US2084384A - Tie rod for concrete forms - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1937. s s COLT 2,084,384

TIE ROD FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed NOV. 28, 1954 INVENTOR www (blz,

ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937 4Unire ?ATN'E OFFICE 2 claims. (o1. 25-131y Il'his invention has for its object to provide a novel method and means for mounting tie-rods in form wall assembling and holding relation, subject to loosening of such tie-rods for withdrawal from concrete cast in the form,whereby, upon dismantling of the form, such tie-rods may be quickly and easily withdrawn from the finished concrete, and thus salvaged, together with all associated form building and assembling material, for repeated use.

In the method of constructing, assembling and disassembling of concrete casting forms, of the type comprising opposed and spaced form walls secured in position by tie-rods extending therebetween and therethrough, as heretofore practiced, the outwardly projecting end portions of the tie-rods have been utilized to support external form retaining and locking devices. Ovving to the nature of these devices, the tie-rods could in no way be loosened relative to the concrete cast in the form before dismantling said form, and consequently the tie-rods would be so set, and bound in and to the concrete mass that it is often impossible to withdraw the same g from the concrete after the form was taken down. In such case, the ends or" the tie-rods would have to be broken or severed at the surface of the concrete, thus preventing salvage of the tie-rods. Another diiculty experienced under the old practices, was that the projecting ends of the tie-rods would be so bent and distorted that withdrawal of the same from the finished wallsrwould be so obstructed as to very greatly increase the labor of extraction, if not altogether preventing such extraction. Attempts to overcome these difficulties have resulted in a practice involving the provision of sectional tierods, i. e. tie-rods having exteriorly projecting end pieces Which were detachably coupled to an intermediate tie-rod `section disposed wholly within the form interior, whereby, on dismantling the form, such end pieces could be removed, leaving the main section of the tierod imbedded in the iinished concrete wall, and therefore incapable of recovery for reuse. This latter practice, of course, is expensive, and involves a very considerable Waste of material in the form of such non-recoverable tie-rod sections.

Having the difficulties and disadvantages of the above-mentioned practices in mind, my present invention wasmconceived with a view of overcoming the same by providing a novel method and means for so mounting and manipulating the tie-rods, that the same can be rotated about their longitudinal axes while the concrete cast in the form is still somewhat green, i.v e. not finally set and hardened, and While the form is still retained in operative assembled supporting relation to the concrete cast therein. Such turning of the tie-rods under such conditions operates to loosen the same from the concrete mass, thus freeing the same from adhesion thereto, whereby, when the concrete has ultimately cured to final hardened condition, resistance to longitudinal withdrawal of the tie-rods therefrom isY substantially avoided, so that extraction thereof is Wholly practicable, with the result that tierods are easily recovered Aor salvaged so as to be again available for further use, Not only is this so, but, furthermore, by the novel method and means involvedV in my present invention, single piece tie-rods may be utilized, thus eliminating the cost of Vcoupling devices Yand like parts necessary to sectional types of tie-rods and consequently effecting further economy; and finally by the novel method and means comprising my present invention, the labor of erecting and dismantling forms is considerably decreased, and these operations can be effected much more rapidly and economically.

In the accompanying drawing, means areshown whereby one-piece tie-rods may be mounted and manipulated subject to salvage from the cast concrete after dismantling the form structure of which they are a part, al1 pursuant toy a novel method of procedure in accordance with this invention.

In said drawing; Fig. l shows a fragmentaryL transverse vertical section of a concrete casting form structure utilizing one-piece tie-rods equipped with form wall retaining means so as to be subject to manipulation in accordance with this invention, the retaining means being shown in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the retaining means shown in section; Fig. 3 is an end View, Viewed from left to right in Fig. 1. Fig. l is a side elevation, Fig. 5 an end elevation and Fig. 6 a top plan view of a modified form of retaining means adapted tothe manipulation of the tie-rod in accordance with this invention. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of retaining means including a locking Wedge in permanent coupled relation thereto.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters Ill and Il respectively indicate laterally opposed walls of a form, each being respectively provided on their exterior sides with vertical battens I2 andY I2 over which are arranged pairs of horizontally extending walers I3 and I3'.

