US3741515A

US3741515A - Variable pitch form

Info

Publication number: US3741515A
Application number: US00201865A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Rice
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-24
Filing date: 1971-11-24
Publication date: 1973-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-26

Abstract

A variable pitch form for the casting of concrete slabs which become modules of multiple story building structures, the form having an upwardly facing slab casting panel bordered longitudinally by channel shaped beam casting forms integrally connected to the slab casting panel by flexible fillet casting strips. Means are provided for raising and lowering one longitudinal margin of the slab casting panel and the corresponding beam casting form while maintaining the beam casting forms as well as leg casting forms at the corner of the slab in an essentially vertical position. Outboard end forms are provided to match various selected slab pitches or slopes. The beam forms carry pivotal ledge casting forms to provide longitudinal ledges for the support of adjacent modules.

Description

United States Patent [191 Rice [ VARIABLE PITCII FORM [76] Inventor: Edward K. Rice, 2077 Linda Flora Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 22 Filed: Nov. 24, '1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,865

[52] US. Cl 249/26, 249/27, 249/50,

[51] Int. Cl... B28b 7/08 [58] Field of Search 249/13, 18, 26, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,434 9/1964 Gageet a1..; 249/185 X 2,708,780 5/1955 Burkhalter.... 249/99 3,168,771 2/1965 Nelson 249/50 3,204,316 9/1965 Jackson 249/13 2,823,440 2/1958 Schade 249/18 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 674,658 1 11/1963 Canada..... 249/27- [111 3,741,515- ['45] June 26,1973

1,196,007 6/1970 Great Britain 249/159 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-Ben D. Tobor Att0rneyCharles G. Lyon et al.

- casting form while maintaining the beam casting forms as well as leg casting forms at the corner of the slab in an essentially vertical position. Outboard end forms are provided to match various selected slab pitches or slopes. The beam forms carry pivotal ledge casting forms to provide longitudinal ledges for the support of adjacent modules.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures structures.

VARIABLE PITCH FORM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to my copending applications listed below:

Ser. No. 837,986; Filed June 2, 1969; for PRECAST CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. Ser. No. 930,97; Filed Nov. 27, 1970; for DEMOUNT- ABLE MULTIPLE LEVEL BUILDING STRUC- TURE.

The structures disclosed in these applications include pre-cast modules having elongated concrete slabs bordered by longitudinal beams at opposite sides, and a pair of supporting legs at each of their ends. A major use of the building structure is for multiple story parking which requires sloping floors or ramps to permit vehicles to move from one level to the next. The floor arrangements vary substantially, depending upon the area and other factors. In some cases, the major area is flat and connecting by sloping ramps. In other cases the major area may be inclined. Also the slope angle may vary for different structures and thus require different slope angles. Modules are cast at a manufacturing site and shipped to the points of use, thus the forms must be such as to meet the varying conditions of slope or pitch required for a variety of multiple story building SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a variable pitch form and'is summarized in the following objects:

First to provide a formfor the casting of a concrete slab module which incorporates novel means whereby the form may be preadjusted to cast slabs having a range of transverse slopes including zero slope so that modules of different pitch may be cast by adjustment of the form including zero pitch, when needed, so that the form may be maintained in a continuous use.

Second to provide a variable pitch form, particularly suited for the casting of elongated slabs having at least one longitudinal reinforcing beam, the surface of the form at the juncture of the slab and beam being flexible to permit change in the slope or pitch of the slab without change in the orientation of the beam.

Third, to provide a variable pitch form as indicated in the preceding objects-which incorporates a novel means for the casting of transverse beams at the ends of the slab by the use of interchangable corner forming units and'interchangable distal end forms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical module cast by the variable pitch form.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken through 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the model by solid lines as it appears when cast to form a sloping surface and g by dotted lines as it appears when cast to form a hori- FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the form as adjusted for casting a module having a sloping surface.

FIG. 6 is a view taken essentially through 66 of FIG. 4 partially in section and partially in elevation.

FIG. 7 is a similar partial sectional partial elevational view viewed essentially through 7-7 of FIG. 4 in the opposite direction from FIG. 6.

The variable pitch form is intended to cast a module A which includes an elongated slab B having longitudinal beams C along each side margin and end beams D joining the longitudinal beams at the ends of the slabs. The corners of the module are provided with legs E extending downward from the junctures of the longitudinal beams and end beams. The corners of the slab are provided with stacking pads F which are flattened areas dimensioned to support a second module placed on top of a preceding module. The longitudinal margins of the module are provided with recessed ledges G.

