GB1591300A

GB1591300A - Concrete formwork soldier

Info

Publication number: GB1591300A
Application number: GB34421/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Acrow Engineers Ltd
Current assignee: Acrow Engineers Ltd
Priority date: 1976-08-18
Filing date: 1976-08-18
Publication date: 1981-06-17
Also published as: AU2792177A; ZA774981B

Description

(54) CONCRETE FORMWORK SOLDIER (71) We, AcRow (ENGINEERS) LIMITED, a British Company, of 8 South Wharf Road, London, W2 1 PB, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement : This invention relates to concrete formwork soldiers, i.e. members which in practice are intended to be erected in a substantially vertical position and to support concrete formwork panels, against which concrete is cast to produce vertical walls for dams, buildings and the like.

An elongate soldier for concrete formwork, in accordance with the invention, comprises two, spaced, parallel, channel members interconnected back to back by spaced connecting members in such a manner as to leave between the channel members, at least one slot or passage extending along the length of the soldier from each of its ends and permit tie members to pass through the soldier between the connecting members, wherein holes are provided on the sides of the channel members so that members retained in the slots may be fixed by means of pins or bolts extending through the holes.

There is preferably a slot or passage on each of two opposite sides of the soldier, both channels desirably extending along the whole length of the soldier.

The soldier of the invention has the advantage that a number of such soldiers may be fixed end to end by means of members extending between the slots of one soldier, and those of an adjacent soldier, the members being fixed in the slots. Also, each soldier may be reinforced by members retained in the slots of the soldier. The members may be fixed in the slots by, for example, clamps, but preferably holes are formed in the sides of each channel member so that the bolts or pins may be inserted through the holes to retain members in the slot. Furthermore, the slots in the soldiers may also be used to retain beams or studs forming part of the formwork and helping to support the formwork.

Holes may be provided in the flanges of each channel member so as to provide a means of fixing walings, plumbing, access brackets and/or other ancillary equipment to the soldiers. Also, stiffeners comprising metal plates may be fixed between opposite flanges of each channel member so as to strengthen the soldier and make it more rigid.

The soldier of the invention may be formed with aligned apertures in the channel members for receiving walings, each waling extending through a number of soldiers in a direction transverse to the length of the soldiers. This has the advantage that the support structure is much narrower than that in which known soldiers are used, having walings fixed to and projecting from their Ibacks.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a soldier in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the soldier of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end view of the soldier of Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of two types of concrete formwork supported by soldiers such as that shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a section through the soldier of Figure 1 showing stiffeners fixed to its channel members; and Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, similar to that of Figure 3, f an alternative embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a soldier generally indicated at 2 comprises two channel members 4 and 6, which are interconnected back to back and spaced apart by means of three rectangular hollow section connecting members 8 which are fixed to the webs of the channels 4 and 6 by plug welds indicated at 9 (see Figure 3). Obviously, the channel members may be interconnected by other types of connecting members, and these need not be welded to the channel members but may, for example, be bolted.

The outer or end portions of the webs of the members 4 and 6 define the sides of a pair of slots or passages 10 and 12 extending down the length of the soldier from end to end for receiving elongate members (not shown) which preferably have rectangular, or square, hollow sections. The central part of each channel member has a central recessed portion indicated at 14 and the connecting members 8 are fixed to these portions. The opposite ends 16 and 18 of the members 8 form an intermittent bottom surface for each of the slots 10 and 12.

The end portions of the webs of the channel members 4 and 6 are each formed with a row of holes indicated at 20, the rows running along the sides of the slots 10 and 12.

The members retained in the slots 10 and 12 may be fixed by means of pins or bolts extending through the holes 20 and aligned fixing holes in the members. These members may additionally have holes or slots perpendicular to these fixing holes, on the outer and inner surfaces of the members when they are fixed in the slots. Ties (not shown), may be arranged to extend through each soldier between its channel members, and pass through these holes or slots to connect two adjacent formwork panel walls.

The side flanges 22 and 24 of the channel members 4 and 6 are also formed with holes 26 to enable walings, plumbing, access brackets and/or other ancillary equipment to be fixed to the soldier, the holes in each member being aligned.

