Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUPPORT HEAD WITH QUICK RELEASE FOR FORMWORK SYSTEM
FIELD
[0001] The present disclose relates generally to formwork systems, and
particularly to releasable support heads of formwork systems for supporting
forming
panels.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Formwork systems provide a temporary mold for curing liquid
concrete
therein or thereon to form concrete slabs or panels, often referred to as form
panels.
After the liquid concrete is cured, the formwork system may be removed,
leaving behind
a concrete structure. Formwork systems can be used for constructing or
building different
types of structures, such as buildings, bridges, parking garages, and so
forth. The cured
concrete slabs may be used to form ceilings or floors.
[0003] Typically, a formwork system has a number of upright support
posts, also
known as props, that support and uphold the mold while liquid concrete is
poured into or
onto the mold and while the concrete cures.
[0004] In some existing formwork systems, a head member of the support
post,
sometimes referred to as a drophead, includes a top support plate for
supporting a
formwork panel thereon, a middle part movable relative to the top support
plate for
supporting a beam in the formwork system, and a lowering device, such as a
wedge, for
lowering the middle part relative to the top support plate from an upper
casting position
to a lower stripping position. When the middle part is dropped to the
stripping position,
the top support plate remains in the same vertical position, for shoring the
formwork panel
in order to support the concrete slabs formed thereon.
[0005] The support posts may have an adjustable height. For example, a
support
post may have an upper section that can be lowered after the concrete has
cured to allow
removal of the support post. Typically, the upper section and a lower section
of the
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support post is connected by a height adjustment mechanism such as a threaded
connection, and the upper section can be raised or lowered by turning the
threated
connection. The concrete poured into the mold adds substantial weight on the
support
posts. Further, when liquid concrete cures, its volume expands. As a result,
the cured
solid concrete has a larger volume than the initial volume of the liquid
concrete, which
adds a substantial downward compression force on the support posts through the
mold.
The added weight and compression force applied to the thread surfaces increase
the
friction between the opposing threaded surfaces of the threaded connection, so
it is more
difficult to turn the threaded connection to lower the upper sections of the
support posts
after the concrete has cured.
[0006] It is thus desirable to provide improved supports for formwork
systems.
[0007] SUMMARY
[0008] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a support head that
can
provide quick release of support posts from the vertical load applied onto the
support
posts by formwork panels in a formwork system.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, there
is
provided a support head mountable on a support post for supporting a beam in a
formwork system. The support head comprises a top member for contacting and
supporting the beam, comprising a first tube having opposing pin holes; a base
member
mountable on top of the support post, comprising a second tube having opposing
pin
holes, wherein the first and second tubes are configured to form vertically
extending
telescopic tubes with the pin holes aligned along a horizontal axis; and a pin
insertable
into the pin holes, the pin comprising spaced apart depressions thereon and
being
slidably moveable in the pin holes from a first position to a second position,
wherein, in
the first position the depressions are offset from the pin holes, and in the
second position
the depressions are aligned with the respective pin holes thus lowering the
first tube and
the top member in height.
[0010] In various embodiments, the depressions may comprise a pair of
spaced
apart grooves. The grooves may have a generally U-shaped profile, or a
generally V-
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shaped profile. The grooves may have a depth of about 5 mm and a width of
about 10
mm. The pin may comprise an elongated, generally cylindrical body. The
cylindrical body
may have a flat surface opposite to the depressions. A first end of the pin
may comprises
a guide portion and the top member of the support head may comprise a pair of
guide
plates for receiving the guide portion to orient the pin and prevent rotation
of the pin,
wherein the guide portion restricts axial movement of the pin in the pin holes
and prevents
disengagement of the pin from the pin holes at the first end. The support head
may
further comprise a cotter pin, wherein a second end of the pin comprises a pin
hole for
receiving the cotter pin, and wherein the cotter pin when received in the pin
hole of the
release pin restricts axial movement of the pin and prevents disengagement of
the pin
from the pin holes at the second end. The pin may be made of steel and may
have an
electroplated surface.
