DECKING SYSTEM

Abstract: Various components in use for present different decking systems unfortunately are not fully interchangeable. Form panels in use for form work cannot always be uniformly app­ lied for as e.g. the circumferential panel edges of certain panels of one decking system constitute an obstruction as they cannot be hooked down while using as a replacement in another decking system. The invention relates to a decking system, comprising longitudinal beams and cross beams which, altogether with decking panels are supported by variable height support standards provided at their top with a drophead unit, wherein at least each drophead at its side facing a beam's end is prov­ ided with holding means and also each end of a beam being connectable to said drophead is provided with a hooking means enabling such interconnection. This can simply take place by a structure enabling the cross beams to be hooked down upon a raised edge provided along both supporting flanges of the longitudinal beams. However such longitudinal beams were unsuitable for sup­ porting panels of another type, because of the presence of the raised edge which constituted an obstruction to the circum­ ferential panel edges. Besides, such edges tend to build a kind of a gutter which is easily clogged by concrete leaking through the abutting joints between an edge of a longitudinal beam and a circumferential edge of a form panel or form sheet. These disadvantages are removed by the novel decking system providing for uniform use of form panels and sheets which can easily be placed in any known decking system which is provided with the invented means. According to the invention in a decking system a drophead for supporting said beam's end provision is des­ igned for one or more first accomodating means located be­ tween the center line of the drophead and the vertical projec­ tion of the external edge of the top plate of said drophead. Another advantage is obtained in a prefferred embodi­ ment wherein each longitudinal beam on each one of its sides is provided with a supporting flange extending in a direction to the center line and beyond the vertical projection of the top edge of said longitudinal beam.

