US3826460A

US3826460A - Monolithic structure forming means with metal tubular bracing

Info

Publication number: US3826460A
Application number: US00288568A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Cast
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-13
Filing date: 1972-09-13
Publication date: 1974-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-30

Abstract

A form means for casting monolithic concrete structures comprising a demountable hollow tubular metal frame structure adapted to support plywood panels such that the panels are reusable many times without damage; said metal frame structure including several channel shaped connector means serving as horizontal, vertical and diagonal connector means for the hollow tubular members of said frame structure; said hollow tubular metal frame members also having slotted openings of varying length and spacing to receive tie rods at various modular spacing of the intersections of the vertical and horizontal frame members of the invention.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Cast [11] 3,826,460 1451 July 30, 1974 f MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE FORMING MEANS WITH METAL TUBULAR BRACING [76] Inventor: Jack Cast, 2920 W. Holly, Phoenix,

Ariz. 85009 221 Filed: Sept. 13,1972

21 App]. No.: 288,568

' [52] U.S. Cl 249/27, 249/36, 249/41, 249/210 [51] Int. Cl. E04g 11/02 [58] Field of Search 249/ 18-47, 249/l90-l96, 210-214 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,7] L002 6/l955 Dahlstrom 249/190 3,304.l08 2/l967 Hamilton et al 287/18936 H FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,042.649 ll/l953 France 249/219 562.98] ll/l923 France 249/27 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Assistant Examiner.lohn McQuade Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cahill, Sutton & Thomas 5 7] ABSTRACT A form means for castingmonolithic concrete structures comprising a demountable hollow tubular metal frame structure adapted to support plywood panels such that the panels are reusable many times without damage; said metal frame structure including several channel shaped connector means serving as horizontal, vertical and diagonal connector means for the ho]- low tubular members of said frame structure; said hollow tubular metal frame members also having slotted openings of varying length and spacing to receive tie rods at various modular spacing of the intersections of the vertical and horizontal framemembers of the invention.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE FORMING MEANS WITH METAL TUBULAR BRACING It has been common practice for carpenters to build forms between which monolithic concrete walls or other structures may be cast; and during the building of such wooden forms, plywood plates are ordinarily nailed to conventional wooden timbers such as two by four members or members of other dimension as desired which may be appropriate to the particular form being built. When a carpenter nails the plywood panels to the wooden members, the wooden members are generally secured together by tie rods holding the plywood panels in spaced relationship and against spreading when concrete is poured therebetween. Additionally, many plywood panels are used to provide a roof form structure when monolithic structures such as culverts are being produced to carry flood waters beneath roadways or the like.

When the casting of a concrete structure is finished and the structure is cured, the form must be removed since many of the concrete structures support back fill thereagainst when the forms are removed.

During the removal of the plywood panels from the concrete structures and during the disassembly of the panels from the wooden members to which they are nailed, the panels are often times damaged to such an extent that they cannot be reused. Accordingly, the expense of building and using plywood panels for casting various monolithic concrete structures has been quite substantial and labor cost of assembling and disassembling such wooden forms with wooden brace frames has been considerable. Furthermore, the bulk of materials used to produce a substantial set of forms, when using wood, is such as to impose a considerable transportation cost of materials from one siteto another, and when plywood panels so used in wooden forms have been stripped from a cast concrete structure, a substantial amount of labor is used to pull out nails and disassemble forms so that some of the panels may be salvaged and reused.

in accordance with the present invention, light weight, high strength hollow tubular members are used in combination with plywood panels such that the panels may readily'be salvaged and reused with a minimum amount of labor during the stripping of the panels and the frame brace structure of. the invention from a cast monolithic concrete structure. The invention comprises a plurality of hollow tubular rectangular in crosssection steel tubes having slots therethrough and these slots vary in length as well as in spacing to provide for convenience in attaining modular spacing of bolts passing through the tubular members and adjacent plywood panels so that assembly of the form means of the invention is very simply accomplished in accordance with a great variety of requirements.

