CA1043079A

CA1043079A - Method and apparatus for progressively constructing a wall of cementitious material

Info

Publication number: CA1043079A
Application number: CA194,329A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hans H. Schmidt
Original assignee: Enor Nominees Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Enor Nominees Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1973-03-07
Filing date: 1974-03-07
Publication date: 1978-11-28
Also published as: JPS5332611B2; SE401852B; GB1469142A; DE2410877B2; DE2410877A1; DE2410877C3; FR2220649A1; JPS5284663A; GB1469141A; JPS5041324A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method of, and apparatus for, progressively constructing a wall of cementitious material, including the steps of, and means for, supporting a formwork support structure on a lower foundation, or completed wall section, by means of hydraulic jacks each including a hydraulic ram assembly carrying the formwork support structure and adapted to climb up a vertically extending jack tube, raising said formwork support structure by said jacks to a higher pouring position, supporting said formwork support structure on the lower foundation, or wall section, by auxiliary support means, raising the jack tubes for each jack through its associated ram assembly, moving a formwork section on the outside of the wall toward a formwork section on the inside of said wall to provide a cavity for the receipt of cementitious material, pouring a quantity of said material into said space between said formwork sections, the lower foundation, or completed wall section, and the lower ends of the jack tubes, allowing said cementitious material to solidify, and moving the outer formwork section away from the wall and disengaging the inner formwork section, with said formwork support structure being supported on said jacks.

Description

L3~7~
This invention re]~tes to an improved mcthod ; and appar~lus Ior progres ively constructing a wall i~ o:E cementiti.ous material.
The improved Illethod and apparatus serves to facilitate the better handling o~ formworlcs used particularly for constructing vertical concrete walls for buildings and other structures.
It has been found in normal practice that considerable time is spent in assembling, and -then dismantling and reassembling, the same individual ....
!V formwork components in the same relative position .,~ ~ . .
only at a higher level during building construction or wall construction. In addition to the manpower used in this repeti-tive work, a crane or some other 1~ mechanical device must be used to support and elevate j the individual formwork components.
I In another well known process for adding steel --j reinforcing and fresh concrete to vertically sliding preassembled wall forms there is provided a method ~' 20 whereby the formwork is not dismantled and reassembled continuo~sly, and instead the entire formwork is raised ' by its own hydraulic jacking system. One major problem with this ~lown building process is that the ., ~ , forms used to contain the fresh concrete are subjected - 25 to pressure ~rom the f].uidized concrete. This pressure or ~orce must be resisted by a rigid inverted U~ or A, J.rr~ ~

- 2 -~LQ~3(~g fra~l~s or yokes. These relatively r:igid yokes must be closely spaced along the walls and near all corners oI` the walls in order to resis-t the tendency ~or the concrete pressures at variolls points to change the thickness of the wall or the shape of the . structure. The cost of these numerous yokes is : - considerable and they congest the working area above the wall, particularly at the corners o* the wall.
A further disadvantage lies in the fact that -.~ 10 the concrete is produced by a moving form thus producing problems such as the wall surface directly ; opposite the formwork requires finishing, concrete , slurry builds up on the face of the mo~ing form and increases the problem of producing rough surfaces, the wall corners are often torn, door and window - openings have rough edges due to loss of slurry in the concrete, textured surface finishes are not possible, placement of blockouts in the moving ~orm are difficult whilst the holding down of the blockouts in the moving form is difficult.
-~ Furthermore partial redesign of building is - necessary to suit such a so-called slipform process.
~` It is also difficult to stop said form in an emergency, and the fact that the forms often bond to the wall at the completion of the pour the forms must be ~r .~ cleaned on exposed *aces after completion of the pour.

_ 3 _ , .

3~
A ~urt}ler disadvant~g~ is in -the fac-t that the quantitle~s an~ natu~e o~ the ~i~terials in the concre-ts ~ must be capable of so]Lidifying within the mo~ing form, - thus the concrete setting rate which is also subject to changes in the wealher temperatu~e must be carefully : - controlled. F~ilure t;o predict the concrete setting rate can result in a loss of partially solidified concrete from the wall below the sliding formS or - the hardened concrete adhering to the moving form.
-` 10 Furthermore it is dif~icult to obtai~ access for personnel and materials to the moving form and also it is difficult and expensive to alter wall thlckness, and finally a considerable a~lount of technical expertice is necessary to control the direction of the form.
It is therefore an object of the invention to ;¦ provide an improve~ construction method and apparatus designed to reduce some of the aforementioned problems.
-1 A still further problem with this method of concrete wall construction is the numerous Jack rods which support the formwork via hydraulic jacks mounted -~ in the closely spaced yokes. These rods are generally ` :~i : `
; expended as they are cast in $he wall or individually .... ~ . .
f removed after, or during, constructlon of the wall.

!
.

3~ 9 These small di.ameter s-tee:L rods are al,90 subject to considerable vertical loacl and thus they have a limited capacity to resist buckling. The steel rods therefore must be supported laterally either by - - 5 setting concrete or tempor~ry timber supports, both . of whi.ch are subject to failure.
-: In another known building construction method -: ; a separate overhead support system is used in ;: - . association wi.th the formwork. Thi.. s method consists 0 of an overhead support frame used to raise the form-.l. work in part, or wholel with the overhead support frame itself when being raised. The overhead support frame is supported on columns fixed to the wall below the formwork. However, this system involves . 15 a considerable quantity of fal.sework whilst two lifting systems are also required.
It lS an object of the present invention to ~ .
.,....... ... < provide an improved method and apparatus for constructiD.g . ' concrete walls whi.ch is not subject to any of the above disadvantages associated with known construction ,~- methods and apparatus involving the provision o~
-`s :for~works for concrete.
~3.-~ It is also an object of one preferred form of . the invention to provide a stable and structurally f ~ 25 sound internal form assembly within one or more cells f of the building which can be raised in company with .~ . .
i ~i ~ `. .

~3~79 __e remainin~ formwork and variolls working decks, one of which is used to define the location of the concrete walls at the top edge of the form.
According to a still further object one preferred form of the invention provides necessary access for two faces of the formwork in the raised position in order to allow cleaning of the form faces, the addition of steel reinforcement, the addition of suitable frames to form openings in the concrete wall, the addition of various textured surfaces that may be required on the finished wall, and also to make provision for protruding steel reinforcement used to form part of the floor slab or beam construction.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that is easily understood and controlled by the personnel with normal trade experience.
The invention therefore envisages a method ~or pro~ressivcly constructing a plurality of suDstantially vertical walls of hardened cementitious material in successive, vertically 2~ incremental castings, said method comprising: I. providing a plurality of pairs of formwork sections in a first casting position, each pair comprising a substantially vertical frost formwork section and a facing substantially vertical second form-work section, at least one pair of formwork sections associated with each wall to be built, wherein said formwork sections define at least in part a cavity for an incremental casting which is to me made, while supporting said formwork sec-tions by at least one retractable support from a completed incremental casting of first hardened cementitious material, II. interlocking said first form-work sections and interlocking said second formwork sections, and thereafter casting second hardenable cementitious material in said ~ ., .

