US3010494A

US3010494A - Wire form tie and apparatus for making same

Info

Publication number: US3010494A
Application number: US696824A
Authority: US
Inventors: Davis Carl Horace
Original assignee: GENERAL DELIVERY
Current assignee: GENERAL DELIVERY
Priority date: 1957-11-15
Filing date: 1957-11-15
Publication date: 1961-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 c. H. DAVIS 3,010,494

WIRE FORM TIE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 15, 1957 FIG 2 1. "Y 47a 4% x 35 FIG. 3

FIG. 5

Inventor CARL H. DAV/S by: W

Patent Aaent United States Patent 3,010,494 WIRE FORM TIE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAM'E Carl Horace Davis, General Delivery, Goderich, Ontario, Canada Filed Nov. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 696,824 3 Claims. (Cl. 140149) This invention relates to a structural form bracing wire tie adapted to present rustproof ends and to a machine for twisting said ties to any desirable length.

The ties presently in use provide braces for wooden forms and loop portions fashioned to hold the walls of the form in place prior to pouring the concrete, if such is the structural material being used.

The method of controllably forming ties having loop portions suitable for this purpose, as found in the art, is unduly complicated and adds to the overall cost of the tie, in addition to the cost of the machine used in the forming thereof.

The extreme tension produced in prior machines during the twisting operation is a factor inherent in the art which does not afford a simple means of releasing the tie after formation.

Upon setting of the concrete and cutting of the upright supporting portion of prior ties to remove the structural forms and clipping the protruding portion of existing wire ties flush with the exterior surface of the newly set wall, the ends of the ties become rusted and after a short length of time rust streaks appear on the external surface of the wall.

Existing tie forming machines are not easily adaptable to produce ties having various lengths without complicated adjustments and expensive mechanisms to produce variable lengths of ties.

The invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior methods in providing a release mechanism for simple removal of a form tie, and an adjusting means to provide ties of varying lengths. The inherent disadvantage of prior ties is overcome by the use of aluminum-clad wire as the tie forming material. Another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a formabutting portion initially provided in the anchoring of the wire before twisting to produce a complete tie in one operation, from a single length of wire.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated in the following drawings in which:

FIGURE '1 is a perspective view of the tie forming machine bearing a twisted wire tie according to the invention, prior to release;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the head of the machine indicating the means of attaching the Wire prior to the twisting operation;

FIGURE 3 is a broken view of the complete tie;

FIGURE 4 indicates a side elevation of a portion of the machine to an enlarged scale before release of the tie;

FIGURE 5 indicates a side elevation of a portion of the machine in release position after the twisting operation.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wire in accordance with the invention before cutting and a view of a wire end after cutting thereof.

Having regard to the drawings a preferred embodiment of the machine of the invention comprises support members or legs, 10 and 11, adapted to be fastened by bolts 12 to any suitable supporting surface 13.

Legs

10 and 11 have extended reinforcing sections, 14 and 15 respectively of predominantly circular cross-section, each section being drilled to receive the end portions of a bed member 16, the bed member retaining the legs in a spaced apart relationship for support and stability. The end portions of the bed member are rigidly maintainable within that other suitable means may be employed for retaining the bed member within the legs, however the set screws provide a simple means of disassembly for easy portability.

Leg 10 includes an upwardly extending portion generally indicated by the reference numeral 18 to provide a bearing portion 19 adapted to receive a shaft '20 adapted to rotate within the said bearing portion. One end 21 of shaft 20 has inserted thereover a collar 22 of sufiicient outside diameter to abut the exterior face 19a of bearing 19. The portion of shaft 20 adjacent end 21 is threaded to receive a handle 23 held rigidly to said threaded portion of the shaft by means of a pin 24 insertable through the handle and the shaft, in a manner well known to an experienced mechanic. Collar 22 is fixed in position on the shaft by any suitable means such as brazing or welding.

The free end of the shaft remote from the handle is the free end of the shaft is engageable with yoke 25, the

yoke being bored to receive the shaft, the yoke and shaft being held in relatively fixed relationship by means of set screw 26. The yoke is preferably fixed to the shaft in a position to provide a portion of said shaft between surface 27 of the yoke and the interior face of the bearing portion 19, to permit a restricted lateral sliding movement of the shaft within said bearing, said movement being restricted in one direction by contact of collar 22 with the exterior face 19a of bearing 19 and in the other direction by contact of surface'27 of yoke 25 with the interior face of bearing 19.

Yoke 25 is provided with a recessed fiat surface portion 28 for engagement with a loop chucking head 29, held in fixed relationship with the yoke on surface 28 by means of a set screw 30.

The body of head 29, having a head axis shown in broken line and denoted by the letter B, is preferably generally ovoid in lateral cross-section as clearly indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The external surfaces of the head form loop defining surfaces 29a disposed parallel to the head axis B for purposes hereinafter set out. Head 29 is drilled as indicated in broken line by the reference 2% to form a socket or wire end anchorage to receive a clamping leg of a length of wire prior to the formation of a wound tie, the socket having an axis C parallel to axis B.

