US3399859A

US3399859A - Rivetless concrete wall form panel with plywood facing and metal studding

Info

Publication number: US3399859A
Application number: US604420A
Authority: US
Inventors: George F Bowden; Richard T Dagiel
Original assignee: Symons Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1966-12-23
Filing date: 1966-12-23
Publication date: 1968-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-03

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. F. BOWDEN ETAL RIVETLESS CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL WITH PLYWOOD FACING AND METAL STUDDING w 9 a I a: c 3 m .L d D. m i an F FIG. 9

llmlmlllmil INVENTORS: GEORGE F. BOWDEN RICHA T. DAGIEL By "M 4% a Sept. 3, 1968 G. F. BOWDEN ET AL 3,399,859

RIVETLESS CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL WITH PLYWOOD FACING AND METAL STUDDING Filed Dec. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.7 522 INVENTORS: GEORGE F. BOWDEN RICHARD T. DAGIEL United States Patent RIVETLESS CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL WITH PLYWOOD FACING AND METAL STUDDING George F. Bowden, Northbrook, and Richard T. Dagiel,

Elk Grove Village, Ill., assignors to Symons Mfg. Company, Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 604,420 9 Claims. (Cl. 249189) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rivetless concrete wall form panel comprising an upstanding plywood facing that is surrounded by studding in the form of a rectangular metal frame including a pair of oppositely disposed vertical frame members and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal frame members, such panel being characterized by the fact that one of the horizontal frame members is removable and the further fact that the facing is removably held in the frame by way of anchoring strips which are disposed within mating complemental grooves in the four frame members and the adjacent edges of the plywood facing.

The present invention relates generally to concrete wall form panels and has particular reference to a prefabricated rectangualr concrete wall form panel which consists of a plywood facing and a reinforcing frame in the form of metal studding and is adapted to be arranged in an upstanding position and also in edge-to-edge relation with similar prefabricated panels in order to form with such similar panels one side of a wall form into which wet concrete may be poured for wall-forming purposes.

There has long been on the market a class of reusable prefabricated concrete wall form panels which are manufactured by Symons Mfg. Company of Des Plaines, Ill., and are known commercially as Steel-Ply or Mag- Ply panels, "depending upon whether the metallic studding is formed of steel or a magnesium alloy. Such panels are prefabricated in that they are assembled at the factory rather than in the field, and as previously set forth, consist of plywood facings and marginal reinforcing frames in the form of steel or magnesium alloy studding. The vertical and horizontal members of the frames are in the form of channel stock lengths which are rolled or extruded to special shape and then perforated, notched and otherwise fashioned in order that they may properly receive and facilitate the use of suitable fastening devices whereby adjacent panels may be clamped together in rigid edge-to-edge relationship and, in addition, opposed panels on the opposite sides of the concrete wall form may be fixedly maintained in laterally spaced relationship. The reinforcing frames of the aforementioned concrete wall form panels also include crossbars which are formed of angle bar stock and extend between the opposed vertical frame members so as to reinforce the medial regions of the plywood facings of the panels. It is to this general type of Steel-Ply or Mag-Ply panel that the present invention specifically relates.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of a Steel-Ply or Mag-Ply panel, it has invariably been the practice to secure the plywood facing to the vertical and horizontal members of the reinforcing frame and also the crossbars of the marginal reinforcing frame by the use of rivets, the heads of which are tapered and seat within correspondingly tapered countersinks in the front face of the plywood facing. These rivets constitute the sole fastening means for the plywood facing and serve to maintain the edge portions of the facing in seated relation within the rectilinear grooves which are provided for them in the front marginal portions of the vertical and horizontal members of the reinforcing frame.

Where a new panel is concerned, the rivets are in all instances tight and the exposed end surfaces of the tapered heads thereof lie flush with the front face of the plywood facing so that no evidence of the tapered rivet heads is left in the adjacent side surface of the concrete wall when the poured concrete has become set and the panel subsequently removed as well understood in the art. However, after a period of use wherein a concrete wall form panel has been employed in many different concrete wall form installations and has been subjected to rough handling during shipment from one installation to another, the rivets often become loose. What is even more important is the fact that when a given panel has been subjected to moisture as well as extreme temperature differentials, the plywood facing thereof will tend to swell and increase its thickness, while at the same time it will bulge outwardly away from the marginal reinforcing frame. In such an instance, the originally flush or coplanar rivet heads will be pulled into the plywood and assume positions well within the lateral confines of the facing, thus establishing small sockets in the front face of the plywood facing. These sockets have their counterparts in the adjacent side surface of the finished concrete wall so that small unsightly protuberances are left in said adjacent side surface after the panel has been stripped from the wall.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construcfion and use of conventional Steel-Ply and Mag- Piy panels, and contemplates the provision of a novel and improved concrete wall from panel in which the front face of the plywood facing presents an uninterrupted continuous smooth wall-forming surface completely across the marginal reinforcing frame from side to side and from top to bottom, the plywood facing being devoid of rivets or other fastening devices and the front wallforming face of the facing consequently being devoid of any metal expanses.