~43~7~39 cavity and permi-tting same to harden, III. thereafter disengaging said formwOrk~ sections from the second hardened cementitious material, and moving each entire said first formwork section laterally and hori~ontally away from the second formwork section at least a distance to permit a person to pass between the first and second formwork sections, IV. raising said plurality of pairs of formwork sections simultaneously ~rom the first casting position to a vertically higher second casting position by raising a common, rigid support structure, from which all of said formwork sections are suspended, from a first support position to a second vertically higher support position while A. supporting said common suppor~ structure on said second hardened cementitious material, B. disengaging said retractable support from supporting contact with said hardened cementitious material, C. interlocking said second formwork sections in a structurally rigid and stable assembly, and D. guiding said interlocked second formwork sections by contact with at least one hardened incremental wall section of cementitious material, to maintain alignment of and to stabilize said second formwork sections, and V. repeating the above steps until the desired wall height has been achieved.
The invention also envisages apparatus for progressively constructing a plurality of substantially vertical walls o~ hardened cementitious material in successive, vertically increm~ntal castings, said apparatus comprising, a formwork support structure means adapted to extend over said walls and form a rigid supporting assembly, a plurality of pairs of formwork sections, at least one pair of formwork sections associated with each wall to be built, each pair of formwork sections comprising a first form-0 work section and a facing second formwork section,first suspension means mounted for moveably suspending 7 _ L _.~ A i .

3436~79 ~aid fi.rst formwork section from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical, predetermined position, second suspension means mounted for moveably suspending said second formwork section from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical, pre-determined position, said second suspension means disposed relative to said first suspension means such that one formwork section of a pair is movable into a position adjacent the other section of the pair to provide a cavity thereinbetween for receiving cementitious material, and such that said first formwork section is movable substantially laterally and horizontally away from the second formwork section at least a distance to permit access by a person between the first and second formwork sections, and such that said second form-work section is disengageable from the hardened cast cementitious material, movable jack means mounted for supporting said formwork support structure mQans on a completed wall section of hardened cementitious material while lifting all of said formwork sections in unison, together with said formwork support 2Q structure means, substantially vertically upward from a first ,..................... . . .
casting position to a second casting posltion, retractable support means mounted for supporting said apparatus from a completed wall section of hardened cementitious material during at least the period when said apparatus is unsupported by said movable jack meansj the movable jack means and the retractable support means disposed so that there are alternate periods wherein said formwork support structure means and formwork sections are supported by said retractable support means and not by said movable jack means and other periods wherein same. are supported by said movable jack means and not bY said retractable J

3~
,apport means, provided, however, that during progressive wall construction, at least one of said movable jack means or said retractable support means supports said formwork support structure means, interlocking means mounted for interlocking in a first position and a second retractled position at least one of the formwork sections of a pair to a ormwork section of an adjacent pair to produce a structurally rigid and stable assembly of formwork sections in said first position during the casting of cementitious material, and in said second position during the lifting of said formwork sections between said first casting position and said second casting position, and guide means mounted for guiding the interlocked formwork sections to maintain alignment and to stabilize same during lifting between said first casting position and said second casting position by contact with at least one completed wall section of hardened cementitious material.
Preferably the, or each, said jack is at least one hydraulic jack of the type ~here the load to be lifted, in this case the formwork support structure, is carried by a hydraulic ram assembly adapted to climb up a vertically extending jack tube the lower end of which engages in the top edge of the lower foundation or completed wall section.
One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE 1 is a general plan view of an apparatus according to the invention for progressively constructing walls according to the method of the invention as particularly adapted for forming four enclosing walls of a building space, ~ - 8a -;, ~r~

FIGURF 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the structure during a lifting operation on the jacks, FIGURE 3 is a detailed view of the apparatus according to Figure 2, showing it in a position after moulding of a wall section and prior to lifting to a new wall section forming position, FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the apparatus in the lifted position with reinforcement inserted and prior to closure of the formwork sections before the pouring of concrete, - 8b -, , .~'--' !;
.

~043~
Figllrt-~ 5 is a det.ai.led p:Lan v-iew of a corne-r sectioll c-f i,he apparatus ~akel-l al.ong line ~-j in ~igure 3, Figure 6 is a detailed side elevational view of the lower edge of the inner formwork section , showing detail of the ~eans allowing auxiliary support - o~ the formworl~ support structure on a lower completed wall section and generally taken through a posi.ti()n in the direction of line 6-6 in fi.gure 5, Figure 7, is a detailed side elevational vie~w ~, . of the lower corner edges of the inner formwork : , sections showing detail of the means for guiding the ~ fortnwork sections on a comp].ete wall section during ', movement up the wall and generally taken through a position in the direction of li.ne 7-7 in f`igure ~
Figure 8, is a detailed side elevational view of the upper seccion of the structure taken along line 8-8 in figure 1, , Figure 9, is a detailed plan view taken along ~ 20 line 9-9 in figure 8, : j' Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a ; ~ - climbing jack for inco-rporation into the apparatus ~ ~-.' according to this preferred form of the i.nvention, .,, .~ .
.' Figure 11 is a plan view of the jack of fi.gure 10, ,, ~ . . , Figure 12~ is a side elevational view taken along line 12-12 of figure 11 but showing only the :

.
_ g _ .

~43~7~
upper section of the jack as ~h~wn in f:igure 10, ~igure 13, is a f`ront elevational view taken along line 13-13 of fig,ure 12, Figure 145 is a front elevational view taken ' 5 along line 14-14 of figure 12, and ' Figure 15, is a side elevational view of a second preferred form of jack suitable for us0 in the present invention.
~ Referring to figures 1 and 2, in particular, : ~ 10 there is shown an.apparatus for forllling the four walls 10~ 11, 12 and 13 of a building space 14.
~ The apparatus comprises a formwork support structure generally indicated as 15 comprising a pair of elongate longitudinally extending support beam arrangements 16 and 17, including adj.acent :, - parallel extending channel sections 16a~ 16b and 17a, ; 17b, and primarily designed to suspend inside and ., outside formwork sections 18 ancl l9 at ei-ther end of the structure. The formwork support structure 15 - 20 also includes transverse beam supports 20 and 21~ .
~ including adjacent parallel extending channel sections "~
20a, 20b and 21a, 21b~ The transverse beam supports 20 and 21 have suspended therefrom inner and outer - formwork sections 25 and 26 on either side of the .structure.
.J~ - . Each of the inner and ou-ter formwork sec-tions . 18, 19, 25 and 26 comprise a wooden former section 27 - 10 _ ., .
.~

i ... . .

