US2038296A - Supporting structure for concrete floors - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1936. c. A. KENDRICK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR CONCRETE FLOORS Filed Aug. 2l, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l W rrom/r April 21, 1935 C. A. KENDRICK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR CONCRETE FLOORS 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug'. 2l,

Patented Apr. 2l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR CONCRETE FLOORS This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in structures for concrete floors in which horizontallydisposed forms are temporarily mounted upon removable supporting elements.

The general object of this invention is to provide a removable supporting structure for concrete floors or the like, which is light, durable and economical in construction and that may b-e quickly and easily assembled in operative position or removed therefrom.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the construction of a form for concrete structure, and particularly to the structure of the l5 ends of the forms whereby the forms may be readily adjusted to closely engage the concrete supporting members or soflits interposed between the forms and also to permit the forms to be easily collapsed suiciently to enable the ready removal of the forms upon the concrete structure.

Another specific object resides in the means for removably securing the ends and sides of the form members in position for receiving'the concrete.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the structure of the device and the form and relation of the parts thereof, will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view showing the forms in position before the concrete has been poured, with portions thereof broken away to better reveal the underlying supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View taken on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5, Figure l, illustrating the manner in which the end walls of the forms are maintained against lateral displacement.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 6 6, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail vertical section illustrating a modified form of sot taken substantially on r line 1 1, Fig. 8.

00 Figure 8 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8, Fig. 7.

The structure illustrated in the drawings comprises the usual beam boxes I arranged in the usual manner between respective column members 2 and which, with said columns, form a substantially rectangular frame 3. The beam boxes I are shown as being constructed in the con- Ventional manner from boards composed of wood or its equivalent and arranged to form a bottom ll and two side walls 5, said side walls being reinforced by vertical battens 6 spaced longitudinally of the side walls.

The boxes l are each temporarily supported upon props or shores 1 mounted in any wellknown manner upon suitable underlying struc- 10 ture, not shown. Mounted within the frame 3 is a structural support comprising a pair of ledger beams 8 and in this instance four, ledger rails 9, together with their supporting members. The ledgerbeams 8, in this instance, extend lon- 15 gitudinally of the frame l substantially midway between thel side beam boxes. Each ledger beam extends inwardly from a respective end beam box and are supported at their outer ends by cleats I0 nailed or otherwise secured to the battens 6, while the inner ends of the ledger beams terminate in more or less longitudinal spaced relation depending upon the distance between the beam boxes comprising the ends of the frame andare supported upon a respective prop or shore l2 and which are, in turn, supported upon any convenient underlying structure.

Each ledger beam 8 is preferably composed of a pair of channel irons arranged edgewise and adjustably secured together in transverse parallel spaced relation by tie bolts I3 which extend through aligned apertures provided in the channel members and clamped to said channel members by nuts I4 screw-threaded on said bolts and positioned one adjacent either side of the channel member.

The ledger rails, in this instance, are angle irons of substantially the same length as the ledger beams, and are secured by nails l5 or their equivalent, to the battens 6 at respective ends of the side beam frames I in substantial parallel aligned relation with the ledger beams.

By referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that each of the upper surfaces of the channel members comprising the ledger beams and that of the ledger rails are provided with longitudinal spaced key slots I1. These slots are for the purpose of receiving securing keys l1 which, in this instance, are triangular in plan View, said keys being for the purpose ofv maintaining the ends of form members against inward lateral movement, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, the key slots in the ledger beams being utilized when short forms are used.

Upon the ledger beams and rails are mounted to be supported thereby, a plurality of, in this instance six, form members I8 for supporting the concrete. Each of the form members I8 comprises a pair of pans I9 which, as shown, are inverted U-shaped in cross-section when placed in position, and may be composed of sheet metal of any desired thickness and strength. The pans comprising each form are mounted in alignment with each other, with their inner adjacent ends preferably arranged in overlapping relation as at 20 to permit ready longitudinal adjustment of the pans within limits whereby the forms may be readily adapted to fit between beam boxes of diierent spacings.

Each of the form pans I9 is provided with laterally extending flanges 2l which, as shown, are adjacent the lower or free longitudinal edges of the pans and extend the full length thereof. These flanges are preferably formed by turning the lower longitudinal edge portions of each side wall of the pan outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly upon itself so that the completed flange will extend outwardly from the respective side of the pan at substantially right angles thereto. 'I'his flange structure provides a relatively light rigid supporting member for the forms adapted to firmly rest upon the supporting ledger members at any place within their lengths and which also provides a rm continuous seat for the cement supporting softs placed intermediate the forms which, it will be understood when mounted in operative position upon the ledger members, are spacedlaterally in the usual manner to form reinforcing ribs on the floor or ceiling of proper thickness.

These flanges 2I are each provided with longitudinally spaced slots 22 so positioned that when the forms are in operative position upon the supporting ledgers, each slot will be in alignment with the corresponding slot in the adjacent form. 'I'hese slots 22 are for the reception of a tie strap 23 which is a U-shaped member composed of sheet metal or other suitable material which may be readily bent to the desired form. These tie straps are adapted to extend across the upper face of adjacent flanges 2|, with the leg portions thereof extending downwardly through the apertures or slots 22 so as to prevent the inward lateral movement of the side walls of the forms.

'Ihese particular tie straps 23 are adapted to be used for the sides of the forms positioned within the complete structure, while the sides of the forms located along the outer edge of the structure are secured against inward lateral movement by similar tie straps 24 which, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 4, are Z-shaped in cross-section and have one leg thereof extended through a respective slot 22 in the form, while the other leg of the member extends along a respective batten 6 to which it may be secured by a bolt or screw 25.

The hereinbefore-mentioned softs 21 are each preferably composed of a pair of channel irons 28 arranged in inverted position when mounted upon the form flanges 2I, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 so as to provide suiiicient room between the transverse portion of the sofiits and the upper face of the flanges 2I to permit the ready removal of the tie straps 23 when the structure is being disassembled. The channel irons 28 are of substantially the same length as the corresponding pan I9 comprising the forms I8 and have their adjacent inner ends arranged in overlapping relation as at 29, the sides or legs of the upper positioned channel member 28 being cut away as at 39 to permit the inner end thereof to be mounted in close relation to the inner end of the companion channel iron.

The softs are secured in position by bolts as 32 which pass through aligned openings provided at the inner overlapping ends of the channel irons 28 and in a washer or plate 33 positioned across the lower face of the corresponding ledger beam 8, said bolt 32 being secured in place by a nut 3 screw-threaded on the lower end of the bolt and engaging said plate 33. The outer ends of the solts are removably secured to the ledger rails 9 by bolts 35, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The sofiits just described are adapted more particularly for the intermediate spaces, while a similar soiiit as 35 is provided for the outer longitudinal edge of the pan adjacent the beam boxes I. This soflit 36, as illustrated more particularly in Figure 4, is composed of a pair of channel irons 31 which have one of the side walls or legs thereof removed so as to form a flat upper plate adapted to be secured by screws or bolts to the upper longitudinal edge of the adjacent side wall 5 of the corresponding beam box I.

Inasmuch as the pans I9 are supported by the understructure at their ends only, I have provided each pan and soiiit section 23 with aligned holes substantially midway between their ends for the reception of a pin 38. It will thus be seen by referring more particularly to Figures l and 4, that these pins 33 connect the pans I9 to the respective somt so that the pans are supported at their centers and prevented from sagging as the cement is poured on the upper surface thereof.

In order that the ends of each of the form members I8 may be closed for preventing the entrance of cement to the inside of said form members, I have provided a pair of end plates 4D composed preferably of sheet metal and which have a width substantially equal to the depth of the respective form, while the lengths of the plates are greater than the width of the interior of the forms so that the inner adjacent ends of the plates may lie in overlapping relation as at 4I, Figures 4 and 6.

Each of these plates is secured to the adjacent portion of the form member I8 by means of rivets 4 2 or their equivalent which pass through aligned openings provided in the side and transverse wall of the form and in an inwardly extending flange 43' provided along the inner side and outer end of each of the end plates 4I). The lower or outer side of each of the plates 49 is also provided with an inwardly extending flange as 43 of substantially the same width as the flange 43 and which is adapted to abut against a corresponding key I8 when said key is in one of the key slots I'I so that said key will prevent the lateral inward movement of the end plates during the pouring of the cement.

