A terminal tool for prop with variable inclination

Abstract

 A prop (1) for shoring structures, in particular forms for concrete castings, particularly useful in the case of structures having an inclined surface relative to the ground. The props comprises a rod (2) with adjustable length and it is provided with a head (8) pivotingly engaged to the rod, through a rotating element (12). The placement of the prop (1) takes place by setting the prop in the vertical position relative to the ground, adapting the head (8) to the inclined surface of the structure to be supported and locking such configuration of the head (8) with appropriate fastening means (13), operating on the rotating element (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a prop for shoring structures, in particular forms for concrete castings, of the type having the characteristics expressed in the preamble to claim 1.

[0002] As is well known, on construction sites forms for concrete castings are supported by means of props.

[0003] Said props are constituted by a rod with adjustable length, presenting at the lower end a base on the ground able to provide stability to the prop and at the upper end a bearing surface for sustaining the normal wooden planks which usually constitute the form for concrete castings.

[0004] If the prop has to support castings that present an inclined surface relative to the horizon, it is necessary to insert a wedge between the ground and the base of the inclined prop so as to allow the support of the structure; in this way the prop is oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the structure to be shored and therefore its own axis is inclined relative to the perpendicular to the ground.

[0005] The prior art summarised above has several drawbacks.

[0006] The props placed according to this technique are subjected to shearing stresses; this stress condition may cause harmful collapses in the supporting structure, which lead to have misshapen castings or even collapses in the shored construction, with the deriving very severe safety risks.

[0007] To contrast these shearing stresses, it becomes necessary to apply fastening systems between wedge and prop, such as nails, to prevent the prop to move under load, and this causes placement to be impractical.

[0008] A further drawback is the fact that for each different possible inclination of the face of the casting to be shored, a wedge with a different angle is required on a case by case basis; this leads to obvious extensions in the time required to set up the support structure and to additional costs for the material from which the wedges are to be obtained according to present needs.

[0009] In this situation, the general aim of the present invention is to devise a prop, which is not subject to shearing stresses, improving the stability of the support structure.

[0010] Another aim of the present invention is to achieve considerable flexibility and ease of use in the placement of structures having particular inclinations relative to the ground.

[0011] A further aim is to obtain a prop for shoring structures, in particular forms for concrete castings, characterised by its constructive simplicity and reduced construction cost.

[0012] The specified aims are substantially achieved by a prop for shoring structures, in particular forms for concrete castings, having the characteristics described in the characterising part of claim 1.

[0013] The description shall be provided hereafter, purely by way of non limiting indicative example, of a prop for shoring structures according to the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned front view of the invention applied to a prop;
• Figure 2 shows a front view of the prop in different operative positions;
• Figure 3 highlights a constructive detail of the tools shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 shows a top view of the invention; and
• Figure 5 and Figure 6 show two possible application solutions of the invention.

[0014] With reference to the aforementioned figures, the prop according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1. The prop comprises a rod 2, constituted by a first tubular body 3 ending at a lower extremity with a base 15 for bearing on the ground and at the other extremity with a thread obtained on the outer surface and by a second tubular body 4; the rod further comprises means 5 for locking and adjusting the height of the rod itself, embodied for instance by a pin operatively engaged in through transverse holes drilled on the second tubular body 4 and an internally threaded sleeve provided with handles, operatively connected to the external threading of the first tubular body 3 and against whose upper rim the aforesaid pin engages by interference. The rod lastly comprises a substantially rod-shaped portion 6 whose cross section is counter-shaped to the inner section of the second tubular body 4, presenting a check expansion 7 preferably obtained in proximity with its own centreline, advantageously mounted in such a way as to prevent the rod-shaped portion from sliding along the second tubular body beyond the desired relative position. The rod-shaped portion 6 bears, in the non-engaged extremity inside the second tubular body 4, a through hole 16 oriented normally to the longitudinal axis of the rod 2.

[0015] A head 8 is pivotingly engaged on the rod-shaped portion 6; the head comprises at least a substantially polygonal, preferably rectangular, bearing surface 9, and a connecting element 10 rigidly connected to the bearing surface 9. On the face of the bearing surface 9 that supports the structure to be shored are present means 11 to increase the friction existing between the upper face and the surface of the structure in contact with the head 8, for instance projections 14 obtained by drawing or punching the bearing surface 9 of the head itself. The connecting element 10 is rigidly connected to the bearing surface 9 of the head and presents at least two symmetrical expansions developing along parallel planes perpendicularly to the bearing surface 9; each of these expansions presents a central hole 17 whose normal axis coincides with the axis of the hole obtained in the rod-shaped portion 6.

