AU2010236077B2

AU2010236077B2 - Sideform system for forming concrete panels

Info

Publication number: AU2010236077B2
Application number: AU2010236077A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Alberti; Robert Urquhart Connell
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2010-10-28
Filing date: 2010-10-28
Publication date: 2017-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-28
Also published as: AU2010236077A1

Abstract

C:\NRPortbl\DCC\FJL\3262065_1 DOC-28/10/2010 An extension for a concrete sideform, including a first end portion adapted for coupling to an end formation of the sideform, a second end portion opposite the first end 5 portion, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to a sideform cap, and a wall portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the wall portion being arranged to extend in the same plane as a wall portion of the sideform when coupled to said end formation of the sideform. qr in mc A iy

Description

SIDEFORM SYSTEM FOR FORMING CONCRETE PANELS Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a sideform system for forming concrete panels, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a sideform extension which provides improved versatility to a sideform system.

Background of the Invention

It is known to provide a sideform system for forming concrete panels. For example, Figures 1 to 3b show a sideform system 10 including a buttress frame 12, a plurality of risers 14 which are vertically stacked and clamped within the buttress frame 12, and a sideform 16 for forming a side edge of a concrete panel 18. The sideform 16 may be held in place relative to the respective riser 14 by way of a bracket 20, and the buttress frame 12 may be anchored to an underlying surface 22 by magnetic clamps or bolts. A variation is shown in Figure 3a which uses a plurality of buttress frames 12 to form a concrete panel 18 having a complex profile. Examples of complex profiles that can be formed in this way are shown in Figure 3b.

However, the applicant has determined that it would be beneficial for the sideform system 10 to have greater versatility. In particular, the applicant has determined that it would be beneficial for there to be provided sideforms which can form concrete panel edges with shiplap and/or tongue-and-groove formations for joining together like panels. Also, it has been determined that it would be advantageous for there to be a simple and cost effective system for modifying a single set of sideforms to form a variety of concrete panel edge profiles.

Examples of the present invention seek to provide a sideform system which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more disadvantages associated with previous sideform systems.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a concrete sideform assembly, comprising: a sideform having a shiplap forming surface with two parallel shiplap surface portions of substantially similar height; an extension coupled to the sideform to provide an extended configuration of the sideform, the extension comprising a first end portion adapted for coupling to an end formation of the sideform, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to a sideform cap, and a wall portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the wall portion being arranged to extend in the same plane as a wall portion of the sideform when coupled to said end formation of the sideform, and wherein the wall portion of the extension extends in the plane of one of the parallel surface portions to result in one parallel surface of the coupled assembly having a height greater than the other parallel surface of the coupled assembly.

Also described herein is an extension for a concrete sideform, including a first end portion adapted for coupling to an end formation of the sideform, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to a sideform cap, and a wall portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the wall portion being arranged to extend in the same plane as a wall portion of the sideform when coupled to said end formation of the sideform.

Preferably, the extension is adapted to provide an extended configuration of the sideform wherein the extension is located between the sideform and the sideform cap, and the end formation of the sideform is configured for use in an alternative configuration wherein the end formation is in direct coupling to said sideform cap.

Preferably, the second end portion of the extension has the same profile as the end formation of the sideform.

Preferably, the second end portion has a pair of opposed elongated flanges, and the sideform cap is resilient so as to be resiliently clipped over the elongated flanges.

In a preferred form, the sideform has a shiplap forming surface with two parallel surface portions of substantially similar height, and when the extension is coupled to the sideform the wall portion of the extension extends in the plane of one of the parallel surface portions to result in one parallel surface of the coupled assembly having a height greater than the other parallel surface of the coupled assembly. More preferably, the sideform has a first end formation at a first opposed end of the sideform, and a second end formation at a second opposed end of the sideform. Even more preferably, the sideform has the extension coupled to the first end formation to form one edge of a concrete panel, and another like shiplap sideform has a like extension coupled to the second end formation to form an opposite edge of the concrete panel.

Also described herein is a sideform system including a first sideform for coupling with an extension as defined above, and a second sideform for coupling with another like extension, wherein the first sideform has a longitudinal recess for forming a tongue in an edge of a concrete panel, the second sideform has a longitudinal protrusion for forming a groove in an opposite edge of said concrete panel, wherein the profile of the tongue fits within the profile of the groove such that like concrete panels can be coupled in a tongue-and-grooved arrangement.

