05/108771

01/16/1973

01/22/1971

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249/219.100

249/47, 248/298.100, 249/192

E04G1/00; E04G11/12; E04G11/52; E04G17/04; E04G11/00; E04G11/50

249/18,26,47,192,196,219R,219W 248/298,361R

Overholser, Spencer J.

Tobor B. D.

I claim

1. Back up support system for concrete form boards (SH) comprising;

2. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the brace clamp (TK) comprises

3. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the clamping bars (LK) comprise

4. Support system according to claim 3, wherein the profiled elements (3) are hollow extrusions of substantially rectangular cross section.

5. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling clamps (KK) comprises a threaded anchor bolt (4a) interconnecting said counter plates (4, 4b), one of the plates (4b) being loose on the anchor and being formed with at least one stop engageable against the outside surface of one of the profiled strips (1st, 1u);

6. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises blind coupling (BL) for clamping the coupling bars (LK) to the bar unit (L, Lu);

7. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises coupling bar clamps (KTK), to clamp the braces (ST) to the coupling bars (LK), said coupling bar clamps (KTK) comprising

8. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises

9. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises

10. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises

11. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises outer edge coupling means (EL) being formed of angled forming bars (10) defining an outer right angle, said bars being shaped to provide an inner cross-sectional area capable of telescopically receiving said coupling bars (LK) therein.

12. Support system according to claim 1, wherein the profiled strips comprise a pair of profiled extrusions (1st, 1u) forming said strips, and having flanges (1", 1"u) facing each other and defining therebetween said slit (1s), said extrusions being open at the side opposite said slit;

The invention refers to a support and retaining system for concrete forms or molds with spaced mold supports.

Mold supports have the function to take up pressure and to transfer forces to the lateral braces or, in ceiling forms, to the ceiling supports or the roofing girders. At the same time the supports constitute connecting parts of the mold element.

The supports back up the concrete mold forms and they are therefore as important as the latter. The trade has concentrated on the development of mold braces, of which there exists numerous varieties and systems in wood, steel, and aluminum. Squared timber and steel profiles are still widely used as back-ups; too little attention has been given to them, in spite of their importance. In themselves the supports are installed to be fixed. Where alterations to the concrete forms are necessary, they must be cut and placed. Existing supports have been used as individual parts, separately in each operation. This leads to excessive use of material, to inaccuracies, improvised working and in particular a respectively large loss of time; the only advantage is in their adaptability.

Concrete forms are consumable items. Until final disposal, they are assembled innumerable times, up to one hundred times a year. The high economical value of an adaptable system of supports becomes clear. The importance of the back-up support and its economic function have, to date, not been realized or applied.

There are a few standardized known back-up support and mold systems such as the well known COBE. Naturally the known standardized supports possess the principal advantage of every standardization of parts in respect to manufactured production, but in spite of their standardization they lack the required universal adaptability of application to permit their optimum use in each individual building. The experienced concrete specialist thus feels that known, standardized, support systems are, in view of their lack of adjustability, not basically real standard supports. In view of the different practical requirements in respect of building situations, they never would be.

Lack of adjustability and adaptability however demands correspondingly time consuming fitting and repair work. What known support systems have mainly lacked is complete adjustability in the spacing of the support elements themselves as well as of the form braces in their principal perpendicular direction to each other, in addition to the lack of universal applicability with all known concrete forms and their supports.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages, i.e., to provide a concrete form support system which, in spite or because of its standardization, can be optimally applied universally assuring complete adjustability in both main directions i.e. horizontally and vertically by or, respectively, lengthwise and crosswise; and to provide optional coupling possibilities and interchangeability within the individual system elements and to permit fitting on virtually all known mold, and mold support systems.

