US1035336A - Form for culverts. - Google Patents

Description

M. J. A. FLOM.

FORM FOR GULVERTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1911 1,035,336. Patented Aug-13, 1912.

3 SIIBETS-SIIEBT I.

WITNESSES W ATTORNEY M. J. A. PLUM.

FORM FOR CULVERTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1911.

1,035,336. Patented Aug. 13,1912.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

WITNESSES J r I 0 m 251406 W M BY ATTORNEY M. J. A. PLOM.

FORM FOR GULVERTS.

APPLICATION PILED JANJZG, 1911 1,035,336, Patented Aug. 13,1912.

3 SHEETS 'SHEET 3.

WITNESSES 4" BY 9 /1UZ' ATTORNEY MARTIN J. A. FLOM, '01" MADISON, WISCONSIN.

FORM FOR cULvEB/rs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed January 26, 1911. Serial No. 604,825.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. A. From, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Form for Culverts, of which the following iS a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in forms for culverts or other like structures, especially structures made of concrete, and is designed to provide a self sustaining and locking culvert form which may be readily collapsed when it is desired to remove the form after the application and setting ofthe concrete.

In accordance with the present invention I there is provided a series of supports, each preferably as long as the length of the culvert section to be built, or where the cluverts are not of excessive length, the length of a form member may equal that of the culvert. These culverts are constructed so as to interlock with any desired degree of curvature by the provision of adjusting means, whereby one culvert section will move in telescoping relation to the next adjacent culvert section to be secured thereto in the roper position of adjustment, while one of the culvert sections, which may be in the nature of a key section, is provided with a latch mechanism capable of positively locking in a sustaining position with relation to the other sections, so that the entire form will maintain its position, but when it is desired to collapse the completed form the key section will respond readily to a comparatively slight force properly applied by an operator, whereby the entire form will reduce in diameter sufficientto permit its dismcmberment and the removal from the said structure.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the showing of the drawings while illustrating a practical form of the invention does not attempt to show the only practical embodiment of the invention, for the latter is susceptible of various changes and modifications without material departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure l is an end elevation of a completed form of substantially arch shape showing a cement structure supported'thereby. Fig. 2 is a central vertical lon 'tudinal section ofthe structure shown in ig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview, partly in section, of the key member of the form in the extended or-operative ,position. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the structure of Fig. 3 in the collapsed position. .lFig. 5 is a view of one of the other form sections which are all generally alike. Fig. 6 isa section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is .a section on the line 77 of Fi 5. F' 8 is an end view of the right Eand on of Fig. 5 as seen in the drawings, some parts being shown in section. Fig. 9 is a view of the left hand end of the structure of Fig- 5 but observed from the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the formsections with the active face downward. Fig. 11 is a section through a concrete casting as defined by two opposed form sections or groups of sections held in spacedrelationby ties. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the latches employed for holding a tie. .Fig. 12 is a perspective view of aformer for the ties.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a culvert made up of separate sections, which, aside from the key. section to be referred to, are or may be substantially alike. These sections: each comprise a p length equal to the length of the culvert or culvert section to-be built, and each of a width depending upon the form of the culvert, but usually the-width of the form section is such that it will include but a small chord with relation to the curvature of the arch, so that the finished arch will be generally curved, although actually made up of a number of connected plane surfaces of a length equal to the length of the culvert, but of comparatively small width. At each end of each plate'l there is secured a bracket 2 by riveting or otherwise, and this bracket is formed at each end with ears 3, 4, respectively, and, moreover, has secured thereto a plate 5 constituting an end plate for the corresponding end of the form section. The plate 5 is formed with ears 3, 4 matching the ears 3, 4 of the bracket 2,'but the ears 4. and 4" are spaced apart as indicated in Fig. 8, and at a point about in the plane of the plate 1 these ears are traversed by a pin 6. The ears 4 and 4 may be substantially circular, while the ears 3 are formed with matching notches 7,s0 that the ears 3 of a form section may be introduced between the ears 4 and 4 of the next adjacent section-to interlock therewith and to turn latelofa IIO ' i and the companion ears 3*, 4.

