Patent Abstract:
This disclosure relates to a frame for use with formwork to support the formwork for concrete casting and for stripping formwork from a concrete surface. The formwork is secured to the frame assembly such that the level at which the formwork is supported by the framework is adjustable so as to be movable between at least a first level above a floor surface selected for concrete casting, and a second level where the formwork is either away from the cured concrete (i.e. stripped) or unsupported by the frame assembly. The disclosure provides a means of both supporting formwork during concrete casting as well as a means of stripping the formwork after the concrete is cast. An associated method is also disclosed.

Full Description:
[0001]    This disclosure relates to a frame assembly for supporting concrete casting formwork, and a method of stripping the formwork from a formed concrete surface. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to be construed as an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. 
         [0003]    In known building practice, formwork is assembled on a surface or on a lower floor level to form the next level of the building above. The formwork includes box forms to create columns, table forms to form concrete beams extending between the columns and lost formwork to fill the regions between the beams. 
         [0004]    Lost formwork and the table forms are normally held in position by scaffolding. The scaffolding is assembled on to the surface or floor below with the lost formwork and table forms being supported on the scaffolding. The table forms are lowered in to position on to the scaffolding by cranes. 
         [0005]    The lost formwork comprises rolled sheet metal sections which are left place after the concrete sets. 
         [0006]    The table forms normally have plywood surfaces against which the concrete is poured. A series of joists are spaced along the underneath surface of the plywood and further bearers are located under the joists which locate on the scaffolding to support the formwork. 
         [0007]    The scaffolding is strong enough to support concrete which is then poured on to the formwork to create the next floor above. Once this concrete is set, and becomes self supporting, then the scaffolding and formwork can be removed from beneath. 
         [0008]    Normally, scissor lift mechanisms or platforms are used to support the table forms while the scaffolding is removed. The table form formwork is then prised away from the concrete surface and lowered to ground level. All the components are stacked for the removal from the building site by forklift and crane. 
         [0009]    It has been proposed to use carriage systems to replace scaffolding for the purpose of raising and lowering of concrete formwork. An example of such a carriage system is illustrated in British Patent No. GB 1052097. According to this specification, the formwork can be raised to the required position and supported there while the concrete is poured on above. Once the concrete is set, then the concrete formwork is removed. 
         [0010]    However, a significant problem with such a carriage system remains the adherence of the formwork to the cured concrete surface. Often, the formwork must still be manually prized away from the surface of the cured concrete. This is not only time consuming, but potentially hazardous for those doing the prizing. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the present disclosure therefore to substantially ameliorate the above described difficulties, or at least to provide a formwork support arrangement that is a useful alternative to known arrangements. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0013]    For the purpose of this specification the word “comprising” means “including but not limited to”, and the word ‘comprises’ has a corresponding meaning. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0014]    Accordingly, in one aspect of this disclosure, there is a frame assembly for supporting concrete formwork, the formwork being secured to the frame assembly so that the level at which the formwork is supported by the framework is adjustable, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart legs, and at least one adjustable foot assembly associated with at least one of the legs, the or each adjustable foot assembly being adapted to selectively extend or retract relative to its associated leg or legs. 
         [0015]    In one form, there are at least three spaced apart legs, and an adjustable foot assembly located at or near each of the legs, each adjustable foot assembly being adapted to selectively extend or retract relative to its respective leg. 
         [0016]    In one form, the or each foot assembly is adapted to provide for fine adjustment of this relative to its respective leg. 
         [0017]    In one form, in an alternative, a cross bar may extend between a pair of legs, and at least one foot assembly is adapted to selectively extend or retract relative to this cross bar. 
         [0018]    In one form, each foot assembly is adapted to provide for fine adjustment of this relative to its respective leg. 
         [0019]    In one form, each foot assembly is adapted to be raised or lowered into or out of ground or floor engaging position. 
         [0020]    In one form, the frame assembly defines an uppermost surface to which the formwork is secured, and this uppermost surface may be levelled by adjusting the foot assemblies. 
         [0021]    In one form, the uppermost surface of the frame assembly is rectilinear and the frame assembly comprises a leg and foot assembly located at or toward each corner. 
         [0022]    In one form, the frame comprises a lower frame portion that may be floor or ground engaging and an upper frame portion that is moveable up or down with respect to the lower frame portion. 
         [0023]    In one form, the lower frame portion has four tubular legs and the upper portion has four legs, each one of which locates within and moves up and down telescopically with respect to a leg of the lower portion. 
         [0024]    In one form, a hydraulic actuator is positioned between the upper and lower frames to move the upper frame portion relative to the lower frame portion. 