The provision of a novel and improved rivetless concrete wall form panel of the character briefly outlined above being among the general objects of the invention, another and important object is to provide a concrete wall form panel in which the plywood facing and studding type reinforcing frame that is associated therewith are readily separable from each other for the purpose of panel facing replacement after the facing of the panel has become worn or damaged beyond further usefulness.

In United States Patent No. 3,246,871, granted on Apr. 19, 1966 and entitled Rivetless Concrete Wall Form Panel With Plywood Facing and Metal Studding, there is disclosed a concrete wall form panel which is devoid of rivets and embodies such a design or construction that the plywood facing is readily removable and, therefore, may be replaced in the event that it becomes worn or damaged in use. The present concrete wall form panel is designed as an improvement over the particular panel which is illustrated and described in such patent in that the plywood facing of the present panel is much more readily removable from between the two vertical frame members which straddle it, and this is occasioned by the fact that it embodies novel mean-s for releasably anchoring the plywood panel within the studding-type rectangul-ar reinforcing frame. In connection with use of a concrete wall form panel like that of said Patent No. 3,246,871, it has been found that under certain circumstances, particularly when the plywood of the facing has become swollen due to long exposure to moisture, extreme difficulty is encountered in removing the plywood facing. According to the present invention, the plywood facing is held in position between the side members of the studding-type reinforcing frame by expansible and contractible anchoring strips which may be shrunk or con.-

tracted in transverse size in order quickly and readily to release the plywood facing when it is desired to remove it from the frame for replacement or repair purposes. Not only do the anchoring strips serve their anchoring or locking function with respect to the plywood facing, but in certain forms of the invention, they function as sealing gaskets to prevent infiltration of moisture and other foreign matter to the exposed raw side and end edges of the plywood facing.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, several embodiments of the invention are shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a concrete wall form panel embodying one form or embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but ShOWiIlg a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the anchoring strips for anchoring in place the plywood facing are formed of nonresilient material;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the use of resilient anchoring strips of a different cross-sectional shape;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the anchoring strips as being formed of nonresilient material;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the use of resilient anchoring strips of a still different shape;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the anchoring strips as being formed of nonresilient material;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary bottom elevational view of the panel of FIG. 1; and FIG.9 is an enlarged partially exploded vertical section on the line 99 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred form of the improved rivetless concrete wall form panel is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and consists of a rectangular plywood facing 14 and, in addition, a rectangular marginal frame 16 which surrounds the facing and constitutes the reinforcing metal studding of the panel. This marginal reinforcing frame 16 of the panel 10 includes upper and lower

horizontal members

18 and 19 and a pair of oppositely disposed vertical frame members 20. The ends of the lower horizontal frame member 19 abut against and are welded to the lower ends of the vertical frame members 20 while the upper horizontal frame member is removable from the remainder of the studding in a manner and for a purpose that will be made clear presently. Intermediate horizontal crossbars 22 in the form of angle bars extend across the rear face of the plywood facing 14 and have their ends secured by welding to the opposed or inner faces of the two vertical frame members 20. Such crossbars constitute additional parts of the studding-type reinforcing frame 16.

All of the four members of the frame 16 are shallow channel shape in cross section and each member includes front and rear outwardly extending

ribs

24 and 26, and 'a connecting web portion 28 between the ribs. The web portion of each frame member is provided on its inner face or side and near the front edge thereof with a longitudinally extending, linearly straight groove of generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional configuration, the groove that is associated with the upper horizontal frame member 18 being designated by the reference numeral 30, the groove that is associated with the lower horizontal frame member 19 being designated by the reference numeral 32, and the grooves in the web portions of the vertical frame members 20 being designated by the reference numeral 34. These various grooves are designed for cooperation with respective elastomeric anchoring strips by means of which the plywood facing 14 is locked in position within said four members of the studding-type reinforcing frame 16, all in a manner that will be described in detail presently. As best shown in FIG. 1, the web portions of the four frame members are provided a small distance rearwards of the aforementioned grooves with inwardly extending ribs 36, and these form with the front marginal portions of said web portions 28 seats for the edge portions of the plywood facing 14.

