Collapsing device for a formwork table

Abstract

 The present invention describes a collapsing device for formwork tables (5) which can occupy a working position and a folded position to disassemble and transport the formwork table. The device comprises a head (20) and a catch (40) sliding in the head (20), the head (20) being pivotably assembled to a support beam (2) of the table (5). The device comprises first fastening means (50) for the working position and second fastening means (60) for the folded position. The device comprises locking means configured to lock the action of second fastening means (60) so that the catch (40) is not fastened to the head (20) when the mentioned head (20) returns from the folded position to the working position.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is comprised in the field of construction and, more specifically, in the field of collapsing devices for formwork tables which allow connecting the support beams of a formwork table with the support struts, such that said struts can adopt a collapsed position which allows disassembling and transporting the formwork table.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Techniques which allow forming buildings quickly have recently been used in the field of construction, one of these techniques are formwork tables consisting of boards or plates which are supported on an assembly of upper support beams, which in turn rest on another assembly of support beams which are at a lower level and are transverse to the upper beams, said transverse lower beams being supported by means of struts or equivalent propping means.

[0003] The struts are joined to the formwork tables by means of collapsing devices, such that the struts can adopt a working position, in which the struts are in a substantially vertical position, and a collapsed or folded position, in which the struts are folded in an inclined position with respect to the formwork table, such that the collapsed position allows disassembling and transporting the formwork table to a new work location.

[0004] In this sense, devices are known such as those described in patent registration numbers EP-0945564-A1, DE-10242670-A1 and ES-2297968-A1. These documents describe collapsible heads between the beams and the struts, in which the connection is carried out at the outside of the beams, without considering the design of the lower beams or current braces including a plurality of holes.

[0005] Likewise, in the state of the art there is also European patent application number EP-1538278-A2, which describes a formwork table in which the struts are connected at the inside of the transverse beams by means of a pivoting head allowing the struts to be able to adopt an inclined position with respect to the table to facilitate disassembling the table and transporting it to another site of use. The head has locking means, which consist of the arrangement of a latch keeping the strut in the inclined position, which allows safely moving the formwork table by means of a crane, for example. However, when unlocking the struts to again place them in a vertical position, in a new work location, two operators are required, such that one acts on the latch unlocking the head, whereas a second operator holds and extends the actual strut, which involves a drawback from the operative point of view of the device and its on-site use.

Description of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a collapsing device for formwork tables which allows establishing two limit operative positions which comprise a working position, in which the struts are in a substantially vertical position, and a folded or collapsed position, in which the strut is inclined with respect to the plane formed by a board of the formwork table, all of this for the purpose of allowing the transport and assembly of the formwork table to a new work location. The device of the invention allows the passage of the folded position back to the working position quickly and simply by a single operator.

[0007] The device of the invention is applicable to formwork tables comprising at least one board supported on a plurality of upper beams which are in turn supported by at least one transverse beam, or bracing beam, to said upper beams, the transverse beams having a plurality of perforations for assembling the collapsing device. The device of the invention allows connecting the formwork table with propping means used for supporting the actual formwork table in its working position, among which European struts, aluminium struts, as well as falsework towers, can be used.

[0008] According to the present invention the collapsing device comprises:

• a head which can be pivotably assembled in the perforations of a transverse beam, and to which a strut is fixed for the support of the formwork table;
• a catch which can be pivotably assembled in the perforations of the mentioned transverse beam and which can slide with respect to the head, in an assembly position the catch and the head can perform a relative movement with respect to one another;
• first fastening means configured to fasten the catch to the head when the collapsing device is in the working position, in which the strut is substantially in a vertical position and the board of the formwork table is in a substantially horizontal position; preventing the collapsing device from coming out of the working position if said collapsing device is not acted upon,
• second fastening means configured to fasten the catch to the head, preventing the collapsing device from coming out of the folded position if said collapsing device is not acted upon when the collapsing device is in the folded position, in which the strut is inclined with respect to the formwork table and the transverse beam;
• locking means configured to lock the action of the second fastening means so that the catch is not fastened to the head in the folded position when the mentioned head moves from the folded position to the working position, in which said locking means allow the head to return to the working position quickly and simply, a single operator being able to perform the operation.

[0009] The first fastening means comprise:

• a lower pin which is fixed to the head and
• a heel in the catch, the mentioned heel being configured to contact, abut against and immobilize the lower pin in the mentioned working position, such that when the catch pivots with respect to the transverse beam, the lower pin is released from the heel, allowing the pivoting of the head and of the strut from the working position to the folded position in which the strut is inclined with respect to the formwork table.