         [0025]    In one form, two hydraulic actuators are provided at opposing sides of the frame. 
         [0026]    In one form, the frame assembly further comprises ground engaging wheel assemblies that can be raised or lowered into or out of ground or floor engaging position, and which can support the frame to enable it to be moved when ground engaging. 
         [0027]    In one form, there is a wheel assembly at or near each leg. 
         [0028]    In one form, the wheels are castor wheels. 
         [0029]    In a further aspect, the disclosure may include a method of stripping formwork from a cured concrete casting supported thereby whilst curing, the method employing a formwork supporting frame assembly as described above, the method being characterised in that it includes the steps of: retracting each foot relative to its respective leg until the formwork is unsupported by the frame assembly and may fall away from the cured concrete under the effect of the combined weight of the formwork and frame assembly. 
         [0030]    In a further aspect the disclosure may include a frame assembly for supporting concrete formwork, where the formwork is secured to the frame assembly such that the level at which the formwork is supported by the framework is adjustable so as to be movable between at least a first level above a floor surface selected for concrete casting and a second level where the formwork is either away from the cured concrete or unsupported by the frame assembly. 
         [0031]    In a further aspect the disclosure may include a method of stripping formwork from a cured concrete casting supported thereby whilst curing, the method employing a formwork supporting frame assembly as described directly above, the method being characterised in that it includes the steps of adjusting the level at which the formwork is supported by the frame assembly until the formwork is unsupported by the frame assembly and may fall away from the cured concrete under the effect of the combined weight of the formwork and frame assembly. 
         [0032]    The invention will have numerous applications in the forming of concrete. The invention is equally suited to the formation of vertical surfaces as well as horizontal surfaces but the invention is particularly suited to the formation of horizontal concrete members such as floors in a multi-storey building. The frame may comprise a lower frame portion that is floor or ground engaging and an upper support portion that is moveable up or down in relation to the lower frame portion. The upper support portion is designed to support and hold the concrete formwork in its first uppermost position and to allow lowering of the formwork to the second position by moving the upper support portion with respect to the lower frame portion. 
         [0033]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0034]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         [0035]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, to recognise that the claims should be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    For a better understanding of this disclosure it will now be described with respect to an exemplary embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a frame assembly for supporting formwork; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 2   a , and  2   b  show side elevation views of lower frame and upper support portions used to support the table formwork support in extended and retracted positions; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the frame assembly supporting formwork and concrete cast therein; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the frame assembly stripped (i.e. separated by distance A) from the cured cast concrete; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  shows detail of a corner leg on the lower frame portion and a tubular support of the upper frame engaging a leg on the lower frame; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a part underside view of the formwork support, the upper tube of the hydraulic actuator and the brace; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a detail view illustrating a castor wheel and jacking support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , where there is illustrated a table form frame assembly  10  on which plywood formwork is placed and secured by using fasteners or clips to form a surface for casting concrete. The frame assembly  10  is rectangular and has perimeter beams  11  between which a plurality of joists  12  extend. End beams  13  are parallel to the joists  12  and are secured to the perimeter beams  11 . A pair of joist bearers  14  that are parallel and spaced inwardly from the perimeter beams  11  are located underneath the joists  12  and are used to support the framework  10 . 
         [0045]    The lower frame portion  16  comprises four corner legs  17  of square tubing. End and side rails  18 ,  19  extend between each of the corner legs  17  and are welded to the upper ends of the corner legs  17 . Batons  20  are welded at each end to the corner leg  17  and a respective end or side rail  18 ,  19  to provide bracing support for the corner legs  17  with respect to the end and side rails  18 ,  19 . 
         [0046]    Below the end rails  18  at each end of the lower frame portions  16 , there is a pair of lower rails  21  welded on either side at their ends to the corner legs  17 . 
         [0047]    The upper support portion  23  comprises four tubular supports  24  which are telescopically located within each of the corner legs  17 . The supports  24  at each end of the lower frame portions  16  have a beam  25  extending between and secured to the upper ends of the supports  24 . A bracket  26  is provided at the top of each support  24  to which the beam  25  is secured to by a removable metal pin  27 . The bracket  26  supports both the beam  25  and the joist bearers  14 . The joist bearers  14  are also releasably secured with respect to the bracket  26 . 
         [0048]    In this manner, the framework  10  is supported by and secured to the upper support portion  23  and the upper support portion  23  is in turn supported by the lower frame portion  16 . A hydraulic actuator  30  is provided at each end of the lower frame portion  16 . The hydraulic actuator  30  comprises a hydraulic cylinder (not drawn) which is located within two telescoping tubular portions. These tubular portions comprise a lower tube  31  and an upper tube  32  that telescopically slides within the lower tube  31 . 