Extending between the. walers I3 and through the form wall Ill-thence across the form interiorv to and through the form' wall II,`to project outwardly betweenthe VWalers I3 associated with the latter wall, is a continuous or'one-piece tie- MountedY on the end portion I4' of said tie-rod I4, which projects Vexteriorly from'the'formfwall` Ill, Vis a novel retaining means comprising an abutment plate I5, which may be of any suitable peripheral shape. but which is shown here as" Yof rectangularV form.` 'Ihis abutment plate I5 is appliedin bridging Yrelation to the walers YI3 n and over the exterior faces thereof. e The abutment plate I5 is provided on its front face with a centrally disposed boss or hub I5, having there- 'in' an axially disposed substantially,semi-spherical countersunksocket or seat 'I'I, from the bot-` tom of whichextends through Ythe back of the abutment plate an opening I8, whereby the projecting endsportion of the tie-rod I4 may be'extended outwardly'through said opening I8 andV socket'orY seat I'I.V Nail openings I9 are provided at suitable locations inthe body of lthe abutment' plate `I5,'whereby fastening nails 2|] Inay'be'drive'n therethrough and into the Walers I3,to thereby retain the-,abutment plate in fixed assembled relation tothe latter. Therabutment plateniay-be suitablyV reenforced and stiiened by reenforcing ribs 2I extending from the boss or hub I6 over and Iintegralwith the outlying areas of theV plate body. Cooperative-Withfsaid abutment plate I5 is a combined .tie-rod manipulating and form wall'retain'ng means, the same comprising an elongated body 22 having an axial bore'23 extending therethrough from` end to end thereof, through which .the exteriorly projecting end of the tie-rod I4 may pass. inner'end of said body 22, as Yan integral part thereof,is a. substantially Vsemi-,spherical bearing element 24 which fits into an is Vembraced Vby 'the socket. or. seat I'I of said'abutment plate I5 so as to beV capable of Yboth rotation therein as well asV angular vadjustment thereto. ,Preferably the 'bearing face of this bearing element 24 is provided with one or more annular concentric channels 25, which reduce the area of the contacting surfaces of said bearing face with those of the socket or seat II whereby friction consequent upon movement of the one relative to the other is minimized. Said'bearing element 24 is of greater Ydiameter than the diameter of `the body 22,-thus forming at the juncture of these partsan annular shoulder 26. vIt is preferable to-couple the abutment plate I5 and body 22 against separation one from the otherbut nevertheless inV such manner that the latter is free for rotary 'and This; isV accomplished byproviding, Vintegral Ywith the angularV movement-relative to the former.

periphery of the end portion of the boss or` hub I6, aplurality of 'circumferentially spaced cou-` pling" lugs or tongues 21, the free vend portions of Which'are bent inwardly around the shoulder V26 and thus into embracing relation to the bear- -ing element 24 of said body 22. Intermediate its ends,'saidrbody 22 is provided with laterally projecting kinternally threaded necks 28 `which respectively extendiromopposte sides Ythereof in aligned relation one Vto the other. Engaged through `said necks'are manipulatable set screws 29 which are'opposed one to -the otherfso asto enter opposite sides of thebore 24 of the bodyKY 22, :#The outer, endrportion of YVt 1'1erbody,22 is4 Formed at the Y its length. The body 22 affixed tothe end of the wrench or like tool may'beapplied thereto for turning the same and thus impart turning or twisting motionto a tie-rod' I4 to which the body Y `22 is secured. YThe body 22 is strongly affixed toY one end of the tie-rod I4, which extends thereshaped to provide a polygonal `head 30 to furnish wrench or like tool engageable faces, whereby av Cil' through', by tightening home the opposed set'` screws 29, which also serve to center the tie-rod so that y the saine and the body 20 are substantially concentric'.

VMounted onV the opposite end portion I4 ofi the tie-rod I4, which projects exteriorly'from thev opposite form wall II, isajretaining means of` the same-form and construction as has beenH 'above described, the detail parts of which are identified in the drawing by corresponding reference letters. to the tie-rod end portionVY 14", the abutment platek I5 is disposed parallelto the walers I3', so'

In applying such retaining means that its ends abut wedge membersy-SLVwhlch are interposed between these parts, whereupon the body 22 is strongly aflixed to the tie-rod endpor-A tion I4 by tightening home the opposedv set screws thereof.

Y To lock the form up tightly so as to hold theV assembled elements thereof from yielding or displacement when concrete is cast into theform 1 interior, the wedge members 3 I` are Vdriven tightlyV` throughout its length. After theform has beenY thus set up, it vwillbe obvious that all relative movement ofthe form parts and Aretaining devices in the direction Vof the longitudinal axisofV the tie-rodis prevented, while neverthelessV the bodies 22 of the Vopposite retaining means, and

the tie-rod to which theyareaixed, are subject to rotation relative to the abutmentVV plates I5 and form wall structures abutted by the latter. j

When the form is assembled, as above de scribed, the concrete is poured thereinto. the poured concrete has set to somewhatrsolidl'- fied condition, but'beforeitV has finally agedtovultimate dry hardened condition'y Yin ,other Words, Vwhile it is still somewhat green, the tie-rods `I4 are Vrotated or twisted. This is done by application cfa wrench'to the polygonal head30 of either one or-the other of the bodies .2201 the retaining means with which the exteriorly projecting end portions thereof are provided;` whereupon,Y by

means oifleverageY exerted upon manipulation of After the wrench; the body 22 may be turned or twisted back and forth, thusturning or oscillating the tie-rod -I4 aboutV its longitudinal, axis throughout tie-rod opposite to that towhich the turning force is thus applied, is free to turn with the tie-rod and4 relativeto' the abutmentpplate with which such body is associated. ',Owing; to the provision ofthe semi-spherical bearingV e1ements`24 .as roltatably supported by the'sockets orseats of the e abutment plates` I5, the r r taryy movements are maintained concentric to the axis ofthetie-rod,l