Description: This invention relates to a decking system comprising longitudinal beams supported by variable height support standards, to which cross beams and decking panels are coupled, in which system the upper surfaces of the longitudinal beams, the cross beams, the topplate of the drophead and the panels together form a decking surface for concrete, in which the longitudinal beams represent a profile having a topplate and a lower supporting flange at both longitudinal sides of this beam, wherein the flanges are each provided with a longitudinal raised edge over which the cross beam at its hooked end is hooked for interconnection of the beams and moreover these supporting flanges are formed so as to support the panel at its circumferential rim. Such a system belongs to a generally known state of art for constructors of concrete building floors. In the known system the mutual distance between the cross beams can be chosen at will in order to adapt the distance of support of the form panel to the weight of the supported concrete and the structural strength of the form panel. This can simple take place by a structure enabling the cross beams to be hooked down upon a raised edge provided along both supporting flanges of the longitudinal beams. The known system has several disadvantages. The longitudinal beams are unsuitable for supporting panels because of the presence of the raised edge which constitutes a hindrance to the panel rim. Besides, this edge builds a kind of a gutter which is easily clogged by concrete, leaking through the joint between a longitudinal beam and a panel. While using the previously mentioned system using panels, mostly such panels are hooked down with their rim upon projections, being provided on the supporting flanges of the support beam. It is an object of the invention to obtain a decking system or formwork whereby the longitudinal beams can be used both for the support of panels and also for the support of cross beams in connection with form panels, thereby restricting such previously mentioned disadvantage of concrete leakage as much as possible and furthermore to adapt the profile of the longitudinal beam in such a way that the panels can be carried in spite of the raised edge of this beam. According to the invention now the above decking system is characterised in that the raised edge is located between the vertical centre line of the longitudinal beam and the vertical projection of the external longitudinal edge of the top plate of this beam and that the supporting flange of this beam extends beyond said vertical projection. By adapting the beam's profile in this way the aforementioned problems are solved. It is to be remarked that from EP - A-0022543 a beam is known which can be rotated around its longitudinal axis and in which in one of its positions a flange, for strenghtening purpose of the profile, cooperating with a construction element supports a fixed element not being a layer of concrete. This solution does not teach the anti-leakage element nor the support of a panel. FR-A-1406027 shows a longitudinal beam having openings into which the hookformed beam's end can be inserted so as to couple the beams. In this specification there is no longitudinal beam forming a gutter and no teachings are given on a possible provision of accomodating panels as such. If it is also wished to provide a cross beam to a drophead, parallel to the other cross beams, being connected themselves to the longitudinal beams, it has advantages to provide the drophead itself below its upper topplate with a raised edge, forming a longitudinal extension of the raised edge of the longitudinal beam. An adjustable head is known itself from GB-A-1483667 which has a feature whereby this head is provided with an overlying top plate and which has holding means in which a pin of a beam can be moved in a groove so as to let the head to rotate relative to the beam. Provisions how to arrange the gutter of a longitudinal beam in such a way that no leakage of concrete can occur if the top of the structure is provided with concrete, are not availabele. Preferable the supporting flange in the system according to the invention is provided with elements over which the rim of the frame of the panel can be attached to the beam. A preferred embodiment of the decking system of the invention will now be described. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a longitudinal beam supported at both ends upon a drophead; Fig. 2A is a perspective cross section of the decking system in Fig. 1 seen in the direction of arrow P; Fig. 2B is a perspective cross section according to the line A-A in Fig. 1 showing the support of the form panels upon the longitudinal beam; Fig. 3 is a perspective cross section of Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow P showing the support of a cross beam with form sheets upon the drophead; Fig. 3B is a perspective cross section according to the line A-A in Fig. 1 showing the support of a cross beam and form sheet upon a longitudinal beam. According to Fig. 1-3B the longitudinal beam 1 is supported at both ends by a drophead 2 . The longitudinal beam 1 is at both ends provided with a recess fitting over a protrusion 13 on the drophead 2 thereby obtaining a required structural longitudinal strength. The dropheads 2 are fitted upon decking standards, stuts or props. Both the longitudinal beam 1 and the drophead 2 are provided on both sides with a supporting flange 3 for supporting form panels 4 . To prevent slipping off of the panels 4 and for improving the required structural strength between panels 4 and beams 1 the supporting flanges 3 are provided with locking means 5 . The longitudinal beam 1 and the drophead 2 are on both sides provided with a continuous raised edge 6 . The cross beam 7 hooks down with its hook 8 behind the raised edge 6 giving thereby sufficient structural strength to the decking system. Since the raised edge 6 runs in a continuous way along the entire length, the cross beams 7 can be located at any desired position for supporting the form panel 14 most economically and also to take care of the structural joint between the longitudinal beams 1 and the cross beams 7 . The longitudinal beam 1 and the drophead 2 are each provided with a top flange 9 and a top plate 10 respectively which extend beyond the raised edges 6 . This prevents as much as possible any leakage of concrete through the seam or joint 11 reaching the gutter 12 . Moreover the circumferential panel edges are not obstructed by the raised edge 6 . The longitudinal beam as described can be manufactured from aluminium by the extrusion process enabling easy handling by its low own weight. It may be clear however that although reference has been made in the description to a continuous raised edge 6 , also a discontinuous raised edge could be used to establish sufficient structural strength between the longitudinal and cross beams respectively. In the embodiments as described the cross beams 7 are provided with recesses which enable their hooking down upon the raised edges 6 ; nevertheless the supporting flanges may also be provided with recesses or openings to replace the raised edge whereas the cross beams may be provided with protruding hooks or noses for hooking on.

Claims: Decking system comprising longitudinal beams (1) supported by variable height support standards, provided at their top with a drophead unit, to which cross beams (7) and decking panels (4) are coupled, in which system the upper surfaces of the longitudinal beams (1), the cross beams (7) and the topplate (10) of the drophead (2) and the panels (4) together form a decking surface for concrete, in which the longitudinal beams (1) represent a profile having a topplate (9) and a lower supporting flange (3) at both longitudinal sides of said beam, wherein the lower supporting flanges (3) are each provided with a longitudinal raised edge (6) over which the cross beam (7) at its hooked end (8) is hooked for interconnection of said beams (1,7) and said supporting flanges (3) are formed so as to support the panel (4) at its circumferential rim, characterised in that the raised edge (6) is located between the vertical centre line of the longitudinal beam (1) and the vertical projection of the external longitudinal edge of the top plate (9) of this beam (1), and that the supporting flange (3) of this beam (1) extends beyond said vertical projection. Decking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the drophead at its side facing a cross beam's end, is provided with a lower flange having a raised edge (6), which raised edge forms a longitudinal extention of the raised edge (6) of the longitudinal beam (1). Decking system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the supporting flange (3) is provided with locking elements (5) over which the rim of the frame (4) of the panel can be hooked.

Inventors: DE LEEUW, PETRUS JOHANNES LAMBERTUS
Applicants: DE LEEUW, PETRUS JOHANNES LAMBERTUS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E04G11
IPC codes: E04G11