- traversin The edge of each plate 5 remote from the plate 1 is formed with reversely curved portions 8, 9, respectively, the curvature approaching the plate 1 toward the center of the plate 5 where the curves intersect, while the curved edge of the portion 9 is formed with a return flange 10, which,

when the sections are assembled, forms a guide for the free edges of the curved pertion 8, and this latter portion 8 is formed neanits outer corner with a perforation 11,

while the portion 9 is formed with a. curved series of perforations 12 parallel with the flange 10 and in position to have any one of them brought into coincidence with the perforation 10. The curvature of the portion 8 of the plate 5 is described about the bottom ofthe'recess 7 as a center, while the curved edge of the portion 9 and, also, the curvature of the series of perforations 12 is described about the pin 6 as a center. This provides for bringing the main plate 1 of two adjacent form sections into any degree of angular relation or into the same plane, .as may be desired, within the range of adjustment providedm The sections are usually secured together by a pin or bolt passing through the perforation ll of one section and some one of the perforations 12 of the adjacent section, the ears 3 and 3 of one section then engaging between the ears 4 and 4 of the companion section, the pin 6 traversing the ears 4 and 4 serving to lock the ears 3 and 3* thereto in conjunction with the return flange 10 and the bolt the perforations 11 and 12 then mcoinci ence. 1

For purposes of stifi'ening the culvert section, the end members 5 and the plate 1 may have secured thereto angle strips 13 extending the entire length of the section between the end plates 5, the parts being riveted together or otherwise secured wherever necessary in the practical embodiment of the invention, rivets being the usual mode of connection, without, however, precluding other connecting means for the same purpose.

There is provided a key section 14 having a longitudinal form plate 1 as in the other form sections, but in other respects this key section is differently constructed from the other sections. At each end thekey section has an end plate 15riveted or otherwise secured thereto,- the end plate being provided with a flange 16 adjacent the late 1 f01-- the purpose. The other edge 0 this plate, that is, the edge remote from the plate 1, has one end curved and provided with a return flange 1'7 and spaced therefrom a curved series of perforations 18 both de* scribed about a pin 19 as a center, this pin being carried by an ear 20 formed on the plate. 15 adjacent the plate 1' which is cut away to receive this ear, while another ear 21 is formed on a bracket 22 made fast to the plate 15 by riveting or otherwise. The end plate 15 is elongated in a direction away from the end containing the perforations 18, and is continued to a' point short of the other edge of the main plate 1, and near this edge of the plate 15 there is a perforation 23 adjacent the flange 16 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The plate 15-at the end remote from the perforation 18 carries a latch plate 24 by means of a link 25 connected at one end to the plate 1.5 by a pivot 26 andat the other end connected to the plate 24 by a pivot 27. The plate 24 is provided with spaced ears 28, 29 like the ears 20, 21, and capable of entering a recess 30 in the end of the main plate 1, so that in one position ofthe plate 24 the cars 28 and 29 bear the same relation to the plate 1 as do the ears 20 and 2 1, but at the opposite side thereof. Traversing the ears 28 and 29 is a pin 31 similar to the pin 19 and for a like purpose. Remote from the pin 31 the edge of the plate24 is formed with a curved return flange .32 and adjacent thereto with a curved series of perforatio-ns 33, both described about the pin 31 as a center and corresponding to the similar flange 17 and perforations 18 of the end plate 15.

' Pivoted to the plate 15 is a hand lever 34, which, at an appropriate distance from the pivot connection, has secured thereto a latch strip or bar 35 carrying at its free end a. pin 36 in position to extend through the latch plate 24 and when coincident therevwith into or through the perforation 23.