Subject matter of the invention: Support bars, or beams consisting of two spaced and parallel running angle profiles are arranged to each form at least an angle of 90°, and connected to each other for example by a strap on the bar opposite to the mold support braces. The two facing sides of the angle profiles form a slit along the whole length of the bar. Clamps to clamp the mold support braces to the bars can be slid from the front of the bar through the slit between the angle profiles. Coupling clamps to clamp slidable support couplings to the support bars can also be inserted vertically from the front of the bar through the slit.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the brace clamp consists of a base plate and two fixed brackets with clamp screws, the width of the two brackets is less than the width of the slit. The coupling may comprise two similar, spaced parallel profiles, connected by at least two spacers to each other, which profiles are preferably hollow and of rectangular cross section. The width of the total cross sectional area of the bar, or beam coupling is less than the distance between the space of the two angle profiles of the bar.

According to a further feature of the invention, the coupling clamp has a head plate, a threaded anchor on which there is loosely mounted a counterplate with a stop rail and a tapped clamping sleeve. The diameter of the anchor and the width of the headplate are smaller than the width of the slit and the distance between the spans of the two angle profiles of the support coupling.

The support bars can be used in an entire support system or scaffold system. The support system may have blind butt joints to clamp the support couplings to the supports themselves. Each blind butt joint has a spacing plate, a threaded anchor, a loosely mounted counterplate and a nut and bolt. The thickness of the spacing plate is exactly the same as that of the base plate of the clamp and the diameter of the anchor is smaller than the width of the slit.

The system may also have support coupling clamps to clamp each individual mold or form support to the part protruding from the support of the support coupling inserted from one side thereof. Each coupling clamp has a base plate, a side bracket with a threaded clamp screw and a spacing plate loosely mounted on the shaft of the bracket. The thickness of the spacing plate is the same as the sum of the thickness of the support shank on the mold side of the support and the base plate of the clamps.

The system may have double support interconnecting clamps to clamp together the ends of two butted supports. Each of these double interconnecting clamps consists of a base plate and two fixed brackets each with threaded clamp screws. The width of both brackets is smaller than the width of the girdle slit and the thickness of the base plate is the same as the thickness of the base plate of the clamp.

The system may also have side clamps, to clamp together two direct adjacently placed supports at the ends of two butted supports or to one support. These support clamps consist of a base plate and a bracket mounted at the side thereof and having a threaded clamp screw. The width of the bracket is smaller than the width of the slit and the thickness of the base plate is the same as the thickness of the base plate of the clamp.

The system may have corner couplings for the interior corner of a wall mold. Two flanges of the couplings can each be inserted in a support; they have a length at least equal to half the length of the coupling. For the outside corner of a wall -- or column form, both flanges can be inserted into the coupling.

Further details and examples of the support and the support system according to the invention are shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional, part side view of the main elements of the system;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main elements of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of two other embodiments of profiles;

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate, schematically, relative adjustment of the bars using 2 bars, the adjustability of the shuttering girder spacing with two coupled girdles, FIG. 8 illustrating one bar with protruding coupling;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a coupling used in FIGS. 6 and 7, to enlarged scale;

FIG. 10 is a side view to enlarged scale of a coupling clamp of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a front top view of the coupling clamp according to FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12-14 are top views illustrating adjustability of the support bar spacing for a wall form.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a wall form with two support bars placed one above the other and a double clamp to clamp butted bars together;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the double clamp of FIG. 15 to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the double clamp according to FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side view of clamps to clamp two adjacent support braces to two coupled support bars;

FIG. 19 is a front view of one of the two side clamps of FIG. 18 to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the system to mold an inside corner, showing a corner coupling for an inside corner or a wall mold;

FIG. 21 is a top view of the system for an outside corner of a wall -- or column, or port form; and

FIG. 22 is a horizontal plan view of the system showing use of the outside corners of FIG. 21 to mold a column.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a support bar L, a partly inserted bar coupling LK, and two brace clamps TK to clamp each to one of two wooden form braces ST. The concrete form braces ST in front of bar L, extend perpendicularly thereto. A coupling clamp KK is placed between the two brace clamps TK, to clamp the bar coupling LK to the bar L. These four elements L, LK, TK and KK are the main parts of the System, together with one of the mold or form brace ST.