Y and consequently no bending or. distortion of tl'lel latter occurs. This turning of the tie-rod I4 is accomplished without in any way relaxing the form structure or dismantling or removing any part thereof, and therefore is performed while the form rem-ains in initial supporting and holding relation to the concrete cast therein, and consequently no risk of injury or damage to the concrete casting occurs. The turning of the tie-rod under the -specified conditions, thoroughly loosens the same in the body of the cast concrete mass, and eliminates any adhesion of the concrete materi-al to those surfaces of the tie-rod in contact therewith. The tie-rods having been loosened in the manner described, the form is retained in operative assembled relation to the concrete cast therein until the latter drys out and hardens to a condition in which the same is self-sustaining, whereupon the form is dismantled.

To dismantle the form, the bodies 22 of the retaining means are disengaged from operative affixed relation to the tie-rod end portions by relaxing the set-screws 29, and by removing the nails 20 the abutment plates I5 are released from afxed relation to the form wall walers, whereupon the retaining means may be slid outwardly off of the tie-rod end portions. rI'he retaining means being thus removed, the form wall struct tures may thereupon be stripped from the sides of the concrete casting, leaving the tie-rods I4 exposed for extraction, or the tie-rods may be withdrawn before stripping away the form wall structures. Owing to the fact that the tie-rods have been thoroughly loosened from any adhesion to the concrete mass, by the turning or twisting operations above described, the same may be easily pulled longitudinally outw-ard from the concrete and thus withdrawn therefrom without risk of distortion or breakage, and consequently wh-en so withdrawn, the same are salvaged in good condition subject to reuse in further or other form building operations. In many c-ases the tie-rods may be thus extracted by hand, but there are many known forms of tie-rod extracting tools which may be utilized, if desired, in aid of such tie-rod extracting operations.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, I have shown a modied construction of retaining means which can be used in accordance with the principles of this invention, the modication consisting in eliminating the set screw arrangement for afxing the means to a tie-rod end portion, and in making the outer end portion of the body 22 in separable clamp sections, comprising one clamp-section 32 integral with the body 22 and the other clamp-section 33 separably opposed to said first mentioned clamp-section. The respective clamp sections are provided with oppositely and laterally projected perforate ears or lugs 34 and 35 which are opposed, when the clamp-sections are assembled about the tie-rod end portion, so that bolts 36 may be engaged therethrough to draw the clamp sections together into biting and holding relation to the tie-rod end porion. If desired, a set screw 31 may also be provided for setting the retaining means in desired location on the tie-rod pending final tightening up of the clamp-sections. In other features of construction, the modied form of retaining means is the same Vas already described in connection with the rst mentioned form thereof, as will be understood by reason of the application thereto of corresponding reference characters.

In Fig. l I have shown a` further modied form of the retaining means as adapted for coupled association with a wedge device 38. The modication in this case resides in the abutment plate, which is eliminated and in place thereof a socketed element 39, adapted to receive the bearing element 24 of the body 22, is movably coupled to the wedge device 3B, to slide upon the outer face of the latter, by means of coupling lugs 40, which are in-turned around marginal flanges 4i with which the outer face portion of the wedge device 38 is provided.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. A concrete casting form comprising opposed form wall structures, a round tie-rod in one continuous piece extending through the form with lits end portions respectively projecting outwardly from said form wall structures, form retaining means on the respective exteriorly projecting end portions of said tie-rod, said retaining means each comprising a portion stationary in relation to the adjacent form wall structure and a body portion rotatable in relation to said stationary portion, cooperative ball and socket bearing means between said rotatable and station-ary portions, said rotatable portions having wrench receiving means, means for aiTixing the rotatable portions to said tie-rod end portions and substantially concentric to the longitudinal axis of the tie-rod, whereby, while the form is locked up in supporting relation to the concrete mass cast therein and before said mass sets to hardened dry condition, rotative force applied to a rotatable portion is transmitted to said tie-rod to turn the same relative to the cast concrete without accompanying longitudinal movement to thereby loosen ,the same for easy withdrawal from the latter upc-n dismantling the form.

2. A concrete casting form as defined in claim 1 wherein locking wedge means is interposed between the stationary portion of `a retaining means at one end of the tie-rod and the -adjacent form wall structure, said stationary portion being adapted, by functioning of the ball and socket bearing means, to adjust itself angularly to the associated rotatable portion without disturbing the alignment of the latter to and upon the tierod or bending the latter, and means for coupling the wedge means in non-separable relation to said stationary portion yet free to move relative thereto.

SAMUEL S. COLT.

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