[0011] In various embodiments, the top member of the support head may
comprise
a main plate and at least one of a support arm and a support peg on top of the
main plate,
and the first tube may extend downward from the main plate. The base member
may
comprise a base plate and a latch mounted below the base plate for engaging
the support
post, wherein the second tube may extend upward from the base plate.
[0012] In some embodiments, when assembled and installed during use, the
depressions of the pin may face upwards. In some embodiments, the depressions
may
face downwards when installed.
[0013] In another embodiment, there is provided a support head comprising
a base
member configured to couple to a support post, the base member comprising
opposing
walls extending upwardly; a top member comprising at least one arm or peg for
supporting a beam thereon and opposing walls extending downwardly; wherein
each one
of the opposing walls has a pin hole thereon and the pin holes in the opposing
walls are
aligned along a horizontal axis; and a pin slidably received in the pin holes,
the pin having
a longitudinal axis aligned with the horizontal axis and comprising
depressions extending
transversal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pin is slidably moveable
within the pin
holes from a first position to a second position such that in the first
position, the
depressions are offset from the opposing walls and the top member is supported
by the
pin at a first, higher height, and in the second position, the depressions are
aligned with
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the opposing walls and the top member is supported by the pin at a second,
lower height.
The base member may comprise an upwardly extending tube and the top member may
comprise a downwardly extending tube. The tubes may form a pair of telescopic
tubes,
and the opposing walls may be walls in the corresponding tubes.
[0014] In a further embodiment, there is provided a vertical support for
a formwork
system. The vertical support comprises a support post and a support head as
described
herein.
[0015] Another embodiment relates to a formwork system. The system
comprises
a plurality of vertical supports, at least one of which is the vertical
support described
above. The system may further comprise a plurality of beams, each one of which
is
supported by at least two of the vertical supports through the support heads
thereof.
[0016] In another aspect, there is provide a method of supporting
formwork panels
with a formwork system as described herein. The method comprises: setting the
pin in
each one of the support heads of the formwork system at the first position;
disposing one
or more formwork panels on the beams of the formwork system; forming concrete
slabs
on the formwork panels; striking the pin in a first support head to move the
pin to the
second position so as to lower the top member of the first support head and an
end of
the beam supported thereon, thus releasing a vertical load applied onto the
support post
below the first support head to allow removal of the support post.
[0017] Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure
will
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the
following
description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] In the figures, which illustrate, by way of example only,
embodiments of the
present disclosure,
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example formwork system, in
accordance
with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;
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[0020] FIG. 2A is a first perspective view of a support head, in
accordance with an
example embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 2B is a second perspective view of the support head of FIG.
2A,
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the support head of FIG. 2A,
[0023] FIG. 4A is a top exploded view of the support head of FIG. 2A,
[0024] FIG. 4B is a bottom exploded view of the support head of FIG. 2A,
[0025] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the support head of FIG. 2A,
along line
5A-5A, where the release pin is in a first (set) position;
[0026] FIG. 5B is the same view as in FIG. 5A, but with the release pin
in a second
(release) position;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the release pin in the support
head of
FIG. 2A,
[0028] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the release pin of FIG. 6; and
[0029] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the release pin of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In brief overview, a support head with a release pin is disclosed
for use in
a formwork system. The support head is mountable on top of a support post in
the
formwork system for supporting a structure thereon. The release pin is
configured to
initially set a top member of the support head at a first, higher height, and
subsequently
lower the top member to a second, lower height, to release the vertical load
applied on
to the support head by the structure supported by the top member. The release
pin is
movable from an initial position to a release position to allow quick release
of the vertical
load applied to the support head when the pin is in the initial position. The
support head
is thus useful in formwork systems for quick release and convenient removal of
support
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posts in a formwork system, such as after the concrete poured into formwork
panels
supported by the support posts has cured.