The support bar L consists of two similar equally spaced parallel flanged steel Z-profiles 1z, with unequal flanges, as is clear from FIG. 2 and 3. The two Z-profiles 1z are located as mirror images to each other and firmly connected by a number of connecting straps 1a, welded on to their shorter back flanges 1'. Flanges 1' are spaced comparatively far apart; one of two end flanges can be seen in FIG. 1 and 3. The bar L extends at both ends with its two Z-profiles 1z beyond the two outside connecting straps 1a by half the length of the coupling LK so that half of a coupling LK, can be accepted. Coupling LK is for example 55 cm long. The two Z-profiles 1z define a cavity between the profile webs lst. The cavity is delimited in the portion of the two shorter profile flanges 1' by the welded connecting straps 1a. The two front flanges 1", form between themselves a continuous slit 1s (compare FIG. 2 and 3) extending over the whole length of the bar and to accept the brace clamps TK and the coupling clamps KK in the bar L. The slit 1s is of essential importance to the support system, as will be explained in detail below.

The brace clamp TK consists of a rectangular base plate 2, two welded angle iron brackets 2a and stay ribs 2b which are welded to the brackets 2a and the base plate 2. A hexagonal nut 2c is welded on each of the two brackets 2a. A clamp screw 2d can be screwed (see FIG. 1 to 3) into nut 2c. Each of the two clamping screws 2d has a clamping plate 2e at one end and an eye 2f at the other, by which the clamp screw 2d can be turned by hand or with rod-like tool through the hole 2f, to press against lower stringer marked G of the brace ST which is to be clamped. The width of the two brackets 2a is smaller than the width of the slit 1s of the bar L, in order that the brace clamp TK with both its brackets can be inserted sideways into the bar L in such a way that the base plate 2 of the brace clamp TK is behind the two longer flanges 1" of the two Z-profiles 1z of the bar L as clearly shown in FIG. 2 and 3. On tightening the clamp screws 2d the base plate 2 (serving as an abutment) comes to lie from the inside tightly against and behind the two profile flanges 1" of the bar L. At the same time the coupling plates 2e press the lower stringer G of the brace ST from the outside against the profile flanges 1" of the bar L so that the brace ST is clamped to the bar L as is shown in FIG. 1 and 3 particularly with respect to the upper clamp TK. The clamp jaws 2e are loosely pivotable but non-slidingly held on the stud end 2h of the two clamp screws 2d as shown in FIG. 1, with respect to the lower brace clamp TK. A number of punch marks on the face of the stud rim 2h prevent loss of the clamp jaws 2e from the clamp screws 2d. Thus there is no part of the clamp TK which can get lost. The clamp plates 2e are so dimensioned that if they should move due to friction on tightening the clamp screws 2d, ridge S of the brace ST will form a stop and remain in this position while the clamp screw 2d continues to turn. The clamp is, as already seen from FIG. 1 to 3 and from the above explanation, designed particularly as a quick-acting clamp. The clamp screws 2d have a relatively steeply pitched thread, which can be secured by a counter nut 2g as indicated in the upper clamp of FIG. 1 above. The uninterrupted continuous slit 1s extends over the whole length of the bar L. Thus brace TK, and with it the braces ST can be placed at any point in relation to the bar length, and there clamped in order that the brace ST may be positioned in any required location and respectively spaced on bar L as required by loading. The bars L, likewise, can, upon clamping be placed at any required distance from each other according to loading. The substantial significance of these two possibilities, i.e., their effect in practice will be later explained in detail.

The bar coupling LK consists of two similar, parallel spaced hollow profiles 3 of rectangular cross section, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 and 3. The two hollow profiles 3 are solidly connected at both ends as well as in the middle by three flat-irons strips 3a (FIG. 1) acting as cross joints, which are welded to the facing interior laterals of the hollow profiles 3. The width of the total cross sectional area of the bar coupling LK is dimensioned in such a way that the bar coupling LK can comfortably be inserted between the two cross joints 1st of the bar L from an end face of the latter. The length of the bar coupling LK is, for instance, 1 meter so that half length of 50 cm can be inserted in each of two bars L which are to be coupled.