Surface 28 of the yoke is sufirciently recessed to provide optimum positioning of the head 29 on the projection of the centre-line of shaft 20 to permit 'a minimum eccentricity of head 29 upon rotation of said shaft. The centre line of shaft 20 and its projection forms a machine axis noted in broken line in FIGURE 1 by the letter A.

Horizontally opposed to shaft 20 is a release arm 31 slidably inserted within a supporting arm 32 slidably engageable with bed member 16 to dispose the release arm 31 in an end-to-end parallel relationship to'the rotatable shaft 20 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Support arm 32 in vertical cross-section is shaped generally in the form of a figure 8 with the lower rounded portion 32a, FIGURE 1 being drilled to receive =bed member 16, and the upper rounded portion 32b being drilled to slidably receive the release arm 31. The supporting arm 32 may be adjustably located upon bed member 16 by means of a removable pin 33 insertable into holes 34 of member 32 and holes 35 of bed member 16. Holes 34 have a closer relative spacing than that of holes 35 to permit a fine linear adjustment of member 32 on member 16.

' wire.

A second loop chucking head or wire supporting portion 36 is directly supported upon release arm 31 by means of set screws 37, or other suitable means, as indicated in FIGURE l. Though it has not been found necessary, it may be convenient to provide a machined flat portion of the release arm to provide a seat for the second head member 36 for fixed engagement with the release arm.

The chucking head 36 is supported upon spindle 31 to dispose the head substantially centrally upon the machine axis A of the device. Head 36 is identical in form to head 29, having a body axis B, loop defining surfaces 36a disposed parallel to the body or head axis, and a drilled portion 36b forming a socket or wire end anchorage to receive a clamping leg of a length of wire. The socket 36b contains axis C parallel to axis B, said axes B and C of

heads

29 and 36 being disposed substantially at right angles to the machine axis A.

The release arm 31 is prevented from rotation Within rounded section 32b of support arm 32 by means of the engagement of set screw '38 with a shoulder of release arm 31 formed by a flat surface 39 machined upon a portion of the arm 31, the set screw 38 being retained within portion'32b of support arm 32 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

The outward end of release arm 31, a portion of which is indicated by the reference numeral 40, is threaded to receive an internally threaded nut 41, FIGURES l and 4. 'A collar '42 having arcuate cut-away portions 42a is adapted to freely engage arm 31. A fiat surface 42b of collar 42 abuts the outer vertical surface of the rounded section 32b of supporting arm 32 as clearly shown in FIGURES .4 and 5. Sleeve 43, slidably engageable with release arm 31 has edges 43a defining V-shaped cut-away portions providing an extended lug portion 43b.

Collar 42 is adapted to be held rigidly to support 32 by means of locking pins 44. The nut 41 is threadably engageable with the threaded portion 40 of arm 31 and may be held in position against turning by means of set screw 45 through a wall of the nut as shown in FIGURES 4 and engaging the arm. A pin 46, FIGURES 1 and 4 is attached to sleeve 43 by welding, brazing or other suitable means, a protruding portion of pin 46 being provided externally of said sleeve for manual operation of the sleev as part of a releasing mechanism.

The wire to be twisted into a form tie is generally designated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 by the reference numeral 47 and as shown in FIGURE 2 comprises a single wire having end portions 47a and an intermediate length 471) all of substantially equal lengths. Upon twisting of the. tie the

portions

47a and 47b form a rigidi-fying'intermediate cable portion 47c, FIGURES 1 and 3. The end portions are bent near their extremities to form clamping legs 48 and 4-9 for insertion within sockets 29b and 36b of

heads

29 and 36 respectively, effectively anchoring said ends. In the twisted condition, clamping

legs

48 and 49 form abutments for structural materials such as wooden boards or other material used as forms in the construction of poured concrete or other types of walls.

Upon formation of a twisted wire tie,

loop portions

50 and 51 are provided, each loop receiving a

clamping leg

48 and 49 respectively through the crotch of the loop emerging from each end of the twisted intermediate cable portion 47a of the tie, said legs forming a board abutment means.

It may be readily appreciated that many types of wires may be used in the formation of the tie. However, for purposes hereinafter set out, and as shown in FIGURE 6, a Wire 47 having a steel core 52 is preferred, with an aluminum coating 53 to form an aluminum clad steel Uponcutting the aluminum clad wire, a pinched or crimped end is developed as shown in FIGURE 6, in which the aluminum portion of the cut end completely 4 encloses the steel portion, the higher ductility of the aluminum forming a clad end 54.

In operation, the end portion or clamping leg 48 of a piece of wire of suitable length is inserted within the drilled socket or anchorage 29b of head 29, FIGURE 2, and the wire is bent roughly at right angles to form the downwardly extending clamping leg. The wire is then wound around head 36 in the direction of arrows X and thence in the opposite direction toward head 29 following arrow Y, and forming loop 51. Upon winding the wire around head 29, thus forming the loop 50, the wire is returned in the direction of arrow Z to insert end .portion or clamping'leg 49 within the drilled socket or anchorage 36b of head 36, the wire being positioned substantially on the machine axis A. It is preferable in operation to provide the bent portions forming both clamping legs in this manner before attaching the wire to the chucking heads.

