Patent Application
20160281376
The present invention relates to construction and concrete forming apparatus and, in particular, to a waler bracket for use with a concrete wall form.
Formwork or forming is used to contain and shape cementitious or other flowable construction material, such as concrete, during the pouring and setting, or curing, processes. One common use of formwork or forms is in the casting of walls. In forming or the use of forms, an outer form includes of a series of connected form walls or panels positioned in parallel vertical planes spaced a horizontal distance from a corresponding set of inner form panels to create a space within which the concrete is poured. The concrete form wall is reinforced by an exterior structure that may be made up of plywood and flanges horizontal beams formed by beam members, such as boards set edgewise to the walls. Ties are usually connected between the inner and outer form walls for retaining the walls against spreading, and these may extend horizontally through openings provided in the walls for connection of their opposite outer ends to horizontally extending reinforcing members, which are customarily mounted across and supported on the outer edge faces of the form wall or studs. These latter supporting members or stringers or walers connected to the outer form walls by wale brackets or C brackets and are often composed of two 2″×4″ boards, set edgewise to the walls. Walers are often arranged in pairs with some horizontal spacing provided therebetween to receive outer ends of tie wire which are fastened to outer faces of the walers by various adjustable securing means and wedges, as is well known in the art.
“Dimensional lumber” refers to lumber cut to standardized width and thickness. The nominal dimensions, such as two inches by four inches (or 2×4), are usually larger than the actual dimensions. Additionally, there are some variations in the actual dimensions of available lumber. It would be highly desirable to have a waler support bracket in the concrete form industry with a means of adjustment to accommodate for tolerance variations in lumber size.
The present invention is directed to a waler bracket arrangement which securely engages a waler to a concrete form panel, which is convenient to operate, and which can accommodate some variation in the dimensions of the waler. The bracket arrangement includes a waler clamp device for releasably securing a waler to a panel and comprising: a mounting member adapted for securing to a panel, a clamp member connected to the mounting member, and the clamp member including a resilient clamp component positioned to resiliently urge a waler toward a panel to thereby releasably secure the waler to the panel.
An embodiment of the clamp device includes a resilient or spring clamp member which is moved into clamping configuration, engaging with a waler to clamp the waler to the panel, and is moved to a non-clamping or release configuration to release the waler from the bracket arrangement. The spring clamp member may be urged into the clamping and non-clamping configurations by engagement of a clamp securing member therewith, such as a rotary cam member rotated by operation of a cam lever. Preferably, the spring clamp member is rotated about a pivot between the clamping and non-clamping configurations, and urged into the clamping configuration due to biasing of the clamp member by rotation of the cam member. In another embodiment of the waler clamp device, a clamp securing wedge is selectively driven between the mounting member and the clamp member to urge the clamp member to the waler clamping configuration and to secure the clamp member in such a configuration.
An embodiment of a waler clamp device for releasably securing a waler to a panel, according to the present invention, comprises: a mounting member adapted for securing to a panel; a clamp member connected to the mounting member and movable between a waler clamping configuration and a waler release configuration; a cam member connected the mounting member and having a cam surface engaging the clamp member whereby movement of the cam member causes movement of the clamp member between the clamping configuration and the release configuration; and a cam lever secured to the cam member to enable movement of the cam member to thereby urge the clamp member to the clamping configuration to clamp a waler to a panel and to the release configuration to release a waler therefrom.
The mounting member may include an elongated mounting plate having a length to enable positioning the clamp member in a selected spaced relation to the panel. Alternatively, the mounting member may include a pair of mounting plates secured in substantially parallel spaced relation and having the clamp member, the cam member, and the cam lever positioned therebetween.
The clamp member may be pivotally connected to the mounting member and is pivoted between the release configuration and the clamping configuration. Similarly, the cam member may be pivotally connected to the mounting member whereby the cam lever pivots the cam member to thereby urge the clamp member to the clamping and release configurations.
