US3405930A

US3405930A - Articulating clamp for securing form panels in rectangular configuration

Info

Publication number: US3405930A
Application number: US512684A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester I Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-12-09
Filing date: 1965-12-09
Publication date: 1968-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-15
Also published as: DE1684524B2; DE1684524A1; GB1147347A; DE1684524C3

Description

Oct. 15, 1968 c. I. WILLIAMS 3,405,930

ARTICULATING CLAMP FOR SECURING FORM PANELS IN RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION Filed Dec. 9, 1965 J Z Q ZO l 1' J W" quug w H;

l ml; /22 528 27 8 37L H l/VVE/VTOR. CHESTER I W/LL/AMS United States Patent M ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A' foldable clamp for securing column forms in rectangular configuration, the clamp being formed by interengageable sets of pivotally connected arms, each set being providedwith' stops establishing a perpendicular relationship of the arms.

' This invention relates to the construction of clamps used for securing a group of panels in rectangular configuration preparatory to pouring concrete columns. Clamps formed by interengageable angle units which together define a rectangle are well known. These are assembled around a group of four panels to secure the panels in this configuration so that the space within the panels can be poured full of concrete to construct a column. Each of the interengaged clamping devices is usually constructed of two beams which are angular in cross-section, with one flange being normally vertical, and the other normally horizontal. These beams have been commonly welded together to produce a permanent perpendicular relationship between the axes of the beams. The vertical flanges are usually serrated so that the two angular units can be interengaged to form the rectangular framework confining the form panels.

While very effective for confining the form panels, these right-angular (in a double sense) beams units form a troublesome storage problem. Applicant has found that by interconnecting the beam elements of each unit with a pivot, the elements can be stored very easily by increasing the angular relationship from 90 to 180 degrees. In view of the necessity of maintaining the flanges of the interconnected beam elements in a coplanar relationship, applicant has provided an offset structure at the pivot connection for this purpose. In order to make the pivot arrangement practical, it becomes highly desirable to establish an exact 90 degree relationship for the beam elements in the installed position. An arrangement of abutments is therefore provided, with the construction being particularly suitable for manufacture out of conventional rolled structural steel shapes. The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of clamping devices installed around a group of four form panels to confine them preparatory to pouring a concrete column.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1 at one of the clamping devices.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the corner junction of one modification of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a section on the plane 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the device shown in FIGURE 4, in the extended storage position.

FIGURE 7 is a view of a corner junction of a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a section on the plane 8-8 of FIG- URE 7.

Patented Oct. 15, 1968 Referring to FIGURE 1, the form panels 10-13 are shown secured together in a rectangular configuration by the

clamping devices

14 and 15 preparatory to pouring the concrete 16 which will form a column. Each of the clamping devices is formed by a pair of interengaged beam assemblies, each of which are composed of beam elements as shown at 17-18 and 1920 which are pivotally interconnected as at 21 and 22. The beam elements themselves are all of a material commonly referred to as angle iron, which is simply a rolled steel section having a rightangle cross-section as best shown at the ends of the beam elements in FIGURE 1. The normally vertical flanges of these elements are serrated as shown at 23 so that the opposite sides of the device can be interengaged at the serrations in the illustrated manner.

To assure the maintenance of an accurate rectangular configuration, an abutment is provided by the end of the vertical flange 24 (refer to FIGURE 4), and also by the transverse web 25 which is welded to the web 24 and to the horizontal web 26. To assure the coplanar relationship of the horizontal flange 26 with the opposite horizontal flange 27 of the beam element 20, a fulcrum plate 28 is welded to the flange 26 for receiving the rivet 22. The same construction is provided at the diagonally opposite corner of the clamping device. The abutment for-med by the combined effect of the end of the flange 24 and the web 25 engages the vertical flange 29 of the beam element 20 at a position corresponding to a degree relationship of the axes of these beam elements. The elements may be locked in this relationship by applying the bolt assembly 30, which traverses flange 29 and also the web 25. When the device is to be stored, the bolt assembly 30 can be removed, and the beam elements then rotated with respect to each other so that the axes of the beam elements are disposed ina substantially straight line, as shown in FIGURE 6. It should be noted that the end 31 of the flange 29 must terminate at a point where clockwise rotation of the beam element 20 with respect to the beam element 19, as shown on FIGURE 4, will not present a jamming action against the web 25. This is accomplished by terminating the flange at a plane containing the axis of the rivet 22 and perpendicular to the axis ofthe beam element 20.

In the modification shown on FIGURE 7, the web 32 of the beam element 33 is offset as shown at 34, so that an extension 35 of the flange 32 can perform the function of the pivot extension 28 shown on FIGURE 5. It is preferable that the material of the flange 32 be cut away as shown at 36 so that the end of the vertical flange 37 can function as a locating abut-ment without interference from the oiIset portion 34. The end of the flange 37 is machined to engage the vertical flange 38 of the beam element 39 at a point such that an exact 90 degree relationship exists between the beam elements about the axis of the rivet 40 which pivotally connects these beam elements. The arrangement of the offset 34 with respect to the end of the flange 37 also eliminates interference between the flange 38 and the offset 34 as the device is rotated.

The eflect of the abutments is to prevent the FIGURE 7 modification from assuming an angle between the axes of the beam elements of less than 90 degrees. These devices may be installed on a group of form panels as shown in FIGURE 1, so that one clamping device has its pivots on the opposite diagonal of the form arrangement from another (preferably adjacent) clamping device. In this arrangement, the form is prevented from collapsing along both diagonals, and the rectangular relationship is preserved. If the rectangular arrangement were to collapse along one diagonal (with the extension along the opposite diagonal) into a parallelogram, the corner angles at the opposite ends of one diagonal would have to be less than 90 degrees. This is prevented by the abutments.

The pivotal relationship, with effective interengageable provided in both of the illustrated modifications without sacrificing the coplanar relationships of the flanges of the interconnected beam elements. As is obvious from an examination of FIGURE 1, the maintenance of proper alignment of the total assembly constituting the clamping device would be extremely difficult if substantial planar disparity existed between the beam elements. Stresses from the pressure of the poured concrete would tend to cause shifting of the clamping devices into the greatest cross-sectional dimensions of the form that the devices will permit.

The vertical location of the clamping devices on the form panel assembly is facilitated by providing nail holes as shown at 41 at convenient locations on the beam elements. These are to accommodate nails into the form panels to prevent the clamping devices from slipping downward.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An articulating clamp for securing form panels in a rectangular configuration, comprising:

a pair of beam assemblies, each of said assemblies including beam elements having normally vertical and horizontal flanges forming angular cross-sections, said beam elements having serrations in said vertical flanges, and being pivotally interconnected at one end at said horizontal flanges,

said beam elements having interengageable abutments establishing a mutually perpendicular relationship between the axes of said beam elements whereby said beam assemblies are interengageable at said serrations to form a rectangular frame, said abutments including an end of said vertical flange on one of said beam elements, said end normally engaging the side of the vertical flange of the other of said beam elements.

2. An articulating clamp for securing form panels in a rectangular configuration, comprising:

said beam elements having interengageable abutments establishing a mutually perpendicular relationship between the axes of said beam elements whereby said beam assemblies are interengageable at said serrations to form a rectangular frame, said abutments including a transverse member on one of said beam elements engageable with a portion of the normally vertical flange of the other of said beam elements.

3. A clamp as defined in claim 2, wherein said memher and flange portion are normally secured by locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,484 12/1932 Tompkins 269-123 2,891,590 6/1959 Olson 269-287 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner.