US2723437A - Apparatus for aligning and supporting wall forms - Google Patents

Description

;1955 K. s. GHORMLEY ET AL 2,723,437

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND SUPPORTING WALL. FORMS Filed Feb. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l KARL S. GHORMLEY ROBERT V. GALBREATH fW f ATTORNEY INVENTORS Nov. 15, 1955 K. S. GHORMLEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND SUPPORTING WALL FORMS Filed Feb. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS KARL S. GHORMLEY ROBERT V. GALBREATH ATTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND SUPPORTING WALL FORMS Karl S. Glrormley, Canfield, and Robert V. Galbreath, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to Townsend & Bottum, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,902

3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 25-131) The present invention relates to apparatus for use in the construction of concrete walls and the like, and more particularly to a novel structure for aligning and supporting wall forms preparatory to pouring liquid concrete therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for supporting concrete wall forms whereby the forms may be erected in a minimum time and with a maximum accuracy.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a wall form supporting truss, for use particularly in the construction of concrete walls of substantial vertical extent, wherein all supporting members may be positioned in close proximity to the wall under construction. This arrangement, as will appear below, provides a substantially increased operating area. about a wall under construction whereby pouring cranes or other motorized equipment may be readily maneuvered about the construction area and into a more desirable operating position with respect to a wall under construction.

Another object of the present invention is theprovision of an improved wall form supporting structure for use in. supporting wall forms at varied vertical heights Wherein is incorporated certain novel means for accurately and readily adjusting the vertical alignment of the forms from the construction area level.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of an improved wall form supporting truss as set forth above which isprovided with readily interchangeable supporting shores whereby the. truss may be quickly adapted for use at various heights of operation.

An ancillary object. of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel wall form supporting truss including means for supporting a scaffold platform at an advantageous working level whereby a scaffold platform may be provided at an early stage of the wall form erecting operation to facilitate and speed up the same.

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specification and. accompanying drawing wherein the invention is illustrated in one of its preferred forms:

In. the drawing:

Figures 1, 2 and. 3 are fragmentary cross section views of a concrete wall at various stages of construction, illustrating the use of our novelv truss. structure in. supporting wall. forms at various. heights above the construction area level;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front. elevation of the wall and truss apparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a truss and adjustingwedge as utilized in. theimanner taught by our invention for adjusting the vertical alignment of wall forms;

Figure. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus of Figures 2 and 3v showing details of. an interchangeable connection between a main truss frame and a supporting short member therefor; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section view taken generally along line VIlI-VIII of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 2 and 3 thereof, the numeral 10 designates a concrete slab or base upon which a vertically extending concrete wall 11 is to be constructed. According to usual practice a wall having a height of the order of forty feet, for example, may be erected in a plurality of substantially equal increments 12, 13 and 14, and the structure and use of the present invention will be described with reference to this method of construction.

Figure 1 illustrates the lowermost increment 12 of wall 11 in a state of partial construction, and it will be observed therein that a semi-fluid concrete mass is confined between parallel vertically and horizontally extending wall forms 15 and 16. The wall forms 15 and 16 are of conventional construction comprising a flat confining surface 17 of plywood or other suitable material backed by a plurality of spaced vertically extending studs 18 and a plurality of spaced horizontally extending walers 19 whereby to form a strong and rigid unitary structure capable of withstanding the high lateral hydrostatic forces of semi-fluid concrete. In accordance with usual practice a plurality of tie rod members 20 are provided connecting and extending between the forms 15 and 16 to contain the hydrostatic pressure of the concrete. Also in accordance with usual practice, tie rods 20 comprise rods 21 having threads, not shown, at each end for the reception of extensions or she-bolts 22, the latter of which are threaded internally at one end for engagement with rod 21 and externally at' the other end for engagement with nuts 23 or other retainingdevices. With the arrangement as above described the concrete mass may be allowed to set completely with the tie rods 20 in place, whereupon the outwardly extending shebolts 22 may be removed from each end of rod 21 leaving rods 20 embedded in the concrete.

During pouring and setting of the concrete mass, wall forms 15 and 16- must be provided with external lateral support, as well as maintained in proper vertical alignment, and a novel and substantially improved arrangement for accomplishing this forms the subject matter of this invention.

In the past, aligning and supporting of wall forms has been commonly accomplished by providing a plurality of shoring braces extending from the outer side of one wall form to the floor or base slab atan angle of approximately forty-five degrees. In addition to such shores, a plurality of similarly extending guy wires is commonly provided whereby, in combination with the bracing of the shores, the wall forms may be either pushed or pulled to bring the same into proper vertical alignment and thereafter maintain such alignment during pouring and subsequent setting of the concrete.