[0031]
More specifically, in embodiments described herein, the top member of the
support head is used to support an end of a beam in the formwork system, but
the top
member does not directly supports or contacts any structure, such as formwork
panels
or molds, supported on the beams of the formwork system. Thus, conveniently,
when the
top member of the support head drops in height after the release pin is moved
to the
release position, the supported end of the beam drops in height with the top
member,
and the end of the beam and the support head are both disengaged from the
supported
structure, such as the formwork panels, that is initially supported by the
beams and
indirectly by the support posts through the beams. Consequently, the support
post is
released from the vertical load of the supported structure and can then be
conveniently
removed.
[0032]
In other words, the overall height of a vertical support including the support
post and the support head is lowered when the release pin is moved to the
release
position, thus reducing the vertical pressure applied to the vertical support.
[0033]
In embodiments described herein, the releasing pin has a relatively simple
structure and can be easily moved from the initial position to the release
position, such
as by striking an end of the pin generally horizontally.
[0034]
In comparison, in some conventional dropheads or support devices used in
formwork systems, a wedge is used to lower only a middle part of the drophead,
such
that after the middle part is lowered, the downward load from the supported
formwork
panels is still applied to the top portion of the drophead and thus indirectly
to the support
posts below through the drophead. Some of such devices are disclosed in
CA3030905,
CA2994076, U510053875, U510407925, U510487521,
U520180080238,
U520200217091, and U520210079670. In these systems, it is not convenient to
release
the support posts from the vertical pressure, as movement of the wedge does
not release
the support posts from such vertical pressure.
[0035]
In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a formwork system
includes horizontal beams 20 and vertical support posts 30 for supporting form
panels
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40. Support heads 100 are provided on top of the support posts 30 to connect
the support
posts 30 to beams 20.
[0036] As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, forming panels
40 provide
a flat surface to pour liquid concrete thereon. The forming panels 40 thus
provide a mold
for curing the concrete to form concrete slabs. Forming panels 40 may be made
of a light-
weight material, such as aluminum, or an alloy. Forming panels 40 may have any
suitable
dimensions. For example, in an embodiment, a forming panel 40 may be 2 feet
wide and
6 feet long. In other embodiments, forming panels may have different sizes,
such as from
1 foot to 6 feet in length or width. In the same formwork system 10, the
forming panels
40 may have the same or different sizes.
[0037] Beams 20 may be known beams suitable for use in formwork systems.
As
illustrated in FIG. 1, each end of the two ends of a beam 20 is supported by a
support
post 30 and rests on the support head 100 on top of the support post 30. In
different
embodiments, beams 20 may be in direct contact with support heads 100, or may
be
indirectly supported by support heads 100 through intermediate connections
such as
sockets, brackets or mounting pins as can be understood by those skilled in
the art.
[0038] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each end of a beam 20 may
have a
mounting pin (not separately shown). The beam 20 and the mounting pin may be
constructed as disclosed in US 2021/0079670, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0039] Each support post 30 may be height adjustable and include a lower
base
section 32, one or more optional middle sections 34, and an upper (top)
section 36. The
upper section 36 is configured to be raised or lowered by a height-adjusting
mechanism,
such as by turning a threaded connection 38 that connects the upper section 36
to a
section below, which may be the base section 32 or a middle section 34. The
construction
and operation of support posts 30 may be the same or similar to those of known
support
posts for formwork systems. For example, support posts described in the
following
documents may be used: CA3030905, CA2994076, W02020/150539, U510053875,
U510407925, U510487521, U520180080238, U520200217091, or US 2021/0079670.
The entire contents of each of CA3030905 and CA2994076 are incorporated here
by
reference. Other support posts with adjustable height for selectively raising
and lowering
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the total height of the support posts may also be suitable for use within
formwork system
and with support head 100.
[0040] A support post 30 may be used to support an end of one beam 20, or
the
ends of two or more beams 20. Each beam 20 may be supported by at least two
support
posts 30. Each support post 30 is adjustable in height so it may be adjusted
to raise or
lower the end(s) of the beam(s) 20 supported thereon as desired.
[0041] Two beams 20 may be arranged in parallel as illustrated in FIG. 1.
In
different embodiments, more than two beams 20 may be arranged in parallel to
provide
support for more forming panels 40. Some beams 20 may also be perpendicular to
one
another to provide additional support to the forming panels 40. Further, the
structure
shown in FIG. 1 may be repeated and multiple similar structures may be
arranged side-
by-side to expand the forming surface as desired.
[0042] A forming panel 40 may be supported by two or more beams 20.
Further,
additional horizontal beams (not shown) may be attached to and supported by
the two
parallel beams 20 shown in FIG. 1 so that each forming panel 40 is also
supported by
one or more of these additional horizontal beams to provide better support
along the
longitudinal direction of the forming panel 40.
[0043] The forming panels 40 may provide a forming surface that is
generally
horizontal or level. While beams 20 are sometimes referred to as horizontal
beams 20,
in different embodiments, beams 20 may be slightly inclined, or two parallel
beams 20
for supporting the same forming panels 40 may be at different heights, so that
the forming
surface formed by the forming panels 40 may have sections that are inclined.
Forming
panels 40 may include formwork structures known as formwork panels, or sheets.
[0044] The construction and use of horizontal beams and vertical support
posts to
support and form concrete slabs in formwork systems are generally known to
those
skilled in the art, and are not the focus of this disclosure. Therefore, the
beams 20 and
support posts 30 will not be described in detail herein.
[0045] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, 4A and 4B, the support head 100
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a top member 200
and a
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base member 300. The top member 200 and base member 300 are engaged through
telescopic tubes 206, 320 by a release pin 400.
[0046] The top member 200 includes hook plates 210 mounted on top of a
main
plate 220. The hook plates 210 are configured to support thereon horizontal or
inclined
beams 20. Hook plates 210 can function as support arms or brackets for
engaging and
positioning an end of a beam 20.
[0047] On the top surface of the main plate 220, a number of pegs 250 are
also
provided, which may be used to support thereon a structure to be supported
such as a
beam 20. Pegs 250 may be mounted on the main plate 220 through peg holes 252.
[0048] Hook plates 210, main plate 220, and pegs 250 may be configured
and
constructed according to conventional techniques known to those skilled in the
art. As
can be appreciated, the hook plates 210 are configured to support at least two
beams 20
at the same time. The two beams 20 may be oriented perpendicular to each
other, or
inline along the same general direction. Hook plates 210 may be configured and
constructed as disclosed in US20210079670.
[0049] The top member 200 also includes a vertical tube 206 having four
side walls
(two pairs of opposing walls) mounted under the main plate 220. One pair of
the opposing
walls of tube 206 have pin holes 202, 204 thereon. The pin holes 202,204 are
aligned
along a horizontal axis. Pin holes 202, 204 of tube 206 are sized and
positioned for
receiving the release pin 400 and allowing the release pin 400 to slide
therein. Two pin
guides 230 are also mounted beside tube 206 for orienting and guiding the
release pin
400, as will be further described below.
[0050] The base member 300 includes a base plate 310, which has a central
opening for mounting a latch mechanism. A vertical tube 320 is mounted on the
top
surface of the base plate 310. Tube 320 has four side walls, including two
pair of opposing
walls, providing a channel between the tube walls. One pair of the opposing
walls of tube
320 have aligned pin holes 302, 304 thereon, for receiving release pin 400 and
allowing
release pin 400 to slide therein.
[0051] The walls of tube 206 and tube 320 may have a thickness of about 5
mm.
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[0052] In the depicted embodiment, tube 320 and tube 206 are sized and
positioned so that tube 206 can be slidably received in the channel of tube
320 and the
pin holes 202, 204, 302, 304 can be aligned along a horizontal axis to receive
the release
pin 400 therein. Tubes 206 and 320 can form a pair of telescopic tubes.
Coupling of tubes
206 and 320 orients and positions the top member 200 with respect to the base
member
300 and the support posts 30.
[0053] Base member 300 also includes a support plate 330 positioned
outside
tube 320 below each pin hole 302 or 304. Support plates 330 are configured and
positioned to provide support for pin 400 when the pin is inserted into pin
holes 302, 304.