'- . ` ~ ~43~7~
with a plurali.-ty of vertically extendi.ng sol~ler ~rra~gemen-t~ 28, of s-t.eel chQnnel scction toget]ler with outer horizontally extending waler arrangements ` 2g.
5 Referring parti.cularly to figure 2, the inner porti.ons of the transverse beams 20 and 21, c~nd the longitudinal beams 16 and 17, support an upper working deck 30. A further lower working platform 31 is suspended beneath the stxucture and may be pinned to the lower edges of the inner formwork sections after . . the sections are released from a moulding position, : and the structure is being raised, in order to form a stable structure during the raising operation.
Bracing members (not shown) may be incorporated ~ 15 into the structure to act as a wind bracing and to -, control the verticality of the.internal formwork t sections.
Further side working decks 33 may be provided :1 , on the end portions of the transverse beams 20 and 219 and longitudinal beams 16 and 17 to extend around the upper part of the structure, whilst similar decks 34 ~ay be suspended by vertical adjustable side support .. .
~. members 32 beneath the outer formwork section.
,_ s .. s Re~erring to figures 2 a,nd 3, the formwork support structure 15 is suspended on a previously prepared los~er wall section, by means of the jack tubes 36 o~ a ' ., .
,~

~43~
r.l:Lj ty Or c].imb:ing jack arrangemen-ts 37. Details l ol` tlle ~jacii arrangemen.-t will be discussed later i.n .~ this speci~ication. The lower ends 38 of the jack j tubes 36 seat in cavities in the -top of the lower wall section and in fact are cast t]lerein during the pouri.ng of the lower ~all section. The upper ends of the jack tubes include adjustable stop means 39.
~he jack arrangements 37 are of a reversible type, which after lifting of` the forn~work support ].0 structure, can be drawn upwardly to a new casting and i , lifting pOsitiOll whilst the support structure 15 is : supported on the lower wall sec-tion by retractable , auxiliary supports which~ r'ef'erring to ~igure,s 3, 43 5 and 6, may comprise shear block assemblies 40 movable into and out of pOSitiOll in cavities 41 cast in the lower wall section. The details of the shear ,~, blocks 40 will 'be descri'bed later with reference particularly to fi.gures 5 and 6.
Referring particularly to fi.gures 23 3 and 4, . .~ .
the outer formwork sections 26, only one of which is shown in these views9 are suspended on a track ~1 ",, arrangement 42 on the outer portions of the transverse , '~",. beams and may be moved by manually into and out of the position shown in figure 3, The central portion of the , ~ 5 transverse beams may have provision to enable adjustment ,-,r~, - ,~, ~ -, , - 12 -,~ .

~3(~
o~ -their length although in the embodiment illus-trated this leng-th is static. Adjustment may also be provided between the transverse beams 20 and 21 and the inner formwork sections 25 to allol~ slight , 5 movement of the formwork section away from the inner ¦ wall surface during the lifting of the structure.
Adjacent the upper edge o~ the inner formwork sections 25 formwork blocks 45 are provided for ~orming the shear cavities 41 in the wall section when casting the wall section. In the case of multi-storied ;l building suitable provisions can be made to cast into ~ -- appropriate wall sections9 during construction, i supports for the floor elements of the building. Also, ~ ~here desired, extra formwork can be provided to -l 15 provide apertures in the wall section such being -I constructed as to provide for windows9 doors~
7 ventilators etc.
;- 1 Referring particularly to figures 5 to 9 inparticular, the vertically extending soldier and horizontally e~tending waler arrangements 28 and 29 for the in~er and outer formwork sections included - pairs of channel sections 28a, 28b and 29a and 29b respectively arranged as shol~ but spaced apart for ~- the receipt of bolted and fastening plate arrangements - 25 46 therebetween for attaching the soldier and waler ,. , ~ , ~- arraMgements (see figures 5~ 6~ 7~ 8 and 9). It is , ~
, , ~ , .~ .

3(~9 I Q pr~re:rable rccluiremcnt of -the jacJ.~ arraIlgements 37 : for the present in~en-tion that they b~ capable of . ,, reversal after a lifting operation in order to : - ~, enable the jack tube 36 to be moved back through the arrangements 37.
~' The jack tube 36 i.s of rl hollow or solid . . elongate rllember with a plurality of c].osely and ~:~ evenly spaced apertures or projections (not shown) alQng its length adapted to receive reversible pawls or like devices, mounted in the jack assembly 37 .,~ .
whi.ch in turn support the load being lifted (in this - case the formwork support structure 15). The pawls ! are however also adapted to allow the tube 36 to ~ 3 ~ . pass the pawls as the arrangement move in the.opposite : 1 15. direction.
Details of jack arrangements particularly suitable for achieving this purpose will be descrlbed in detail later with reference to,figures 10 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.
3 . 20 With particular reference to figures 2, 3, ' ~ 4 and 8 connection between the jack arrangements 37 and the trans~erse beams 20 and 21 and the longitudinal beams 16 and 17, are accomplished by bolted connections 5!
- : 58.
- 25 ' Referring to figures 1, 5, 6 and 7, of the . ~ ......................... . .
_~r~ ~ ~ drawings corner connection arrangements 47 are provided . ~i .:
.,,; ~ ' .

' ~i .

~)9L3~1!79 fol~ adjust;ll~ly interconlle!cting the adjacent verti.cal edges of` tlle inller ~or~n~olk sections 1~ and 25 Qt the corners of the construction. E,ach connection arrangement 47 includes vertical connecti.on members 48 attached to adjacent soldier and ~aler arrangemen~s ~ith a si.ngle horizontally disposed plate 49 on one side of the conllection arrangemerlt and a pair of vertically spaced horizontally disposed plates 1l9a and 119b on thc other side of the arrangement. The plate 1l9 includes a pair ~f spaced holes 50 and 51., and the pair of plates 49a and 49b each have a pair of spaced holes 52 and 52'. By adjusting the position of the plates either holes 50 and 52, or 51 and 52' are aligned to receive a connecting pin or bolt 35 thus effecting two adjustment positions.
Referring particularly to figures 5 and 6, the details of the shear blocks 40 and the cooperating shear cavi$ies 41 are shown. The lower ends of the soldiers 28 and the lower ~rorking platrorm 31 are in~erconnected by an arr~ngement of structural members which also support the shear block arrangements 40.
The shear block arrangements 40 include shear blocks 53 received in hollow guide members 54, in which compression springs 55 are supported bet~eerl an adjustment plate 56 and the inner end of' the shear ~. ~