Preferably, each of the first and second sideforms has a first end formation at a first opposed end of the sideform, and a second end formation at a second opposed end of the sideform for coupling an extension to one or both ends of the sideform.

Also described herein is a method of forming a concrete panel including the steps of: anchoring a buttress frame to an underlying surface; using the buttress frame to fasten one or more riser(s) to the underlying surface; coupling a sideform to the riser, the sideform having a profile shaped to impart a shiplap or tongue/groove shaping to an edge of the concrete panel; and pouring concrete to rest against the sideform to form the concrete panel.

Preferably, the sideform is a shiplap sideform as defined above.

Alternatively, the sideform is a first or second sideform of the sideform system defined above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an existing sideform for forming concrete panels;

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of an existing sideform system;

Figure 3a shows an existing sideform system for forming concrete panels having complex profiles;

Figure 3b shows a range of concrete panel profiles which may be formed using the system shown in Figure 3a;

Figure 4a shows a cross-sectional view of a shiplap sideform;

Figure 4b shows a perspective view of the sideform of Figure 4a;

Figure 4c shows an inverted perspective view of the sideform of Figure 4a;

Figures 4d and 4e show the sideform of Figure 4a with an extension coupled thereto in different arrangements;

Figure 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the extension used in Figures 4d and 4e; Figures 5b and 5c show perspective views of the extension of Figure 5a;

Figure 6a shows a cross-sectional view of a male tongue/groove sideform; and

Figure 6b shows a cross-sectional view of a female tongue/groove sideform. Detailed Description

With reference to Figures 4a to 4e of the drawings, there is shown a shiplap sideform 24 for forming shiplap edge profiles in concrete panels so as to facilitate joining together of like concrete panels in end-to-end relationship. Advantageously, the shiplap sideform 24 is a single sideform which is able to be used along opposite edges of a concrete panel to impart a shiplap profile to the concrete panel edges. More specifically, the shiplap sideform 24 is used in the orientation shown in Figures 4a and 4b along one edge of the concrete panel, and is inverted (see Figure 4c) for the opposite edge of the concrete panel. By using the shiplap sideform 24 in the configuration shown in Figures 4a to 4c, a generally symmetrical shiplap formation is formed in the edges of the concrete panel, whereby spaced vertical surfaces 26, 28 of an edge-forming profile are substantially similar in height.

Alternatively, when an asymmetric profile is desirable, an extension 30 is able to be used in the arrangements shown in Figures 4d and 4e to provide spaced vertical surfaces of different heights in the edge profile of the concrete panel. The use of the extension 30 provides this versatility from a single symmetrical extrusion, whereas otherwise a plurality of extrusions would be required (a left side extrusion and a right side extrusion).

The use of the extension 30 facilitates a range of solutions that can be achieved from a single base extrusion such that, for example, a base 100mm extrusion can be upsized to 125mm by incorporating an extension 30 along one edge of the sideform, or 150mm by incoiporating an extension 30 along each of the opposed edges. Sideform caps 32 can be added to enlarge the extrusion to 200mm in 5mm increments by virtue of a range of sideform caps between 0mm and 25mm.

More specifically, with reference to Figures 4d, 4e, 5a, 5b and 5c, the extension 30 includes a first end portion 34 adapted for coupling to an end formation 36 of the sideform (see for example the shiplap sideform 24 shown in Figures 4d and 4e). The extension 30 also includes a second end portion 38 adapted for coupling to a sideform cap 32, as shown in Figures 4d and 4e. The extension 30 has a wall portion 40 extending between the first end portion 34 and the second end portion 38. The wall portion 40 is arranged to extend in the same plane as a wall portion 42 (see Figures 4d and 4e) of the sideform 24, when the extension 30 is coupled to the end formation 36 of the sideform 24. In both of the arrangements shown in Figures 4d and 4e, the extension 30 is configured to provide a ledge 44 which is spaced from the sideform 24 such that a tool can be inserted below the ledge 44 to pry off the extension 30.

Accordingly, the extension 30 is adapted to provide an extended configuration of the sideform 24 wherein the extension 30 is located between the sideform 24 and the sideform cap 32. The end formation 36 of the sideform 24 is also configured for use in being directly coupled to the sideform cap 32. In this way, neither, one or both of the spaced vertical surfaces 26, 28 are able to be selectively extended by using the extension 30 so as to provide different concrete panel edge profiles which are symmetric or asymmetric. This is facilitated by virtue of the second end portion 38 of the extension 30 having the same profile as the end formation 36 of the sideform 24.