The coupling clamp KK for the coupling of two bars by the means of the bar coupling LK consists of rightangled head plate 4, a welded anchor 4a of massive round steel and on this a loosely fitted counterplate 4b with a welded stop rail 4b' and a tapped clamping sleeve 4c with a welded hexagon nut 4d (see FIG. 1 to 3). The diameter of the anchor is smaller than the width of the slit 1s of the bar L and the width of the headplate 4 is, even if wider than the anchor diameter, also smaller than the width of the slit 1s of the bar L and also smaller than the distance between the two hollow profiles 3 of the bar coupling LK, so that the coupling clamp KK with the rightangled headplate 4 extending in the direction of the slit 1s, i.e., from the side of the mold or form, can be inserted vertically through the slit 1s at any point and subsequently between the two hollow profiles 3 of the bar coupling LK, into the bar L, and into the inserted bar coupling LK. If the coupling clamp KK has been inserted into the bar L and the bar coupling LK, and the tapped sleeve 4c is drawn against the counterplate, their headplate 4 (which now lies behind the bar L and coupling LK) can be turned by 90° perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the two hollow profiles 3 of bar coupling LK. Plate 4 will form an abutment to clamp the bar coupling LK to the bar L. The counterplate 4b loosely fitting on anchor 4a is then pushed with the stop rail 4b', to fit against the front profile flange 1" of the bar L. Clamping sleeve 4c is screwed down with a wrench placed on the nut 4d. Bar coupling LK and the bar L are forced against each other between the headplate 4 and the counterplate 4b in the region of the coupling clamp KK, i.e., approximately in the center between the two brace clamps TK. The resulting stresses are apparent from FIG. 1 (see also FIG. 5). The headplate 4 of the coupling clamp KK, which is about in the middle of the two spaced base plates 2 of the brace clamps TK, presses tightly against the hollow profiles 3, on tightening the clamp sleeve 4c. Base plates 2 of the brace coupling LK are tightly clamped to the two flanges 1" of the bar L, and secured by tightening the clamp screws 2d. The half of the bar coupling LK inserted into bar L on tightening of the tapped sleeve 4c lies only on the base plates 2 of the brace clamps TK. Thus, the bar coupling LK remains spaced from bar L in the region of the two base plates 2, that is, from the two profile flanges 1" of the bar L, so that the bar coupling LK may deflect to a small degree when subjected to force by pressure of the headplate 4. Accordingly the bar coupling LK is pressed with great force against the two base plates 2 of the brace clamps TK on strong tightening of the clamping sleeve 4c, at the same time being clamped to the bar L because the base plates 2 have already been clamped to the bar L.

FIG. 2 again shows the four main elements of the support beam system that is the bar or beam L, the brace clamp TK, the bar coupling LK and the bar clamp KK. The cross strips 3a which connect the two hollow profiles 3 of the coupling LK is shown in phantom so that the anchor 4a of solid round steel of the coupling clamp KK, which is welded to the head plate 4 can be seen. As can be seen, the rectangular headplate 4, having been inserted from the front through the continuous slit 1s and between two hollow profiles 3 into the bar L, can be easily turned by 90° into a position in which it forms an abutment between the two bar cross joints 1st to clamp the coupling LK to the bar L. It is easy to reach into the bar, or beam L from behind without the hand being obstructed by the connecting strap 1a (FIG. 2) which is far behind the headplate 4. Strap 1a has been omitted from FIG. 3 for clarity.

FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment of the beam, or bar. The beam is assembled from two similar, but unequally flanged U-profiles. The longer front flange 1"u of the two profiles 1u are equidistant and form a slit 1s, which is exactly the same as the slit 1s of the bar L shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The shorter rear flanges 1'u of the two U-profiles 1u face each other, but between them leave enough room that one can easily reach a hand between to turn the headplate 4 of the coupling clamp KK after its insertion into the bar in order that it may form an abutment or stop. The relatively far spaced connecting straps 1a are welded to the rear flanges 1'u.

The Z-profiles (FIGS. 1-3) are preferred because the rear flanges 1' offer a larger bearing area and longer welding joints for the straps 1a, resulting in greater strength of the bar.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show how distances between neighboring form braces ST may be adjusted. FIGS. 5 to 7 each are side views of two bars L which are coupled by the means of a coupling LK and a coupling clamp KK; FIG. 8 shows one bar L with a projecting clamp LK to which a single mold brace ST is clamped, using a special brace coupling clamp KTK.

