The first modern concrete pump was invented in Germany in 1928 by Max Giese and Fritz Hull. They found a way to pump concrete over long distances, which was a huge step forward for construction. This invention helped make modern building methods possible and changed how cities and structures were built around the world.

Images for kids

• 

  Because it is a fluid, concrete can be pumped to where it is needed. Here, a concrete transport truck is feeding concrete to a concrete pumper, which is pumping it to where a slab is being poured.

• 

  Pumping concrete into aluminum concrete formwork in Mexico.

• 

  BRF 42.14 H pump

• 

  Construction site with concrete pump

• 

  A Putzmeister concrete pump in Germany in 1985

• 

  Concrete pump folded for transport

• 

  Concrete pump

• 

  Putzmeister brand positive displacement mortar and plaster pump

• 

  Photo showing a concrete pump working a large foundation pour, showing deployed outriggers, rebar mats, and concrete mixer delivering concrete.

• 

  Fully deployed concrete pump, showing outriggers and boom in use while receiving concrete.

See also

In Spanish: Bomba de hormigón para niños