Thus, in some embodiments, the top surface of support plates 300 may be
tangential to
the circumference of each pin hole 302, 304, or flush with the lowest point in
each pin
hole 302, 304. However, in other embodiments, the top surface of support plate
330 may
be slightly higher than the lowest point in pin hole 302, 304, such that the
pin 400 may
rest on top of the support plates 330 when the pin is received in pin holes
302, 304.
[0054] Base member 300 further includes a latching mechanism attached to
the
base plate 310 for connecting the support head 100 to the top section 36 of
the support
post 30. As depicted, the latching mechanism may include a pair of retaining
latches 340,
latch support plates 342, a latch spring 346, and a slotted pin 348. The
latching
mechanism may be configured and constructed according to a conventional
technique
and therefore will not be described in detail herein.
[0055] As better illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, where the release pin 400 is
shown in
isolation, release pin 400 has a generally cylindrical body 402, which is
elongated in an
axial direction, and has two transversally extending grooves 410 and 412 on
one side of
the body 402 and a flat surface 408 on the opposite side of body 402. As will
be explained
below, during use and when installed, the grooves 410 and 412 will face up and
on the
top side of the release pin 400 and the flat surface 408 will face down and on
the bottom
side of the release pin 400.
[0056] In the operation positions when release pin 400 is horizontally
oriented and
the grooves 410, 412 face upwards, the body 402 of release pin 400 are divided
by
grooves 410, 412 into five sections, including three sections beside the
grooves having
a top surface at a first height and two sections at the grooves with a top
surface at a
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seco n d height, which is lower than the first height, by the depth of the
grooves. In some
embodiments, the grooves 410, 412 may have a depth of about 5 mm and a width
of
about 10 mm at the bottom of the grooves. The grooves may have tapered
sections each
having a length of about 4 mm. In other embodiments, the depth of the grooves
may vary
but should be sufficiently large to provide an adequate drop in height of the
top member
200 during use, as will be described further below. In some embodiments, the
body 402
of release pin 400 may have a length of about 120 mm and a diameter of about
20 mm.
The shape and dimensions of release pin may however vary depending on the
application and the dimensions of the support heads in which the release pin
is to be
used.
[0057] Body 402 has a first end 404 and a second end 406. One or both of
the
ends 404, 406 of body 402 may have a hemisphere shape. At one of these ends
404,
406, such as end 406 as depicted in the drawings, a generally rectangular
guiding block
430 is provided. Guide block 430 may be integrally formed with the cylindrical
body 402,
or fixedly mounted thereon such as by welding. For example, the releasing pin
400
including the guide block 430 may be formed of forged steel.
[0058] At the opposite end of body 402, such as end 404 as depicted in
the
drawings, a pin hole 440 is provided for insertion of a cotter pin 450. Cotter
pin 450
functions as a security pin for securing the release pin 400 in place after
the release pin
400 is inserted into the pin holes 202, 204, 302, 304 of the tubes 206, 320,
and for
preventing the release pin 400 from disengaging from the top and base members
200,
300 of the support head 100.
[0059] In example embodiments, when the cylindrical body 402 of the
release pin
400 has an outer diameter of about 20 mm, the pin holes in tube 206 and tube
320 may
have a diameter of about 21 mm.
[0060] The release pin 400 may be formed of steel and the surface of the
release
pin 400 may be electroplated.
[0061] When the support head 100 is assembled, the release pin 400 can
move
between two positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In the first
position as illustrated
in FIG. 5A, the release pin 400 is positioned with respect to the tube 206 of
top member
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200, particularly the opposing walls having pin holes 202 and 204, such that
the two
opposing walls both contact the release pin 400 at two contact points outside
the grooves
410, 412, so the top member 200 is at a higher height (first height). That is,
at the first
position, the grooves 410, 412 of pin 400 are horizontally offset from the pin
holes 202,
204 of the tube 206. When the release pin 400 is slid to the second position
as illustrated
in FIG. 5B, the grooves 410, 412 are aligned with pin holes 203, 204, i.e.,
groove 410
and the wall with pin hole 202 are generally in the same vertical line, and
groove 412 and
the wall with pin hole 204 are generally in the same vertical line. Thus, tube
206 contacts
the release pin 400 in the grooves 410, 412 respectively. As a result, the
tube 206 and
the entire top member 200 drops to a lower height (second height). The height
difference
between the first height and the second height equals to the depth of the
grooves 410,
412. The release pin 400 may be actuated and moved from the first position to
the second
position by striking an end of the cylindrical body 402.