The placing of the wire on the machine having been completed, head 36 on release arm 31 is urged outwardly, sleeve 43 being rotated to dispose the extended lug portion 4311 from cooperation with the arcuate cutaway portion 42a of collar 42. In this manner, heads 29 and 36 are fixed in a pre-determined' spaced apart relationship, the distance depending on the length of tie desired. Spacing of the heads isaccomplished by sliding the supporting arm 32- to a required location on bed member 16, and inserting pin 33 into proper communicating

holes

34 and 35. Upon winding the tie, pin 46 rigidly attached to sleeve 43, is rotated to allow insertion of lug portion 43b within arcuate portion 420 of collar 42. The tension produced by winding the tie is thus released by relative movement of head 36 on release arm 31 toward head 29, permitting removal of the wound tie as clearly indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5.

A revolution counter 55 is inserted within the bearing portion 19 of support 10 for engagement with shaft 20. The counter is adjusted before assembly with the shaft to indicate a numerical change of one upon four complete rotations of said shaft to provide an indication of the number of ties so formed, since four rotations are suflicient to complete the tie-winding operation.

In accordance with known practice in the use of form ties,

loops

50 and 51 contain an upright bar or other structural member to support the finished concrete form. Upon pouring and setting of the concrete, to remove the structural form, the ties are cut to permit removal of the boards and upright supports, the portions of ties within the inner faces of the boards being retained within the concrete for re-inforcing purposes.

The aluminum clad portion of the inventors tie, upon cutting of the wire provides a protective coating 53, over the steel core of the wire and the crimped end 54 preventing the appearance of rust streaks on the outer face of the finished wall. 7

It will be obvious from a study of the invention that changes or modifications may be incorporated therein without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason it is not meant to limit the invention to the precise arrangement and formation of the parts except as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for forming a structural wire tie characterized by two end loop portions and a clamping leg extending transversely through each end loop portion, from a single length of wire, and comprising in combination: a machine bed having a bed axis extending longitudinally through said apparatus; a longitudinal axis parallel to said bed axis about which the wire tie is to be formed; two loop chucking heads; means supporting said chucking heads to dispose the axis of each at right angles to said longitudinal axis and in spaced apart relation on the latter, the heads being spaced apart on said longitudinal axis a distance substantially equal to the length of the tie to be formed; a loop defining surface on each head parallel to said head axis and a wire end anchorage on each head in the form of a socket having an axis parallel to said head axis and adapted to accommodate a wire end to define a clamping leg for said wire tie therein; said loop defining surfaces being located outwardly of said head axes and said sockets being located inwardly of said loop defining surfaces; means for rotating one of said heads on said longitudinal axis; means rigidly anchoring the other head on said longitudinal axis during rotation of said first head thereby to form a twisted intermediate cable portion from a single length of wire, the ends or" which are accommodated in said sockets and the loop portions of which are defined by said loop defining surfaces or said chucking heads; and releasable means for slidably moving said other head axially on said longitudinal axis to accommodate removal of said wire tie from said chucking heads.

2. Apparatus for forming a structural wire tie char acterized by two end loop portions and a clamping leg extending tarnsversely through each end loop portion, from a single length of wire, and comprising in combination: a machine bed having a bed axis extending longitudinally through said apparatus; a longitudinal axis parallel to said bed axis about which the wire tie is to be formed; two loop chucking heads; means supporting said chucking heads to dispose the axis of each at right angles to said longitudinal axis and in spaced apart relation on the latter; each head being substantially ovoid in cross-section a loop defining surface on each head parallel to said head axis; a wire end anchorage on each head in the form of a socket having an axis parallel to said head axis and adapted to accommodate a wire end to define a clamping leg for said wire tie therein; and said loop defining surfaces being located outwardly of said head axes and said sockets being located inwardly of said loop defining surfaces; means for rotating one of said heads about said longitudinal axis; and means rigidly anchoring the other head on said longitudinal axis during rotation of said first head thereby to form a twisted intermediate cable portion from a single length of wire the ends of which are accommodated in said sockets and the loop portions of which are defined by said loop defining surfaces of said chucking heads.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the releasable means comprises: a collar having arcuate cutaway portions; a sleeve having extended portions adapted in one position to be retained from the arcuate portions of the collar and in the other position to engage said arcuate portions; and means engaging the head Support to permit sliding of said other head axially on said machine axis upon engagement of the extended portion of the sleeve Within the arcuate position of the collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,405 Green et al. June 27, 1911 1,692,167 Gates Nov. 20, 1928 1,752,726 Brannaka Apr. 1, 1930 2,656,581 Gates Oct. 27, 1953 2,694,419 Larsen Nov. 16, 1954 2,829,681 Wadsworth Apr. 8, 8