GB2243395A

GB2243395A - Fixing of cast-in channels for facade support and restraint apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2243395A
Application number: GB9108755A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Butler; Michael Anthony Phinn
Original assignee: Wincro Metal Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Wincro Metal Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1990-04-26
Filing date: 1991-04-24
Publication date: 1991-10-30
Also published as: GB9108755D0; GB9009374D0

Abstract

A method of locating lengths of metal T-slotted channel 18 against the shuttering for concrete work when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure of a building, so that each length of channel can subsequently form a flush mounted part of an adjustable bracket system by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end can carry courses of bricks forming the outer skin of the building. So that each length of metal channel can be located, undamaged, with its slotted side in contact with the shuttering, the method includes the step of attaching a plurality of clip elements 22 to the channel and nailing said clip elements to the wooden shuttering. <IMAGE>

Description

Fixing of cast-in channels for facade support and restraint apparatus.

The invention relates to apparatus of the kind for supporting or restraining the brickwork or other facade forming the outer skin of a cavity wall in a building having a reinforced concrete inner wall structure.

Generally, in order to support the brickwork for example forming the outer skin of such a cavity wall, fixing elements such as fixing bolts or studs are secured in position when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure. However, such fixing elements can never be exactly aligned horizontally and it is usual to provide adjustable bracket systems by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end, which are to carry the courses of bricks forming the outer skin, are capable of some limited vertical adjustment to compensate for any variations in alignment of the fixing elements.A part of such an adjustable bracket system may be a cast-in length of metal channel usually extending horizontally but sometimes extending vertically of the reinforced concrete inner wall structure. (If extending vertically of said wall structure, the length of metal channel may be provided with toothed serrations on inturned edges of flange portions which engage complementary serrations formed on the heads of bolts which engage the channels and can thereby be adjusted in increments of movement during the installation of the bracket system).

It has previously been a problem to secure such lengths of metal channel in contact with the shuttering for the concrete work so that in the finished inner wall structure the metal channel will be flush with the exposed surface of said wall structure. If the lengths of channel have been nailed to the shuttering, it has subsequently been necessary to extract the nails after the shuttering has been removed from the reinforced concrete structure and this has been difficult. The invention has for its object to provide a method of and means for locating such lengths of metal channel in position prior to the pouring of the concrete when constructing the inner wall structure of a building.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of locating lengths of metal T-slotted channel against the shuttering for concrete work when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure of a building, so that each length of channel can subsequently form a flush mounted part of an adjustable bracket system by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end can carry courses of bricks forming the outer skin of the building, or form part of other support apparatus, the method including the step of attaching a plurality of clip elements to each length of metal channel and nailing said clip elements to the wooden shuttering so that the length of channel is located, undamaged, with its slotted side in contact with the shuttering.The method will preferably involve also the temporary closure of the slot in each channel by means of a length of resilient sealing strip, and the closure of the opposite ends of said channel, before the channel is located in position against the shuttering.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a plurality of clip elements for locating lengths of metal channel against the shuttering for concrete work as described above.

Each clip element will preferably have a relatively thin section strap part which connects much thicker root end portions provided with nail holes.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a well known kind of brickwork support system, Figure 2 is a perspective view from within the wooden shuttering for forming a reinforced concrete inner wall structure of a building, Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but through the cast wall structure.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the brickwork support system there illustrated is constituted by a horizontally extending support plate 10 and a number of brackets, generally indicated 12, secured to the support plate at intervals along its length. Courses of bricks which are to constitute the outer skin of the cavity wall concerned in the illustrated example are carried by the support plate. The brackets 12 are each capable of some limited vertical adjustment, relative to respective T-bolts 14 by means of which they are clamped in position against an inner wall structure, so that the support plate can be located in a horizontal position before bricklaying commences.

So that the brackets can be very quickly and easily fixed in position, the respective T-bolts 14 extend outwards from the T-slot 16 of a length of metal channel 18, the latter having been cast-in the reinforced concrete forming the inner wall structure during its construction. In other words, the length of metal channel has been secured to the wooden shuttering for the concrete work when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure, the channel having been secured thereto with the open side of the T-slot in contact with the shuttering so that when the shuttering has subsequently been removed from the finished inner wall structure the T-slot has been accessible from the exterior wall surface.The channel is provided with a number of wavy plate elements 20, (only one of which is visible in Figure 1) welded to it to act as anchor elements in the reinforced concrete in which they will be set.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the means whereby the length of metal channel has been secured to the wooden shuttering for the concrete work are constituted by a plurality of clip elements 22 which have been moulded in a synthetic plastics material. Each clip element has a relatively thin section strap part 24 which joins much thicker root end portions 26 provided with nail holes 28. As shown in the example illustrated, the root end portions of the clips are fixed in position above and below the channel to hold the channel in position very securely against being moved out of position by the pouring of concrete into the space defined by the shuttering.

The means just described are a distinct advantage over the means previously employed, that is to say on the nailing of the lengths of channel directly to the shuttering. This is because the nails employed to secure the plastics clip elements to the shuttering can fairly easily be wrenched through the plastics elements embedded in the finished wall structure whereas the nail heads were frequently difficult to wrench through the holes in the metal channel. If the nails were caused to break so that part of the nail remained in the channel this caused an obstruction to the sliding of the T-bolts along the T-bolt slot.

Means must of course be used to prevent the ingress of concrete into the T-bolt slots during the concrete pouring operation. The method of achieving this may be constituted of course by any of the known methods presently in use but in fact it will be far preferable to use the means described in our co-pending application for patent, No. 9009375.8, that is to say a length of synthetic plastics strip which can be pressed into the slot in each channel and respective pairs of end plugs which can be used to seal the opposite ends of each channel.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of locating lengths of metal Tslotted channel against the shuttering for concrete work when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure of a building, so that each length of channel can subsequently form a flush mounted part of an adjustable bracket system by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end can carry courses of bricks forming the outer skin of the building, or form part of other support apparatus, the method including the step of attaching a plurality of clip elements to each length of metal channel and nailing said clip elements to the wooden shuttering so that the length of channel is located, undamaged, with its slotted side in contact with the shuttering.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, including also the step of closing the slot in each channel by means of a length of resilient sealing strip, and the closure of the opposite ends of said channel, before the channel is located in position against the shuttering.

3. A plurality of clip elements in combination with a number of lengths of T-slotted channel, the clip elements being for use in locating the lengths of metal channel against the shuttering for concrete work as claimed in either one of the preceding claims, each clip element having a relatively thin section strap part which connects much thicker root end portions provided with nail holes.

4. A method of locating lengths of metal Tslotted channel against the shuttering for concrete work when constructing the reinforced concrete inner wall structure of a building, so that each length of channel can subsequently form a flush mounted part of an adjustable bracket system by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end can carry courses of bricks forming the outer skin of the building, or form part of other support apparatus, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described.

5. A plurality of clip elements substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, in combination with a number of lengths of T-slotted channel of the kind which can form a flush mounted part of an adjustable bracket system by means of which a support plate or a number of support plates arranged end to end can carry courses of bricks forming the outer skin of a building.