EP1719856A1

EP1719856A1 - Formwork for prismatic columns

Info

Publication number: EP1719856A1
Application number: EP04734695A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesus Sanchez Renasco; José Maria Sanchez Renasco
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-24
Filing date: 2004-05-25
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Also published as: WO2005083199A1

Abstract

Crib for prismatic columns of the type that has a tubular core (1) defining an inner prismatic housing (2) and an outer cylindrical surface. The core is housed in an outer covering (4), also cylindrical, that stabilizes it. Said tubular core (1) has a waterproof inner tubular coating (6) that is foldable during the storage and transport steps allowing a remarkable volumetric reduction. The outer covering (4) has at least one cut (8) for assembling it on the tubular core (1) at the moment of using the crib so that not additional complementary action is needed except to outwardly web said covering (4) to keep it strangulated according to the prismatic form intended for the column to build. In another embodiment, the stabilizing covering for the tubular core (1) has a casing (4') made by a mesh of fiberglass or any other textile material. Said casing (4') is flexible similar to the inner casing (6) to allow folding the crib during storage and transport situation.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a crib like those used in "in situ" construction of prismatic columns, either of square section, basically square section with beveled corners, or any other polygonal section for essentially non reusable cribs, i.e., single-use cribs, which are mainly discarded when cribs are removed from columns.
The object of the invention is to provide a foldable crib, which considerably reduces its volumetric extension not only in storage situation, but also in transport situation; and which for its own conception allows direct use of the builder such as the manufacturer shipped it, with no need of any intermediate action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In prismatic column cribbing, and independently of other non related solutions, one approach consists of placing an outwardly cylindrical tubular core in a sufficiently rigid tubular, cylindrical, casing. The core is inwardly prismatic in correspondence to the column to build. The inner surface has a coating based on a plastic film or something similar, which is suitable to avoid that humidity of the materials used in the column can damage the crib structure, while in use.
Specifically, the outer casing is generally made with a mixture of cardboard, plastic and aluminum. The inner tubular core is made with four suitably covered cylindrical segments of high density expanded polystyrene, which are joined along their edges or have them slightly spaced in order to obtain bevels that match the column edges.
From the above disclosed structure, it can be deduced that cribs are manufactured with a cylindrical form of a diameter slightly greater than that of the diagonal of the column to build. Consequently, the crib volume is exactly the same when the crib is in storage and transport situation, and when it is in use.
Without taking into account storage and transport problems, the above explained cribs are known, in which the outer casing and the tubular core have a cut in direction of its generatrixes. The cut allows storing and transporting both elements independently, and allows introducing some casings within others to minimize the space used, and to some extent also allows coating its inner cores for the same purpose. However, this solution has a very important problem which is that the crib so structured cannot be directly used by the builder. In effect, it is necessary an intermediate operative step, which must be generally performed by a manufacture's supplying company. The step consists of closing the tubular core over itself, for example, using an adhesive tape placed on the peripheral zone of the edges of the inner plastic film on said core, while it is outwardly stabilized by a second adhesive tape that is generally wound helicoidally.
This implies an important increment of costs, a waste of time that delays the crib delivery, and above all less surface continuity in the inner face of the crib. This negatively affects the final aesthetic aspect of the column to build