3~7~
~ block 53. An adjustmen-t screw arrangement 57 - ` allows adj~stm~nt of the adj~ t.~lent pl~-te ~6 to ~ ef~ectively alter the spring force. The cavity - ` 41 includes an outwardly and upwardly sloping surface 59 and the outer end 60 of the shear block i5 -~ correspondingly angled, such that during upward movement of the str~lct~re the shear blocks 53 will be guided outwardly of the cavity 41 against t,he action of the biasing spring 55, but upon reaching an upper similar cavity lll will engage therein to ;,~ .
~, - enable support of` the structure on the wall section : - - - via the shear blocks at the new upper position.
-~, With reference to figures 2 and 7~ the soldiers ~ 28 adjacent the corners of the inner fol~mwork sections i 15 have roller or wheel support structures generally -~ indicated as 61 attached thereto which ln turn carry roller support flanges 62 between which are received ~ rollers or wheels 63a and 63b. For one wall adjacent J the corner the guide roller or wheel 63a is supported .~ 20 at a higher level whilst the roller or wheel 63b for the adjacent wall is si~pported at a lower levol by ~ ~ virtue of spacer members 64 to avoid interference -~ between the adjacent wheels or rollers at the corners.
."~ ~ - .
~- ~ The support flanges 62 for the wheel or roller 53b are pivotally attached at 65 and an adjustment screw *' arrangement 66 allows the wheel or roller positions to ; :
~ ~ 16 ~

,J .
.
' .

,, t . _ _ ~L~43~7~
be acljuste~ towarcl a:nd away from the wal.l. A similar adjustment prov:ision i6 provided .tor other roller or wheel 63a.
Referring to figures 8 and 9, the t.rack arrangements 42 for the outer ~ormwork sections 19 and 26 involve bridging the upper ellds o~ the soldiers for the outer formwor~ sections 19 and 26 with outer shutter tubes 67 attached thereto and bridging thc upper ends of a pair of adjacent soldiers for the particular formwork and, adjacent the beam arrangements 20 and 21 or 16 and 17, have wheel bogies 68 attached thereto by bolts 69 and each bogie carries four wheels, two on each side, adap-ted to ride on, or roll along, the lower flangcs of a pair of channel sect:ions 70 and 71 the openings of which face each other and are spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow the bol-ts 69 to pass therebetween. The channel sections 70 and 71 are sandwiched between the channel SQCtions forming the beam arrangements 20 and 21, or 16 and 17, and are adjustably connected thereto by , ~. ,. .~
a plurality of spaced holes 72 for receiving bolts - . 73 to allow adjustment of the effective length of , .
~-~ the outer portions of the beam arrangements when .~ required.

; - 25- The outermost ends of the channel sections 70 and 71 ~orming part of the track arrangements 42 carry .

.
'~ ' .

;

.

3~7~
hook members ~2 aclapted 1;o engage under a one of a seri.es of horizorltal rails 23 on the side .support members 32, and the connection is secured by a plate -24, attached by a bolt attachment 43 to the members . 32, Referring also to figures 8 ~nd 9, the inside . formwork sections 18 and 25 are pivotally suspended ' from between the channel sections forming the beam - ' arrangements 20 and 21, or 16 and 17, by an arrangement includ:ing inner shutter tubes 74 to which an attachment, pla-te 75 is aff`ixed which carries an - attachmen-t pin 76 received in slotted holes 77 provided in a pair of support plates 78 which in - . . ,t~rn are bolted at 79 to the channe]. sections of the ,, 15 beam arrangements. This f`orm o~ attachments allow some limited movement of the inner formwork sections ~ toward and away from the pouring space or poured wall.
,~l At the points of intersectio~ of the transverse .I beam arrangements 20 and 21 with the longitudinally . ` 20 extending beam arrangements 16 and 17, attachment .. ,.~- means comprising clamping plates 80 with bolts 81 are provided (see figures 8 and 9 in particular).
-,'' Referring particularly to figure 5~ the adjacent corners of inner formwork sections 18 and 25 .~ ~ , 25 may be provided with an insert 44 of polyester of other suitable material between ad~acent edge,s of the wooden .

~ 8 ~ ' ' 3~9 former s~c~:i.ons 27 to efl`ccti~ely seal. tlle corners at this poirJt. Tlle adjacen-t edges of`-tl~e outer formworl~ sections 19 and 26 are helcl tightly togctller by tur~ uck,l.e arran~ements 82a attached between bhe adjacent edges tllereG~ rthermore as particularly shown in f'igure 5, tie bolts 8Z engagi.ng the walers 29 for both inner and outer for~wor]cs are pro~ided to hold the form~orks together during pouring.
Referring once again 1,o figures 2, 3 and 1~, the method of construction. according to a prefcrred form of the invention is as follows:
In Figure 3 there is shown a situation wh.ere a wall sect;,ion has been poured and so],idifi,ed, the inner and outer forlnwork sections 25 and 26 are still in position with the lower end 38 of the jack tube 36 embedded in the to~ of the wall section, whilst the retractable shear blocks 53 are engaging thè cavities 41.
The ~ormwork support structure 15 is supported by the jack tubes 36 and the shear blocks 53.
Referring to figure 2, following solidificatio,n of the wall section the turnbuckle arrangements 82a are', disconnecte~ tne tie bolts. 82 are removed, the outer formwork sections 19 and 26 are mGved awa~ o~ the supporting track arrangements 42, whllst the inner formworlc section Z5 may be slight]y retracted to disengage from the wall section JUSt cast. The surface Or the inner and outer formworks sections may be cleaned by - workmen froln the various working decks and the Aoles left b)r tl~e tie bolts 82 plugged.

- 19 _ .
~`~
~ -.
,~ . ., ~L0~3~
The shear blocks 5~ ~re retra~t~d as the climbing jaclc arrangement 37 i6 actuated causing ~e jacks to climb up the jack tube 36 urlti] a~ approp~iate height is reached which may, or may not, be at the adjustable stop 39.
With reference to figlre 4, ~hen the jacks `~ave lifted the formwork support structure ]5 to the ap~rvpri~_ height~ the adjustable shear blocks are moved in t~
enga~e in the cavities 41 in the then lower oompleLed wall section and thereby suppor-t the structure, ~kilst the action of the jack assemblies are reversed to ~llow -the jack tube 36 to be raised as sho~n in figure ~ to ~i a new position. Reinforcement material 83 and wal~
j blockout forms, if required, are then positioned, ~e -I 15 inner and outer formwork sections are moved back ~ a ~ moulding position, turnbuckle arrangements 82 atta-hed, ;¦ concrete poured into the space and allowed to sol~ fy and the process is repeated to build up successive ~ wall sections.
-~ 20 The lower end 38 of the jack $ube 36 is pro~ided with a bearing member 84 (see figure 8) to provide ~ sta~l~
,,~ .
~-- support ~or the jack tube 36 during a lifting opera.ion.
It will be appreciated that figures 2, 3 and 4 ,5;~ show only one side of a room wall construction, alt~ough ~ 25 in this embodiment, the other three walls are beirlg f~ constructed in a similar manner simultaneous]y.
It will be further appreciated that the conc-pt : of the inventive apparatus may be ut:ilized in an ., - . .