As more fully described in the afforementioned copending applications, the modules may be set in side by side relation in which case the recessed ledges G are omitted or may be set in spaced relation to receive intervening slabs which are either cast in place or precast, the margins of which are intended to be supported on the ledges G. As previously indicated the modules are intended to stack to form a multiple story structure. If this structure is intended for multi-story parking, ramps are required in order to drive from one level to another. These ramps may be confined to aisleways or may comprise the major portions of this structure included'the parking areas. In either case, modules which present a horizontal surface and modules which present an inclined surface are required. In some constructions the slope or pitch is constant and other cases it is variable or at least the pitch for different structures may vary. Even the modules which are considered as presenting a horizontal surface may in fact have a slight slope for drainage purposes.

As brought out more fully in the afforementioned copending applications the legs of each module including the corners of the overlying beams and slabs are provided with vertically extending tendon guide ways. The slab is provided with transverse guide ways. The longitudinal beams are provided with post-tensioned tendons. During assembly, the tendons are threaded vertically through the legs and horizontally through the slabs and are eventually tensioned so as to hold the modules in fixed relation. The tendon guideways and the post-tensioned tendons are not illustrated as they do not constitute a part of thepresent invention.

The variable pitch form includes an elongated slab casting panel 1 having suitable underlying framework 2. Along one side margin there is provided a fixed beam casting form 3 which includes an inboard panel 4 sloping slightly from the vertical to provide draft which facilitates removal of the module. Each fixed beam casting form also includes an outboard panel 5 which also slopes upwardly and is connected and its bottom edge to the inboard panel 4 by a bottom panel 6.

The inboard and outboard panels 4 and 5 are supported respectively by suitable inboard and outboard frame work 7 and 8. The bottom panel, in fact the entire fixed beam casting form is supported by a series of cross-beams 9 underlying the bottom panel 6.

At the opposite margin of the slab casting panel 1 is an adjustable beam casting form 10 similar in most respects to the fixed beam casting form 3, that is the form 10 includes an inboard panel 11 and an outboard panel 12 which diverge upwardly and are connected by a bottom panel 13. The inboard panel and outboard panels are supported respectively by inboard and outboard frame work 14 and 15. Also the bottom panel 13 as well as the other parts of the adjustable beam casting form 10 are supported by cross beams 16.

The cross beams 9 and 16 are supported by a suitable sub-frame structure 17. The cross beams 9 are fixed thereto whereas the cross beams 16 are provided with vertically disposed jack bolts 18 threaded through nuts 19 secured to the cross beams 16 or the longitudinal members which connect the ends of the cross beams 16. The lower ends of the jack bolts 18 bear against the sub-frame structure 17 so that, when turned, the crossbeams 16 and the corresponding side of the slab casting panel 1 as well as the adjustable beam casting form 10 may be raised and lowered. The lower ends of the jack bolts 18 are provided with reduced extensions and retainer nuts 21 which anchor the jack bolts to the subframe structure 17. If desired, thrust bearings or thrust rings may be interposed under the jack bolts to facilitate their rotation.

The slab casting panel 1 and the inboard panels 4 and 11 are joined by longitudinally extending flexible fillet casting strips 22 which are integral with the panels 1 and 4 and l and 11 so as to present a continuous smooth casting surface.

Adjustment of the jack bolts 18 causes the beam casting form 10 to raise or lower in a vertical direction. This movement causes the slab casting panel 1 to tilt or change its slope. The angular relation between the slab casting panel 1 and inboard panels 4 and 11 change slightly and this change is permitted by the flexible fillet casting strips 22. The horizontal distance between the beam casting forms 3 and 10 varies slightly as a slab casting panel 1 assumes a sloping position. This movement, due to the fact that the maximum desired angular position is only a few degrees that is, (the order of 6) is not sufficient to require compensating adjustment of the beam casting forms.

The framework 2 which underlies the slab casting panel 1 includes vertical braces 23 which may be adjusted according to the angular position of the slabs casting panel 1. Also horizontal braces 24, may extend between the inboard panels 4 and 11. The horizontal braces 24 are also adjustable if desired, to accommodate changes in length.

Each outboard panel and 12 and its corresponding frame work 8 and 15 support a ledge casting form 25. Each form is joined to the corresponding frame work by hinges 26 which include vertical adjustable hinge leaves 27. Each ledge casting form 25 has an inboard lower corner 28 which forms the bottom and vertical side of a corresponding recessed ledge G. As it is desirable that the surfaces of the ledges G be respectively parallel to and vertical to the upper surface of the slab 2, tapered spacer elements 29 are interposed between the undersides of the form 25 and the upper ends of the

frame work

5 or 15. The ledge casting forms 25 are held in place by bolts 30, however by loosening the bolts the casting forms 25 may be pivoted clear of the casting forms 3 and as indicated by dotted lines at 6 the left side of FIG. 5.