All of the hollow tubular metal members of the invention may be used for various purposes such as horizontal, vertical or diagonal bracing members and novel channel shaped in cross-section connectors are usable to make connections of the tubular metal bracing members horizontally, vertically or diagonally to provide for braces as well as shoring jacks which are longitudinally adjustable in a very powerful manner by means of screw threaded jack or turnbuckle mechanism of the invention. The invention also comprises novel channel shaped in cross-section connector means having channel portions extending at substantially right angles to each other so as to provide for a transition between vertical frame members and horizontal frame members so that vertical walls and horizontal roof structures may be cast monolithically to form structures such as culverts under roadways or the like.

The invention has application to many uses such as any use in which spaced apart forms may be required for casting a monolithic structure therebetween and therefore the invention may be adapted to the casting of various walls, tanks, swimming pools, culverts, channels, and many other structures.

Specifically, a channel shaped connector of the invention is provided with screw threaded means as well as openings therethrough and a pair of clevis plates are spaced apart so as to straddle the brace members of the invention readily adapting said connector to a great many uses in the connection of hollow tubular brace members of the invention in end to end relationship; to form diagonal brace means in connection with an extendable or retractable turn buckle and also to form vertical shoring connections for the tubular members of the invention so as to permit the vertical jacking of horizontal roof form supporting members such that they are supported at the proper elevation when con crete is placed on the plywood panels thereabove.

The hollow tubular metal members of the invention, having variably spaced slots of various lengths extending therethrough provide for the varying modular placement of vertical and horizontal frame brace members of the invention in vertical as well as horizontal lateral spacing relative to each other so as to properly brace and support forms in which the elevation of a concrete structure, being poured, may vary.

The metal frame members of the invention as well as the connectors and plywood panels used in connection therewith, may readily be disassembled without damaging the plywood panels so that they may readily be reused and due to the fact that the hollow tubular metal members are so compact, a great number of them may be transported in a relatively small space of a transport vehicle so as to economize in reusability of the panels as well as transportation and erection of the hollow tubular metal brace and frame members of the invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a form means for casting monolithic concrete structures which economizes in the reusability of plywood panels when erecting and disassembling forms relative to the casting of monolithic concrete structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form means which is very simple and easy to erect and strip from a complete monolithic structure which has been cast relative to the form means of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form means for casting monolithic concrete structures wherein all the tubular frame and brace members are all similar and common and universally usable in various areas of form means being produced, while connector means for the hollow tubular members are universal and may be used in various positions such as horizontal, vertical and diagonal connections of the hollow tubular members and additionally, the connectors may be used as shoring jacks in connection with horizontal tubular members of the invention which support horizontal cast.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel channel shaped in cross-section connector means having a pair of channel portions disposed angularly relative to each other so as to provide a connection for horizontal and vertical tubular frame members of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which ordinary bolts may readily be inserted through the connectors and the hollow tubular members of the invention and ordinary nails may be used to hold the bolts in place until the forms of the invention are stripped from concrete structures being cast relative thereto.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a form means of the invention set up for casting a monolithic concrete structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from the line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 3 -3 of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of one o the hollow tubular frame members of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the structure disclosed in FIG. 2 of the drawing and illustrating details of diagonal bracing of the form means of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective view showing details of shoringv jack structure of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken from the line 8 -8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of angular corner connector structure together with tubular brace members and plywood panel structures of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention is disposed for casting a monolithic concretestructure such as a culvert under a roadway or the like. While the structure is shown fragmentarily, it is adapted, as will be hereinafter described, to cast a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof for a concrete culvert under a roadway. One vertical concrete wall may be cast between

adjacent faces

10 and 12 of respective plywood panels l4 and 16. Disposed horizontally and in vertically In FIG. 3 the

horizontal members

18 and 22 are shown contiguous with the

panels

14 and 16 and hollow tubular vertical brace or frame members 26 are contiguous with the horizontal members 18. The hollow

tubular members

24 and 26 are directly opposite each other with respect to the

panels

14 and 16 and the hollow vertical tubular members 26 intersect the horizontal hollow tubular members 18 in a manner similar to the intersection of the vertical hollow members 24 intersecting the horizontal hollow tubular members 22.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, conventional tie bars 28 extend through

openings

30 and 32 in the pane'ls l4 and 16. These tie bars 28 are provided with

abuttment flanges

34 and 36 adapted to abut

inner surfaces

10 and 12 of the

panels

14 and 16 to hold them in spaced apart position.

