Concrete wall form with flexible tie system

A concrete wall form that can readily be used with different types of form ties systems to construct parallel form sections for receiving poured concrete. The form includes first and second tie rod engaging portions configured to receive first and second types of tie rods, respectively. In one aspect of the invention, the first tie rod engaging portion is configured to receive frangible tie rods in the form of elongate wires or flat strips. In another aspect of the invention, the second tie rod engaging portion is configured to receive tie rods having threaded bars that extend through tubes and between parallel wall form sections.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present invention pertains to apparatus for forming concrete structures, and more particularly to concrete wall forms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Concrete wall forms are well known in the art and generally comprise a series of form sections which may be joined together in an edge-to-edge relationship and arranged in a spaced, parallel arrangement with respect to a second series of form sections to define a space for receiving poured wet concrete therebetween. One particular type of wall form shown and described herein, comprises a composite form having a metal frame and a planar facing member secured to the frame. The frame may be of steel or aluminum and the facing member generally comprises a laminated plywood panel sized to fit the frame. Examples of this type of form have been manufactured and sold by Symons Corporation of Des Plaines, Ill. under the trademarks STEEL-PLY® and ALISPLY™. Because these forms are relatively light in weight, they are particularly suited to use where the forms are handled manually, such as in the construction of residential structures for example.

In use, the spaced parallel form sections are maintained in their proper relationship by tie rods which span the space between the parallel form sections and are secured to the oppositely facing forms. One type of tie system commonly used in the United States utilizes frangible tie rods formed from metal wire or flat metal strips, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,580,330 and 2,948,045, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These frangible ties generally have reduced portions along their length that define opposed ends which may be broken off and removed from the cured concrete structure while a central portion of the tie remains embedded therein. A different type of tie system, which is popular in European countries, as well as in Canada and South America, utilizes a threaded bar which extends between the parallel form sections. The threaded bar may be secured to the respective forms by a nut tightened over the threaded bar. The bar passes through a tube, generally formed from PVC, and the tube protects the threaded rod from contact with the poured concrete. After the concrete has cured, the tube remains embedded in the concrete structure but the bar may be removed for subsequent use.

While both types of tie systems have been used for many years, prior concrete forms are generally configured to utilize only one type or the other. Accordingly, contractors or builders are limited to using the tie system to which their forms have been manufactured for use. Therefore, if it is desired to utilize a different tie system, either because of customer requirements or otherwise, the forms must be significantly modified or else new forms purchased to accommodate the desired tie system.

There is thus a need for a concrete form which is capable of utilizing various form tie systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a concrete wall form that can be used with different types of form tie systems to mold concrete wall structures. The form has a frame that supports a facing member which defines an interface barrier with poured concrete. Series of forms may be arranged edge-to-edge and placed in a spaced, parallel arrangement with an oppositely facing series of forms to define a space for receiving poured concrete. The ties extend between the oppositely facing forms to maintain a spacing which corresponds to a desired wall thickness.

The form includes a first tie rod engaging portion that is configured to receive a first type of tie rod, and a second tie rod engaging portion that is configured to receive a second type of tie rod. In one aspect of the invention, the first tie rod engagement portion comprises a series of notches formed into the frame. When several forms are assembled together, corresponding notches on adjacent forms register with one another to define apertures through which tie rods of the first type may be inserted to extend between oppositely facing forms. Thereafter, the ends of the tie rods are secured to the respective forms to fix the forms in position. In an exemplary embodiment, the first type of tie rod is in the form of an elongate wire or a flat strip of material, typical of the tie rods commonly used in the United States.

In another aspect of the invention, the second tie rod engaging portion comprises a plate attached to the frame near the first tie rod engagement portion and is used in conjunction with a bracket that is coupled to the frame to support the second type of tie rod. In an exemplary embodiment, the second type of tie rod includes a threaded bar which extends between parallel forms and which is typical of tie rods commonly used in Europe, Canada, and South America. Accordingly, the plate and bracket each have apertures sized to receive the threaded bar. The concrete wall form of the present invention may thus be used with the first type of tie rods, as described above, and when it is desired to use the second type of tie rod, brackets are easily coupled to the form for use in conjunction with the plates to support the second type of tie rod.