In an embodiment of the waler bracket device, the clamp member may include a first leg engaged by the cam member and a second leg angularly extending from the first leg and being positioned to engage a waler to clamp the waler to a panel. The clamp member is preferably formed of a resilient material whereby the clamp member resiliently engages a waler clamped thereby or is resiliently biased against one or more walers in the clamping configuration of the device.
In an embodiment of the waler bracket device, the clamp member includes a resilient element formed into an L-shape clamp member including a clamp arm and a cam follower. The cam member engages the cam follower in such a manner as to cause the clamp leg to be pivoted into resilient engagement with a waler when the cam lever is pivoted from the release configuration to the clamping configuration. The resilient element may be formed into a shape similar to an outline of the letter “L” and include a clamp arm with a free end to enable resiliently biased engagement of the clamp arm with a waler.
In an embodiment of the invention, one or more waler bracket clamp devices are combined with sets of concrete form panels to releasably secure one or more waler members to the panels.
A waler bracket clamp embodiment according to the invention includes: a connecting arm, the connecting arm projecting outward in a first axis; a handle being attached to the connecting arm and to a cam-lock; a spring attached to the connecting arm, a portion of the spring being L-shaped; and wherein the handle moves the cam-lock, such that the cam-lock engages the spring to move the spring portion from one of a locked and unlocked position.
Another aspect of this embodiment further includes a plurality of vertical panels arranged in a side-by-side edge abutting array, said panels interconnected by joining means mounted on studs projecting from the face of adjoining panels, the connecting arm of a clamp being attachable to the studs of adjoining panels.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the connecting arm further includes an aperture defining an aperture inner surface at an approximate terminal end, the connecting arm terminal end being perpendicular to the wall form panel, and wherein the aperture inner surface is sized to interact with: a nut and bolt in combination, a tie rod, a pin, a stud of an adjacent wall form panel, or a nut with wedge in combination.
In another embodiment according to the invention, the connecting arm is wedged shaped.
Another aspect of this embodiment further includes a lower leg with a circular pathway aperture and interior surface, aperture interior surface being sized to interact with at least one of: a nut and bolt in combination, a tie rod, a pin, a stud of an adjacent wall form panel, and a nut with wedge in combination.
Another aspect of this embodiment further includes a U-shaped structure being attached to a top surface of the connecting arm, such that an interior curved surface of the U-shaped structure is wide enough for at least two studs of a wall form panel, so as to reinforce at least wall form panels together and maintain the clamp in position.
In another aspect of this invention the leg, in a locked position, engages at least one crosspiece against a wall form panel, such that the crosspiece is immobile and locked against the wall form panel. It is foreseen that the crosspiece may have a rectangular cross section.
According to an aspect of the invention, in combination with a plurality of vertical panels arranged in a side-by-side edge abutting array, the panels are interconnected by joining means mounted on studs projecting from the face of adjoining panels, and a plurality of waler bracket clamps secure a waler to the faces of the panels, aligning the faces of said panels into a common plane, each of said bracket clamps comprising, in combination: a connecting arm, the connecting arm projecting outward in a first axis; a handle being attached to the connecting arm and to a cam-lock; a spring attached to the connecting arm, a portion of the spring being L-shaped; and wherein the handle moves the cam-lock, such that the cam-lock engages the spring to move the spring portion from one of a locked and unlocked position.