FIG. 6 shows how the bar coupling LK can be used not only to couple two bars L, but also at the same time by the means of a blind clamp BL to fix a distance A, determined by load of the braces ST. In other words, the brace distance A can be adjusted as required by the load requirements of the wall or ceiling to be poured.

FIG. 7 shows how bars L and the couplings LK can be placed at any optional bracing distance A', here for instance larger than the bracing distance A in FIG. 6; blind clamps BL are used.

FIG. 8 shows how the coupling LK alone can be used for the fitting of wall or ceiling mold boards for a given wall or ceiling. Here the bar coupling LK extends from the extreme or last bar L to such an extent that the distance D from the end of bar L to the end of the wall or ceiling is spanned thereby, and mold or form boards can be braced. A brace coupling clamp KTK (explained in FIG. 10) clamps an additional brace ST to the protruding end of the coupling LK. The brace ST then supports the form boards (not shown in FIG. 8) also at the end of the form, i.e., at the end of the wall or ceiling to be molded. In order to clamp the coupling LK to the bar L, the blind clamp BL and the clamp TK can be exchanged, particularly when the length D is relatively small. It is also possible to use two blind butt joints to clamp the coupling LK, one on each side of the coupling clamp KK. This is desirable when length D is large. The left brace, which is clamped by means of the clamp TK to the bar L, can be moved to the right as far as the end of the inserted part of coupling LK. The coupling clamp KTK, no matter how far the coupling LK protrudes from the bar L, can be moved towards the interior on the bar coupling LK, i.e., it may be clamped at any required point of the coupling LK. Thus the mold board supports can be adapted to every wall length or ceiling height.

FIG. 9 shows a blind clamp BL consisting of a base plate 5, a welded threaded anchor belt 5a, a loosely fitted counterplate 5b and a nut 5c. The rectangular plate 5 has a thickness which is the same as the thickness of the base plate 2 of the brace clamp TK. This is required to provide for the exactly parallel aligned clamping of the bar coupling LK to the bar L, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. The blind clamp BL can, like the brace clamp TL, be inserted into the bar L through the slit 1s and clamped at any required position. The blind clamp BL may also be inserted into the bar L from the rear. Nut 5c and counter plate 5b are first removed in order to insert the anchor bolt 5a through the slit 1s from the rear. The base plate 5 can, similarly to the head plate 4 of the coupling clamp KK, be designed to be narrow enough that it can be inserted into the bar L from the front when turned in a direction parallel to the bar L. The base plate 5 is then turned by 90° into a position in which it extends crosswise to the bar L, abutting the two front flanges 1" of the bar L.

The brace clamp TK and the associated brace ST can be clamped independently from the clamping of the bar coupling LK to the bar L. The brace clamps TK need not, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, be positioned in front of the bar couplings LK but may be placed at any other position of the bar L, i.e., between the partially inserted bar couplings LK, in the ends of the bar L. However, the clamping of the bar coupling LK to the bar L requires prior clamping of a bearing for the brace clamps TK. This is done by brace clamps TK and/or blind clamps placed at suitable positions on bar L as seen from FIGS. 5 to 8. The braces ST may be wood, but may also be metal braces or girder structures.

FIG. 10 shows the brace coupling clamp KTK of FIG. 8, with which a single brace ST can be clamped to the bar coupling LK. The brace coupling clamp KTK consists of a base plate 6, a welded angle-iron bracket 6a, a stay rib 6b which is welded to the bracket 6a and to the base plate 6 as well as a movable and turnable spacer plate 6c.

A hexagonal nut 6a', into which can be screwed a clamp screw 6d, is welded to the bracket 6a. The clamp screw 6d, similar to the brace clamp TK, is fitted with a clamping plate 6e at one end and a ring eye 6f at the other.