The tie bars 28 are also'provided with

flattened portions

38 and 40 adapted to anchor them in cast concrete which is cast between the

inner surfaces

10 and 12 of the

panels

14 and 16 so that these protions of the tie bars 28 will remain in the monolithic structure cast between the

panels

14 and 16 as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The tie bars 28 are also provided with reduced in

cross-section portions

42 and 44 adapted to shear when the bars are twisted after the forms of the invention are removed from a concrete casting as will be hereinafter described in detail.

Opposite ends of the tie bars 28 are provided with

buttress heads

46 and 48 wedgingly held by

conventional holding clips

50 and 52 respectively, these clips being wedgable against the heads 46 for holding the vertical

tubular members

26 and 24 as well as the horizontal

tubular members

18 and 22 in secure assembled relationship.

All of the

tubular members

18, 22, 24 and 26 are constructed substantially as 'shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein slotted openings 54 extend through oppsite side walls of the hollow tubular members. These slotted openings 54 are varied in length and spacing so as to provide convenience in attaining the desired modular spacing of the horizontal tubular frame members vertically and of the vertical tubular members horizontally.

It will be seen that the tie bars 28 extend through the vertical hollow tubular members and horizontal hollow tubular members of the frame structure of the invention as well as through the

panels

14 and 16 at the intersections of the vertical and horizontal frame members, all as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

It will be understood that all of the horizontal and vertical hollow tubular members are similar to the member 18 shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and that these hollow tubular members may be universally used throughout the form structure of the invention for vertical, horizontal and shoring braces as desired.

It will be understood that when relatively high walls are cast between the

plywood panels

14 and 16, fluid pressure between lower portions of the

panels

14 and 16 becomes quite high as concrete is compacted therebetween and therefore the vertical spacing of the

horizontal members

18 and 22 may be closer near the lower portions of the

panels

14 and 16 than near the upper portions thereof and this is provided for by the varying length and varying spaced slots 54 in the

vertical members

24 and 26. Likewise, the varying spaced and length slots 54 in the

horizontal members

18 and 22 provides for the variable spacing of the

vertical members

24 and 26 in a horizontal direction so that all of the tie bars 28 may pass through intersections of the vertical and horizontal tubular frame or brace members.

Coupled to upper ends of the vertical members 24 are connectors 56. These connectors 56 are generally channel shaped in cross-section and provided with a vertically disposed portion 58 and horizontally disposed portion 60. The channel shaped vertical structure 58 is fitted over an upper portion of a vertical frame member 24 and the channel shaped portion 60 is fitted over a horizontal frame member 62 similar to the hollow

tubular members

18, 22, 24 and 26 hereinbefore described in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, two of the connectors 56 are spaced apart in connection with the horizontal frame member 62 and both connectors 56 are supported on the vertical members 24 and the details described in connection with the left hand side of the view of FIG. 1 are assumed to be duplicated on the right hand side of the view of FIG. 1 in connection with the vertical frame members 24 so that the

plywood panels

12 and 14 constitute one pair of spaced apart panels while a similar pair of spaced apart panels are supported in connection with

horizontal frame members

18 and 22 and

vertical frame members

24 and 26 at the right hand side of the view of FIG. 1.

The horizontal frame members 62 support transverse frame members 64 which are similar to the hollow tubular frame members hereinbefore described. On top of the members 64 is plywood panel structure 66 adapted to support concrete cast thereon so as to provide an overhead floor of concrete which may be integral with the concrete cast between the

vertical panels

14 and 16 at opposite sides of the culvert structure to be produced by the forms of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the vertical and

horizontal portions

58 and 60 of the channel shaped connectors 56 are connected by a brace rod 68 diagonally disposed and welded at its opposite ends to the horizontal and

vertical portions

58 and 60.