.s~j 3iU7g~
apparatus for building two par~llel ~a]ls or even one wall alone, whilst room spaces having any particular member Or surrounding walls may be constructed with a suitably modif`ied apparatus.
Referring to Figures 10 to 14 which illustratc a ~irst preferred ~orm of jack, the jack tube 36 is a hollow elongate member with a plurality of ~ closely and evenly spaced apertures 111 along i-ts - length adapted to receive reversible pawl sets 112a, ~ 10 112b~ 112c and 112d or like devices, mounted on a ~.~ ! . . .
jack assembly 37 which in turn supports the formwork support structure to be lifted for which ears 114 with holes 115 therein may be provided fQr the receipt of the attachment bolts 58.
The jack assembly 37 consists of upper and lower pawl suppor-ing sections 116 and 117 respectively `~1 .
separated, and connected together, by a pair of hydraulic ram arrangements 118 placed on opposite I sides of the jack column 36. Each hydraulic ram - ~ 20 arrangement 118 comprises a cylinder body 119, attached by means of a bolt 125 to a lower flange 126 on the lower pawl sllppor-ting section 117, and ~a a piston 121 adapted to move inslde said cylinder body 119 and connected to a piston rod 122 extending 7,~ -~ 25 through a closure member 123 to a bolted connection ~ . .~ . .
120 at a lower flange 124 for the upper pawl supporting section 116. A port 127 for pressurized hydraulic ., .

-~3~7~
fluid, ancl in comrllunication a source of pressurized - hyclraulic fluid through a selection valve (not sho~
is provided :in the upper end o~ each cylinder body to deliver prcssurized fluid to, and from, the piston rod side of each piston 121 whilst a further ; port 128, also in communication with the soloction valve, is provided in the lower end of each cylinder body 119 to deli~er pr~ssuri~ed f`luid toS and from, - the opposite side of the piston. The piston includes ~ 10 a circumferentially extending sealing member whilst ;? ` appropriate sealing members are also positioned around - the piston rod 122 and in the closure member 123 to seal the hydraulic ram arrangement. Relative - i movement between the upper and lower pawl supporting 15 sections 116 and 117 is achieved by selectively delivering pressurised fluid to one side of the piston ~1 and exhausting from the other by virtue of a suitable `3 selection valve, and many forms of valves suitable~for . , this purpose are available and would be adapted in a manner well known to those skilled in the art~
~=7 ' ' Each pawl supporting section 116 and 117 compris ~ a main housing 129 and 130 respectively in which the ; pawl sets 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d are supported, and -~ ~n auxiliary housing 131 and 132 respectively containin~
mechanisms for selectively biasing $he pawls into positions allowing relative movement between the jack assembly 37 and the jack tube 36 in opposite directions~

.
, '~ .

43~7~
'rhe housing 129 for tlle llpper pawl supporting 6ecti.0n 116 supports pawl sets 112a and 112b one above the other on support axles 133a and 133b re~pec-tiv01.y ' which ~re po~itioned m.id~ay between the ends of -the : 5 respective pa~ls, whilst the housing 130 ~or the lower pa~l supporting section 117 supports pawl.sets 112c and 112d one above the other on support a~les 133c and 133d respectively and positioned midway between the ends of the respective pawls.
.~ 10 As the details of each pawl supporting section 116 and 117 are identi~al the following description --- with particular reference to figures 12, 13 and 14, . will be only concerned with the construction of` the upper section 116.
- I 15 The main housing 129 comprises two.halves 134 and 135 in the faces of which holes are provided to form bearing supports for the support axles 133a ~ and 133b and the two halves when assembled are .~ attached by bolt fasteners 136. The auxiliary housing - ~ 20 131 is attached to one face of the mai.n ho~sing ~- 129 by recessed bolt fasteners 137 and contains the .~ .
mechanlsm for selectivel.y biasing the pawls.
. -t The pawls 133a and 133b in each pawl set are selec-tively biased into positions ~ere either their lower ends or their upper ends bear against the jack ~j. rod 36 and at various times during operation engage : ' - , . - 23 -a307~
in the apertures 111 in ~he jack rod 36.
The mechanism for selectively biasing the pawls such that either their lower or their upper ends , engage the jack rod (with particular reference to figures 12 and 13) comprises a pawl link 138a or 138b for each of the pawls of each set pivotally mounted upon the respective axles 133a and 133b. The ends of the links 138a and 138b remote fro~ their connection to the axles carry pins 139a and 139b respectively which slidingly engage in slots 140a and 140b respectively provided in a vertiGally movable shift plate 141. With particular reference to figure 12 the shift plate 141 is forked at either end and the legs of each fork lie on opposite sides of the respective link 138a and 138b.
A pair of torsion springs 142a and 143a, and 142b and 143b respectively,-are provided for each pawl. One torsion spring 142a and 142b of each pair has one end coiled around the xespective support axle 133a and 133b in one direction, with the extremity of that end of the torsion spring held captive to the respective support axle 133a and 133b by receipt in a hole extending transversely through the support axle, and the spring extends to the associated pin 139a and 139b respectively for captive hook engagement thereabou-t in the opposite direction as shown. The other torsion spring 143a and 143b of each pair engages the axle 133a and 133b and the associated pins 139a and 139b in the opposite direction as shown particularly in figure 13.
With the shift pla-te 141 in an upper posi-tion the pins 139a and 139b and the ends of the torsion springs J` ` ~
.