The ends of the slab casting panel 1 are provided with depending inboard end panels 31 joined to bottom panels 32. The inboard end panels 31 are slightly less in width than the slab casting panel 1 so that their lateral edges are spaced from the inboard panels 4 and 11 respectively. These spaces receive corner fillet forming units 33. A set of such units are provided for predetermined angular adjustments of the slab supporting panel to compensate for the differences in angular relation of the lateral edges of the end panels 31 due to change in the slope of the slab casting panel.

Each inboard end panel 31 is confronted by an outboard end casting form 34 which includes an outboard end panel 35 the lower margin of which is secured to the corresponding bottom panel 32. Each outboard end casting form 34 also includes corner forming extensions 36 which join to the

outboard panels

5 and 12 respectively. A set of outboard end casting forms 34 are provided, each defining a selected angle corresponding to a predetermined slope of the slab casting panel 1. The upper end of the end casting form 34 is provided with a flange 37 which serves as a reference surface for the top surface of the concrete module. Also the lateral extremeties of the flange as indicated by 38 are flat, that is defined horizontal planes irrespective of the slope therebetween. These flattened end portions aid in the forming of the stacking pads F of the module.

The lower lateral extremeties of the outboard end 'casting forms 34 and the corresponding ends of the fixed beam casting form 3 and the adjustable beam casting form 10 form essentially rectangular downwardly facing frames 39 which are capable of removable connection to complimentary leg casting forms 40 and 41. Each capable of casting two sides of a leg.

The jack bolts 18 and the adjustable beam casting form 10 are so arranged that the slab casting panel 1 may be adjusted for zero slope so that the variable pitch fonn is not limited of the production of modules having sloping slabs but may produce a module having a standard or flat slab. As a practical matter, it is usually necessary for drainage purposes to slope the various levels of a parking garage including the bottom floor on which the modules are placed so that usually the slabs depart slightly from a truly horizontal surface.

The comer fillet forming units 33, outboard end casting forms 34, frames 39 and leg casting forms 40 and 41 as well as the ends of the beam casting forms 3 and 10 are joined by bolts or other conventional fastening means, not shown because of the necessarily small scale of the drawings.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A variable pitch form for casting an elongated concrete building module having a slab and at least one longitudinal beam, said form comprising:

a. an elongated slab casting unit having means defining a casting surface;

b. An elongated beam casting unit contiguous to said slab casting unit and having means defining a casting surface;

c. said surface defining means being portions of an integral continuous sheet of material v defining therebetween a flexible fillet casting strip to permit relative angular displacement of said units while maintaining a continuous surface therebetween for the casting of a concrete module there against; and

d. an adjustment means for effecting relative angular displacement of the casting units and fixing the casting units in selected angular relation.

2. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1,

wherein:

a. at least one leg casting unit extends downwardly from the beam casting unit in fixed relation therewith.

3. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

a. a pair of recessed ledge casting means movable between a casting position to form a pair of depressed ledges in the concrete module along the opposite lateral sides of the module slab, and a position clearing the module for removal of the module from the variable pitch form;

b. and interchangable spacer elements for varying the casting position of the ledge casting means in accordance with the sloping position of the module slab.

4. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1,

wherein:

a. one of said beam casting units is disposed along each of the opposite longitudinal margins of the slab casting unit;

b. a said fillet casting strip is disposed between each side margin of the slab casting unit and the corresponding beam casting unit;

c. and the adjustment means is disposed under one of the beam casting units to raise and lower the beam casting form and tilt the slab casting unit to various selected pitches.

5. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 4, which further comprises:

a. inboard end beam casting panels at the end extremeties of the slab casting unit and angularly movable as the slab casting unit is tilted;

interchangable corner fillet casting elements adapted to be fitted between the lateral edges of the inboard end casting panels and confronting ends of the beam casting units;

0. and interchangable outboard end beam casting units confronting the inboard end beam casting panels and adapted to be removably connected to the ends of the beam casting units.

6. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 5,

wherein:

a. a leg casting unit extends downwardly from each extremety of the beam casting unit and the confronting portions of the outboard end beam casting units.