[0010] Likewise, the second fastening means comprise:

• the same lower pin of the head comprised in the first fastening means and,
• at least one open groove or notch in the catch, the mentioned open groove being configured to house the lower pin in the folded position in which the strut is inclined with respect to the formwork table.

[0011] On the other hand, when the device is to be placed again in the working position from the folded position, it is first necessary to place the device outside said folded position, the locking means preventing the catch from fastening the device in said folded position again. To that end, the catch comprises an L-shaped hole at the first lower end of which there is housed a first assembly shaft joining the head and the catch to the transverse beam, such that the catch is immobilized and does not make contact with the head, allowing its free movement towards the working position.

[0012] Likewise, the locking means comprise an inner pin which is fixed to the head in an intermediate inner area of the head which, when the collapsing device is in a position close to the working position, coming from the folded position, makes contact with an inner recess that the catch has at the lower part, such that it makes the lower end of the L-shaped hole of the catch come out of the first assembly shaft, thus allowing the movement of the catch back to the working position in which the first fastening means immobilize the device in said working position. The locking means thus allow a single operator, by acting only on the strut, to pass from the folded position to the working position without needing to operate the catch.

[0013] The collapsing device of the invention is extremely versatile, being able to be assembled with MK bracing transverse beams as well as with DU-120 bracing transverse beams. The different distances between the perforations of these profiles are absorbed by means of different grooved and circular holes and housings comprised in the head and the catch. Furthermore, the fact of comprising a catch, instead of using an eccentric crank or latch as in the case of the devices of the state of the art allows achieving a more compact design, such that the most of the catch is concealed inside the head. The main advantage of the invention is derived from the fact that it has means for automatically unlocking the folded position by means of the action of a single operator.

Description of the Drawings

[0014] To complement the description which is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of this description, in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

Figure 1 shows a lower perspective view of a formwork table in which the device of the present invention is used, as well as a detail of said view which shows the collapsing device of the invention in the working position.

Figure 2 shows an upper perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the head comprised in the device of the invention.

Figure 3 shows an upper perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the catch comprised in the device of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section according to an upper perspective view of the head and the catch of the device assembled in a transverse beam, the collapsing device having been depicted in the working position.

Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section according to an elevational view of the device depicted in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a zenithal view of the device depicted in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 shows a schematic elevational view of the device of the invention in the working position assembled with a fixed character in a transverse beam.

Figure 8 shows a schematic elevational view of the device of the invention in the working position assembled with the possibility of rotation in a transverse beam.

Figure 9 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device, in which the catch has been moved to allow releasing the device from the working position and therefore the rotation of the strut, the movement performed by said catch having been depicted by means of arrows.

Figure 10 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device in an instant after the one depicted in Figure 9, in which the head moves towards the folded position.

Figure 11 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device in an instant after the one depicted in Figure 10, in which the head and the device are in the folded position, according to the present embodiment at 25º of the transverse beam, being fastened in said position by means of the second fastening means.

Figure 12 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device in an instant after the one depicted in Figure 11, in which the catch is moved to allow releasing the head from the folded position.

Figures 13 to 15 show a sequence according to three schematic views, like that of Figure 8, of the device in instants after the one depicted in Figure 12, in which the head is moved to position the catch in a position in which it is immobilized, see Figure 14, actuating the locking means, such that the first assembly shaft is housed in the lower sector of the L-shaped hole, which allows the movement of the head in the opposite direction, see Figures 13 and 15, to again be placed in the working position.

Figure 16 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device in an instant after the one depicted in Figure 15, which shows the action of the inner pin of the head on the inner recess of the catch, to take said catch out of the locked position to return to the working position.

Figure 17 shows a schematic view, like that of Figure 8, of the device in an instant after the one depicted in Figure 16, which again shows the device in the working position.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0015] In view of the mentioned figures, with specific reference to Figure 1, it can be observed how in one of the possible embodiments of the invention, the collapsing device (10) is assembled in a formwork table (5) which is formed by a board (6) supported on a first framework of upper beams (7), which are in turn supported by a plurality of transverse beams or braces (2) which are transverse to said upper beams (7). The transverse beams (2) have a plurality of perforations (3) and a separation gap (8) at their mid part, as seen in Figure 6.