~30~
will be in an upwar~ position, and the torsion springs 142a and 142b will, in ~his position, maintain a net torque on the support axles 133a and 133b in such direction as to maintain the pawls 112a and 112b with their lower ends biased toward the jack rod 36, in the orientation shown in figure 14, such that when aligned with an aperture 111 the lower ends will move into and engage the relevant aperture.
In order to alter the orientation of the pawls such that their upper ends are biased against the jack rod 36, the shift plate 141 is shifted downwardly to simultaneously draw.the pins 139a and 139b to a downward positionr and to draw the links 138a and 138b to a downwardly inclined position with lateral movement of the pins 139a and 139b being accommodated in the slotted holes 140a and 140b respectively. The downward movement of the pins 139a and 139b relieves the ~ torsional effect of the torsion springs 142a and 142b ; on the respective axles 133a and 133b, whilst torsion springs 143a and 143b come into action to rotationally bias the axles 133a and 133b and the pawls 112a and 112b attached thereto in the opposite direction to maintain the upper ends of the pawls bearing under pressure on the jack rod 36, to engage in an aperture 111 during various stages of operation of the jack.
Referring particularly to figures 12 and 14, each pawl 112a and 112b has cut away sections on either side thereof at either end forming a raised portion 144a and 144b and ledges 145a and 145b. The 3()~9 raised portion 144a and 144b are of a width slightly less than the width of the a~erture 111 thereby allowiny these portions to enter and engage the apertures, whilst the ledges 145a and 145b engage and rest against the surfaces adjacent the sides of the apertures to limit the amount of the pawl which enters the aperture to equivalent to the height of the portions 144a and 144b.
In order to vertically shift the shift plate 141, the effect of which is to alter the direction of ;~
the net spring biasing torque applied to, and the resulting orientation of, the pawls 112a and 112b, the central section of the shift plate 141 is provided with a through slot 146 (see figure 13) in which a pin 147 on one end of a shift lever 148 is received. The opposite end of the shift lever 148 is fixedly attached to a shift shaft 149 passing through the face of the auxiliary housing 131 and having an outer end 150 adapted for engagement by a key tool (not shown) to allow rotation of the shift shaft 149 in either direction.
Rotation of the shaft 149 causes rotation of the shift lever 148 attached thereto to the position shown in phantom as 148' and in so doing the pin 147 cooperating with the slot 146 pulls the shift plate 141 and captive pins 139a and 139b downwardly. The torsion spring ends hooked around the pins 139a and 139b will be in a downward position, resulting in a reversal of the rotational bias exerted by the respective pairs of torsional springs upon the respective axles and pawls .~ ,.

~ 31~7~
. associated ~herewitll, wl~ereby the ul)per ends of the pawls 112a and 112b -then bear against the jack rod 36.
Rotation of tlle shift shaft 149 a further 180 in either direc-tion shifts the lever 148 back to the upper position shown in figure 13, thereby again reversing the direction of the biasing torques imposed by the torsion spring arrangements to return all pawls to the position shown in Fig. 14.
The pawls 112a and 112b, or 112c and 112d, in each of the upper and lower sections 116 and 117 are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between adjacent apertures 111, such that, at any one time only one set of pawls in each section 116 and 117, when the sections are at a fixed position relative to the jack rod, are engaged in the apertures (see figures 10 and 14). The stroke of the hydraulic ram arrangements 118 are such that the relative movement between each section 116 and 117 and the jack rod 36 will be over a distance such that one of the sets of pawls in each : 20 section previously not engaged in apertures will move to an engaging position, whilst tlle other set of pawls formerly engaged wi].l move out of engagement.

~.

,j.,j Refelring part;.icularly to ~igure 10, to ella~le th~ jac~ ass~mbl-y 37 to move up the jack rod 36 carry.ing the formwork support structure supportecl therefrom, all pawls 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d axe biased towards the pos.l.tion shown in figure 10, : tha-t is, with their lower ends bearing against the - jack rod 36 whereby they engage, or tend to erlgage, .- in the apertures 111. In the position sho~n in ligur : the lower set of pawls 112b in the upper section 116, . 10 and the upper set of pawls 112c in the lower sectio~
~ .
117, are engaged in apertures 111, whilst pawls 112a and 112d are not. Upon applying fluid pressure i through the lower port 128 and exhausting through t~e I upper ports 127, the hydraulic ram arrangements 118 - ~ 15 lift the upper jack section 116y and during upward movement for the full stroke of the rams 118, the ¦ lower pawls 112b disengage from the apert~lres 111 and upon reaching the full extent of the strcke the uppe~
pawls 112a then engage in apertures 111 ef~ectively space two above the ones from whicll the pawls 112b ~j have disengagedO Meanwhile lower section 117 has ~ ~ remained ~ixed relative to the jack rod and supported -~-!. on the pawls 112c which have remained in engagement with apertures 111. Upon reversal of the point o~
` 25 deli~ery of the fluid pressure to the ram arrangeme~s .. ,~ .
~ ; the upper section 116 remains fixed relative to the ; .
.

. - 2~ ~
. .

i.~

.
, ._. ~ '.

~143ai7g jack rod 36 and supported on pawls 112a, but the lower section 117 then li:~ts to once again meet the upper section 116 with the upper pawls 112c disengaging from the apertures 111 against the action of their active torsion spri.ngs and the lower pawls 112d, upon reaching an aperture, engage : therein... Upon further reversal o~ pressurised fluid to the ram arrangements the upper section 116 again lif'ts, pawls 112a disengage'rrom the aperture 111, . 10 pawls 112b move into and engage the next set of - apertures in their path whilst the lower section 117 ' remains supported on pawls 112d. Still further reversal of fluid pressure to the ram arrangement . ' 118 lifts the lower section 117 up to meet the upper ''-'! 1~' section again, pawls 112d disengage from their . apertures, pawls 112c mo~e into the next set of . ~ .
apertures in their path and the orientation of all the pawls having regard to their engagement in the .
apertures has returned to the situation as illustrated ' 20 in figure 10 except that the whole jack has effectively risen a distance equivalent to the distance between .
. ~ an adjacent pair o~ apertures. As the cycle of ,.
.~.; movement is repeated the jack and th.us th~ load suspended thereon climbs up the jack rod 36.
,5 `' 25: When it is desired to lift the jack rod 36 up , ~- through the jack assem'bly 37, that is, by holding - 29 _ ,~

~L31117~
the jack assembly 37 at a fixed. height vla the auxiliary support means and lifting the jack rod 36 through $he assembly 37, such as required to car.ry ou-t the inventive continuous wall building technique, . the orientation of all pawls is reversed in the manner previously desc:ribed, such tha-t the upper ends of all pawls engage, o:r tend to engage, the apertures . 111. The pawls instead of resting on the lower edges of-the apertures, as was the case with the jack ~ 10 assembly when moving up the jack rod, bear against ,......... .
the upper edges of the apertures 111 which has the ~- effect during movement of the ram arrangement to push the jack rod up through the assembly 37 whils-t - the assembly 37 is held at a fixed position.

