Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering

Abstract

 The invention concerns a form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering. The panel is characterised in that the working platform consists of flat platform elements (10,11,12) with suspension (21,22), centring (24,25) and fixing means (27,28,29) on the inner support framework of the form adjustable panel and optionally carrying a foldable flap (36) on at least one of the sides thereof, which can partially overlap an adjacent platform element, to obtain continuity of the platform, and in that the support framework of the form adjustable shuttering panel has openings (23,30) for the suspension and fixing of each individual platform element.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering, which provides substantial characteristics of novelty and inventive step.

[0002] As is known, form adjustable panels for curved wall shuttering must combine the ability to adapt their external form to allow curved wall shuttering of different radii of curvature and at the same time they must also allow working platforms to be connected to the inner portion to solve the problem arising from the differing curvature of the panel according to the application. This has given rise to different systems for the formation and assembly of the service platforms for said panels, which are based fundamentally on the special adaptation of the platform to each different curvature of the panel by means of variable additions, which may be of wood, to obtain access platforms for workers adapted to the different curvatures of the shuttering panel.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to disclose form adjustable shuttering panels for curved wall shuttering in which the service platforms for workers automatically adapt themselves to the different curvatures of the panel, without the need to carry out any special work to adapt the platform to the panel.

[0004] Another object of the present invention consists of obtaining a form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering in which the access platforms for workers can be constructed quickly and easily by connecting individual directly adaptable elements to the inner girders of the form adjustable shuttering panel, combined in such a way that at least one of each two girders has means of automatically adapting the platform to the different curvatures of the panel.

[0005] To achieve its objects, the present invention provides for the production of individual elements of the access platform for workers, the basic structure of which is a flat, substantially rectangular platform element associated with a frame for the suspension, centring and fixing thereof from one of the vertical girders of the inner framework of the form adjustable shuttering panel, consisting of an individual element which is very easy to suspend, centre and fix by the arrangement of hooks and centring pins on the frame carrying the plank of the platform, in combination with respective openings of specific form and arrangement on the vertical girders of the inner framework of the adjustable curvature shuttering panel.

[0006] The rectangular or similar plank element forming part of the access platform for workers has, on at least one of its lateral edges, a wide hinged flap capable of turning through 180°, so that it can adopt a completely folded position on the platform plank and another position turned completely outwards in which it rests on an adjacent platform, producing the step required between two adjacent platforms and allowing a complete working platform to be formed on the set of elements fixed to the form adjustable shuttering panel. The hinged flap has a substantially tapered or similar structure, such that the longer side corresponds to the hinge with the plank of the platform and the narrower side corresponds to the opposite end or free end, allowing lateral adaptation of the access platform to different curvatures without interference between the lateral edges of the hinged flap and the shuttering panel.

[0007] For greater simplicity, the plank constituting a platform element is associated with a central support, centring and fixing frame which has, on the side opposite the adjustable curved shuttering panel, centring, suspension and fixing means. Preferably, the centring means consist of two pairs of projecting appendages arranged above and below a vertical element of the frame carrying the platform plank, such that that the two upper appendages, terminating in a hook are centred on and fit into an opening of a vertical girder of the inner framework of the adjustable panel, centring and suspending it because of the hooks on the ends of said appendages, while the function of the lower appendages is simply to centre with the lateral walls of said vertical girder, which because of its Ω shape has a central zone in the form of a rectangular box.

[0008] The fixing means of the frame carrying the platform element comprise a threaded rod with a connection in the form of a small retention plate at one end and a wing nut at the other, being combined with keyhole openings in the vertical girders of the inner framework of the adjustable panel and with a centring pin adjacent to the wing nut to ensure that it does not drop accidentally.

[0009] For a better understanding of the invention the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment as an explanatory example.

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a curved assembly of individual adjustable panels, connected to one another to show the way in which a complete, curved, adjustable shuttering is constituted by means of the panels according to the invention.

[0011] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of one of the adjustable shuttering panels.