[0016] Returning to Figure 1, the transverse beams (2) are connected to struts which provide support to the entire formwork table (5), for said connection the collapsing device (10) is used which is assembled between the separation gap (8) of the transverse beams (2). In this sense, it can be mentioned that some beams with perforations (3) in which the device of the present invention can be used are those known beams such as MK and DU-120 type beams.

[0017] The collapsing device (10) comprises two main elements, the first of them is a head (20) and the second one is a catch (40), of such elements, the head (20) can be pivotably assembled to the transverse beam (2); and similarly, the catch (40) can also be pivotably assembled to the transverse beam (2) and slides in the head (20). In the assembly position the head (20) can rotate with respect to the transverse beam (2).

[0018] Reference is now made to Figure 2 to describe the head (20) of the device of the embodiment which is described, this head (20) is formed by a pair of lugs (21) separated and arranged in a substantially parallel manner and which are projected in an upward direction, said lugs (21) are precisely those which are introduced in the separation gap (8) of the transverse beam (2) to assemble the head (20). The lugs (21) are shorter than the transverse beam (2) so that they do not project at the upper part of said transverse beam (2) and to prevent interferences in the movement of the collapsing device (10). The lugs (21) have a plurality of housings (22), which can be slit holes, grooves or circular holes running therealong for the purpose of assembling the head (20) in the perforations (3) of the transverse beam (2) by means of by means of studs, shafts, bolts or similar means. Some of the housings (22) have an elongated shape and others have a circular shape, which allows achieving flexibility in the number of assembly positions of the head (20) in the transverse beams (2), as well as in the means used for such purpose. The lugs (21) are connected to one another by means of a plurality of transverse separators (23) providing rigidity to the head (20).

[0019] The head (20) additionally comprises an inverted "omega"-shaped base or body (25) on which there project in an upward direction the lugs (21), the strut is received below the body (25). Said body (25) has a support surface (26) on which the transverse beam (2) to which the head (20) is assembled is supported.

[0020] The device includes securing means (90) configured to secure the strut to the body (25) of the head (20), said securing means (90) are, for the embodiment which is described, a wedge (91) which is inserted by sliding inside the body (25) of the head (20) and is coupled to a base plate, not depicted, provided in the strut.

[0021] Reference is now made to Figure 3 to describe the second basic element of the device which is the catch (40), which is formed by a flat bar (41) having an elongated shape, having a first end (41') and a second end (41"), comprising separators (42) which allow keeping the catch (40) centered inside the lugs of the head (20) when it is in the assembly position. The catch (40) comprises at least two grooves (45) located at the second end, such that they allow the insertion of a second assembly shaft (43) linking the catch (40) to the transverse beam (2) when it is assembled. Likewise, a first end (41') of the catch (40) has an L-shaped hole (44) allowing the insertion of a first assembly shaft (27) linking the catch (40) and the head (20) to the transverse beam (2) when it is assembled. In order to not interfere with the second assembly shaft (43) and to be able to be collapsed, the head (20) comprises as many recesses (24) as grooves (45) present in the catch (40). Therefore, the catch (40) is engaged at two points, with a small horizontal and vertical movement due to the grooves (45) and the L-shaped hole (44), such that the horizontal and vertical movement of the head (20) allows unlocking the strut, collapsing it, locking it at 25º and unlocking it by a single operator.

[0022] Figure 7 shows the collapsing device (10) assembled to a transverse beam (2) with perforations (3) in its working position with a fixed character, to that end the head (20) is assembled by means of the first assembly shaft (27) and the second assembly shaft (43) to the transverse beam (2) without the possibility of pivoting.

[0023] On the other hand, Figure 8 shows the collapsing device (10) assembled to a transverse beam (2) with perforations (3) in its working position with the possibility of rotation, to that end the head (20) is only linked to the transverse beam (2) by means of the first assembly shaft (27) on which it can pivot, and the catch (40) is assembled in the same way by means of said first assembly shaft (27), which is housed in the L-shaped hole (44), and the second assembly shaft (43), in this working position, the strut is in a substantially vertical working position.

[0024] With reference to Figure 8, it can be mentioned that in the working position, the catch (40) is fixed to the head (20) by first fastening means (50), which in the described embodiment comprise a lower pin (51) provided in the head (20); and, a lower heel (52) provided in the catch (40) and in which the lower pin (51) is coupled or makes contact when the collapsing device (10) is in said working position. When the catch (40) is raised, it pivots with respect to the transverse beam (2), as shown in Figure 9, such that the lower pin (51) is released from the heel (52), which allows rotating the strut in an anti-clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 10, the rotation of the collapsing device (10) is achieved by means of the first assembly shaft (27) of the head (20).