Except for the means whereby the plywood facing 14 is held in position within the studding-type reinforcing frame, the various horizontal and vertical members of the reinforcing frame 16 remain substantially the same as the horizontal and vertical frame members of a conventional Steel-Ply or Mag-Ply concrete wall form panel. The vertical or side members of the frame 16 are equipped for cooperation with conventional concrete wall form hardware in the form of (1) T-bolt and wedge assemblies by means of which adjacent concrete wall form panels in edge-to-edge relationship may be held or clamped together to form one side of a concrete wall form installation; and (2) horizontal tie rod devices by means of which the opposed and spaced apart sides of the installation may be maintained in their spaced apart relationship for reception of poured wet concrete therebetween. Exemplary of a conventional Steel-Ply or Mag-Ply panel having side frame members thus equipped is United States Patent No. 2,640,249, granted on June 2, 1953 and entitled Wall Form Panel. Accordingly, each of the vertical frame members 20 of the reinforcing frame 16 is formed with horizontally aligned clearance notches 42 in its outwardly extending

ribs

24 and 26 for passage therethrough of the adjacent ends of horizontal combined tie rod and spreader devices (not shown). Horizontal slots 44 are provided in the web portions 28 of the vertical frame members 20 for reception of the bolt portions of T-bolt and wedge fastening assemblies (also not shown) which serve to draw adjacent and coplanar concrete Wall form panels together in edge-to-edge relationship and also to anchor the adjacent ends of the aforementioned combined tie rod and spreader devices. For a full disclosure of a concrete wall form panel which is secured in position in a concrete wall form installation by such concrete wall form hardware, reference may be had to aforementioned Patent No. 2,640,249, it being borne in mind that the horizontal and vertical frame members of the present panel may similarly be secured in position in a wall form installation.

As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper edge of the plywood panel facing 14 is formed with a coextensive groove which opposes the groove 30 in the upper horizontal frame member 18 and is similar in cross section to the last mentioned groove. Similarly, the lower edge of the facing 14 is formed with a coextensive groove 52 which opposes the groove 32 in the lower horizontal frame member 19 and is similar in cross section to the last mentioned groove. The side edges of the plywood facing 14 areformed with similar coextensive grooves 54 which oppose the grooves 34 in the vertical frame members 20 and are of similar cross section. The

grooves

50, 52 and 54 are, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, semicylindrical in cross section as are the

grooves

30, 32 and 34 in the four frame members.

Interposed and seated in the grooves 50 and 32 is a horizontal elongated anchoring and sealing strip which bridges the distance between the two vertical frame members 20. Interposed and seated in the

grooves

52 and 32 is a similar horizontal anchoring and sealing strip 62. Interposed and seated in the grooves 54 and the opposing grooves 34 are vertical anchoring and sealing strips 64, these latter strips bridging the distance between the upper and lower

horizontal frame members

18 and 19 when the panel as a whole is in its finished form or condition. The various anchoring and sealing strips in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are preferably formed of a suitable elastomeric material such as rub her (natural or synthetic), or a rubber substitute such as Hycar, or a plastic material possessing a fairly high stretch modulus of elasticity so that upon stretching the material, its cross-sectional area will diminish appreciably. These anchoring and sealing strips are disposed within the cylindrical voids that are established by the mating pairs of opposed grooves under compression and they thus function in the manner of anchoring keys to hold the panel facing in position within the reinforcing frame 16 and against sidewise displacement and consequent removal. The

mating grooves

30 and 52 form between the upper horizontal frame member 18 and the upper edge of the facing 14 an elongated horizontal void for the strip 60; the

mating grooves

32 and 52 between the lower horizontal frame member 19 and the bottom edge of the plywood facing form an elongated horizontal void for the strip 62; and the

mating grooves

34 and 54 between the vertical frame members 20 and the side edges of the facing form elongated vertical voids for the strips 64.

When the anchoring and sealing strips are formed of elastomeric material as in the concrete wall form panel of FIGS. 1 and 2, they are made of slightly greater thickness or diameter than their respective voids in order that when they are in their operative or looking position, they are under compression.