[0012] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the way a platform element is connected to a vertical girder of the curved adjustable panel.

[0013] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a platform element with the adjacent hinged flap in the unfolded position.

[0014] Fig. 5 shows a similar view to that of Fig. 4 with the hinged flap folded on the platform element.

[0015] Fig, 6 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the relative position of two adjacent platform elements.

[0016] Figs. 7 and 8 show diagrammatically the relative position of two successive platform elements for the concave or convex curvature of the curved adjustable panel.

[0017] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the suspension, centring and fixing means of a platform element according to the present invention.

[0018] The present invention relates to curved form adjustable shuttering panels, like those illustrated with reference numerals -1-, -2- and -3- in Fig. 1. Said shuttering panels have respective outer planks -4-, -5- and -6- and a plurality of vertical girders of Ω-shaped cross-section, like those illustrated with reference numerals -7-, -8- and -9- for the panel -1-, the girders of panels -2- and -3- not having been illustrated for greater simplicity.

[0019] For each working level a walking platform for workers must be established, provided with suitable protection means which consist basically of baseboards and handrails for protection. Fig. 1 shows the production of one of said platforms by means of a succession of platform elements of generally rectangular or similar structure, such as -10-, -11- and -12-, with the addition of horizontal protection baseboards -13-, -14- and -15- and horizontal protection elements such as handrail bars, such as those indicated with the reference numeral -16- and support legs -17-, all present in variable number.

[0020] It is essential to the present invention that each of the platform elements such as the element -11- illustrated in greater detail in Figs. 2 and 3, should consist of a flat, preferably rectangular, square or similar element, supported by a frame which has a vertical bar -18- fixed to the platform -1-, which is joined to a cross bar -19- and another vertical bar -20-, opposite the vertical bar -18-, which is also fixed to the platform element -11-. The vertical bar -18- has suspension, centring and fixing means in relation to the vertical girder -9- of the inner framework of the form adjustable panel. The suspension and centring means consist of a pair of upper appendages terminating in a hook, which have been illustrated in greater detail in Figs. 4 and 5, indicated with the reference numerals -21- and -22-. Said appendages terminating in hooks, as can be seen in the figures, may be incorporated in an opening -23- of the front portion of the corresponding vertical girder of the inner framework of the panel, which is of suitable width for centring with said appendages and for the vertical suspension hooks -21- and -22- to function.

[0021] The centring of the framework carrying the platform element also has lower appendages -24- and -25- which surround the central box-shaped portion -26- of the vertical girder -9-. The fixing means of the frame carrying the platform element consist of a threaded rod -27- shown in Fig. 9, which at one end has a retention head in the form of a small plate -28- and at the other can be tightened by means of a wing nut -29-, passing through a keyhole opening -30- of the vertical girder -9-. It is therefore possible to connect quickly and easily a platform element for suspension by means of the upper hooks -21- and -22-, centring by means of the lower appendages -24- and -25-, and fixing by the central rod -27- with its wing nut -29-.

[0022] The vectors -31-, -32- and -33- in Fig. 3, show respectively the relative movements of said appendages and fixing rod in relation to the vertical girder -9-.

[0023] To achieve good centring of the wing nut -29- on the front of the keyhole shaped aperture of the vertical girder -9-, a centring and stop element -34- is arranged adjacent to the front of said aperture, designed to coincide with a flange -35- associated with the wing nut -29-, such that once assembled the rod -27- cannot fall down the aperture into which it was previously inserted.