[0062] In one embodiment, support head 100 may have a total height of
about 50
cm when assembled.
[0063] In use, support heads 100 are mounted on support posts 30, at the
top end
of the top section 36, by the latching mechanism in the base member 300. The
release
pin 400 in each support head 100 is set at the first (initial) position to
prop the top member
200 to the higher first height. Beams 20 are mounted on top of the support
head 100 at
the hook plates 210, directly or indirectly. Forming panels 40 are next
installed and
supported by the beams 20, and then liquid concrete is poured onto the forming
panels
40 and cured to form concrete slabs.
[0064] The cured concrete slabs may now be supported by the structure in
which
the concrete slabs are formed, such as building walls or posts (not shown)
below the
concrete labs, or some other more permanent structural supports (not shown)
used to
support the structure to be constructed, as can be understood by those skilled
in art.
Therefore, it is no longer necessary to use the support posts 30 to support
the forming
panels 40 or the concrete slabs.
[0065] Thus, after the concrete has been cured and the formed solid
concrete
slabs are supported by some other support structures, a user may manually
strike each
release pin 400 with a striking tool such as a hammer, to move the pin 400
from the first
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(initial) position to the second (release) position. Consequently, the top
member 200 in
each support head 100 drops down to the second (lower) height, thus releasing
or
reducing the weight load on the support post 30 below, which load was applied
by the
concrete slabs supported by the beams 20, including the weights of the
supported items
and any compression force generated by expansion of the concrete during
curing. The
support posts 30 can thereafter be conveniently removed.
[0066] As now can be appreciated, the support head with a release pin as
described above has a simple construction and provides a convenient way to
release the
vertical load applied to the support head and the support post on which the
support head
is mounted.
[0067] Various modifications may be made to the specific embodiments shown
in
the drawings, and alternative or optional features may be added or omitted in
different
embodiments.
[0068] For example, in some embodiments, the release pin may have
different
spaced apart depressions on the elongated body 402, in place of the grooves
410, 412,
and provide the same effect of lowering the top member 200. The depressions in
the pin
may be spaced apart so that they match the distance between the pin holes 202,
204. In
some embodiments, the depressions may face upwards when the pin is installed
in place
in the pin holes 202, 204, 302, 304. In some embodiments, the depressions may
face
downwards, in which case the depressions may be spaced apart to match the
distance
between pin holes 302, 304. The depressions may be present on only one side of
the pin
body, or may extend around the pin body thus forming an annular groove,
channel, or
slot in the pin body. The grooves 410, 412 or depressions in the pin body may
have
tapered edges to allow smooth transition and sliding movement of the pin in
the pin holes
when the pin is moved from the first position to the second position.
[0069] In some embodiments, the telescopic tubes of support head 100 may
be
replaced with matching opposing walls. In particular, a support head may
include a base
member configured to couple to a support post and a top member having at least
one
arm or peg for supporting a beam thereon. The base member includes opposing
walls
extending upwardly. The top member has opposing walls extending downwardly.
Each
of the opposing walls in the top and base members has a pin hole thereon, and
the
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opposing walls and the pin holes are spaced and arranged such that the pin
holes in the
opposing walls are aligned along a horizontal axis. A pin is slidably received
in the pin
holes. The pin has a longitudinal axis aligned with the horizontal axis of the
pin holes and
has depressions extending transversal to the longitudinal axis. The pin is
slidably
moveable within the pin holes from a first position to a second position such
that in the
first position, the depressions are offset from the opposing walls and the top
member is
supported by the pin at a first, higher height, and in the second position,
the depressions
are aligned with the opposing walls and the top member is supported by the pin
at a
second, lower height. In some embodiments, the opposing walls may be
structured in
various manners and it is not necessary to use these opposing walls to align
and orient
the top and base members.
