GB2440149A

GB2440149A - Concrete formwork filter vent

Info

Publication number: GB2440149A
Application number: GB0613999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Neil Mountain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-14
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Publication date: 2008-01-23
Also published as: GB0613999D0

Abstract

A means of improving the handling and control of exuded excess cement rich water and trapped air during the filling operation of a concrete formwork has an attachable and detachable vent 1 which incorporates filter media 5. The vent may be flexible or rigid and is attached to a rigid or flexible formwork by a screw-threaded or push-fit, bayonet or similar coupling 2. The filter media may be plugs, patches or wads of woven or non-woven fabric. The pore size of the filter media may decrease with distance away from the coupling 2. The vent may be cone-shaped to allow for an increased surface area of finer pored filter media which may be necessary due to the reduced flow. The filter media may be retained within the vent by an optional end fitting 7 or grille (16, fig 4). The end fitting 7 may also be modified into a coupling for a hose for remote release of the filtered fluid. The resulting water that emits from the vent is substantially decontaminated, which can be beneficial where the formwork is situated close to a watercourse or below water.

Description

1 2440149

CONCRETE FORMWORK FILTER VENT

DESCRIPTION

Formwork is a means by which concrete structures can be formed, or shaped, and can consist of either rigid sheet materials, for example timber, or flexible sheet materials such as fabric.

Formwork is fabricated and wet concrete placed within the formwork, such that the concrete cures and the formwork defines the shape of the concrete structure. During the placement of the wet concrete into the formwork, excess water and air typically exudes from the formwork in an uncontrolled manner. In certain situations this can be undesired, for example when concrete structures are formed around watercourses or even below water. This results in escape of and dispersion of cement rich waters which are a contaminant and harmful to fish, for example.

Fabric formwork tends to control this process better but can still result in trapped air or water within the formwork, or undesired escape of contaminated waters from the fabric itself. The inclusion of sewn in "filter points" into fabric formwork can improve this further, however, these need to be incorporated into the manufacturing process and are an integral and immoveable part of the fabric formwork.

The invention relates to a means of improving the handling and control of the exuded excess cement rich water and trapped air, by providing an attachable I detachable vent incorporating filter media, to allow the escape of trapped air, but more importantly to remove the fines from the escaping waters. The result is that air and substantially purified water is vented and released outside of the formwork, for example into the environment.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a typical appearance of the filter vent. In this example, a flexible tube 1, has attached at one end a coupling, 2, shown in this example with a screw fitting. This also can incorporate a hexagonal bolt style facing, 3, or similar, to allow for tightening or loosening onto the formwork. Contaminated cement rich waters, 4, pass through the vent, initially passing through the coupling, 2, through the filter media, 5, and then exiting the vent at the other end, point 6. An optional end fitting 7, can be utilised to retain the filter media. The end fitting may also be modified into a coupling system, for example, threaded, such that a hose could be attached and waters then pass through the hose for further treatment, disposal or remote release.

Figure 2 shows the same embodiment in section, with flexible tube 1, screw fitting end coupling 2, and optional hexagonal bolt style facing, 3 on the end coupling. In this embodiment, the filter media, is composed of separate segments of filter media, 8, 9 and 10, of reducing pore size, such that the largest pore size 8, acts as a coarse pre-filter, with finer pore size filter media, 10, at the other extremity.

Figure 3 shows an example of how the filter vent can be attached to fabric formwork, in this example attached to a fabric formwork block 11, where the vent 12, is attached via a "female" screw coupling 13, to allow the release of partially purified water, 14.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the vent where instead of being tube shaped, the vent 15 is conical, or widens in width, along its length. This allows for increased surface area of finer pored filter media, which may be necessary due to the reduced flow likely over finer pored filter media. The filter media is retained by a grille or similar, 16.

Figure 5 shows the same conical, or widening, shape to the vent 17, in cross section. This embodiment consists of a screw coupling 18, optional hexagonal bolt style facing, 19 and filter media 20, 21 and 22. The filter media consists of a section of coarse pre-filter 20, and finer filter medias 21 and 22.

Alternative coupling arrangements, for example push fit, bayonet or similar fitting, are possible.

Both rigid and flexible vent arrangements are also possible.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters.

2. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claim 1 where the vent is formed from a flexible tube.

3. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claim 1, where the vent is rigid, formed from plastic or similar.

4. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, where the attachment means is that of a screw fitting.

5. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, where the attachment means is that of push fit, bayonet or similar non screwed fitting.

6. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, where the filter media specifically is that of woven or non woven fabric in one or more layers.

7. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, where the filter media specifically is that of plugs, patches or wads of filter media.

8. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, where the filter media specifically is that of decreasing pore size through the filter.

9. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claim 1, where the vent is disposable and removed following curing of the concrete.

10. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1 and 8, where the vent is conical in shape or otherwise increases in area along its path, to allow for increased amounts of finer filter media.

11. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, where an end fitting at the outlet can include a coupling system, to connect a hose and make the filter an inline component, where waters are siphoned off for disposal, treatment or release elsewhere.

12. An attachable or detachable concrete formwork vent incorporating filter media for the removal of cement fines from vented waters, as herein described above and illustrated in

the accompanying drawings or description.