The features and objectives of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, there are shown portions of exemplary concrete forms10of the present invention arranged edge-to-edge and also in a spaced, confronting arrangement with respect to a second group of edge aligned exemplary concrete forms10to define a space for receiving poured concrete, as known in the art and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,045. The exemplary forms10comprise a frame12including vertical and horizontal marginal frame members14defining a rectangular structure, and horizontal and/or vertical reinforcing members16extending between the marginal frame members, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,948,045 and 4,030,694 and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In the partial view illustrated inFIG. 1, only the vertical marginal frame members14and horizontal reinforcing members16are visible. The form10further includes a facing member18secured to the frame12to define an interface for molding the poured concrete. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the marginal frame members14are formed with a recess20for receiving the facing member18such that a surface of the facing member that contacts the poured concrete is flush with edge surfaces of the marginal framing members14.

The marginal framing members14further include first tie rod engaging portions22configured to receive tie rods26of the type commonly used in the United States, as described above. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first tie rod engaging portions22comprise a series of notches24formed into the outer perimeter of the marginal framing members14and sized to receive frangible ties28of the first type of tie rod26. When the forms10are arranged edge-to-edge, notches24in adjacent marginal frame members14are in registration with one another, whereby the ties28may be inserted through an aperture30defined by adjacent notches24to extend between parallel form sections, as described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,045. As depicted inFIG. 1, the tie rods26may include cone-shaped devices32which help to prevent shifting of the ties28inserted between the form sections10and also facilitate removal of the breakable ends of the tie rod26after the concrete has cured and the form sections10have been removed.

Referring now toFIGS. 1A,2, and3, the concrete forms10of the present invention are shown with a second type of tie rod installed between parallel form sections10. As seen in this embodiment, the concrete form10of the present invention further includes second tie rod engaging portions40configured to receive a second type of tie rod42, to enable the form10to be used with an alternative tie system. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second tie rod engagement portions40comprise plates44attached to the frame12near the notches24of the first tie rod engagement portions22. The plates44may be welded to the frame12at the intersection of vertical marginal frame members14and horizontal reinforcing members16, or may be fixed to the frame12by other attachment methods, or alternatively, formed integrally with the frame12.

In the exemplary embodiment, this second type of tie system42includes a threaded rod46which extends between oppositely facing form sections10through a tube48which is disposed between the parallel form sections10. The threaded rod46extends through an opening19(seeFIG. 2) in facing member18and an aperture50formed in the plate44attached to the frame12, and tube48abuts the facing member18such that it is clamped between the opposed forms10when the forms10are drawn together to define the space for receiving poured concrete.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1A,2and3, the exemplary form10further includes bracket assemblies52which may be coupled to the frame12to engage the first and second tie rod engaging portions22,40whereby the brackets52are used in conjunction with the second tie rod engaging portions40to support the threaded rods46extending between the parallel form sections10. The brackets52include bracket plates54having apertures56corresponding to the apertures50on plates44and sized to receive the threaded rods46therethrough. The brackets52further include first and second leg members58,60which extend from the bracket plates54. The first leg members58are configured to be received in the apertures30formed by the notches24of adjacent frame members12and the second leg members60contact the plates44of the second tie rod engaging portions40. Advantageously, washers62and nuts64may be installed over the distal ends of the threaded bars46(only one end being shown) extending through the bracket assemblies52, whereupon tightening of the nuts64draws opposing form sections10together until the members18clamp against the tubes48.

The second type of tie rod system42may further include sealing cones66inserted in opposite ends of the tubes48. The sealing cones66have annular apertures68through which the threaded bars46protrude and an enlarged portion70which extends radially beyond the outer diameter of the tubes48such that the cones66are compressed between the tubes48and members18when opposing wall forms10are drawn together. Arranged in this manner, the sealing cones66prevent leakage of poured concrete through the openings19.

The second type of tie system shown in the exemplary embodiment is a type commonly used in Europe, Canada, and South America. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, that the second tie rod engaging portions40illustrated herein could alternatively be used to accommodate various other types of tie systems known in the art, such as she-bolts and threaded taper ties.

The concrete form10described above can readily be used with various types of tie systems to create parallel sections for receiving poured concrete. In the embodiments shown and described herein, a first type of tie rod26may be inserted through apertures30defined by notches24in adjacent forms to extend between the parallel sections. When it is desired to utilize the second type of tie rod42, the bracket assemblies52may be easily coupled to the frames12of the forms10to support the second type of tie rod42.