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 applied 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 provided 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 supporting panels of another type, because of the presence of the raised edge which constituted an obstruction to the circumferential 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 designed for one or more first accomodating means located between the center line of the drophead and the vertical projection of the external edge of the top plate of said drophead.
Another advantage is obtained in a prefferred embodiment 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

[0001] This 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 provided with holding means and also each end of a beam being connectable to said drophead is provided with a hooking means enabling such interconnection. Present decking systems with dropheads distinguish between systems having beams and panels consisting of a frame with a nesting form panel and systems having longitudinal and cross beams respectively supporting form panels. In the latter systems 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.

[0002] 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 are unsuitable for supporting panels because of the presence of the raised edge which constitutes a hindrance to the panel edges. 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 form panel. While using the previously mentioned systems using panels, mostly such panels are hooked down Nith their edges upon projections being provided on the supporting flanges of the support beam.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to obtain a decking system or formwork whereby the dropheads and the longitudinal beams can be used both for the support of form 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.

[0004] According to the invention in a decking system a drophead for supporting said beam's end provision is made for one or more first accomodating means located between the center line of the drophead and the vertical projection of the external edge of the top plate of said drophead.

[0005] According to the invention it is also preferred that 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.

[0006] According to the invention in a preferred decking system the supporting flanges of the longitudinal beams, enabling for support of the cross beams, are provided with second accomodating means located between the center line of the beam and the vertical projection of its upper edge.

[0007] It is also advantageous if according to the invention in a decking system the second accomodating means are shaped as a raised edge upon which said cross beam ends can be hooked down.

[0008] The longitudinal beam can be made from a profile on both sides being provided with a supporting flange having a raised edge and whereby these edges have a mutual distance which is less than the full width at the top side of the beam. Such edges may also be provided on the drophead thereby creating a continuous raised edge upon which the cross beams can be hooked down at will.

[0009] The ends of the supporting flanges may be provided with protrusions for taking up form panels. The application of longitudinal beams and dropheads according to the invention now provides for the uniform use of both form panels and cross beams together with form sheets. Moreover all gutters, formed by the raised edges for accomodating the cross beams are now protected against concrete clogging by the presence of the broader top flange of the longitudinal beam.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the decking system of the invention will now be described.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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 accomodating form panels 4.

[0013] To prevent slipping off of the panels 14 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] The longitudinal beam 1 and the drophead 2 are each provided with a top flange 9 and a top plate 10 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] Insofar as in the foregoing description reference is made to protrusions, it will be understood that any other device may be adopted causing a similar function to unite and thereby lock elements of structural systems for working loads as will be generally applicable for decking systems.

Claims

1. 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 provided with holding means and also each end of a beam being connectable to said drophead is provided with a hooking means enabling such interconnection, characterized in that for supporting said beam's end there are provided one or more first accomodating means located between the center line of the drophead and the vertical projection of the external edge of the top plate of said drophead.

2. Decking system according to claim 1, charcterized in that each longitudinal beam on each one of its sides is provided with a supporting flange which extends, in a direction to the center line and beyond the vertical projection of the top edge of said longitudinal beam.

3. Decking system according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the supporting flanges of the longitudinal beams, to enable for support of the cross beams, are provided with second accomodating means located between the center line of the beam and the vertical projection of its upper edge.

4. Decking system according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the second accomodating means are shaped as a raised edge upon which said cross beams can be hooked.

5. Longitudinal beam for use with a decking system according to anyone of the foregoing claims, characterized in that second accomodating means for accomodating cross beam ends are located between its center line and its vertical projection of its upper edge.

6. Drophead for use with a decking system according to anyone of the foregoing claims, characterized in that one or more first accomodating means for accomodating beam ends are located between its center line and its vertical projection of the external edge of its top plate.

Drawing