The lower horizontal frame member 19 and the two vertical frame members 20 of the studding-type marginal reinforcing frame have their adjacent ends welded together as heretofore pointed out. The upper horizontal removable frame member 18 is releasably held in position between the upper ends of the vertical frame members 20 by means of bolts and nut assemblies 70. The latter pass through holes 72 in the web portion 28 of the upper horizontal frame member 18 and through the vertically aligned holes 74 in the horizontal part or flange of a horizontal anglepiece 76 which extends across the upper ends of the vertical frame members 20 and is welded at its ends to the inner opposed side faces of the Web portions 28 thereof. As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the lower ends of the grooves 34 in the vertical frame members 20 are exposed and the ends of the web portion 28 of the lower horizontal frame member 19 are provided with semicircular grooves 80 which are disposed opposite to said exposed lower ends of the

grooves

34, 54 for the anchoring and sealing strips 64 being open to atmosphere and are, consequently, readily accessible for the particular purpose to be mentioned hereafter, As shown in FIG. 1, the upper ends of the grooves 34 in the vertical frame members 20 are exposed and the ends of the web portion 28 of the upper horizontal frame member 18 are provided with semicircular grooves 82 which are disposed opposite to said exposed upper ends of the grooves 34 and result in the upper ends of the elongated vertical voids being exposed to atmosphere.

In assembling the concrete wall form panel of FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, the three

frame members

20, 19 and 20 and the transverse anglepiece 76 are first welded together as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the anchoring and sealing strip 62 is placed in the elongated horizontal groove 32 in the lower frame member 19 and arranged so that it bridges the distance between the lower ends of the two vertical frame members 20 and the ends thereof terminate adjacent to the lower ends of the aforementioned vertical voids that are formed by the

mating grooves

34 and 54 between said vertical frame members 20 and the side edges of the plywood facing 14. After this step or operation, the two strips 64 are cut from elastomeric anchoring and sealing stock so that they are appreciably longer than the aforementioned vertical voids. After proper cutting of the vertical anchoring and sealing strips 64, such strips are placed in the grooves 34 in the opposed inner faces of the web portions 28 of the vertical frame members 20. After so positioning such strips 64, the upper ends of the strips are passed through the exposed upper ends of the aforementioned vertical voids to the end that they project above the upper ends of the vertical frame members 20, and the lower ends of said strips 64 are passed through the exposed lower ends of said vertical voids to the end that they project beyond the lower ends of the vertical frame members 20. After positioning of the anchoring and sealing strips 64 in the aforementioned manner, such strips are then stretched to such an extent that the resulting reduction in their respective diameters or cross-sectional areas will permit the plywood facing 14 to be readily slid downwards and endwise in the space between the three welded-

together frame members

20, 19 and 20 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 9. In connection with downward sliding movement of the plywood facing 14, the grooves 54 in the side edges of the facing are brought into opposed relation with the inner portions of the strips 64. During final downward sliding movement of the plywood facing, the elongated horizontal groove 52 in the bottom edge of the facing is brought into straddled or seated relation with the upper portion of the anchoring and sealing strip 62 with the result that such strip is maintained in a compressed condition in the aforementioned elongated horizontal void which is formed by the

grooves

32 and 52. At this time, the plywood facing 14 will assume its proximate final position within the U-shaped portion of the metal studding which is represented by the three

frame members

20, 19 and 20. The stretching or tensioning of the anchoring and sealing strips 64 is thereupon released with the result that the diameters or cross-sectional areas of such strips will be increased in such manner that the strips will fill and be compressed within the voids that are formed or occassioned by the

mating grooves

34 and 54. Thereafter, the loose or free ends of the strips 64 are severed to the end that said strips have no end portions which project beyond the ends of the vertical frame members 20 and said strips 64 are confined in a compressed condition wholly Within the aforementioned vertical voids consisting of the

mating grooves

34 and 54. After severing the loose ends of the vertical anchoring and sealing strips 64, the plywood facing 14 is effectively locked or keyed in the U-shaped portion of the reinforcing frame 16 consisting of the

frame members

20, 19 and 20, the

strips

62 and 64 serving to hold the panel against forward displacement With respect to the frame and the inwardly extending ribs 36 serving to hold the facing against rearward displacement with respect to the frame. With the plywood facing 14 thus secured in position, the elastomeric combined anchoring and sealing strip 60 is then cut to length and positioned within the elongated horizontal groove in the upper frame member 18. Thereafter, such frame member is caused to overlie the anglepiece 76 in such manner that its ends fit between the upper ends of the vertical frame member 20. The nut and bolt assemblies 70 are then passed through the

holes

72 and 74 and tightened so as to draw the upper horizontal frame member 18 into place and effect compression of the strip 60 in the upper horizontal void consisting of the grooves 30 and 50. The entire plywood panel 14 is thus placed under compression in a longitudinal direction so that the compressional load is shared by the horizontal anchoring and sealing

strips

60 and 62 which are placed under compression and in combination with the compressional forces which exist in the vertically extending anchoring and sealing strips 64 result in the panel being securely locked in place Within the completed studding-type reinforcing frame 16. After completion of the panel by properly securing in place the upper frame member 18, the aforementioned exposed upper and lower ends of the vertical voids may be plugged or sealed if desired.