[0070] In some embodiments, a support head may include a base member and
a
top member movably coupled to the base member. The base member is configured
to
configured to couple to a support post in formwork system and has a vertically
extending
section with a pin hole. The top member includes at least one arm for
supporting thereon
one or more beams of the formwork system, directly or indirectly. The top
member also
has a vertically extending section with a pin hole aligned with the pin hole
of the vertically
extending section of the base member. The support head further includes a
release pin,
such as release pin 400, which is slidably received in the pin holes of the
base member
and the stop member. The release pin is supported by the base member, and the
top
member is supported by the release pin. The release pin has a longitudinal
axis and at
least one groove extending transversal to the longitudinal axis. The release
pin is slidably
moveable within the pin holes from a first position to a second position such
that in the
first position the top member contacts the release pin outside the at least
one groove and
is at a first, higher height, and in the second position the top member
contacts the release
pin in the at least one groove and is at a second, lower height. In some
embodiments,
the vertically extending sections of the top member and the base member may
both be
in the form of tubes. In some embodiments, a vertically extending section may
include
two opposing walls extending from a horizontal base plate, which may not form
a closed
tube. In some embodiments, the vertically extending section of the top member
may be
a solid post with a horizontal through hole, and the post may have a width or
diameter
that can fit inside the groove on the release pin. In some embodiments, the
vertically
extending sections of both the base member and the top member may be tubes,
but the
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tube of the top member may be larger than the tube of the base member so that
the tube
of the base member may be slidably received inside the tube of the top member.
In any
embodiment, the groove(s) on the release pin should be positioned and sized to
match
the vertically extending section of the top member so the top member can be
supported
either outside the groove(s) of the release pin or inside the groove(s) of the
release pin.
The groove(s) of the release pin may have a generally U-shaped or V-shaped
profile.
[0071]
In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each hook plate 210
of the top member 200 includes a support arm 212, which has inclined surfaces
213 and
214 and a level surface 216 between the inclined surfaces 213, 214 that define
a saddle
in the support arm 212. One of the support arms 212 may have two saddles
positioned
on opposite ends of the arm 212. The other hook plate 210 may have one saddle.
In
some embodiments, the angle between the inclined surfaces 213, 214 and the top
surface of the main plate 220 may vary from about 30 degrees to about 90
degrees.
[0072]
As can be appreciated, in use, an end portion of a beam 20, such as a
mounting pin (not separately shown), may be received in and ride on a saddle
of support
arm 212, and the inclined surfaces 213, 214 may restrict the lateral movement
of the
beam 20, which can be of different sizes, thus stabilizing the beam 20.
[0073]
In some embodiments a support post 30 may also be used to support a
compensation-strip (not shown) which may be used to fill gaps between forming
panels
40.
[0074]
In an embodiment, some components of support head 100 may be made
of a metallic material, such as steel. Other materials such as aluminum may
also be used.
The components in the top member 200 may be secured to one another by welding.
[0075]
As noted above, in some embodiments, beams 20 may include mounting
pins (not separately shown) and the beams 20 may be mounted on the support
heads
through the mounting pins. In some situations, an end of a beam 20 or some
other item
to be supported may be supported by a peg 250, typically temporarily.
[0076]
The vertical tubes 206 and 320 are shown to have a generally square
profile with rounded corners, but they may have different shapes in different
embodiments. For example, the vertical tubes may have matching circular, oval,
or other
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polygonal profiles, as long as the tubes can provide positioning and orienting
functions
for the top member 200, and provide a channel for the release pin 400 to be
positioned
in the set (first) position and the release (second) position as described
here.
[0077] Of course, the above described embodiments are intended to be
illustrative
only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments are susceptible to many
modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details, and order of operation.
The
invention is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as
defined by
the claims.