Bolts

70 and 72 extend through the horizontal portions 60 of the connectors 56 and the horizontal tubular members 62 as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

The details of the

bolts

70 and 72 will be hereinafter described in connection with the disclosure of FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The lower ends 74 of the

vertical frame members

24 and 26 are supported in substantially the same manner and therefore the support of the members 24 as shown in FIG. 1 will be described as follows. These tubular members 24, at their lower ends 74, are supported on metal straps 76 having opposite ends 78 and 80 inclined away from the lower ends 74 of the tubular members 24 such that

wooden wedges

82 and 84 may be driven under the upwardly inclined ends 78 and 80 of the metal members 76, and these

wedges

82 and 84 are wedgingly supported on wooden structures 86 which may be two by four members or any other suitable structural members. Accordingly, all of the

vertical frame members

24 and 26 are adjustably and securely supported at their lower ends in order to set up the forms of the invention in a precise manner.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, two by fours or other similar members designated 86 may be placed on the horizontal members 62 and the plywood panel structure 66 may be nailed thereto by means of nails 88, and an angular narrow plywood plate 90 may be nailed to the two by four or other member designated 86. Likewise, the vertical plywood panel 12 near its upper end, may be nailed to a two by four designated 92 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings. This member 92 may be bolted to one of the vertical frame members 24 so as to provide a transition from the roof area to the side wall casting area of a culvert or other structure to be cast by the form means set up in the manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, a diagonal brace means 96 is coupled to a bolt 98 passing through an upper end of the vertical frame member 24 at one side of the form means while an opposite end of the diagonal brace structure 96 is coupled to a bolt 100 extending through one of the vertical frame members 24 at the opposite side of the form means and assembly as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. This diagonal brace means comprises a conventional right and left hand threaded turn buckle structure 102 having oppositely extending externally screw threaded

rods

104 and 106 which are screw threaded into internally screw threaded

nuts

108 and 110 of

connectors

112 and 114 of the invention. These

connectors

112 and 114 are identical and serve several uses in the form means of the invention as will be hereinafter described.

Accordingly, the connector 112 will be hereinafter described throughout the remainder of the specificatron.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the connector 112 is channel a shaped in cross-section'and provided with an elongated central web 116 having a pair of integral flanges 118 extending at right angles thereto such that the connector 112 is generally a U-shaped or channel shaped in cross-section structure of elongated form. The nut 108 is secured to one of the flanges 118 as shown in various views of the drawings while another nut 120 is secured to the web 116 as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings for providing a jack screw support as will be hereinafter described. It will be seen that the flanges 118 are provided with openings 122 which extend through said flanges 118 and receive bolts such as the bolt 124 shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. This bolt 124 is adapted to extend through a hollow tubular member such as the member 126 in FIG. 8 of the drawings which is similar to the hollow

tubular members

18, 22, 24 and 26 hereinbefore described. The bolt 124 is provided with an opening 128 through which a conventional nail 130 may readily be disposed to hold the bolt in place during use of the form structure of the invention as will be hereinafter described.

Each connector 112 is provided with a pair of clevis plates designated 132. These clevis plates are secured to one end of the connector 112 opposite to that with which the internally screw threaded

nuts

108 and 120 are connected. These clevis plates 132 are adapted to straddle any one of the hollow tubular frame members hereinbefore described and openings 134 extend through the clevis plates for receiving bolts such as the bolt 124 shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. For purposes of description, the same designation 124 is given all of the bolts which pass through the connector 112 and/or its clevis plates 132. It will be seen that the clevis plates 132 of one of the connectors 112 straddles one of the horizontal frame members 62 and that one of the bolts 124 passes therethrough for holding the respective connector 112, at its upper end, securely in connection with the horizontal frame member 62 to provide a shoring brace. This shoring brace is composed of two of the connectors 112 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the draw ings, the lowermost connector 112 having a screw 132 of a screw jack mechanism 136 screw threadably adjustably mounted in the hereinbefore described nut 120. The details of the screw jack 136 are shown on enlarged scale in FIG. 7 wherein the screw 134 is provided with a nut 137 fixed thereon and this nut bears upon an upper surface of a steel plate 138 which is welded or otherwise secured in spaced relation to a plate 140 with spacers 142 between the

plates

138 and 140 so that a cotter pin 144 extending through an opening 146 is free to rotate between the

plates

138 and 140 when a wrench engages the nut 137 to rotate the screw 134 relative to the nut 120. The plate 140 is set upon a suitable surface and the nut 137 is rotated until the respective connector 112 is elevated together with the hollow tubular member 148 and another of the connectors 112,all as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawmgs.