We have found this arrangement to be objectionable for a number of reasons. Firstly, in order to obtain adequate lateral support the shoring and guy wires must be unduly large, causing erection and adjustment to be needlessly diflicult and time consuming. Secondly, when supporting wall forms at a height of thirty to forty feet, for example, the shoring necessarily extends far into the construction area creating dangerous overhead obstructions and materially impeding the use of mobile equipment. Thirdly, accurate alignment of the wall forms becomes increasingly difiicult as the same are supported at increasing heights, and we have found that alignment tolerances of as much as plus or minus one-fourth inch are difiicult to obtain in the construction of high Walls. Other disadvantages of this arrangement may be readily observed upon comparison thereof with the apparatus of our invention as hereinafter described.

In the construction of the lower wall increment 12, forms 15 and 16 may be rested upon the base 111 in the desired position and orientation as shown in Figure 1. To provide lateral support and vertical alignment of the forms 15 and 16 as required, we secure to the form 16, for example, a plurality of horizontally spaced generally rectangular truss structures 24 which extend outwardly of the form 16 a distance of, for example, four feet. In the preferred form of the invention each truss structure comprises inner and outer vertically disposed beams 25 and 26 respectively which are rigidly secured in spaced relation by means of a plurality of horizontally disposed struts 27-30 and intermediate diagonal struts 31-33. The illustrated structure contemplates the construction of walls of approximately forty feet in height in three substantially equal increments 1214, and it has been found that the use of 2 x 6" wooden planks for members 2633 provides a truss structure of adequate strength for this purpose. Inner beam 25 is preferably constructed of a plurality of 2 x 6 members arranged in the manner shown in Figure 8. Equivalent tubular or angle-section metal construction may, of course, be used throughout if desired.

According to the teachings of our invention trusses 24 are secured to wall form 16 near the upper end portion thereof, and for this purpose we may utilize a bolt 34 (see Figure 8) which extends through form 16 and vertical beam 25 and which is secured to the latter by a nut 35. Alternatively, an extended she-bolt, not shown, may be used to secure beam 25 to the form 16.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the proportion of trusses 24 and wall forms 15 and 16 should be such that when trusses 24 are secured in the manner described to form 16 the lower end of outer beam 26 will be spaced upwardly from the base slab 10. A spacing distance in the order of two inches has been found to be satisfactory.

With form 16 having been positioned with its lower edge along a predetermined line as required by the specifications of the wall 11 under construction, it will at once be apparent that lateral support and alignment of the form 16 may be provided by causing or tending to cause pivotal movement of the form 16 about its lower edge. Thus it is desirable to secure the lower edge of form 16 or otherwise provide that pivotal movement take place substantially thereabout. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 we preferably secure the form 16 at its lower edge, and we accomplish this by clamping lower plate 36 of the form 16 directly to the base 10; the lower plate 36 being a conventional element of form 16 as will be understood.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, means for clamping plate 36 to the base slab 10 comprises a plurality of internally threaded anchors 37 which are embedded in the slab 10 at the time the same is poured and which are adapted to receive bolts 38 as shown in Figure 10. Anchors 37 are prepositioned in slab 10 with reference to the specifications of wall 11 so that when form 16 is subsequently erected the lower plate 36 thereof will lie closely adjacent the anchors 37. Clamping pressure may then be applied to plate 36 by means of metal plates 39 which are drawn downwardly against plate 36 by the bolts 38. Spacer blocks 40 may be utilized, if desired, to support the outer ends of plates 39 when the same are drawn downwardly against plate 36.

With plate 36 clamped to the base 10 as above described we may support and adjust the forms 15 and 16 by applying appropriate vertically directed force to the lower end of beam 26 of the truss 24, the latter forming, in etfect, a lever by means of which such vertically directed force is modified to a horizontal supporting and adjusting force. The preferred arrangement for applying such force is illustrated in Figure and comprises a wedge 4-1, which is inserted between the lower end of beam 26 and the base 10, and a pair of bolts 42 which engage L-shaped brackets 43 secured to the beam 26 at each side thereof. Suitable anchors 44 are provided in the base 10 for the reception of bolts 42, and it will be understood that anchors 44 are prepositioned in the concrete base 10 at the time the same is poured.

Thus, it will be apparent that beam 26 may be readily raised or lowered by suitable adjusting movement of bolts 42 and wedge 4-1, and that the beam 26 may be rigidly locked in any adjusted position by driving wedge 41 inwardly so that the L-shaped brackets 43 are drawn firmly into engagement with the heads of bolts 42. This adjustment may be accomplished with speed and precision as will be readily understood, and with the apparatus firmly set in a desired adjusted position rigid support is provided for the form 16 in both lateral directions, i. e., to the left and right as viewed in Figure 1.