In another aspect of this invention, a spring loaded waler bracket assembly to align and reinforce a plurality of adjacent panels forming a poured concrete wall form is provided, each of the panels having a generally planar panel portion and a stud extending along each side edge thereof from a rear surface of the panel portion, each panel being positioned next to a similarly oriented adjacent panel with the studs of the adjacent panels being juxtaposed to each other, each stud having apertures therein which are aligned with similar holes in the stud of the adjacent panel so that pins can be inserted into the aligned holes to connect the panels together and form the wall form, the spring loaded waler bracket assembly comprising: a plurality of clamps, each clamp having a connecting arm, the connecting arm projecting outward in a first axis and connecting the clamp to a stud; a handle being attached to the connecting arm and to a cam-lock; a spring attached to the connecting arm, a portion of the spring being L-shaped; and wherein the handle moves the cam-lock, such that the cam-lock engages the spring to move the spring portion from one of a locked and unlocked position; a crosspiece; and wherein when in the unlocked position, the crosspiece can be loaded onto the clamps and rested on respective top surfaces of connecting arms thereof, and wherein when the handle is moved into the locked position, the crosspiece is pushed to the wall form by the L-shaped portion of the spring, so as to align and reinforce the associated panels during the pouring and curing of the concrete wall.
In another aspect of this embodiment, further including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion is shifted as the handle cams the cam lock so as to engage the second end portion and compresses against the second end portion, as the second end portion engages the crosspiece, the crosspiece is pushed to the wall form, so as to align and reinforce the associated panels during the pouring and curing of the concrete wall.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring to
Additionally, although a particular configuration is shown and described for each of the panels of the wall form, it will be appreciated that the bracket assembly 10 according to this invention can be used on a variety of configurations of panels and wall form designs, including curved wall panels.
The spring loaded waler bracket assembly 10, further includes at least one waler or beam crosspiece 24 extending generally horizontally across a plurality of adjacent panels 14 forming the wall form 16 and across at least two clamps, such as clamps 12 and 112. The bracket assembly 10 incorporates at least two crosspieces 24 and 24′, crosspiece 24′ atop the crosspiece 24, to reinforce and align the panels 14 of the wall form 16, as seen in
The crosspieces 24 and 24′ according to the invention may be constructed of 2″×4″; 2″×6″; or 2″×8″ wooden lumber, similarly sized aluminum or other like material. Although nominally dimensioned, the actual dimensions of each crosspiece 24 and 24′ may vary somewhat within a given tolerance.
With reference to
The clamp 12 has an aperture 30 (
The illustrated clamp 12 includes a clamp member, referred to herein as a spring 36, pivotally mounted on the connecting arm 28. Preferably, the illustrated spring 36 is constructed from a single, unitary, integral, or monolithic elongated rod of constant cross section that is formed or bent at various locations therealong to form a clamp member having a substantially planar shape resembling an outline of the letter “L”. As used herein, the term “monolithic” describes a single element, such as a rod, which is formed to a desired shape. The spring 36 has a first end 38, the first end 38 having a first end portion 39 being slightly non-parallel to the wall form 16 when the clamp 12 is in a non-clamping configuration thereof such as seen in
Continuing further along the spring 36, and adjacent the third radiused section 45 is a lower leg portion 47. The lower leg portion 47 is generally perpendicular to the wall panel 14 in the non-clamping configuration and substantially parallel to the upper leg portion 41. Opposite the third radiused section on the lower leg portion is a fourth radiused curve or corner section 48, which in turn is adjacent a first arm 49 that extends upwardly from the fourth curved section 48 to run slightly off parallel with respect to the studs 20 when in the non-clamping configuration. The first arm 49 upwardly ends in a fifth radiused curve or corner section 50, that extends approximately 180 degrees. Extending downwardly from the fifth curved section 50 is a second or clamp arm 52 that extends to a terminus or free end 53. The first arm 49 and second arm 52 of the spring 36 form a saddle with the fifth curved section 50 in a U-shape about the first end 38 and the first end portion 39 of the spring 36.
A length 54 of second arm 52 is preferably the height of at least two crosspieces 24, such that in the clamped configuration, the second arm 52 is able to engage at least two crosspieces 24 and 24′, as shown in
The spring 36 and connecting arm 28 may be made from a resilient or spring-like material, such as steel (especially heat treated carbon steel), aluminum or another metal, or molded as an integral unit from a polymer or the like. The spring 36 shown is a simple torsion or flex spring, but it is foreseen that other types of springs, such as, but not limited to: tension, compression, coil, or the like springs, may be used. It is foreseen that the spring 36 may be any shape in cross-section, shown in
Referring to
With reference to
Referring now to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The various sizes of the crosspieces 24 and 24′ can be accommodated with an appropriately sized and configured clamp 112 according to this invention, in many cases a larger crosspiece (not shown) could be accommodated by enlarging top surfaces 127 of a connecting arm 128.