. 15 Referring to figure 15 of the drawings, an -~ alternative form of jack is described. The upper and ~. lower jack sections 116l and 117' and the jack rod 36' , are basically the same as the sections 116 and 117 ~, and rod 36 in.the embodiment of figures 10 to 14, and in so far as the arrangement and operation of ,~ the pawls, and the mechanisms for reversing their orientation to reverse the relative movement between ;~ the ~ack assembly and the jack rod are concerned, -- these are identical. In this alternative embodiment ~ 25 the modification merely relates to an alternative -.~. form of hydraulic ram arrangement for obtaining . relative movement between the upper and lower jack .

~ .

430~
sections ]16' and 117'.
In this embodimen-t the hydraulic ram arrangements 118 and the provision for their attachment to the upper and lower jack sections 116 . 5 - and 117 in the embodiment of figures 10 to 14 are - ~I dispensed wlth. The lower jack section 117' is - formed at its upper end~ or has attached thereto, . a tapering connection portion 151 merging into an upwardly extending cylindrical externally threaded flange 152. An outer cylindrical sleeve 153 internally -threaded at one end 154 for cooperation with the . threaded flange 152 is provided. The lower end of the i jack section 116' also has a tapering connection . portion 155 formed thereon, or attached thereto, ; . 15 and is internally threaded at 156 to receive a - I hollow piston suppor-t member 157 which surrounds the - jack rod 36' and is adapted to extend downwardly :.. i inside, coaxially with respect to, but spaced from, . said sleeve 153 with its lower end 158 received in a .
circular opening 159 inside the flange 152 and connection portion 151 on the lower jack section f; . 117'.
.1 A lower sealing member 160 is positioned ,5:
~ between the piston support member 157 and the 2$ sleeve 153 adjacent the threaded flange 152 and ~r ' carries an externally threaded portion 161 for .
. ~
- - 31 - .
, ~43~)79 ~ engagement with the internal thread at -tlle lower -' end 154 of the sleeve 153, and carries a number of inner and outer sealing rings. The upper end of the sleeve 153 is internally threaded a-t 162 and j 5 receives a cooperatingly externally threaded upper i sealing member 163 positioned between the sleeve 153 and the piston support member 157 with a number of inner and outer sealing rings provided thereon.
, The arrangement and disposition of the sleeve ; 10 153, the piston support member 157 and the sealing members 160 and 163 9 effectively provide an annular sealed cavity into which pressurised fluid can be altsrnatively introduced and exhausted through ports 164 and 165 in the sleeve and adjacent either end thereof. The piston support member 157 carries an ~¦ annular piston member 166 fixed thereto and having ¦ sealing rings 167 provided in the circumferential ! surface thereof and movable back and forth with the support member 157 as pressurized fluid is directed through port 164 to one side of the piston member ~-- 166 whilst fluid on the other side exhausts through a port 165, and vice versa. This arrangement is merely an alternative to using the separate hydraulic ram assembly 118 of the embodiment of figures 10 to 14.
It should be understood that the hydraulic ram arrangements 118 could be replaced by pneumatic ram . .

1~4~791 I arrangements or alterllatively any o-ther form of force -I ~applying means positioned be-tween the upper and lower jack sectiol1s 116 and 117~ Alter~atively the pawls should have t~eir ends adapted to engage projections .
provided on the extern~l surface o~ hollow or solid jack rods or tubes. Alternatively in the case where apertures are provided, the apertures may be provided - in a solid body and consist merely o~ cavities evenly spaced along and in the surface of tlle solid columns.
Furthermore 9 although each of the jack sections 116 and 117, or 116' and 117', carries two sets of pawls, in a simpler embodiment only one set of i pawls may be provided in each section ~ld the stroke - l of the ram arrangements, the spacing between the ' 15 apertures 111 and the distance between the pawls in ¦ the lower and upper sections are arranged such that whilst one section is moving relative to the jack rod, or the jack rod is moving through one of the sections, the pawls in the other section are engaeing the apertures and supporting the assembly.
-~ The various components of the whole assembly ~ may be constructed of any suitable material such as ,. ~
steel~
~ The various components of the apparatus may be -~ ~ 25 manu~actured from suitable components such as ,.......... . .
structural steel sections whilst the jacks may also be constructed from steel components.
' , , - 33 ~
. .

!

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method for progressively constructing a plurality of substantially vertical walls of hardened cementitious material in successive, vertically incremental castings, said method comprising:
I. providing a plurality of pairs of formwork sections in a first casting position, each pair comprising a substantially vertical first formwork section and a facing substantially vertical second formwork section, at least one pair of formwork sections associated with each wall to be built, wherein said formwork sections define at least in part a cavity for an incremental casting which is to be made, while supporting said formwork sections by at least one retractable support from a completed incremental casting of first hardened cementitious material, II. interlocking said first formwork sections and interlocking said second formwork sections, and there-after casting second hardenable cementitious material in said cavity and permitting same to harden, III. thereafter disengaging said formwork sections from the second hardened cementitious material, and moving each entire said first formwork section laterally and horizontally away from the second formwork section at least a distance to permit a person to pass between the first and second formwork sections, IV. raising said plurality of pairs of formwork sections simultaneously from the first casting position to a vertically higher second casting position by raising a common, rigid support structure, from which all of said formwork sections are suspended, from a first support position to a second vertically higher support position while A. supporting said common support structure on said second hardened cementitious material, B. disengaging said retractable support from supporting contact with said hardened cementitious material, C. interlocking said second formwork sections in a structurally rigid and stable assembly, and D. guiding said interlocked second formwork sections by contact with at least one hardened incremental wall section of cementitious material, to maintain alignment of and to stabilize said second formwork sections, and V. repeating the above steps until the desired wall height has been achieved.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least four walls defining at least one cell are constructed.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each of said walls are formed at substantially right angles to at least one adjacent wall.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of walls forming a gridwork of contiguous cells are formed, and said formwork support structure means extends over said gridwork of contiguous cells and is common to all cells.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of cavities are formed in the completed incremental castings of hardened cementitious material, and said retractable upport means are carried by said second formework sections and are movable into and out of engaging reception with said cavities.

6. Process of claim 4, wherein said support structure is raised by operating reversible jack means engaged with said second hardened cementitious material, and said process also includes the steps of disengaging said jack means from said second hardened cementitious material and withdrawing at least most of any portion of said jack means in said cavity sub-stantially vertically upwards out of said cavity after said raising step and before the next said casting step.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said formwork support structure is supported on jack means which are vertically movable from a lower jack position to an upper jack position and include generally vertical pole means for engaging the top of a completed wall section and jack body means secured to said formwork support structure, said pole means and said jack body means being generally vertically movable relative to each other so that movement of said jack body means in a generally upward vertical direction along said pole means will effect movement of said formwork sections from said first casting position to said second casting position.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said jack body means is reversible so that said jack pole means and said jack body means selectively move upwardly in relation to one another.