It will be seen that the pair of connectors 112 and the hollow tubular metal member 128 brace the roof structure of the form means including the

horizontal members

62 and 64 and the plywoodplate66 on top of which concrete may be cast.

As shown in FIG. of the drawings, the clevis plates 132 straddle the vertical portion 58 of one of the connectors 56 and a lower portion of one of the verticalframe members 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the connector 112 is utilized to connect adjacent ends of the horizontal tubular members 22 and may also be used for connection of the tubular members 18.

The web structure 116 of each connector 112 is provided with an elongated slot 150 through .which bolts may be disposed in correspondence with the slots. 54 hereinbefore described to attain a slight dimensional or modular adjustment in the longitudinal disposition of the respective connector 112 and one of the hollow tubular frame or brace members of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the connectors 112 may be used in a substantially universal manner relative to horizontal frame members, vertical frame members, and/or diagonal bracing of the form means of the invention and that the connector 112 together with the connector 56 provide for connection of most of the frame structures of the invention at various areas of the form means.

In the disclosure of FIG. 9 the connector 56 is shown in a position at substantially 90 from that as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings to support corners of

vertical wall panels

152 and 154 which are preferably plywood. Accordingly, the connector 56 is versatile in its use either in a vertical or horizontal plane.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the form means of the invention may include a plurality of hollow tubular rectangular in cross-section metal members which are of light weight and high strength and which may be used as horizontal or vertical members or shoring braces together with the

connectors

112 and 56. It will be obvious also that these metal parts are much more compact than conventional wooden structures and are readily reusable and do not require that the panels be nailed thereto such that the panels may be reused many times by simply extending the tie bars 28 through previously formed openings in the plywood panels and reassembling the entire assembly as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Thus, the plywood panels may be repeatedly used and universal use of the metal 8 parts of the form means of the invention may be accomplished in accordance with the foregoing description.

After concrete has been cast and cured between the plywood panels, as for example between the

plywood panels

12 and 14 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the wedge fixtures or clips are removed in the conventional manner and the

horizontal frame members

18 and 22 and the

vertical frame members

24 and 26 are removed from their position over the tie bars 28 and then these tie bars 28 are twisted until they shear at their reduced

cross-sectional portions

42 and 44 breaking off inside the concrete structure which has previously been cast between the

inner surfaces

10 and 12 of the

plywood plates

14 and 16.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a form means or casting monolithic concrete structures, the combination of: two pairs of plywood wall panel structures; each pair having adjacent spaced apart surfaces between which concrete may be poured or placed to cast a monolithic structure; a plurality of first' elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a horizontal disposition; said wall panel structures each having opposite surfaces which are opposite to said spaced apart surfaces; said first hollow tubular metal members being contiguous with said opposite surfaces and spaced apart vertically and laterally relative to each other; a plurality of second elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a vertical disposition; said second hollow tubular metal members being also disposed in transverse contiguous intersecting relation to said first hollow tubular metal members; diagonal brace means is provided with first and second end connector means coupling an upper portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members adjacent one of said pairs ofwall panel structures; said diagonal brace means having a second end connector means coupled to a lower portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members adjacent the other of said pairs of wall panel structures; said first and second end connector means each comprising a straight connector; each said straight connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; said channel structure comprising an elongated middle web and a pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each flange and said web having inner and outer surfaces; a pair of clevis plates fixed to the outer side of said flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; and a screw threaded nut means fixed to an outer side of one of said flanges at an opposite end of said channel structure from said clevis plates; said screw threaded nut means having an internally screw threaded bore axially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said channel structure; a pair of externally screw threaded rod means adjustably screw threaded in said respective ones of said screw threaded nut means; and an adjustable screw threaded turn buckle adjustably screw threadably coupling said pair of screw threaded rods;

tie bars extending through each of said pairs of wall panel structures and through respective first and second 'hollow tubular metal members at intersections thereof adjacent said panel structures; and fixtures on opposite ends of each of said tie bars bearing against respective ones of said second hollow tubular metal members-for holding the wall panel structures of each of said pairs of wall panel structures in spaced relationship with each other to prevent spreading of the wall panel structures of each said pair of wall panel structures apart when concrete is placed therebetween; said pairs of wall panel structures being spaced apart to form spaced apart monolithic walls.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flanges are spaced apart a sufficient distance to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said flanges having spaced apart bolt receiving openings therein adapted to hold bolts extending through one of said first and second hollow tubular metal member between said flanges.