The free end of, the bar 35 is ur ed toward the plate 24 by a finger 37 of su cient elasticity' for the purpose, so that the pin end of the bar 354s always urged toward the plate 15 and will snap into the perforation 23 when it reaches the same. The end of the barv35 remote from the pin 36 is connected to the lever 34 by a pivot pinl38, and Where the pin 38 traverses the lever 34 there is provided an elongated slot39, so that the lever may have an extent of free movement without causing movement of the bar 35 in the direction of its length. That end of the bar 35 traversedby the pivot 38 is bent awa from the lever 34 on opposite sides of t e pin 38 or otherwise formed to provide shoulders 40, 41, respectively, and the lever 34 at "opposite ends of the slot ,39. is formed with matching shoulders 42, 43, respectively, so that as the lever 34 is moved about its pivot in one direction, say to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, the shoulder 42 is brought into engagementwith the shoulder 40 and the bar 35 1s rocked on the pivot 31,

the connection being loose enough for the purpose, so that the pin 36 is'withdrawn from the perforation 23 in which it is seated in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, this movement being against the action of the spring keeper 37 and the plate 24' is, therefore, unlatched from the plate 15 and continued movement of the lever 34 toward theleft will cause a movement of the plate 24 about the pivot 26 of the lever 25 in the direction to move the plate 24 away from the plate 1, the ears 28 and 29 and the in 31 participatin in this movement. 'Fhe final position 0 the parts under the movement just described is shown in Fig. 4. On moving the lever 34 inthe other direction, or toward the right. of Fig. 4, the shoulder 43 is brought into engagement with the shoulder 41 and the bar 35 is put under a tendency, augmented by the spring 37, to cause the pin 36 to enter the perforation 23 and at the same time the plate 24 is moved toward the position shown in Fig. 3, and when it finally reaches such position the pin 36 under the tendency imparted to the bar 35 will snap into the perforation 23, thus locking the plate 24 in the position shown in Fig. 3. To insure the proper position of the plate 24, it is formed at the edge adjacent the flange 16 with a tooth 44 designed to enter a notch 45 in the flange 16, the tooth being an angular tooth so that it is readily centered in its seat.

The plate 1 of the key section 14 is provided with end plates 15 at each end and the latch mechanism described is provided at eachend of the key section. In order that these latch mechanisms may work together when operated from either end, the lever 34 has its pivot support in the form of a rod 46 extending the entire length of the key section between the end plates 15 and made fast at the ends to the levers, whereby the operation of one lever will cause like movement of the other lever.

In using the improved form, a suitable number of sections are coupled together by inserting the notched ears 3, 3 between the connected ears 4-4 of the next adjacent section, and in order to facilitate the assembla e, the sections may be made right and le so that they are assembled in two groups, each defining one-half of the culvert less the corresponding portion of the key section, and the shape of the culvert is determined by the extent of insertion of a portion 8 of a form section into the portion 9 of 'the next form section and the relation of the perforation 11 with the desired one of the perforations .12. The entire form may be carried at the two sides by footing strips 47. The terminal sections of the connected sides of the form are connected one to the plate 15 of the key section and the other to the plate 24 with the notched ears 3 and 3 of the respective terminal sections of the two halves engaging the pins 19 and 31. The form is finally locked in the extended position by a movement of the lever 34 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and then the concrete'may be applied in the usual manner. When the concrete structure has set, then the form is readily removed by actuating one or the other of the levers 34, the lever not actuated directly participating in the movement of the actuated lever and the plates 24 are unlatched and moved to the relative position shown in Fig. 4. This will cause a sutficient collapse of the form to move it away from the walls of the finished structure and it may then be drawn as a whole to a new position, if such be desired, and again extended to the locked position ready for the application of more concrete. In this manner long culverts may be constructed with comparatively short forms and without the necessity of dismantling a form when being removed from the finished portion of the structure to a new position. When it is desirable to finally dismantle the form this is readily accomplished by removing the securing bolts bet-ween adjacent forms, and they may then be'disconnected one from the other for transportation or storage.

It is sometimes desirable to provide culverts with wings, and for this purpose the form sections, such as shown in Fig. 5, or any chosen number of these form sections, are provided with elongated slots 48 indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and these slots are appropriately spaced apart in the direction of the length of the plate 1 of such form section. Pivoted to the plate 1 on the face thereof remote from that against which the concrete is to be cast, and adjacent a corresponding slot 48 is a latch 49 in the form of a bar connected at one end to the plate by a pivot pin or rivet .50, and adjacent the other end formed with a thumb piece 51, whereby the latch may be manipulated, and at an intermediate point this bar has formed on 'oneside a finger 52, which, when the latch is moved to the proper position, is in traversing relation to the slot 48, preferably about midway of the length of the latter. In the path of the end of the latch remote from the pivot 50 is a keeper 53 of any appropriate form, and this keeper may be sufiiciently elastic to engage, over the end of the latch and maintain it in position when the finger 52 is in traversing relation to the corresponding slot 48. -When the form sections are utilized for the construction of wing walls for culverts or other walls there'are provided wire loops 54 of sufficient length. These loops are flat loops and the ends are passed through the slots 48 of two opposed form sections and the corresponding latches 49 are moved so that their fingers 52 are passed through the loops, thus holding the loops to the form sections. The length of the loops determines the spacing of the active faces of opposed form sections or groups of form sections, while the fingers 52 coacting with the loops prevent further separation of the form sections when the concrete filling is introduced, such concrete filling being indicated at 55 in Fig. 11, where it will be seen that' the filling 55 is of a thickness determined by the length of the loops 54;.

To provide a convenient means, usable at the place where .the wall is being built, for the production of theloops 54, there is furnished a board or plate 56 of wood or metal with a longitudinal series of perforations or sockets 57, into any one of which there may be introduced a pin 58, two of such pins being usually employed. The pins 58 are introduced into suitably separated sockets or perforations 57 and' an appropriate length of wire is passed around these pins to form ,a fiat loop and the ends 'are twisted together as indicated at -59 to unite the wire strand into a loop of a length determined by the spacing of the pins 58. By thismea-ns the wire loops may be made on the spot with the assurance that they will all be of the same length if the wall is to be of even thickness throughout, or of such lengths as may be desired for the type of wall to be built, and; therefore, dependence upon a supply of ties already made is not necessary, and the transportation of such supply of ties is avoided. When the wall has set it is simply necessary to move the latches 49 out of engaging relation to the loops or ties 54 when the form sections may be readily removed from the wall, and if the projecting ends of the loops are objectionable these may be readily cut off.

What is claimed is 1. A mold structure comprising a series of individual sections provided with interlocking means in the planes of the active faces of the sections, and other interlocking means coacting with the first named locking means to hold the sections in relatively adjusted positions, and a-key section provided with interlocking means matching the interlocking means of adjacent sections, said key section having means for the collapse of the entire structure without disconnection of the parts of such structure.

2. A mold structure comprising a plurality of interlocking sections and an inter mediate key section, said key section having a latch member movable at will to expand or contract the form as a whole and having means for locking the form when in the ex panded position against collapse.

3. In a mold structure, form sections each comprising a member adapted to receive and maintain the material to be molded, and end other side of the plates on the side of the material retainingmember remote from the, sustaining face thereof, said end plates having reversely curved edges, one shaped to receive the edge of a corresponding member and the other curved edge being shaped to fit the receiving edge of the corresponding member, said end plates being'provided at the opposite edges of the retaining member with locking means coacting with the curved edges to lock adjacent sections in adjusted positions.

'having ears, those ears. at one side of the first named plate being notched, and at the other side being spaced and traversed by a pin.

5. In a mold form, a mold section comprising a plate of appropriate length designed to retain material and at the ends on the face remote from the retaining face provided with end plates each having its outer edge reversely curved with one of the curved portions formed with a return flange and a series of perforations, and the other curved portion having a perforation de; signed to match the series of perforations of an adjacent end plate, the said end plates being each provided at the edges and in the plane of the retaining plate with ears notched at one side of the first named plate and provided with a traversing pin at the I first named plate, respectively. a

6. In a'mold form, a mold section comprising a plate of appropriate length de-' signed to retainiiihterial and at the ends on the face remote from the retaining face provided with end plates each having its outer edge reversely curved with one of the curved portions formed with a return flange and a series of perforations, and the other curved portion having a {perforation designed to match the series 0 perforations of an adjacent end'plate-, the ,said end plates being each provided-at the edges and in the plane of the retaining plate with ears notched at one side of the first named plate and pro- -vided with a traversing pm at the other side of the first named plate, respectively,

* the mold section having a reinforcement eK-- tending from one end plate to the other on the inactive face of the sustaining plate.