[0025] When the strut continues rotating in an anti-clockwise direction, a folded or collapsed position of the collapsing device (10) is achieved as shown in Figure 11, in particular, in this working position, an inclination of 25º of the strut is achieved. In this folded position, the catch (40) is again fastened to the head (20). For this purpose, second fastening means (60) are provided which, in the described embodiment, comprise the same lower pin (51) provided in the head (20); and an open groove (62) provided in the catch (40). The lower pin (51) is coupled to the open groove (62). The collapsing device (10) remains in this folded position exclusively due to the force of gravity, since the shape of the open groove (62) makes it impossible for the lower pin (51) to be released unless the strut is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction.

[0026] From the working position, once the head (20) is released it can rotate and in its rotation it drags the catch (40). If the head (20) is rotated until reaching an angle of 25º, the head (20) is locked with the open groove (62) of the catch (40). The head (20) is fixed in the folded position at 25º. The locking of the head (20) in the folded position is due to the force of gravity of the strut acting on the catch (40).

[0027] To return to the working position, the head (20) is lifted slightly further, rotating in an anti-clockwise direction, such that the head (20) itself drags the catch (40) until the locking means act, the first assembly shaft being housed in the lower sector of the L-shaped hole (44) of the catch (40). The head (20) is thus loose and can rotate in the opposite direction, in a clockwise direction, to the folded direction.

[0028] To return to the working position, it is necessary to release the catch (40) from the lifted position in which it has remained. This is achieved automatically, without needing the intervention of a second operator, by means of the movement of the catch (40) by means of an inner pin (28) of the head (20) acting on an inner recess (46) that the catch (40) has at the lower part in an intermediate position, as can be seen in Figures 16 and 17.

[0029] In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of the invention which have been described can be combined in many ways within the object of the invention.

Claims

1. Collapsing device for a formwork table, said formwork table (5) comprising a board (6) supported by at least one transverse beam (2) having a plurality of perforations (3), characterized in that the collapsing device (10) comprises:

a head (20) which can be pivotably assembled in the perforations (3) of a transverse beam (2) by means of a first assembly shaft (27), and to which a strut can be fixed for the support of the formwork table (5);

a catch (40) which can be assembled with the possibility of performing a small horizontal and vertical movement with respect to the perforations (3) of the mentioned transverse beam (2) by means of the housing of the first assembly shaft (27) in an L-shaped hole (44) and by means of the housing of a second assembly shaft (43) in a groove (45);

first fastening means (50) configured to fasten the catch (40) to the head (20) when the collapsing device (10) is in a working position in which the strut is substantially in a vertical position, by means of the contact of a lower pin (51) of the head (20) in a heel (52) of the catch (40);

second fastening means (60) configured to fasten the catch (40) to the head (20), when the collapsing device (10) is in a folded position in which the strut is inclined, by means of the housing of the lower pin (51) in an open groove (62) of the catch (40).

2. Collapsing device for a formwork table according to claim 1, additionally comprising locking means which can lock the action of the second fastening means (60) so that the catch (40) is not fastened to the head (20) when the mentioned head (20) returns from the folded position to the working position, said locking means comprising the L-shaped hole (44) the lower sector of which houses the first assembly shaft (27) when the head moves from the folded position.

3. Collapsing device for a formwork table according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the locking means comprise an inner pin (28) which is internally fixed to the head (20) and which can make contact with an inner recess (46) that the catch (40) has when the head (20) moves from the folded position towards the working position, acting on the catch (40) until placing it in the working position.

4. Collapsing device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the head (20) comprises a pair of lugs (21) separated in a parallel manner and which are provided with a plurality of housings (22) configured for the assembly of the head (20) in the perforations (3) of the transverse beam (2).

5. Collapsing device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lugs (21) are separated by a plurality of transverse separators (23) providing rigidity to the head (20).

6. Collapsing device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the head (20) additionally comprises an inverted omega-shaped body (25) on which there project in an upward direction the lugs (21), the mentioned body (25) for the assembly of the strut having a support surface (26) on which the transverse beam (2) rests.

7. Collapsing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the head (20) includes securing means (90) configured to secure the strut to the body (25) of the head (20).

8. Collapsing device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said securing means (90) comprise a wedge (91) which is inserted inside the body (25) of the head (20) and coupled to a base plate of the strut.

Drawing