Adjustment of and support for wall form 15 is, of course, provided by the plurality of tie rod members 20 since the hydrostatic pressure of the semi-liquid concrete tends to force forms 15 and 16 apart. Tie rod members 20 are accordingly adjusted to maintain form 15 in predetermined relation to form 16. In the present illustration forms 15 and 16 are maintained in parallel relation.

Construction of the second wall increment 13 is illustrated in Figure 2, and it will be observed therein that the trusses 24 are secured to wall form 16 in the same manner as in the construction of wall increment 12 but that in the latter instance trusses 24 are secured in offset relation to the form 16 whereby the lower end portions of the trusses extend below the lower edge of form 16 a distance in the order of one to two feet. The inner beam 25 may thus be pivotally secured at its lower end to the lower wall increment 12 in the manner shown, by providing an elongated she-bolt 45 secured to the uppermost of the rods 21 embedded in the lower wall increment 12. A spacer block 46 is interposed between the face of wall increment 12 and the inner beam 25 to compensate for the thickness of form 16 whereby the continuity of the wall surface is maintained.

To support forms 15 and 16 in the elevated position shown in Figure 2 a plurality of L-shaped brackets 47 may be mounted on the lower wall increment 12 to provide an outwardly extending surface upon which lower plate 36 may be rested. It will be apparent that brackets 47 may be secured by means of she-bolt 45 at the same time spacer block 46 and beam 45 are mounted. If necessary, a similar L-shaped bracket, now shown, may be provided at the opposite side of wall increment 12. In the illustrated arrangement, however, the stepped construction of the wall increments 12 and 13 provides a land upon which form 15 may be supported.

When trusses 24 are supported in an elevated position as shown in Figure 2, lateral support and alignment control are provided by securing an elongated shore 48 to the lower end of vertical beam 26; the shore 48 extending substantially to the base slab 10 as indicated. L-shaped brackets 43' are provided at the lower end of shores 48 for engagement by bolts 42 and according to the principles of the invention a space in the order of two inches is provided between the lower end of shore 48 and the surface of base 10 whereby wedge 41 may be inserted therebetween. Vertical adjustment of beam 26 is effected by appropriate manipulation of bolts 42 and wedge 41 as in the previous illustration, but it will be observed from Figure 2 that the elevated trusses 24 are caused to pivot about spacer blocks 46 rather than about the lower edge of form 16. The arrangements are substantial equivalents, however, and it will be noted that plate 36 may be clamped to L-shaped bracket 47 if desired.

Construction of the third wall increment 14 is accomplished in the same manner as construction of the second increment 13, with a longer shore 49 being substituted for shore 48 as will be observed in Figure 3.

Since the same trusses 24 may be used in the con- '5 struction of each of the. wallincrements 12, 13, and 14 it is desirable that shores 48 and 49 be quickly detachable from the trusses 24 and to this end we have provided pins 50 extending transversely through the upper ends of the shores 48 and 49 and outwardly of each side thereof as indicated in Figure 4. Eyebolts 51 or equivalent devices may thusbe utilized to engage pins 50 and L-shaped brackets 43 to draw the upper ends of the shores 48 and 49 into engagement with the lower ends of beams26. With this arrangement shores 48 and 49 may be attached, detached or interchanged in a practical minimum of time as will be understood.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the uppermost struts 30-of trusses 24 are arranged to be substantially horizontally disposed when the trusses 24 are in operation, and we may thus utilize the struts 30 to support a scaffold platform 52 acrossthe entire horizontal extent of the wall 11. The scaffold 52, comprising a plurality of planks 52' laid in side-by-side relation, may be erected at the initial stages of construction and is thus available for use during a greater part of the construction. The platform support thus provided is substantially stronger than common prior arrangements wherein suitable cleats were secured to the form 16 for attaching a platform support thereto.

A hand rail 53 may also be readily provided by merely extending the outer vertical beam 26 upwardly above the strut 30 a convenient distance and nailing or otherwise securing the rail 53 thereto.

Both the handrail 53 and scaffold planks 52' may be utilized in an additional capacity to provide horizontal interconnection between a plurality of spaced trusses 24 where such interconnection may be necessary or desirable.

It should thus be apparent that we have accomplished the objects initially set forth. We have provided a simple and inexpensively constructed wall form supporting structure which may be rapidly and easily assembled and put into use, and which provides for highly accurate vertical alignment of the supported wall forms.

With the apparatus of our invention wall forms may be rigidly and accurately supported at high elevations with a minimum number of bracing shores and with such shores positioned in close proximity to the wall under construction. A substantially less obstructed construction area results which provides for safer working conditions and for more effective and advantageous use of motorized equipment as will be readily appreciated.

