AU727661B3 - Sideform connector means - Google Patents

Description

'1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT (original) Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: TILTFORM PTYLTD Robert Radovan Sladojevic MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia "SIDEFORM CONNECTOR MEANS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

This invention relates to an improved sideform arrangement for use in the on-site moulding of a multiple layer stack of concrete panels one on top of the other.

This application is a Divisional of our Australian Patent No. 721582 entitled "Method And Arrangement For Forming Construction Panels And Structures" filed on 28 th April 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

It is an object of the present invention to provide formwork improvements which will allow sideforms to be easily and conveniently assembled to form a mould for moulding a concrete building panel on top of a previously poured panel where the size of the upper panel being moulded is smaller than that of the previously poured panel.

000 According to this invention therefore, there is provided a sideform arrangement used for moulding a concrete construction panel directly on top of a previously poured 0 S larger panel, said sideform arrangement including: an elongate sideform having an outer face, and an outwardly opening locking channel extending longitudinally of said outer face, said sideform, when in use, being horizontally supported in a predetermined formwork position on top of said previously poured panel near a perimeter edge thereof, a plurality of horizontally aligned transversely slidable sideform supports arranged to laterally support said sideform, at spaced apart intervals therealong, in its said formwork position, each said sideform support being provided with an engagement member adapted to releasably interlock with said locking channel, while the sideform is in its said horizontally supported formwork position, to in turn releasably interconnect said sideform support and the side form, wherein each said sideform support is supported for transverse horizontal sliding movement to and from the formwork position, and means for releasably securing said slidable sideform supports against said transverse horizontal sliding movement.

S preferably, the engagement member is removably secured to said sideform support.

Desirably the vertical height of the sideform support is approximately equal to the vertical height of said sideform.

In use, a workman can locate each of the sliding sideform support members near the sideform which is supported directly on top of the previously poured panel near a peripheral edge thereof in its moulding position. The engagement member for each sliding support is then engaged in the channel of the sideform and then secured to its sideform support to thereby lock the sliding sideform support to the sideform. This procedure renders the assembly and disassembly of the form work easier and more convenient in comparison to known methodologies.

*f *e 0* *00 *0/ 060000 000000 000 00 disassembly of the formwork easier and more convenient in comparison to known methodologies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To assist in the understanding of the invention preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a panel manufacturing arrangement; Figure 2 is a sketch of a side view of a panel; Figure 3 is a sketch of the cross sectional plan view of a set-back buttress base; Figure 4 is a sketch similar to Figure 3 showing levelling of the set-back buttress S: relative to an inclined work-site surface; Figure 5 is a sketch of the side view of a set-back buttress base; Figure 6 is a sketch of the plane view of a corner formed between two sideforms; :15 Figure 7 is a sketch of the side view from A-A in Figure 6; S* Figure 8 is a sketch of the side view from B-B in Figure 7; S. Figure 9 is a sketch of the side view of a slidable sideform support or riser, sideform and set back riser; Figure 10 is a sketch of the plan view of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a sketch of a panel with a lip being formed; Figure 12 is a sketch of a floor with sloping side being formed; SFigure 13 is a sketch of a plan view of a curved raised structure being formed; Figure 14 is a perspective sketch showing a set-back buttress, sliding risers and sideform; Figure 15 is a sketch of one means of joining a sideform to a slidable sideform support or riser; Figure 16 is a sketch of one form of sliding riser; Figure 17 is a sketch of a joiner for joining a sideform to a sliding riser and for joining two sliding risers of the type illustrated in Figure 16 together to form longer sliding risers; Figure 18 is a sketch of one form of sideform; Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of the sideform of Figure 18; Figure 20 is a sketch of another sliding riser; and, Figure 21 is a sketch of sliding riser of Figure 16, a joiner of Figure 17 and sideform or Figure 18 assembled.

Throughout the Figures the same reference numeral is used to refer to the same feature. It will be appreciated the at the intent of the Figures is to illustrate the concepts of the invention. As a result the illustrations may not be to scale and features may have been omitted to aid understanding of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS The arrangement includes a number of component parts including set-back buttresses, sliding risers (ie sideform supports) and sideforms. These parts will be described first before the overall arrangement is described. It will be appreciated that the particular parts used depend to some extent on the application. Without 15 intending to limit the invention the parts described will be suited to construction panel manufacture but their use or modification to other application will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Each sideform is supplied in a limited number of standard lengths and widths. As will become more apparent hereafter the arrangement of set-back buttresses and sliding risers removes the need for the fillets to be removed after each panel is manufactured. All levelling and plumbing of the sideform is done by levelling and positioning the sliding risers. The sliding risers have an end which is butted against the sideform which is square to the levelling edge of the sliding riser.