[0016] In correspondence with the hole 16 obtained on the rod-shaped portion 6 is operatively engaged an element 12 rotating about at least an axis, preferably constituted by a through pivot pin; the rotation of the head 8 about the rotating element 12 can be stopped by fastening means 13 operatively engaged on the rotating element 12, for instance a nut engaged on a threaded extremity of the through pivot pin.

[0017] In reference to Figure 4, the operative connection between rod-shaped portion 6 and head 8 is obtained by mounting the through pivot pin 12 through the hole 16 on the rod-shaped portion and the holes 17 on the parallel expansions of the connecting element 10, so as to maintain the rod-shaped portion 6 inside the expansions of the connecting element 10. This constructive architecture advantageously allows the rotation of the head 8 about the axis of the through pivot pin 12 without interference with the rod-shaped portion 6.

[0018] The placement of a prop according to the invention calls for setting the prop perpendicularly to the ground, adapting the head 8 to the inclined surface of the structure to be shored and subsequently preventing the rotation of the head itself, for instance by tightening the nut to the thread obtained on the through pivot pin.

[0019] The invention achieves important advantages.

[0020] First of all, it should be noted that the tool according to the invention is easy and economical to construct, the described piece being very simple to manufacture and no particularly scarce materials being required; moreover, from constructive and structural simplicity stems a high degree of reliability of the components, in relation to the heavy duty usage they are subjected to within the context of construction work.

[0021] Another important advantage resides in the fact that the invention, installed on traditional props, allows to unload all forces transmitted by the structure to be shored along the axial direction of the prop itself, avoiding the occurrence of shearing stress in the prop and thereby preventing the aforementioned problems from arising, thus guaranteeing a high degree of safety of the structure to be shored.

[0022] The fact that the props, once placed, are oriented according to the vertical to the ground eliminates the need for longitudinal fastening measures, which instead were necessary when using wedges.

[0023] A further advantage achieved by the invention resides in the fact that the bearing surface allows a multiplicity of possible inclinations, as can be observed from Figures 5 and 6, and this translates into the possibility of successively applying the same prop to castings having different geometric characteristics without having to prepare differently sized wedges each time; the ease with which the support element can be adjusted, coupled with the aforementioned independence of the prop fitted with the invention from additional fastening means, also allows for very quick placement and dismantlement.

Claims

1. A prop for shoring structures, in particular forms for concrete castings, comprising a rod (2) having a base (15) for bearing on the ground and a head (8) for supporting the structure, characterised in that said head (8) is pivotingly engaged to said rod (2).

2. A prop as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said head (8) comprises at least a bearing surface (9) to support said structure and at least a connecting element (10) for connection to the rod (2).

3. A prop as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said rod (8) has, on the bearing surface (9), means (11) for increasing the friction between said bearing surface (9) and said structure to be shored.

4. A prop as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said means (11) for increasing friction are obtained with projections (14) protruding from the bearing surface (9).

5. A prop as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said projections (14) are obtained by the deformation of said bearing surface (9).

6. A prop as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said projections (14) are obtained by drawing or punching said bearing surface (9).

7. A prop as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said head (8) is pivotingly mounted on the rod (2) by means of an element (12) rotating about at least one axis.

8. A prop as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said rotating element (12) is obtained by means of an articulated joint.

9. A prop as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said rotating element (12) is obtained by means of a pivot pin that connects the head (8) to the rod (2).

10. A prop as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said rotating element (12) presents fastening means (13) to lock the bearing surface (9) of the head (8) according to a predetermined inclination relative to the rod (2).

11. A prop as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said rod (2) comprises a first tubular body (3) culminating at a lower end in said base (15) for bearing on the ground and a second tubular body (4), having an end connected to said head (8) and able to be inserted telescopically into said first tubular body (3) and means (5) for locking and adjusting said first body (3) and said second body (4) in a predetermined relative position.

12. A prop as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that said second tubular body (4) comprises a rod-shaped portion (6) connected to said head (8), removably engaged to the upper end of said second tubular body (4) and having a check expansion (7) to maintain said rod-shaped portion in a predetermined relative position.

Drawing