3. In a form means for casting monolithic concrete structures, the combination of: two pairs of plywood wall panel structures; each pair having adjacent spaced apart surfaces between which concrete may be poured or placed to cast a monolithic structure; a plurality of first elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a horizontal disposition; said wall panel structures each having opposite surfaces which are opposite to said spaced apart surfaces; said first hollow tubular metal members being contiguous with said opposite surfaces and spaced apart vertically and laterally relative to each other; a plurality of second elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a vertical disposition; said second hollow tubular metal memmbers being also disposed in transverse contiguous intersecting relation to said first hollow tubular metal members; a plurality of channel shaped in crosssection corner connectors are each provided with first and second channel shaped coupling portions extending at substantially right angles to each other; each of said first channel shaped coupling portions of each said corner connector being secured in partially surrounding relation to a respective upper portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members; third generally horizontal hollow tubular members disposed in said second channel shaped coupling portions of said corner connectors; and plywood roof form panels supported on said third hollow tubular members; a vertical brace means is adapted to be disposed to provide vertical support for one of said third horizontal tubular members at a location between said pairs of wall panel structures; said vertical brace means having a fourth generally vertical tubular member provided with upper and lower vertical connectors fixed thereto; said lower vertical connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; said channel structure comprising an elongated middle web and a pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each flange and said web having inner and outer sides; a pair of clevis plates fixed to said outer sides of said flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; and a screw threaded nut means fixed to an outer side of said web at an opposite end of said channel structure from said clevis plates; said screw threaded nut means having an internally screw threaded bore axially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said channel structure; a generally vertical screw threaded rod screw threadably adjustable in said screw threaded nut means; and a base for said vertical screw threaded rod; said vertical screw threaded rod being compressively and rotatably supported on said base; said upper vertical connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; saidchannel structure comprising a further elongated middle web and a further pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each said further flange and said further web having further inner and outer sides; a further pair of clevis plates fixed to said further outer sides of said further flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said further clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members;

said further clevis plates straddling one of said third horizontal tubular members and coupled thereto; tie bars extending through each of said pairs of wall panel structures and through respective first and second hollow tubular metal members at intersections thereof adjacent said panel structures; and fixtures on opposite ends of each of said tie bars bearing against respective ones of said second hollow tubular metal members for holding the wall panel structures of each of said pairs of wall panel structures in spaced relationship with each other to prevent spreading of the wall panel structures of each said pair of wall panel structures apart when concrete is placed therebetween; said pairs of wall panel structures being spaced apart to form spaced apart monolithic walls.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said flanges and said further flanges on said vertical connectors are spaced apart a sufficient distance to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said flanges and said further flanges having spaced apart bolt receiving openings therein adapted to hold bolts extending through a respective one of said first and second hollow tubular metal member between said flanges and said further flanges; said bolt receiving openings being substantially axially parallel with the opening in said clevis plates.