Further, without the repeated and unavoidable damaging of plywood or timber due to nailing and de-nailing of fillets the sideform riser has a very much longer useful life. The sideform riser can be reused for many times and need not be regarded as a consumable item but rather as a tool. Consequently it is economic to make the standard sized sideforms out of materials such as aluminium or steel or plastics.

Other materials can be used as desired though some of the following advantages may not be fully exploited.

Materials such as aluminium or plastics, though initial costing more than plywood previously used, are stronger so permitting the sliding risers and set-back buttresses to be spaced at greater centres. Further, climatic effects are not so great on the sideforms; warping, twisting and water damage are not experienced. With only minimal care and maintenance the sideforms can be used over a long period of time without appreciably effecting the quality of the panels formed. Also when panels of standard size are being manufactured there is no need for timber cutting and nailing tools. There are no timber off cuts, or danger from nails projecting from discarded timber or the like. Further, the number of tools required is minimal and their use is relatively straight forward and easy so permitting the quicker preparation and erection of formwork.

The sideform illustrated in Figures 1 to 14 is made from 150 x 50 x 3 mm 15 aluminium tube which forms the formwork or edge-form Aluminium triangular fillets (3 and 4) along the top and bottom edges of the formwork face are integral S with the edge-form The fillets are screwed to the edge-form but could be integrally formed with the edge-form when the tube is extruded. At each end, such as at end of the sideform the two fillets (3 and 4) and the edge-form are angled as at (7 and 8) so that the end can be butted neatly up against the formwork face of another sideform The set-back buttress (10) is for making up to six panels in a stack. the set-back buttress can be made of a number of materials including aluminium and steel. This embodiment utilises steel. At the base of the set-back buttress is an anchor plate (11) of approximately 280 x 130 x 10 mm.

Rising from the anchor plate is a sliding riser frame This consists of four buttress legs (13, 14, 15 and 16) welded to the anchor plate each made of 25 x 25 x 3 mm angle.

The buttress legs are about 950 mm long. This length permits the stacking of six sliding risers 150 mm wide.

The buttress legs are set in spaced apart pairs to form a channel (17) approximately 200 mm long and 19 mm wide. It is into this channel that the sliding risers fit neatly and slide within as indicated by arrow The buttress legs substantially prevent movement of a sliding riser transverse to arrow (18).

Atop the sliding riser frame is a web (19) which is welded to the ends of the buttress legs. The web (19) is 75 x 200 x 10 mm. At its centre is a hole (20) which is aligned with a 18 mm nut welded to the web. The hole (20) provides a clearance fit for a locking bolt (21) with a T handle (22) to facilitate hand tightening. At the other end of the locking bolt is a locking plate (23) residing within the channel. The locking bolt, locking plate and the nut form a locking means which bears against the top edge of slider riser (24) which is the top sliding riser of the stack of sliding risers (24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29). The locking means is selectively operated to form a compression lock for the sliding risers between the locking plate and the anchor plate.

The anchor plate has a central hole (30) which provides a clearance fit for a 18 mm anchor bolt This bolt is used to secure the set-back buttress to a concrete worksite surface (32) by use of a 18 mm masonry or concrete anchor (33).

Either side of the channel are two pair of threaded 18 mm holes (34 and 35). These are 0 used with buttress levelling bolts (36 and 37) to level the set-back buttress.

Using a spirit level the anchor plate is levelled in line with and transverse to the channel. Then the anchor bolt is tightened to secure the set-back buttress. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate this where bolts (37) extend below the anchor plate (31) further than bolts It will be also understood that differing adjustment between bolts of each pair of bolts (36 or 37) can level the anchor plate transverse to that effected by adjustment of bolts of differing pairs of bolts.

In line with the channel but at opposite ends of the anchor plate are a pair of clearance holes (38 and 39). Aligned with these are welded 18 mm nuts (40 and 41) which co-operated with 18 mm bolts to form sliding riser levelling and adjusting legs (42 and 43). A sliding riser, such as sliding riser (29) rests upon the sliding riser levelling and adjusting legs.

By adjusting the legs the sliding riser (29) can be moved relative to the anchor plate and levelled by use of a spirit level. When combined with a dumpy level or a laser level which permits a horizontal plane to be determined the lowest sliding riser of each setback buttress can be moved using the sliding riser levelling and adjusting legs to be at the same horizontal plane. This permits irregularities in the work-site surface to be accommodated.

The sliding risers are made of plywood. Each is approximately 1000 mm long and 150 x 18 mm. The lowest sliding riser of each set-back buttress, such as sliding riser has a cut-out (44) to provide clearance for the anchor plate and sliding riser levelling and adjusting legs. Upper sliding risers need not have this cut-out but can if i'o: desired. All the sliding risers are manufactured to have ends square with the edges of :15 the sliding risers.