7. A variable pitch form for casting a concrete building module having an elongated slab, and a pair of beams extending along each side margin thereof, said form comprising:

a. a slab casting unit having means defining a casting surface;

b. a beam casting unit along each side of the slab casting unit, each being contiguous to said slab casting unit and having means defining a casting surface and each including an inboard casting panel and an outboard casting panel defining an upwardly open channel;

c. said surface defining means being portions of an integral continuous sheet of material defining therebetween fillet casting strips the fillet casting strips being flexible to permit relative angular movement of the slab casting unit and the beam casting units while maintaining a continuous casting surface therebetween;

(1. means for securing one of the beam casting units in a fixed position; and

e. means for raising and lowering the other beam casting unit in an essentially vertical plane, causing flexure of the fillet casting strips and disposition of the slab casting unit at various inclined angles.

8. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 7, which further comprises:

a. a recessed ledge casting unit for each outboard casting panel movable between a casting position partially overlying the corresponding open channel, and an inoperative position clearing the channel.

9. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 7, which further comprises:

a. end beam casting units each including an inboard casting panel integral with an end of the slab casting unit and depending therefrom; a set of interchangeable comer fillet casting elements joining the inboard casting panels of the end beam casting units and the side beam casting units; and a set of interchangable outboard casting panels confronting the end beam inboard casting panel and covering the ends of the channels formed by the side beam casting units.

10. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 9, which further comprises:

a. downward extending leg casting units depending from the ends of the end beam casting units.

Claims

1. A variable pitch form for casting an elongated concrete building module having a slab and at least one longitudinal beam, said form comprising: a. an elongated slab casting unit having means defining a casting surface; b. An elongated beam casting unit contiguous to said slab casting unit and having means defining a casting surface; c. said surface defining means being portions of an integral continuous sheet of material defining therebetween a flexible fillet casting strip to permit relative angular displacement of said units while maintaining a continuous surface therebetween for the casting of a concrete module there against; and d. an adjustment means for effecting relative angular displacement of the casting units and fixing the casting units in selected angular relation.

2. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. at least one leg casting unit extends downwardly from the beam casting unit in fixed relation therewith.

3. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a. a pair of recessed ledge casting means movable between a casting position to form a pair of depressed ledges in the concrete module along the opposite lateral sides of the module slab, and a position clearing the module for removal of the module from the variable pitch form; b. and interchangable spacer elements for varying the casting position of the ledge casting means in accordance with the sloping position of the module slab.

4. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. one of said beam casting units is disposed along each of the opposite longitudinal margins of the slab casting unit; b. a said fillet casting strip is disposed between each side margin of the slab casting unit and the corresponding beam casting unit; c. and the adjustment means is disposed under one of the beam casting units to raise and lower the beam casting form and tilt the slab casting unit to various selected pitches.

5. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 4, which further comprises: a. inboard end beam casting panels at the end extremeties of the slab casting unit and angularly movable as the slab casting unit is tilted; b. interchangable corner fillet casting elements adapted to be fitted between the lateral edges of the inboard end casting panels and confronting ends of the beam casting units; c. and interchangable outboard end beam casting units confronting the inboard end beam casting panels and adapted to be removably connected to the ends of the beam casting units.

6. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 5, wherein: a. a leg casting unit extends downwardly from each extremety of the beam casting unit and the confronting portions of the outboard end beam casting units.

7. A variable pitch form for casting a concrete building module having an elongated slab, and a pair of beams extending along each side margin thereof, said form comprising: a. a slab casting unit having means defining a casting surface; b. a beam casting unit along each side of the slab casting unit, each being contiguous to said slab casting unit and having means defining a casting surface and each including an inboard casting panel and an outboard casting panel defining an upwardly open channel; c. said surface defining means being portions of an integral continuous sheet of material defining therebetween fillet casting strips the fillet casting strips being flexible to permit relative angular movement of the slab casting unit and the beam casting units while maintaining a continuous casting surface therebetween; d. means for securing one of the beam casting units in a fixed position; and e. means for raising and lowering the other beam casting unit in an essentially vertical plane, causing flexure of the fillet casting strips and disposition of the slab casting unit at various inclined angles.

8. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 7, which further comprises: a. a recessed ledge casting unit for each outboard casting panel movable between a casting position partially overlying the corresponding open channel, and an inoperative position clearing the channel.

9. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 7, which further comprises: a. end beam casting units each including an inboard casting panel integral with an end of the slab casting unit and depending therefrom; a set of interchangeable corner fillet casting elements joining the inboard casting panels of the end beam casting units and the side beam casting units; and a set of interchangable outboard casting panels confronting the end beam inboard casting panel and covering the ends of the channels formed by the side beam casting units.

10. A variable pitch form as defined in claim 9, which further comprises: a. downward extending leg casting units depending from the ends of the end beam casting units.