'7. In a mold form, a key section having a material retaining member with end plates, each end plate being provided with a movable portion provided with means for v tions curved on an arc connection to an adjacent mold section, and means for moving the movable portion toward and from the sustaining plate and provided with-a latch for locking the movable member in active relation to the sustaiining plate.

8. In a mold form, an elongated key section provided with connecting means for adjacent sections at each end, one of said connecting means being movable toward and from the active face of the key section, and operating means for the movable portion at eachend of the plate, said operating means being connected for simultaneous movement when actuated from either end of the key section.

'9. In a mold form, a key section comprising a plate adapted to receive and hold material to be molded and at each end provided with end plates each having a connecting member for the next adjacent mold section a movable member carried by each end plate and rovided with connecting means for an ad acent mold section on the corresponding side of the key section, and operating means for the movable member including latch means for holding the movable member positively in the active position.

10. In a mold form, a key section comprising an elongated plate constituting the material receiving member of the section, end plates fast to the first named plate and each provided with a section enga ing means in the plane of the first named p ate, and other section engaging means comprising a return flange and a series of perforadescribed about the first named engaging means, a latch plate carried by each end plate and also provided with engaging means for the next adjacent mold section on the same side of the key member as said latch plate, a manipulating lever carried by the first named end plate, and a latch member constituting the connection between the lever and the movable plate and coacting with the first named plate to lock the movable plate thereto.

11. In a mold structure, a key section provided with a movable member adapted to be connected to an adjacent mold member, a connecting member between said movable member and the key section for causing the movable member to approach toward and recede from the center ine of the key member when moved, a manipulating lever carried by the key member, and a latch member on the movable member connected to the manipulatin lever for causing movement of the mova le member and for locking the latter to the key member when in active re lation thereto.

12. In a mold form, a key member comprising a mainplate forming the sustainmg portion of t 0 key member, end plates for the key member, a movable plate con nected to and sustained by each end plate, the said end plates and movable plates having connecting means for adjacent mold sections, a manipulating lever on each end plate, said manipulating lever being provided with cam shoulders, a latch bar connected at one end to the manipulating lever and rovided with shoulders coacting with the s oulders on the manipulating lever and at the other end carrying a latch pin traversing the movable plate and movable with the plate into latching engagement with the end plate, and a member on the movable plate constraining the latch member to active position.

13. In a mold structure, form sections each having a series of passages therethrough, latches individual to the passages and each comprising a bar pivoted at one end to the corresponding form section adjacent one end of a respective passage and on the face of the form section remote from the active face thereof to move parallel with the face to which it is pivoted, said bar being provided at an intermediate pointwith a projecting finger movable into traversing relation to the respective passage, and a keeper on the form section for eachlatch, said keeper being located adjacent the end of the passage remote from that near which the latch is pivoted and in position to en gage the corresponding end of the latch,'the

eeper havin a degree of elasticity to hold the latch in atching position.

14. A means for forming concrete walls comprising matching form sections each provided with a series of like passages extending through the form section from the active face to the face remotev therefrom, latches on each form section and each provided with a projecting finger movable into traversing relation to a respective passage, and flat wire loops each formed of a single piece of wire with its ends'joined, the loops beingof a length to have both ends extended through oppositely disposed latching pas:

sages and to be traversed by the fingers of the respective latches, the loops constituting ties restraining the form sections to predetermined relatlve spacing.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN J. A. FLOM.

'i'Vitnesses:

Jomr OLLIB, K. E. OMGARDL.

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