         [0049]    One end of the hydraulic cylinder is secured with respect to the lower end of the lower tube  31  and the upper end of the ram that extends out of the hydraulic cylinder is secured internally to the upper end of the upper tube  32 . The lower tube  31  is secured between the rails  21  and the upper end of the upper tube  32  is secured via a bracket  33  to the beam  25 . The hydraulic actuators  30  are shown in their fully extended positions in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   b  and in their fully contracted positions in  FIGS. 2   a  and  3   a . The hydraulic actuators  30  are used to extend the upper support portion  23  upwardly with respect to the lower frame portion  16 . They may also be used to provide a downward force to the upper support portion  23  when the framework  10  is to be pulled away from the concrete surface, however this is rarely necessary. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the supports  24  may comprise a lowered tube portion  39  and an upper tube portion  40  that telescopically slides within the lower tube portion  39 . The lower tube portion  39  and upper tube portion  40  are provided with apertures through which pins may locate to hold the upper tube portion  40  with respect to lower tube portion  39 . This enables the height of the upper support portion  23  to be increased or decreased to suit varying heights between floors of different types of buildings. Further, the lower tube portion  39  has a number of apertures  41  along its length through which a pin may locate to secure the supports  24  with respect to each corner leg  17 . This enables the load of the upper support portion  23  to be supported by these pin joints rather than on the hydraulic actuators  30  alone. 
         [0051]    Brackets  43  are located at each end of each of the end rails  18 . These brackets  43  have an aperture therein which enable adjacent lower frame portions  16  to be secured with respect to one another. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a pair of castor wheel assemblies  45  are positioned between the rails  21  at each end of the lower frame portions  16 . Each of the castor wheels  46  are attached to the lower end of a post  47  which in turn locates through a collar  48 . The collar  48  is welded to both of the rails  21  and the post  47  has a series of apertures  49  which align with a corresponding aperture in collar  48  which enables pinning of the post  47  at different heights. 
         [0053]    When the hydraulic actuator  30  pulls the upper support portion  23  downwardly, the supports  24 , in their lower most position project from the lower ends of the legs  17 . This lifts the legs  17  clear of the support surface. In this position, the post  47  can be dropped so that the castor wheel  46  engages the support surface and the post  47  can be pinned in place. The hydraulic actuator  30  is then operated to raise the upper support portion  23  slightly so that the ends of the supports  24  are no longer in engagement with the ground surface. With the ends of the legs  17  clear of the ground surface, the lower frame portion  16  can be moved around readily on the castor wheels  46 . 
         [0054]    As can be seen from the above description, the combination of the lower frame portion  16  and upper support portion  23  make it very simple to bring into position the table form framework  10  prior to concrete being poured. The castor wheels  46  enable easy movement and positioning of the table form framework  10  at its elevated first position. The castor wheel assemblies  45  can be raised so that the lower frame portion  16  is supported by the corner legs  17  on the floor or ground surface. 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  illustrates the foot assemblies  50  in detail; the foot assemblies  50  are secured between the rails  21 . Each foot assembly  50  is adapted to extend and retract relative to a nearby leg  17  to enable fine adjustment of the level of the frame assembly  10  at each corner of the lower frame portion  16 . Each foot assembly  50  includes a threaded foot  52  that can be screwed into or out of a support  54  so as to extend or retract the foot  52  relative to both the support  54  and the remainder of the frame assembly  10 . This enables fine adjustments to be made to bring the framework  10  to an exact level position prior to pouring of the concrete. This means that the load of the formwork and frame  10  is supported by the foot assemblies  50 . 
         [0056]    With reference now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , where, after pouring and curing of the concrete, the frame assembly  10  and the formwork  60  supported and retained thereby can be easily stripped away from the concrete surface  62  by retracting the foot assemblies  50  by turning the lead screw  56  for each foot assembly  50  both slightly and gradually until the feet  52  of the formwork supporting frame assembly  10  are clear of the floor surface and the formwork and formwork supporting frame assembly  10  to which the formwork is secured, can fall away from the cured concrete under the effect of the combined weight of the formwork and frame assembly. 
         [0057]    When the upper support portion  23  is subsequently returned to its second lower position then the whole assembly can be wheeled easily to the periphery of the building for it to be hoisted to the next level as required. A number of these frame assemblies  10  comprising a lower frame portion  16  and the upper support portion  23  can be assembled together to form the necessary table form between columns which as described above can be quickly positioned prior to concrete being poured and then quickly removed after the concrete has set. 
         [0058]    Although the disclosure has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4