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The prismatic column crib provided by the invention satisfactorily solves all above explained problems.
For this purpose, the crib specifically has an open casing along at least one generatrix and, as its main characteristic, a foldable inner tubular core. Accordingly, evident advantages associated are that the crib can take a flat form and reach an extraordinary reduction of volume and consequently of the space used when it is not in use. The crib can almost instantaneously take an outwardly cylindrical, tubular form, which is stabilized when the crib is placed in its corresponding casing, which for being open is susceptible of great changes in its effective diameter. Thus, a plurality of similar casings can be coaxially placed within each other by more or less deforming them, which also implies a drastic limitation of the space used by said casings or coverings.
The casing may have the same origin as that of the classic casings previously mentioned. Therefore, it will be kept perfectly closed in use by means of external strips or bands with a suitable strength that are conveniently arranged. There is no limitation to take other suitable solutions, like for example semi-cylindrical metallic semi-coverings capable of being closed on each other by appropriate engagements or any other means. The only conditions are to allow a simple adaptation of the tubular core inside, to achieve a perfectly reliable and resistant closure, and to interconnect the casings with others identical in open situation so that the volumetric space used is the minimum.
Specifically, the inner coating of the core, which is made of a standard plastic and insulating film, has a tubular form with a perfectly continuous perimeter. The inner coating allows folding said core because of its own characteristics, and provides a perfect superficial continuity to the crib and thus to the column to build.
In one embodiment, the stabilizing casing of the core corresponding to the crib is made of a fiberglass mesh, or of any other vegetable, mineral or synthetic fabric, which gives suitable structural strength to the tubular core in working situation. The stabilizing casing provides two beneficial effects for handling the crib. First, it is not used the classic semi-rigid and detachable outer casing that needs the above mentioned steps of assembling, closing and fixing in the construction place. Second, the casing made of a fiberglass mesh or something similar allows folding the core to which it is assembled. Consequently, the impact of said casing in view of the volume used during the storage and transport of the crib is practically inexistence.
Said foldable outer casing will be properly adhered to the rest of the crib structure by glue, thermo-welding, or any other suitable means for the type of materials used.
In another embodiment of a basic crib, coverings are provided to avoid a residual crib deformation when they are set in the construction place after certain time in folded situation. The coverings have an inner diameter coincident with the outer diameter of the crib, which has a reduced axial measure. The caps are held separate from the crib itself during the storage and transport stages. Thus, they use little volume and can be easily placed on the crib at the assembly moment. Specifically, two of the coverings in the extreme zones of said crib and one or more in the intermediate zones, depending on the crib length, will make the crib take the cylindrical desired form that is necessary for a correct assembly of it.
Said caps can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material so that they form a closed ring. Optionally, they can be made as an open ring of iron or any other similar material in combination with any conventional closing device. In the second option, the caps are reusable by the builder. Besides, said closure can be adjustable so that the same ring or cap can be useful for cribs of different diameters.
Complementary, said caps can have supports that help to fix the inclined supports that stabilize the crib in vertical position for its assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To complement the present description and to help to better understand the main characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as constitutive part of said description according to a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein the following has been depicted with illustrative and non-limitative purpose:

Figure 1. It shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a crib for prismatic columns made according to the present invention with an enlarged area to better show its structure.
Figure 2. It shows a perspective view of a tubular core used in the crib of the previous figure, which is folded in storage and/or transport situation.
Figure 3. It shows a plurality of casings suitably engaged to each other in a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 2, and also in storage and/or transport situation
Figure 4. It shows general perspective view of the crib in situation of use.
Figure 5. It shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a foldable crib for prismatic columns made according to another embodiment of the present invention in situation of use with an enlarged area to better show its structure.
Figure 6. It shows a perspective view of the assembly of the previous figure accordingly folded in storage and/or transport situation, and also with an enlarged area.
Figure 7. Finally, it shows a crib with rings or hoops that allows achieving a perfectly cylindrical external form when it is assembled, and independently of that the crib has become deformed for having been long time folded.

PREFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the mentioned figures, it can be seen that the crib for prismatic columns of the present invention is formed as a conventional crib from a tubular core (1), which inwardly defines a prismatic housing (2). For example, in the practical example chosen the tubular core is squareprismatic with bevels (3) in the edges. Said tubular core (1) is outwardly cylindrical and is housed and stabilized in a casing (4) also cylindrical, which is made of a sufficiently strong material. For example, and without being limitative, the above mentioned mixture can be based on paper, plastic and aluminum.
The tubular core (1) is formed by four cylindrical segments (5) of expanded polyurethane or any other similar light material. It has a coating (6) that al least seals its interior in order to tightly seal the chamber or housing (2) in which a column will be built. This avoids fluid leakage and improves the finish of surface.
According to the present invention, the waterproof coating (6) takes a tubular form. It offers a totally continuous peripheral closing surface that provides a perfect inner finish to the crib, which will be later transmitted to the finish of the column surface. For its characteristics, said coating (6) works as hinge for the cylindrical segments (5), not only if it has bevels (3) such as the embodiment depicted in figures, but also if it does not have bevels. In Fig. 4, reference (7) designates a general crib that has been obtained in the above explained manner.
In addition, the casing or outer covering (4) has a cut (8) in correspondence to one of its generatrixes to allow the consequent engagement of the tubular core (1) in it. Fig. 3 shows that the casing can be radially deformed through this cut because of the material used for it. This allows inserting the tubular core (4) inside the casing to obtain the engagement of several casings or coverings during storage and transport situation. Fig. 3 also shows the critical reduction achieved in the volume used for said coverings (4), (4a), (4b) when they are not in working situation.
Nonetheless, the casing or covering (4) that holds the tubular core (1) can be made of any material, for example metal, or can be based on two semi-cylindrical metal sheets hinged in one of their sides and can have complementary closure means on each other.
In any covering and according to the above explained, the outer covering or casing (4) is reusable. In effect, said cut (8) allows disassembling it from the tubular core (1), which is discarded, while the outer covering or casing is reused with a new tubular core.
In the embodiment depicted in figures, in which the casing or tubular covering (4) is elastically deformable and has only one cut (8) in direction of its generatrixes, an outer webbing or strap and casing (9) helps said covering by means of a tightening and closing element (10). In fact, it is able to keep the cut (8) perfectly closed and; therefore, the tubular covering (4) perfectly immobile like a conventional covering without said cut (8).
The above mentioned outer webbing (9), which is shown and depicted in drawings, is simply one solution within a wide series of possibilities. Hoops made of iron or any other material with a snap closure can be either used.
In another embodiment, the tubular core (1), which has its inner casing (6) defining a prismatic housing (2) and the cylindrical segments (5) made of expanded polyurethane or any other similar light material, is suitable fixed to an outer casing (4'). This is preferably made as a flexible mesh with high mechanical strength wound it around the rest of the tubular core (1) and fixed to it by adhesive or any other means similar to the tubular, outwardly sealed, casing (6). The mesh (4') additionally to mechanically stabilize the tubular core (1), allows folding said core over itself, as it is shown in Fig. 6.
Therefore, said outer casing (4') of the mesh, replaces the classic open covering made of semi-rigid material, and solves all inherent problems such as the spaced used and time spent for its assembly.
The flexibility of the outer casing (4'), which is defined by its own characteristics and is necessary to fold the crib for storage and transport, is not a problem in use. Evidently, the weight of concrete in its interior will produce a strength that will make it obtain the greatest volume of housing (2). This is only achieved when said casing (4') takes a cylindrical form, which also makes said housing (2) be perfectly prismatic according to the form planned for it.
Finally, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the crib that has a prismatic housing (2), cylindrical segments (5), bevels (3), inner casing (6) and outer casing (4) is complemented with hoops or caps (11). They replace the outer webbing or strap and casing (9) shown in Fig. 4. Said caps (1) are rigid or semi-rigid, and its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the tubular core of the crib. They are outwardly assembled to the crib in at least the outer zone of it. It is possible to have other intermediate caps (11) when the length or any other property of the crib needed it.
The cylindrical form of said caps (1) and its rigid or semi-rigid characteristic make them recover a perfectly cylindrical outer form when they are assembled to the crib in order to have a right assembly in the construction place. The assembly will be easier due to a longitudinal strip (12) extended along one of its generatrixes on the outer casing (4), which can be identified, for example, by one edge of the column to build.
Although in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 closed caps have been depicted, evidently open caps can also be used as it was previously explained. For example, iron hoops with an adjustable closure can be used, which not only makes remarkable easier assemble them on the crib, but also allows reusing them indefinitely. In consequence, it will be unnecessary to supply said caps (11) with the crib to consumers since builders will have said open hoops with adjustable closure from previous uses.

Claims

Crib for prismatic columns of the type structured by an outwardly cylindrical and inwardly prismatic, tubular core made of light material pieces, such as for example expanded polystyrene in form of cylindrical segments, conventionally joined to each other, having a waterproof inner coating, the tubular core being housed in a cylindrical inner casing or covering, characterized in that the tubular core (1) has a continues inner coating (6) of tubular form that continuously coats the inner face of the light material pieces (5) and bevels (3) connecting them.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer casing (4), which is physically independent of the tubular core (1), has at least one cut line (8) that allows engaging it over the tubular core (1), and a webbed or tied element helping said inner covering (4) to keep it suitable closed and stabilized after inserting the tubular core (1) in said covering (4).
Crib for prismatic columns according to claim 1, characterized in that the exterior covering (4) is formed with two semi-cylindrical laminated pieces that have engaging and fixing means in their longitudinal edges, one of them being optionally formed made as hinges.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer, cylindrical, casing or covering of the tubular core (1) is made by a mesh (4') of fiberglass or any other textile material, based on vegetable, mineral or synthetic fibers that provide suitable structural strength to the core (1) in working situation, said casing (4') being flexible similar to the inner casing (6) to allow folding the crib in storage and transport situation.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer casing (4') made by a mesh is formed with a flexible sheet having high mechanical strength wound around the rest of the tubular core (1) and adhered to it by adhesive, thermo-welding, or any other suitable means.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by complementary comprising at least one pair of rigid or semi-rigid caps (11), physically independent from the crib itself, with an inner diameter coincident with the outer diameter of said crib in assembly situation, so that said caps (11) make the crib recover its outer cylindrical form at the moment of assembling it.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by comprising at least two rigid or semi-rigid caps (11) in every crib to be placed them close to the ends of the crib, and optionally intermediate caps, suitable spread, in function of the height or diameter of the column to build.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that each of said caps (11) forms a closed ring.
Crib for prismatic columns according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that each of said caps (11) forms an open ring, fully metallic, w a preferably adjustable closure.