9. A method of progressively constructing at least one substantially vertical wall of hardened cementitious material in successive, vertically incremental castings, including the steps of supporting a formwork support structure means on a completed incremental casting by jack means with said formwork support structure extending over said at least one wall and orming a common, rigid supporting assembly for a plurality of pairs of formwork sections, at least one pair of formwork sections associated with each wall to be built, each pair of formwork sections comprising a first formwork section and a facing second formwork section, said first formwork section being suspended from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical position, and said second formwork section being suspended from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical position, raising said formwork support structure means by said jack means to lift all of said formwork sections simultaneously substantially vertically upward from a first casting position to a second casting position, engaging retractable support means with at least one completed wall section of hardened cementitious material to support said formwork support structure therefrom, and disengaging said jack means from said completed incremental casting and moving said jack means to a vertically upper position while supporting said formwork support structure on said retractable support means, moving at least one formwork section of a pair into a position relative to the other section of the pair to provide a cavity thereinbetween for receiving cementitious material, the top of the previous incremental casting defining the bottom of said cavity, introducing a quantity of cementitious material into said cavity, allowing the cementitious material in said cavity to solidify to form a subsequent incremental casting, and disengaging said second formwork section from the hardened cementitious material in said cavity, and moving each entire said first formwork section laterally and horizontally away from the second formwork section at least a distance to permit a person to pass between the first and second formwork sections, associating the jack ?eans and the retractable support means so that there are alternate periods wherein said formwork support structure means and formwork sections are exclusively supported by said retractable support means and other periods wherein same are exclusively supported by said jack means; provided, however, that during progressive wall construction, at least one of said jack means or said retractable support means supports said formwork support structure means, and inter-locking at least one of the formwork sections of a pair with a formwork section of another pair to produce a structurally rigid and stable assembly of formwork sections during the lifting of said formwork sections between said first casting position and said second casting position, and guiding at least some of the interlocked formwork sections from at least one completed wall section of hardened cementitious material to maintain alignment and to stabilize same during lifting between said first casting position and said second casting position.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the formwork sections which are interlocked include said second formwork sections, and the interlocked second formwork sections are guided.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein each of the formwork sections of a pair of formwork sections are inter-locked to a corresponding formwork section of an adjacent pair during the casting of cementitious material, and sealing means are located between at least some of adjoining formwork sections to effectively seal same against escape of cementitious material during the casting operation.

12. Apparatus for progressively constructing a plurality of substantially vertical walls of hardened cementitious material in successive, vertically incremental castings, said apparatus comprising, a formwork support structure means adapted to extend over said walls and form a rigid supporting assembly, a plurality of pairs of formwork sections, at least one pair of formwork sections associated with each wall to be built, each pair of formwork sections comprising a first form-work section and a facing second formwork section, first suspension means mounted for moveably suspending said first formwork section from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical, predetermined position, second suspension means mounted for moveably suspending said second formwork section from said formwork support structure means in a substantially vertical, pre-determined position, said second suspension means disposed relative to said first suspension means such that one formwork section of a pair is movable into a position adjacent the other section of the pair to provide a cavity thereinbetween for receiving cementitious material, and such that said first formwork section is movable substantially laterally and horizontally away from the second formwork section at least a distance to permit access by a person between the first and second formwork sections, and such that said second form-work section is disengageable from the hardened cast cementitious material, moveble jack means mounted for supporting said formwork support structure means on a completed wall section of hardened cementitious material while lifting all of said formwork sections in unison, together with said formwork support structure means, substantially vertically upward from a first sting position to a second casting position, retractable support means mounted for supporting said apparatus from a completed wall section of hardened cementitious material during at least the period when said apparatus is unsupported by said movable jack means, the movable jack means and the retractable support means disposed so that there are alternate periods wherein said formwork support structure means and formwork sections.
are supported by said retractable support means and not by said movable jack means and other periods wherein same. are supported by said movable jack means and not by said retractable support means, provided, however, that during progressive wall construction, at least one of said movable jack means or said retractable support means supports said formwork support structure means, interlocking means mounted for interlocking in a first position and a second retracted position at least one of the formwork sections of a pair to a formwork section of an adjacent pair to produce a structurally rigid and stable assembly of formwork sections in said first position during the casting of cementitious material, and in said second position during the lifting of said formwork sections between said first casting position and said second casting position, and guide means mounted for guiding the interlocked formwork sections to maintain alignment and to stabilize same during lifting between said first casting position and said second casting position by contact with at least one completed wall section of hardened cementitious material.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said formwork support structure means is a single, common support structure.

?4. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said support structure includes a plurality of substantially longitudinal and substantially transverse supporting members.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, additionally including work platform means for permitting working access to the inner faces of said first and second formwork sections, said work platform means suspended from said formwork support structure means independently of said formwork sections.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of pairs of formwork sections are arranged in at least one generally rectangular form.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said guide means are a plurality of guide means liftable with said formwork sections from said first casting position to said second casting position.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the formwork sections which are interlocked include said second formwork sections, and said plurality of guide means are associated with and guide the interlocked second formwork sections.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second formwork sections are located inside of said generally rectangular form.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said guide means are adjustably attached to said second formwork section.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said guide means are located vertically below said second formwork sections.

22. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of cavities are formed in the completed wall sections of hardened cementitious material, and said retractable support means are shear block means carried by said second formwork sections and moveable into and out of engaging reception with said cavities.

41 ?3. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of the formwork sections of a pair of formwork sections are interlocked to an adjacent formwork section of an adjacent pair during the casting of cementitious material, and further including sealing means located between adjacent ones of said second formwork sections to effectively seal same against escape of cementitious material.

24. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said moveable jack means are vertically moveable from a lower jack position to an upper jack position, and include generally vertical pole means for engaging the top of a completed wall section, and jack body means secured to said formwork support structure and surrounding said pole means, said pole means and said jack body means being generally vertically moveable relative to each other so that movement of said jack body means in a generally upward vertical direction along said pole means will affect movement of said formwork sections from said first casting position to said second casting position.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said jack body means is reversible so that said pole means and said jack body means selectively move vertically in relation to one another.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said jack body means is a hydraulic climbing jack.

27. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said formwork support structure means is a single, common support structure.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said support structure includes a plurality of substantially longitudinal and substantially transverse supporting members.

42 ?. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said plurality of pairs of formwork sections are arranged in at least one generally rectangular form.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said guide means are a plurality of guide means liftable with said formwork sections from said first casting position to said second casting position.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the formwork sections which are interlocked include said second formwork sections, and said plurality of guide means are associated with and guide the interlocked second formwork sections.