The thickness of the spacer plate 6c is exactly the same as the sum of the thickness of the front, mold side bar flanges 1" and the base plate 2 of the brace clamps TK (see FIGS. 1 to 3). This assures that the single brace ST which is to be clamped to the bar is at the same height HG (FIG. 8) as the other braces ST which are clamped to the bar L itself, which is required for perfect support of the mold lining SH (partly shown in FIG. 8)

The width of the rectangular base plate 6 is smaller than the clear distances of the two hollow profiles 3 of the bar coupling LK, so that the base plate 6 may be turned in parallel to the bar coupling LK and can then be inserted between the two hollow profiles 3 thereof.

The T-shaped total cross section of the bracket shaft 6a' of the brace coupling clamp KTK is so designed that the bracket shaft 6a' can be inserted from the brace side and, turned by 90° in such a way that the base plate 6 forms an abutment behind the bar coupling LK (see FIG. 11).

FIG. 11 shows the brace coupling clamp KTK of FIG. 10 in a top view. The width of the bracket 6a is smaller than the clear space between the two hollow profiles 3 of the bar coupling LK. Bracket 6a accordingly forms an abutment to clamp the brace ST to the bar coupling LK like the base plate 6 behind the bar coupling LK. The spacer plate 6c is provided with a bore which is larger than the total cross section of the bracket shaft 6a' so that the latter may be freely turned with respect to the distance plate 6c. The distance plate 6c can be provided with a welded stop rail 6c', similar to the counter plate 4b of the coupling clamp KK with the stop rail 4b' to assure its correct position in respect to the bar coupling LK, as will be clearly seen from FIG. 11.

The FIGS. 12 to 14 show the adjustability of the intervals A ₁ between the neighboring bars L as well as the positioning of the bars in a concrete mold arrangement for a wall. The mold boards, or lining SH is indicated schematically only. FIGS. 13 and 14 show that braces ST may be cantilevered. The system uses only clamps. Thus, bars L and braces ST can be located at any desired spacing and interval. The uninterrupted slit 1s (see FIGS. 1 to 4) permits placing the brace ST at any location and spacing A. The few narrow connecting straps 1a permit placing the brace clamps TK at practically any point of the bar L.

FIG. 15 shows a wall form with a double connecting brace clamp DTK to clamp two butt-ended braces ST ₁ and ST ₂ to one bar L. The embodiment of FIG. 15 provides for adjustability as well.

The clamp DTK of FIG. 15 is seen to enlarged scale in FIG. 16. The double brace clamp DTK in its construction and use corresponds to the already described brace clamp TK (see FIGS. 1 to 3); it consists of a rectangular base plate 7, two welded brackets 7a of two unequally flanged angle-irons, two stay ribs 7b, two clamp screws 7d, which can be screwed into the hexagonal nuts 7c which are welded on to the brackets 7. The clamp screws are provided with a clamp plate 7e at one end and with a ring-eye 7f, provided for a pin tool, as was already described with the brace clamp TK. The width of the two brackets 7a is again, here, as in the brackets 2a of the brace clamp TK, smaller than the width of the continuous bar slit 1 so that the double brace clamp DTK, like the single brace clamp TK, can be inserted from the front of the bar L, slid sideways through the bar slit 1s and into the bar L to be clamped thereto.

FIG. 17 is a partly disassembled view of the double brace clamp DTK of FIG. 16 without the clamp screws 7d. As with the brace clamp TK, the stringer G of the form brace ST on both sides of the brace bar S is clamped with the double brace clamp DTK with a clamp screw 7d each on the bar L. The double brace clamp DTK has two bracket flanges 7a' which are longer than the respective flanges of brackets 2a on the brace clamp TK; they are provided with two clamp screws 7d each so that the double brace clamp DTK has a total of four clamp screws 7d, of which one pair serves to clamp the one brace ST ₁ and the other pair to clamp the other brace ST ₂ .

The system uses adjustable clamps throughout. The brace distance A is adjustable to any distance required by loading. The bars L have definite lengths: the random adjustability of the braces may lead to non-correspondence of the brace distance A with the length of the bar L if bars are used in multiple. In this case the system is used with coupling clamps KK and the bar couplings LK to maintain a brace distance A which would have been interrupted by the finite lengths of the bars L. The coupling system thus is versatile and permits adaptation to widely different requirements.