The outward lateral movement of the end plate is prevented by a softit 45 which, in this instance, is composed of channel iron, as shown more readily in Figure 5, of sufcient width to bridge the space betwee-n the ends of the forms and the adjacent side of the corresponding beam box I, with the outer flange of the soflit resting upon the upper longitudinal edge of the beam box. I'hese softs 45 are secured in place by F nails or screws 46 which extend through suitable apertures provided in the transverse portion of the soflit and are secured in a corresponding batten 6.

It will now be understood that I have provided a removable supporting structure for concrete work comprising a minimum number of parts and which may be quickly and easily assembled to form a substantially tight support for concrete work and to be as readily disassembled at the completion of said concrete Work, For instance, it will be noted that the sides of each of the form members I8 may be quickly and easily brought into relatively tight relation with the corresponding somt member 21 by the manipulation of the tie straps 23 and, at the same time, maintain a practically tight continuous end wall of the form members irrespective of any variation in the Width or spacing of the soflit members.

It will also be observed that the form members I8 may be readily removed from the concrete Work after the ledger members have been removed simply by disengaging the tie straps 23 and 24 and then springing the side Walls of the forms inwardly to Withdraw said sides away from the adjacent portion of the concrete and to sufciently contract the upper or transverse portion of the forms to permit the same to be readily withdrawn from the respective recess in the cement.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have illustrated a modified form of soiit as 5l) which is not only connected at its ends to the ledger beam 8 and rail 9 in the manner shown for the sofiits 2l, but these soiits are also directly connected to the form pans I9 in such a manner as to not only support the pan, but to secure the pans against lateral displacement without the use of the tie straps 23.

The soflits are composed of rails 5l rectangular in cross-section and composed preferably of wood cut to the required Width and length and reinforced by metal plates 52 secured to the central portion of the bottom of the rail by bolts 53. These plates 52 terminate a short distance from either end of the wood rail 5I and are of less Width than the rail so as to lie intermediate the form flanges 2|, as'illustrated in Figure 8. 'Ihe wood rails are also provided with longitudinally spaced openings 54 adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof, and when the soits and forms are assembled, the wood rails rest directly upon the pan flanges 2l and are secured to said flanges by bolts 55 Which pass through said openings 54 in the rail and corresponding strap openings 22 provided in the flanges 2|.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as various changes both in the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made, without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a removable supporting structure for concrete floors, a LJ-shaped form member made of sheet metal, a closure for one end of the form member comprising a pair of imperforate elements connected to said member and disposed in overlapping relation with each other whereby the sides of the member are free to be moved laterally toward and from each other, a support rail upon which the end portion of said member is adapted to rest, and removable means associated with said rail at one side of the elements for maintaining said elements against lateral displacement.

2. In a removable supporting structure for concrete floors, a U-shaped form member made of sheet metal, a closure for one end of the form member comprising a pair of elements secured in overlapping relation to said member whereby the sides of the member are free to be moved laterally toward and from each other, a support upon which the end portion of said member is adapted to rest, said support having a slot therein adjacent the inner face of said elements and a key engaging said slot the protruding portion of which is adapted to engage the inner face of said elements for maintaining them against lateral displacement.

3. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality of U-shaped form members made of sheet metal and having laterally extending flanges thereon, soflits having a length substantially equal to the length of corresponding form members mounted on said flanges, means engaging the end portions only of the flanges for supporting the form members and soflits at the ends thereof, and a pin removably associated with the soflits intermediate the ends thereof and supportably connecting the central portion of said members with the soffits.

4. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality of U-shaped form members of sheet metal and having laterally extending flanges thereon, soiiits in engagement with said flanges, said sofiits having 4a length substantially equal to the length of corresponding form members, means engaging the end portions of said flanges for supporting the form members and the soflits at the ends thereof, means engaging the form members independently of the flanges for connecting the form members and sofi-its intermediate the ends thereof, closures for the ends of said form members comprising a pair of elements connected to said members and disposed in overlapping relation with each other whereby the sides of the members are free to be moved laterally toward and from each other, and removable means associated with said form member supporting means for maintaining said closure elements against lateral displacement.

5. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality of U-shaped form members made of sheet metal and having laterally extending flanges thereon, soits having a length substan-

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