The clamp 112 includes a clamp member or spring 136 and handle 155 with a cam-lock 158, that is substantially identical to the spring 36 and handle 55 with cam-lock 58 in form and function, and is constructed for engagement with a crosspiece 24 or 24′, as previous described herein.
The clamp 112 further includes a top surface 127 of the connecting arms 128 and 128′, upon which is operably attached a rim 174, the rim 174 being U-shaped and positioned on both sides of the studs 20 in an abutting relationship with the studs 20 within an interior gap 175 and engaging an inner surface 176 of the U-shaped rim 174. The rim 174 operably supports at least one crosspiece 24 above the spring 136 to prevent interference with the movement thereof when loading the spring 136 by clockwise rotation thereof from the position in
Unlike the clamp 12, wherein the connection arm 28 has an aperture 30 to mate with a connecting pin 34 and aperture 22, the clamp 112 is positioned via a lower third leg 182. The third lower leg 182 is positioned below the spring 136 and operably attached to the connecting arms 128 and 128′, as by welding a cross member 189 to rear edges of the arms 128 and 128′. The third lower leg 182 includes an elongated portion 183, adjacent a circular pathway or hook 184 creating an aperture 185, the aperture 185 having an interior surface 186, sized and shaped such that a connecting pin 134, like pin 34 may pass through circular pathway aperture 185. The connecting pin 134 may further include a groove 188, in which the third lower leg 182 engages so as to not allow for sliding about the connecting pin 134, and to further lock the clamp 112 about the studs 20. The third leg 182 is made from a integrally formed from steel, aluminum, or another metal or molded as an integral unit from glass filled nylon, or another material.
With reference back to
The clamps 12 and 112 are then placed in the locking position by rotating each of the handles 55 and 155 upwardly as shown by arrow C of
Disassembly of the spring loaded waler bracket assembly 10 according to the present invention is easily accomplished by translating each handle 55 and 155 to the non-clamping configuration (counterclockwise rotation along line D in
Referring to
The clamp member 204 is generally similar to the clamp member or spring 36 of the clamp assembly 10. The illustrated clamp member 204 is formed of an elongated monolithic or one-piece rod of a resilient or spring-like metal which is formed into a substantially planar shape resembling the outline of the letter “L”. The illustrated clamp member 204 has a rectangular or square cross section, but it is foreseen that other cross-sectional shapes could be employed. The clamp member 204 has a lower mounting leg 218 which is pivotally mounted between the plates 208 of the mounting bracket 202 in a manner similar to the way the clamp member 36 is mounted on the connecting arm 28. For example, a disc (not shown) with an aperture may welded to the mounting leg 218 and receive a pivot fastener 220, such as a mounting bolt, which also passes through the mounting plates 208. The pivoting range of the clamp member 204 may be limited, as by contact of components of the clamp member 204 with the cross members 210 and 212.
The illustrated clamp member 204 includes an upper clamping leg 222 having a clamp component or clamp arm 224 with a free end 226 extending approximately parallel to the clamping leg 222. The clamp arm 224 is resiliently movable to toward and away from the clamping leg 222 whereby the clamp arm 224 is able to apply a resiliently biased clamp force against a waler 24 engaged by the clamp assembly 200.
The clamp member 204 is pivotable between a non-clamping position in which the mounting leg 218 engages the cross member 212 and a clamping position in which the mounting leg 218 is angled away from the cross member 212. The clamp member 204 is urged to the clamping position by a wedge or wedge member 230 which is received through one of a set of aligned apertures or slots 232 formed in the mounting plates 208. The illustrated wedge 230 is curved and has an elongated triangular shape. The wedge 230 engages a wedge follower leg 234 of the clamp member 204 to urge the clamp member to the clamping position.