More specifically, the second end portion 38 has a pair of opposed elongated flanges 46, and the sideform cap 32 is resilient so as to be resiliently clipped over the elongated flanges 46. The resilience of the sideform cap 32, and also the extension 30, facilitate interchangeability of these parts.

The shiplap sideform 24 shown in Figures 4a to 4e has a shiplap forming surface 48 with two parallel surface portions 26, 28 of substantially similar height. When the extension 30 is coupled to the sideform 24 the wall portion 40 of the extension 30 extends in the plane of one of the parallel surface portions 26, 28 to result in one parallel surface 50 of the coupled assembly having a height greater than the other parallel surface 52 of the coupled assembly.

The sideform 24 has a first end formation 36a at a first opposed end of the sideform 24, and a second end formation 36b at a second opposed end of the sideform 24. The sideform 24 has the extension 30 coupled to the first end formation 36a to form one edge of the concrete panel (see Figure 4d), and another, like, shiplap sideform 24 (see Figure 4e) has a like extension 30 coupled to the second end formation 36b to form an opposite edge of the concrete panel. The second end portion 38 of the extension 30, the first end formation 36a and the second end formation 36b all have a common configuration of a pair of opposed elongated flanges 46 over which the sideform cap 32 is able to be resiliently clipped.

With reference to Figures 6a and 6b, the extension 30 is able to be used in a similar manner in relation to tongue/groove sideforms 53, 54. More specifically, the sideform system may include a first sideform 53 for coupling with the extension 30 shown in Figures 5a to 5c, and a second sideform 54 for coupling with another like extension 30. The first sideform 53 is a female sideform in that it has a longitudinal recess 56 for forming a tongue in an edge of a concrete panel. In contrast, the second sideform 54 has a longitudinal protrusion 58 for forming a groove in an opposite edge of the concrete panel. The recess 56 and the protrusion 58 are configured such that the profile of the tongue fits within the profile of the groove - accordingly, like concrete panels are able to be coupled in a tongue-and-grooved arrangement.

Each of the first and second tongue/groove sideforms 53, 54 has a first end formation 36a at a first opposed end of the sideform, and a second end formation 36b at a second opposed end of the sideform, for coupling the extension 30 to one or both ends of the sideform. The first end formation 36a and the second end formation 36b comprise a pair of opposed elongated flanges 46 over which the extension 30 or the sideform cap 32 is able to be clipped.

The shiplap sideform 24 shown in Figures 4a to 4e or the tongue/groove sideforms 53, 54 shown in Figures 6a or 6b are able to be used in a method similar to that which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3a of the drawings. In particular, a method of forming a concrete panel may include the steps of anchoring a buttress frame 12 to an underlying surface 22; using the buttress frame 12 to fasten one or more riser(s) 14 relative to the underlying surface 22; coupling a sideform 24, 53, 54 to the riser(s) 14, the sideform having a profile shaped to impart a shiplap or tongue/groove shaping to an edge of the concrete panel; and pouring concrete to rest against the sideform to form the concrete panel.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A concrete sideform assembly, comprising: a sideform having a shiplap forming surface with two parallel shiplap surface portions of substantially similar height; an extension coupled to the sideform to provide an extended configuration of the sideform, the extension comprising a first end portion adapted for coupling to an end formation of the sideform, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to a sideform cap, and a wall portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the wall portion being arranged to extend in the same plane as a wall portion of the sideform when coupled to said end formation of the sideform, and wherein the wall portion of the extension extends in the plane of one of the parallel surface portions to result in one parallel surface of the coupled assembly having a height greater than the other parallel surface of the coupled assembly.
2. A concrete sideform assembly as claimed in claim, wherein the second end portion of the extension has substantially the same profile as the end formation of the sideform.
3. A concrete sideform assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the second end portion has a pair of opposed elongated flanges, and the sideform cap is resilient so as to be resiliently clipped over the elongated flanges.
4. A concrete sideform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sideform has a first end formation at a first opposed end of the sideform, and a second end formation at a second opposed end of the sideform.
5. A concrete sideform assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sideform has the extension coupled to the first end formation to form one edge of a concrete panel, and wherein another like sideform has a like extension coupled to the second end formation to form an opposite edge of a concrete panel.
6. A method of forming a concrete panel including the steps of: anchoring a buttress frame to an underlying surface; using the buttress frame to fasten one or more riser(s) to the underlying surface; coupling a concrete sideform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims to the riser(s); and pouring concrete to rest against the sideform assembly to form the concrete panel.