Comparative tests have shown our apparatus to possess a materially greater load carrying ability than conventional apparatus now in common use. For example, our structures have demonstrated a capacity for resisting lateral thrust loads in the order of four times that of equivalent form supporting apparatus utilizing conventional shoring extending outwardly and downwardly from the wall forms at an angle of approximately fortyfive degrees.

Initial setting-up of wall forms and supporting structure therefor is greatly simplified with the apparatus of our invention as may be understood, and this feature is manifested in time savings of as much as fitfy percent of the time required to erect and adjust conventional apparatus. Savings in cost are of course proportionate.

A further substantial saving in cost and time is afforded through the use of quickly interchangeable shores which permit a single set of trusses to be used at various elevations from the construction area level. It may be ob served, moreover, that but a negligible loss of strength and adjustment accuracy occurs as wall forms are supported at increasing elevations.

Highly accurate adjustment of wall forms may be readily accomplished with our apparatus through appropriate adjustment of bolts 42 and wedges 41; such adjustment being accomplished in the same manner and with the same ease regardless of the height at which the Wall forms are supported. With our apparatus adjustments may be readily made within eighth of an inch of specification dimensions substantially regardless of the height of the wall, whereas with conventional apparatus it has been found diflicult to. make adjustments within one-fourth inch of specifications, and it becomes more difiicult and time consuming to hold such tolerances as the height of the Wall under construction increases.

An additional advantageous feature of our invention resides in the ease with which the same may be adapted to support a scaffold platform and guard rail for use by workmen during pouring of concrete into the forms and for allied operations incidental to the construction of the wall. With our apparatus a scaffold may be constructed in negligible time and may be utilized throughout a greater part of the construction time. Improved working conditions and reduced construction time are a natural result of this arrangement.

It should be understood that the above specifically described embodiment is merely representative and that many alternations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the true scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for use in constructing upper sections of a poured concrete wall comprised of a plurality of successively cast superimposed wall sections wherein each wall section constitutes a supporting surface for the next cast wall section, the first of said successively cast wall sections being supported upon a base surface, a combination of a pair of spaced vertical wall forms disposed longitudinally along the supporting surface provided by the previously cast lower wall section and having their bottom edge portions supported thereby, means interconnecting said Wall forms to contain the hydrostatic pressure of concrete poured therebetween, means to position said Wall forms on said last mentioned supporting surface comprising rigid truss means positioned on one side only of said wall and secured to one of said forms and extending outwardly therefrom, means to secure said truss means to the previously cast Wall section along a longitudinally disposed fixed axis parallel and adjacent to the lower edge of said one of said forms, said means to secure providing for a limited rocking movement of said truss means about said axis, and a depending support member adjustably connecting said truss in rigid relation with said base surface whereby the truss and wall form assembly may be adjustably aligned in desired relation to the said previously cast wall section.

2. In apparatus for use in constructing upper sections of a poured concrete wall comprised of a plurality of successively cast superimposed wall sections wherein each Wall section constitutes a supporting surface for the next cast wall section, the first of said successively cast wall sections being supported upon a base surface, a combination of a pair of spaced vertical wall forms disposed longitudinally along the supporting surface provided by the previously cast lower wall section and having their bottom edge portions supported thereby, means interconnecting said wall forms to contain the hydrostatic pressure of concrete poured therebetween, truss means positioned on one side only of said wall and secured to one of said forms and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, means to secure the combined structure of said truss means and said one of said forms to the previously cast wall section along a horizontal axis parallel with and adjacent to the lower edge of said one of said forms, said means to secure providing for a limited rocking movement of said combined structure about said axis, and support means depending from said extending portion of said truss means and adjustably connecting said extending portion in rigid relation with said base surface whereby the truss and wall form assembly may be adjustably aligned in desired relation to the said previously cast wall section.

3. In apparatus for use in constructing upper sections of a poured concrete wall comprised of a plurality of successively cast superimposed wall sections wherein each wall section constitutes a supporting surface for the next cast wall section, the first of said successively cast wall sections being supported upon a base surface, a combination of a pair of spaced vertical Wall forms disposed longitudinally along the supporting surface provided by the previously cast lower Wall section and having their bottom edge portions supported thereby, means interconnecting said wall forms to contain the hydrostatic pressure of concrete poured therebetween, means positioned on one side only of said wall to secure one of said forms to the previously cast wall section along a horizontal axis parallel with and adjacent to the lower edge of said one of said forms, said means to secure providing for a limited rocking movement of said one of said forms, rigid means connecting said one of said forms and extending outwardly thereof, and a depending support member adjustably connecting said rigid means in rigid relation with said base surface whereby the said one of said forms may be adjustably aligned in desired relation to the said previously cast wall section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,173 Taylor Nov. 11, 1902 916,083 Witthoefft Mar. 23, 1909 2,516,318 Hawes July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,350 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1926

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