Claims

1. In a form means or casting monolithic concrete structures, the combination of: two pairs of plywood wall panel structures; each pair having adjacent spaced apart surfaces between which concrete may be poured or placed to cast a monolithic structure; a plurality of first elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a horizontal disposition; said wall panel structures each having opposite surfaces which are opposite to said spaced apart surfaces; said first hollow tubular metal members being contiguous with said opposite surfaces and spaced apart vertically and laterally relative to each other; a plurality of second elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a vertical disposition; said second hollow tubular metal members being also disposed in transverse contiguous intersecting relation to said first hollow tubular metal members; diagonal brace means is provided with first and second end connector means coupling an upper portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members adjacent one of said pairs of wall panel structures; said diagonal brace means having a second end connector means coupled to a lower portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members adjacent the other of said pairs of wall panel structures; said first and second end connector means each comprising a straight connector; each said straight connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; said channel structure comprising an elongated middle web and a pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each flange and said web having inner and outer surfaces; a pair of clevis plates fixed to the outer side of said flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; and a screw threaded nut means fixed to an outer side of one of said flanges at an opposite end of said channel structure from said clevis plates; said screw threaded nut means having an internally screw threaded bore axially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said channel structure; a pair of externally screw threaded rod means adjustably screw threaded in said respective ones of said screw threaded nut means; and an adjuStable screw threaded turn buckle adjustably screw threadably coupling said pair of screw threaded rods; tie bars extending through each of said pairs of wall panel structures and through respective first and second hollow tubular metal members at intersections thereof adjacent said panel structures; and fixtures on opposite ends of each of said tie bars bearing against respective ones of said second hollow tubular metal members for holding the wall panel structures of each of said pairs of wall panel structures in spaced relationship with each other to prevent spreading of the wall panel structures of each said pair of wall panel structures apart when concrete is placed therebetween; said pairs of wall panel structures being spaced apart to form spaced apart monolithic walls.

3. In a form means for casting monolithic concrete structures, the combination of: two pairs of plywood wall panel structures; each pair having adjacent spaced apart surfaces between which concrete may be poured or placed to cast a monolithic structure; a plurality of first elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a horizontal disposition; said wall panel structures each having opposite surfaces which are opposite to said spaced apart surfaces; said first hollow tubular metal members being contiguous with said opposite surfaces and spaced apart vertically and laterally relative to each other; a plurality of second elongated hollow tubular metal members with their longitudinal axes generally in a vertical disposition; said second hollow tubular metal memmbers being also disposed in transverse contiguous intersecting relation to said first hollow tubular metal members; a plurality of channel shaped in cross-section corner connectors are each provided with first and second channel shaped coupling portions extending at substantially right angles to each other; each of said first channel shaped coupling portions of each said corner connector being secured in partially surrounding relation to a respective upper portion of one of said second hollow tubular metal members; third generally horizontal hollow tubular members disposed in said second channel shaped coupling portions of said corner connectors; and plywood roof form panels supported on said third hollow tubular members; a vertical brace means is adapted to be disposed to provide vertical support for one of said third horizontal tubular members at a location between said pairs of wall panel structures; said vertical brace means having a fourth generally vertical tubular member provided with upper and lower vertical connectors fixed thereto; said lower vertical connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; said channel structure comprising an elongated middle web and a pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each flange and said web having inner and outer sides; a pair of clevis plates fixed to said outer sides of said flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; and a screw threaded nut means fixed to an outer side of said web at an opposite end of said channel structure from said clevis plates; said screw threaded nut means having an internally screw threaded bore axially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said channel structure; a generally vertical screw threaded rod screw threadably adjustable in said screw threaded nut means; and a base for said vertiCal screw threaded rod; said vertical screw threaded rod being compressively and rotatably supported on said base; said upper vertical connector having elongated generally U-shaped in cross-section channel structures; said channel structure comprising a further elongated middle web and a further pair of integral elongated spaced apart flanges, each said further flange and said further web having further inner and outer sides; a further pair of clevis plates fixed to said further outer sides of said further flanges and projecting beyond one end of said channel structure and adapted to straddle one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said further clevis plates having aligned openings therein adapted to receive a bolt for connection with one of said first and second hollow tubular metal members; said further clevis plates straddling one of said third horizontal tubular members and coupled thereto; tie bars extending through each of said pairs of wall panel structures and through respective first and second hollow tubular metal members at intersections thereof adjacent said panel structures; and fixtures on opposite ends of each of said tie bars bearing against respective ones of said second hollow tubular metal members for holding the wall panel structures of each of said pairs of wall panel structures in spaced relationship with each other to prevent spreading of the wall panel structures of each said pair of wall panel structures apart when concrete is placed therebetween; said pairs of wall panel structures being spaced apart to form spaced apart monolithic walls.