Along the rear face of the sideforms at predetermined centres are 50 x 50 x 3 mm steel angles, such as each 150 mm long. These are fixed to the sideform by screws.

Sliding risers, such as (46) are abutted to the sideform and fixed by screws to the sideform.

SAlso along the rear face are threaded holes. Along the formwork face at predetermined centres are countersunk threaded holes. These holes on the front and rear faces permit a 100 mm angle bracket (47) to be fixed to the formwork face of the sideform as will be explained below. When not in use the front holes can have screws within them to provide a flush face.

Figure 14 provides a perspective view of the set-back buttress with five sliding risers.

For simplicity the same numerical references are used here as in Figure 2. In this case the sliding risers extend the same distance from the sliding riser frame but in many applications the upper sliding risers extend less towards the sideform than the lower sliding risers.

A plan view of the general arrangement for manufacturing a stack of six panels 8 m x 4 m x 150 mm is illustrated in Figure 1. On to a concrete work-site surface (48) is marked out desired panel dimensions, the location of the formwork and the positions of the of the set-back buttresses. The set-back buttresses (one marked as 49) are spaced from the desired formwork location by 250 mm and are located about the panel formwork location at 1 m centres. The 1 m centres is convenient in this practical example but the centres can be increased. Typically 1.5 m centres can be used. Two end sideforms (50 and 51) of 5 m length and two sideforms (52 and 53) of 9 m length, all of 150 mm width, are used to form the complete formwork structure.

The set-back buttresses are levelled and anchored to the concrete surface. The •orientation of each channel of the set-back buttresses are substantially normal to the proximal formwork. Then using a laser level or a dumpy level the lowest sliding i" 15 risers are adjusted in height relative to respective anchor plates so that the top edge is within the horizontal plane indicated by the dumpy or laser level.

The sideforms (50, 51, 52 and 53) are roughly set up along the marked formwork location. Each sideform abuts another as illustrated in more detail by sideforms (1 and 54). These are fixed together by use of screws and a 50 x 50 x 3 angle bracket (47) 100 mm long. The screws are screwed into the previously mentioned holes in the rear Sof sideform and the front of sideform It will be noted that the angle is located outside of the formwork. In this manner the sideforms (50, 51, 52 and 53) are secured together.

The lowest sliding risers are slid towards the sideforms (50, 51, 52 and 53) and affixed thereto by use of the previously mentioned angle brackets as illustrated by angle and sliding riser Other sliding risers are slid into the sliding riser frame of each set-back buttress so that each of the locking means can be locked thereby securing the sliding risers in place. These extra sliding risers are kept away from the sideforms.

The formwork is check and the sliding risers adjusted until the formwork is square and correctly positioned. This it will be appreciated is a straight forward task.

8 Having set up the formwork reinforcing work can be installed, bond breaker applied and concrete poured. Concrete is poured and screed to the top of the sideforms. Since the set-back buttresses and other sliding risers are spaced from the sideforms there is nothing to hinder screeding or vibrating of the concrete.

Once the concrete has sufficiently cured the locking means is released, the sliding risers unattached from the sideforms and slid back. The sideforms are unsecured so that the individual sideforms can be pulled away from the panel. Then the lower sliding risers are pushed forward to abut against the panel edges. Next the sideforms are roughly set in place for the next panel resting upon the lower sliding risers.

oooo S. The above steps for preparing the formwork are repeated. The next panel is poured i and the process repeated until the total stack is formed.

The predetermined centres of the angle brackets are selected to suit standard panel sizes. However, should a non standard panel size need to be manufactured then timber can be cut and fixed along and to the sideforms using the holes previously mentioned. Then angles can be used to secure the timbers of differing sideforms together. In this manner the sideforms need not be drilled and threaded for odd sized panels.

Within the limits of the sliding riser frames panels of differing thickness can be made within a single stack. For a different thickness panel sliding risers and sideforms of appropriate widths are used.

It will also be appreciated that should non-standard thickness panels be required then timber or plywood sliding risers and sideforms with timber fillets can be made of appropriate widths.

The above description was for concrete rectilinear panel construction. It will be appreciated that panels of other planar shapes can be formed with suitable 9 modification and adjustment. In particular, the corners between sideforms can be suitable filled to form sufficiently smooth formwork. This can be done using inserts of suitable profile or where the angle of the comer is not a standard angle then a mouldable curable filler such as a caulking compound or the like can be used between sideforms.

The arrangement can be used to make panels of different sizes within a stack. Since the panels are made separately the sliding risers of a higher panel within a stack can be extended further into the centre of the formwork space. This is illustrated in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated in Figures 11 and 12 the panel is shown in part cross-section.

S•As illustrated in Figure 11 a panel (55) can be constructed with a lip Here, 15 sliding risers (57 and 58) support the sideform (59) forming the panel edge Sliding riser (61) supports a sideform (62) which depends below the sliding riser (61) Sto form the panel lip.

Another example is illustrated in Figure 12 where the sliding riser (63) supports a sideform at a sloping angle to form a ramp (64) to structure SIt will be appreciated that the formwork for other structures can be readily arranged using the principles disclosed herein. For example, stairs or step can be formed as a result of the upper sliding risers extending further from the set-back buttress. Also, complex structure profiles, such as concave or convex or over hung wall sides, can be made by differing sliding risers extending differing distances and all supporting a suitable sideform. Further, construction of formwork for curved structures can be readily made by suitable placement of the set-back buttresses and use of a suitable sideform. This is illustrated in Figure 13 where the construction (66) has formwork (67) about it supported by set-back buttresses one being shown as (68).

It will also be appreciated that the main tools required are a drilling machine to drill holes for masonry anchors, suitable spanner or socket and a screw driver. Unless odd sized panels are being made there is no need for nails or saws so reducing the previously mentioned problems associated with timber formwork.

In Figure 15 there is shown a novel means for attaching a sliding riser (69) to a sideform Here the sideform has a dove keyway channel (71) in its rear face. A joiner (72) has a key formation or engagement member which releasably interlocks with the channel (71) in order to interlock the engagement member and the sideform The joiner (72) has a vertical slot (73) to receive end (74) of the sliding riser. Within the sliding riser and the joiner are holes (75, 76, 77 and 78) which when the sliding riser and joiner are correctly positioned align. A lock (79) having two spaced pins (80 and 81) is used to secure the sliding riser to the joiner the pins Oo• being inserted into the aligned holes.

15 In Figures 16 to 19 and 21 are illustrated a sliding risers a sideform (83) and a joiner (84) all manufactured from extruded polypropylene copolymer plastics. The sliding riser has two female (85 and 86) ends. The ends (87 and 88) of the joiner may be slid into the female ends thereby two sliding risers of the type illustrated in Figure 16 can be joined. In this manner the sliding risers can be manufactured of a standard length and longer sliding risers as needed for a particular application are made up by joining a number of these standard length sliding risers. Further, the joiner can also be side into the channel (89) at the rear of the sideform. In this manner the joiner can be used to join the sliding riser to the sideform (as illustrated in Figure 21) and also to join together standard length sliding risers to form longer sliding risers.

The sliding riser (90) illustrated in Figure 20 is similar to that illustrated in Figure 16.

The difference is that this sliding riser has a male (91) and a female end The female end is the same as ends (85 and 86) discussed earlier and the male end is the same as ends (87 and 88). In this manner sliding risers of this type and standard length can be joined together. Two sliding risers are brought largest side face to largest side face with the male end over lapping the female end. Then one sliding riser is moved towards the other to insert the male end into the female end. For sliding risers of this type the just mentioned joiner is used to connect them to a sideform of the just mentioned type.

It will also be appreciated that whilst concrete has been used to illustrate the invention other curable non solid materials can be moulded with the invention.

It will be appreciated that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments or details thereof. It is intended to give an overview of the invention as conceived the details of which, at time of writing, are still being investigated. Further, a skilled addressee will appreciate the differing structure types and forms that can be provided for.

S* *e

Claims (3)

1. A sideform arrangement for building formwork used for moulding a concrete construction panel directly on top of a previously poured panel wherein the upper panel to be moulded has a size smaller than that of the previously poured panel, said sideform arrangement including: an elongate sideform having an outer face, and an outwardly opening locking channel extending longitudinally of said outer face, said sideform, when in use, being horizontally supported in a predetermined formwork position on top of said previously poured panel near a perimeter edge thereof, a plurality of horizontally aligned transversely slidable sideform supports arranged to laterally support said sideform, at spaced apart intervals therealong, in its said formwork position, each said sideform support being provided with an engagement member adapted to releasably interlock with said locking channel, while the sideform is in its said horizontally supported formwork position, to in turn releasably interconnect said sideform support and the side form, wherein each said sideform support is supported for transverse horizontal sliding S movement to and from the formwork position, and *means for releasably securing said slidable sideform supports against said transverse horizontal sliding movement.

2. A sideform arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each of the slidable sideform supports and the sideform have a vertical dimension which is approximately equal to the thickness of the panel being moulded.

3. A sideform arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said engagement member is detachable from its associated said transversely slidable sideform support. Dated this 19 th day of October, 2000 TILTFORM PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys MADDERNS F R