[0024] As indicated in the initial description, the platform elements such as the element -11- illustrated in Fig. 3 and also in Figs. 4 and 5 may have foldable flaps on at least one of the lateral edges thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 show the platform element -11- provided with a hinged flap on one of its smaller sides -36-, which can turn through 180°, adopting two positions, a service position which is illustrated in Fig. 4 and a folded position illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the flap -36- has been completely folded down on the platform element -11-. Through this arrangement a walkway platform for workers can be obtained which can be adapted to the different curvatures of a form adjustable shuttering panel, as seen in Fig. 6. The form adjustable shuttering panel corresponding to panel -6- of Fig. 1, is connected, as explained above, to an access platform element -11- which in turn has the hinged lateral flap -36- which in the unfolded position overlaps another access platform element -11'- with similar characteristics to the platform element -11- and situated adjacent thereto. The general structure of the flap -36- is suitable to allow the access platform for workers to be adapted to the different curvatures of the form adjustable panel -6-. The shape of said flap -36- therefore corresponds substantially to a form in which the width reduces from the hinged side to the opposite end or free end, for example, a tapered or similar form. In the example, straight sides -37- and -38- have been illustrated which have been continued by other sides -39- and -40- also straight, and a finishing end side -41-. It will be understood, however, that the precise form may vary between wide limits while meeting the essential condition that the width should decrease from the hinge with the platform element -11- to the free end, to allow it to be adapted to the different curvatures of the form adjustable panel.

[0025] Two diagrammatic examples have been shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which two successive platform elements -42- and -43-, provided with the corresponding hinged flaps, are adapted to the interior of a form adjustable shuttering panel -44- which is concave in relation to said platform elements. However, the adaptability of the platform elements which are incorporated in the shuttering panels according to the present invention, allows said elements to be adapted to an inverse curvature of the form adjustable panel -44-, as illustrated in Fig. 8, in which the same platforms -42- and -43- partially overlap and are adapted to the curvature of the panel -44-.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described on the basis of specific example embodiments, wide variations are possible on reading and interpreting the essential features of the present invention, which is limited solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering, of the type consisting of a shuttering panel plank associated with an inner framework with a plurality of girders on the face behind that of the shuttering, with devices for adjusting the curvature of the panel to the desired curvature of the wall to be shuttered and also provided with walkway platforms for workers on the face opposite that of the shuttering, characterised in that the access platform for workers consists of flat platform elements with suspension, centring and fixing means on the inner support framework of the form adjustable panel and optionally carrying a foldable flap on a least one of the sides thereof, which can partially overlap an adjacent platform element to achieve continuity of the platform, and in that the support framework of the form adjustable shuttering panel has openings for the suspension and fixing of each individual platform element.

2. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 1, characterised in that the hinged flaps on the flat platform elements have a generally flat structure with one end hinged to a side of an element of the access platform for workers and another free end designed to rest on an adjacent platform element, the width of said flap decreasing between the hinged side and the free end.

3. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the worker access platform elements has a substantially rectangular or similar structure, being associated with a frame fixed to the central portion thereof, which carries the suspension, fixing and centring means in relation to the inner framework of the form adjustable panel.

4. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 3, characterised in that the frame fixed to each platform element has suspension and centring means on the inner framework of the form adjustable panel, consisting of projecting appendages arranged on the upper portion of the frame, turned towards said inner framework and terminating in hooks, which can be inserted in a centring and suspension opening of said inner framework of the form adjustable panel.

5. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 4, characterised in that the framework fixed to each of the platform elements has centring means consisting of appendages arranged on the lower portion thereof opposite the suspension and centring appendages, the centring appendages of which may coincide on the side walls of a vertical girder of the inner framework of the form adjustable panel.

6. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 4, characterised in that the frame fixed to each platform element has fixing means arranged between the pairs of centring appendages incorporated respectively in the upper portion and in the lower portion of said frame, the fixing means consisting of a threaded rod provided at one end with a small retention plate and at the other with a wing nut and centring flange, which can pass through a keyhole-shaped opening of a vertical girder of the inner framework of the form adjustable panel for fixing thereto.

7. Form adjustable panel for curved wall shuttering according to claim 6, characterised in that the front portion of the keyhole-shaped opening of the frame of the form adjustable panel has a centring lip of the flange associated with the wing nut to coincide in the fixing position and ensure that it does not come loose accidentally.

Drawing