It will be appreciated that rigid elongate members may be fixed in the slots 10 and 12 of a soldier so as to reinfoce the soldier. Also, the members may extend from the ends of the channels of a soldier into the ends of the channels of another soldier so as to rigidly connect the soldiers together.

The base of each channel member 4 and 6 is formed with aligned apertures 28 spaced at intervals along the length of the soldier for receiving walings.

Referring now to Fig. 4, each of the ends of the soldier 2 has an end plate 30 fixed thereto.

The plate 30 is H-shaped in plan, the central part 32 of the plate being recessed so that it lies in a different plane from the sides 34 of the plate 30. The plate is located at the end of the soldier so that the central part 32 is positioned between the channel members 4 and 6, the end parts 34 abutting the ends of the channel members 4 and 6. The edges of the plate 30 are formed with flanges 36 (see Fig. 2) which are welded to turned-over edges or flanges 38 extending from flanges 22 and 24 of the channel members 4 and 6.The fact that the central part 32 is recessed means that, .iSjhen two -soldiers are fixed end to end by splicing members extending between the slots of the soldiers, a tie may be passed through the soldiers, at their point of connection, and between the central parts 32 of adjacent end plates 30.

Referring to Fig. 5, the formwork indicated at 42 may be fixed to the sides of the soldiers 2 as shown, using for example clips, clamps or angle cleats such as are shown at 43, with parallel walings 44 extending transversely to the length of the soldiers 2, which soldiers abut these walings.

An alternative arrangement is shown in Fig. 6. In this case, the formwork 46 has a number of parallel beams or studs 48 which extend parallel to the length of the soldiers 2.

Some of the studs 48 are secured in the slots 10 of the soldiers so that the formwork is supported by the soldiers. The studs may be fixed in the slots by for example pins or nails extending through holes 20. Walings 50 extend transversely to the length of the soldiers and through apertures 28. They may be fixed to the soldiers by, for example, clamps. It will be appreciated that the width of the support structure shown in Fig. 6 is considerably narrower than would be the case if conventional soldiers having no apertures 28 were used and walings 50 were fixed to the soldiers along, and projecting from, their backs.

Fig. 7 shows channel members 4 and 6 having stiffeners in the form of metal plates 52. Each plate 52 is welded to the flanges 22 and 24 of each member 4 and 6 and also to the central recessed portion 14 of each member. The plates 52 serve to strengthen the soldier 2, and make it more rigid; An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 8. The construction of the soldier is generally the same as that of the embodiment already described and the same reference numerals are used. However, in the Figure 8 embodiment the central part of each channel member, to which the connecting members 8 are fixed, is planar, the recessed portions indicated at 14 in Figure 3 being foregone.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An elongate soldier for concrete formwork comprising two spaced parallel channel members interconnected back to back by spaced connecting members in such a manner as to leave between the channel members, at least one slot or passage extending along the length of the soldier from each of its ends and permit tie members to pass through the soldier between the connecting members, wherein holes are provided on the sides of the channel members so that members retained in the slots may be fixed by means of pins or bolts extending through the holes.

2. A soldier as claimed in Claim 1 having a slot on each of two opposite sides thereof, both slots extending the whole length of the soldier.