In the form of the invention of FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, the

strips

60, 62 and 64 are formed of elastomeric material as heretofore described and, as a consequence, in addition to their anchoring function whereby the plywood panel facing 14 is locked in position within the studdingtype metal reinforcing frame, the strips perform a sealing function in that they protect the raw edges of the plywood facing against infiltration of moisture or other foreign matter. Under certain circumstances, this additional sealing function may be dispensed with by utilizing metal, wood, or other incompressible strips in place of elastomeric ones. Such a panel employing incompressible cylindrical locking strips is fragmentarily disclosed in FIG. 3. Although only one of the locking strips, namely, the locking strip 164 that is associated with one of the vertical side frame members, is shown in this view, it is to be understood that the other four strips are of similar construction. Due to the similarity of parts as between the panel of FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9 and the panel that is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 3, and in order to avoid needless repetition of description, similar characters of reference but of a higher numerical order have been applied to the corresponding parts as between the disclosures of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. It is obvious that in assembling the panel of FIG. 3, the vertical locking strips 164 will be cut to their proper lengths before the facing installation is made since there will be no stretching thereof for diameter reduction purposes. When incompressible anchoring strips are used, the

holes

80 and 82 may, of course, be omitted.

In FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, various alternative forms of anchoring or locking strips are illustrated, utilizing the same basic plywood panel facing and metal studding arrangement as that of FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9. Again, to avoid needless repetition of description, reference numerals of a progressively higher order have been applied to the corresponding panel parts as between the disclosure of each of these views and that of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 4, an elastomeric sealing strip 264 of generally elliptical or oval cross section is shown seated within

grooves

234 and 254 in one of the side or vertical frame members 220 and the adjacent side of the plywood facing 214, respectively.

In FIG. 5, the anchoring strip 364 is similar in cross sectional shape to that of the strip 264, but it is formed of an incompressible material such as steel.

In FIG. 6, the strip 464 is formed of an elastomeric material which is rectangular in transverse cross section, and the grooves 434 and 454 in which the strip seats are correspondingly of rectilinear design.

In FIG. 7, the strip 564 is formed of an incompressible material, such as steel, and the cross-sectional shape thereof is similar to that of the anchoring strip 464.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts which is shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rivetless concrete wall form panel comprising an upstanding rectangular plywood facing surrounded by studding in the form of a rectangular metal frame including a pair of oppositely disposed vertical frame members and a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal frame members, the front wall-forming side of said facing and the front rim of the frame lying in a common plane, the frame members of each pair being formed with opposed internal trough-like grooves, the four edges of said plywood facing being each formed with a trough-like groove which opposes the groove in the adjacent frame member and, in combination therewith, establishes an elongated void which is coextensive with the thus mating grooves, and an elongated anchoring strip disposed within each of the voids and substantially filling the same so as to prevent lateral displacement of the plywood panel from the rectangular metal frame which comprises the studding, one of said horizontal frame members being removable from the frame in order to permit the facing to be slid endwise into and out of the rectangular metal frame, and means for removably securing said one horizontal frame member in position in the frame, said anchoring strips constituting the sole means for removably securing said facing in position within the frame, said plywood facing being imperforate and the front wallforming side thereof being devoid of countersinks or other socket-like interruptions.

2. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the anchoring strips are formed of an elastomeric material and exist under compression between the voids in which they are disposed.

3. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the anchoring strips are formed of an incompressible material.

4. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the anchoring strips are of cylindrical configuration.

5. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the anchoring strips are of elliptical configuration in transverse cross section.

6. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 5 and wherein the anchoring strips are formed of an elastomeric material and exist under compression in the voids in which they are disposed.

7. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the anchoring strips are of rectangular configuration in transverse cross section.

8. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 7 and wherein the strips are formed of an elastomeric material and exist under compression in the voids in Which they are disposed.

9. A rivetless concrete wall form panel as set forth in claim 7 and wherein said locking strips are formed of an incompressible material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,909 6/1964 Bonin et al. 249191 3,239,986 3/1966 Russell 52-620 X 3,246,871 4/1966 Bowden 249189 3,362,674 1/1968 Gilbert 249l92 X I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

J. S. BROWN, Assistant Examiner.