In use, the waler clamp assembly 200 is secured to the vertical stud 20 of a form panel 18. A waler 24 and/or 24′ is positioned in contact with upper edges of the mounting plates 208 with the clamp member 204 in the non-clamping position. The clamp member 204 may be pivoted toward the clamping position somewhat to enable a wedge member 230 to be inserted into an aligned set of wedge slots 232. The wedge member 230 is then hammered into the slots 232 to raise the clamp member 204 into the clamping position such that the clamp arm 224 is resiliently biased against the waler 24/24′ to releasably secure it against a form panel 18. To release the waler 24/24′, the wedge member 232 is hammered in the opposite direction to enable the clamp member 204 to fall back to the non-clamping position. The clamp assembly 200 may include a means to limit flexure of the clamp arm 224, such as a limit stub 235 which extends upwardly from the wedge follower leg 234 of the clamp member 204. Although not shown, the wedged clamp assembly 200 may incorporate an alignment or guide structure similar to the alignment arms 56 of the clamp assembly 10, described above.
The clamp member 244 is similar in construction and form to the clamp member or spring 36 and is formed of a resilient or spring-like material, such as a spring steel alloy. The illustrated clamp member 244 is formed from an elongated rod which is bent or formed to a substantially planar shape resembling an outline of the letter “L”. The clamp member 244 shown is formed from a rod having a circular cross section; however, it is foreseen that other cross sectional shapes would be appropriate. The clamp member includes a lower, horizontally extending mounting leg 250 and an upper, vertically extending clamping leg 252. The mounting leg 250 is fixedly secured to the mounting bracket 242, as by welding. It should be noted that the clamping member 244, as a whole, is not movable with respect to the mounting bracket 242. The illustrated mounting leg 250 is welded to a cylindrical member 254 which is then welded to the mounting bracket 242.
The clamping leg 252 includes a clamping arm 258 which is positioned for resiliently biased engagement with a waler 24/24′. The clamping arm 258 has a lower free-end 260 which enables the clamping arm to resiliently flex within the plane of the clamping member 244. The clamp member 244 may include a limit stub 262. The limit stub 262 may include a U-shaped alignment structure 264, similar to the alignment arms 56 of the assembly 10, described above.
The clamp assembly 240 may include a brace structure 268 to reinforce the assembly. The illustrated brace structure 268 includes a cross member 270 secured to the mounting bracket 242, as by welding, and an L-shaped brace member 272 which is welded to the cross member 270. The brace member 272 is preferably formed of a resilient material, such as a spring steel, and is illustrated to be a rod member formed to the L-shape. An upper leg of the brace member 272 has a cylindrical abutment member 274 welded thereto and bears against the mounting bracket 242. The clamp assembly 240 is somewhat planar in construction, and the brace structure 268 provides the clamp assembly as a whole with resistance against twisting and other kinds of undesired deformations during use.
In use, the fixed clamp assembly 240 is secured to a stud 20 of a form panel 18, using a fastener 248 through the mounting bracket 242. The mounting bracket 242 and the mounting leg 250 of the clamp member 244 form a support surface 276 having a length, as mounted, which is slightly less than the width of the walers 24/24′ to be used. Thus, the walers 24/24′ must be forced into engagement with the support surface 276 against the resilient resistance of the clamping arm 258. This may be accomplished using a mallet or a hammer to force the walers 24/24′ into place. A separate piece of wood (not shown) may be used to avoid damage to the walers 24/24′. The walers 24/24′ are held in place by the resilient biasing force of the clamping arm 258. The walers 24/24′ may be removed from the clamp assembly 240 by being hammered out of engagement with the clamp arm 258. It should be noted that the clamp assemblies 240 are normally used in sets of at least two assemblies 240.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.