3. A soldier as claimed in any of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The outer or end portions of the webs of the members 4 and 6 define the sides of a pair of slots or passages 10 and 12 extending down the length of the soldier from end to end for receiving elongate members (not shown) which preferably have rectangular, or square, hollow sections. The central part of each channel member has a central recessed portion indicated at 14 and the connecting members 8 are fixed to these portions. The opposite ends 16 and 18 of the members 8 form an intermittent bottom surface for each of the slots 10 and 12. The end portions of the webs of the channel members 4 and 6 are each formed with a row of holes indicated at 20, the rows running along the sides of the slots 10 and 12. The members retained in the slots 10 and 12 may be fixed by means of pins or bolts extending through the holes 20 and aligned fixing holes in the members. These members may additionally have holes or slots perpendicular to these fixing holes, on the outer and inner surfaces of the members when they are fixed in the slots. Ties (not shown), may be arranged to extend through each soldier between its channel members, and pass through these holes or slots to connect two adjacent formwork panel walls. The side flanges 22 and 24 of the channel members 4 and 6 are also formed with holes 26 to enable walings, plumbing, access brackets and/or other ancillary equipment to be fixed to the soldier, the holes in each member being aligned. It will be appreciated that rigid elongate members may be fixed in the slots 10 and 12 of a soldier so as to reinfoce the soldier. Also, the members may extend from the ends of the channels of a soldier into the ends of the channels of another soldier so as to rigidly connect the soldiers together. The base of each channel member 4 and 6 is formed with aligned apertures 28 spaced at intervals along the length of the soldier for receiving walings. Referring now to Fig. 4, each of the ends of the soldier 2 has an end plate 30 fixed thereto. The plate 30 is H-shaped in plan, the central part 32 of the plate being recessed so that it lies in a different plane from the sides 34 of the plate 30. The plate is located at the end of the soldier so that the central part 32 is positioned between the channel members 4 and 6, the end parts 34 abutting the ends of the channel members 4 and 6. The edges of the plate 30 are formed with flanges 36 (see Fig. 2) which are welded to turned-over edges or flanges 38 extending from flanges 22 and 24 of the channel members 4 and 6.The fact that the central part 32 is recessed means that, .iSjhen two -soldiers are fixed end to end by splicing members extending between the slots of the soldiers, a tie may be passed through the soldiers, at their point of connection, and between the central parts 32 of adjacent end plates 30. Referring to Fig. 5, the formwork indicated at 42 may be fixed to the sides of the soldiers 2 as shown, using for example clips, clamps or angle cleats such as are shown at 43, with parallel walings 44 extending transversely to the length of the soldiers 2, which soldiers abut these walings. An alternative arrangement is shown in Fig. 6. In this case, the formwork 46 has a number of parallel beams or studs 48 which extend parallel to the length of the soldiers 2. Some of the studs 48 are secured in the slots 10 of the soldiers so that the formwork is supported by the soldiers. The studs may be fixed in the slots by for example pins or nails extending through holes 20. Walings 50 extend transversely to the length of the soldiers and through apertures 28. They may be fixed to the soldiers by, for example, clamps. It will be appreciated that the width of the support structure shown in Fig. 6 is considerably narrower than would be the case if conventional soldiers having no apertures 28 were used and walings 50 were fixed to the soldiers along, and projecting from, their backs. Fig. 7 shows channel members 4 and 6 having stiffeners in the form of metal plates 52. Each plate 52 is welded to the flanges 22 and 24 of each member 4 and 6 and also to the central recessed portion 14 of each member. The plates 52 serve to strengthen the soldier 2, and make it more rigid; An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 8. The construction of the soldier is generally the same as that of the embodiment already described and the same reference numerals are used. However, in the Figure 8 embodiment the central part of each channel member, to which the connecting members 8 are fixed, is planar, the recessed portions indicated at 14 in Figure 3 being foregone. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An elongate soldier for concrete formwork comprising two spaced parallel channel members interconnected back to back by spaced connecting members in such a manner as to leave between the channel members, at least one slot or passage extending along the length of the soldier from each of its ends and permit tie members to pass through the soldier between the connecting members, wherein holes are provided on the sides of the channel members so that members retained in the slots may be fixed by means of pins or bolts extending through the holes.

3. A soldier as claimed in any of the

preceding claims having a reinforcement member secured in a slot.

4. A soldier as claimed in any of the preceding claims including a stiffener comprising one or more metal plates, fixed between opposite flanges of the or each channel member.

5. A soldier as claimed in any of the preceding claims having aligned apertures in the channel members for receiving walings.

6. A soldier as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the channel members have side flanges in which are further holes to enable walings, plumbing, access brackets or other ancillary equipment to be fixed to the soldier.

7. Concrete formwork comprising a number of soldiers as claimed in any of the preceding claims carrying one or more concrete formwork panels secured across the side edges of the soldiers, the soldiers being interconnected by two or more walings extending through aligned apertures in the channel members of the soldiers in a direction transverse to the length of the soldiers.

8. An elongate soldier for concrete formwork substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.