Pressures on concrete forms depend on concrete pouring, consistency and temperature and can vary considerably, e.g., between 0.5 and 6 metric t/m ² of form. The form panels may have varying characteristics and strengths, e.g., wood thicknesses of 27 mm, 22 mm and 15 mm are common as form panels and panels of 4, 8, 12 and 15 mm with back-up boards are also used. The differences in thicknesses and construction result in different static characteristics, which must be considered in selecting the distance of the braces. The braces can be spaced in practice between 25 and 75 cm (in individual cases up to 100 cm).

These factors also influence the spacing of the braces L. A number of further factors resulting from the product also play a part which appears from the following:

The static characteristics determine the loading of the braces ST, which are quite variable. In practice, braces are used with moments of for example 0.5 m-t to 3.0 m-t, the values influencing the brace distance as well as the bar distance.

The length of the braces determines the maximum distance of the bars 4. The length of bars L depends, for instance on the wall height. The required distances of the binding holes also play a part.

A further factor is that of the permitted tolerances of the concrete. These tolerances are, according to the function of the building, quite varied and may in civil construction be several millimeters, whereas in domestic apartment buildings with concrete that can be painted and papered, only a maximum of 1 to 2 mm is permitted.

All these five factors can be taken into consideration individually and in their possible combinations with the new system.

The system permits the insertion of tensioning bars or stays, also called bindings or anchors, practically anywhere within the range of the bars L (or Lu in FIG. 4). Due to the free choice of the brace distances A and the resultant loading of the form bindings, stays may need to be placed at various points.

The new coupling LK fulfills mainly four tasks:

Firstly it permits the assembly of two or more elements to a larger composite unit; secondly it bridges gaps of from 0 to about 50 cm which can occur due to variable brace distances A; thirdly it takes on the task of the bar L in the range of bridging; and fourthly the bar system can be continuously erected. A brace coupling clamp KTK is used to clamp additional single braces which can no longer be clamped to bar L, for example to provide for height compensation spacer plate 6c provides thickness compensation.

FIG. 18 shows two side brace clamps STK for adjacent clamping of two adjacent braces ST to two coupled bars L. Each basically consists of one base plate 8, and a side bracket 8a with a screwable clamp screw 8d. Each of the two side brace clamps STK is inserted into the coupling end of one of the two bars L. Each one of the two braces ST is clamped by one each of the two side brace clamps STK to one each of the bars L. The clamp screws 8d are placed on only one side of the brace rim S. Naturally, the side clamps STK can also be applied when the two adjacent braces ST are not to be clamped to two neighboring bars L but to one and the same bar L. When clamping interspaced braces ST to the bar L (see FIGS. 1 to 3) it is possible to use side brace clamps STK in place of the brace clamps TK with two brackets 2a (see FIGS. 1 to 3) which can be clamped on both sides of the brace rim S, if the use of the simpler, faster side brace clamps STK with one bracket 8a each is preferable.

FIG. 19 shows a front view of one of the two side brace clamps STK of FIG. 18 to enlarged scale. The width of the bracket 8a is, like the brace clamp TK, smaller than the width of the bar slit 1s, so that the side brace clamp STK can be inserted through the bar slit 1s into the bar L from the front. The bracket 8a is welded to the base plate 8. A stay rib 8b is welded to the bracket 8a and to the base plate 8. On the free flange of the unequally flanged angle iron serving as bracket 8a, a hexagonal nut 8c is welded into which the clamp screw 8d can be screwed. The clamp screw 8d, as can be seen from FIG. 18, is provided with an end clamp plate which protects the end of the clamp screw 8d.

FIG. 20 shows a top view of an inside corner coupling ELK for an interior corner of a wall form. The corner coupling ELK is assembled from spaced hollow profiles of the same right angle section and equal distance as the hollow profiles 3 of the bar coupling LK. The two equal flanges 9 of the corner coupling ELK are inserted in each of two to each other vertically placed bars L, and their flange length is approximately the same as half the length of the bar couplings LK.

The corner bar coupling ELK is clamped to the two bars L in the same manner as clamping of a straight bar coupling LK by means of the coupling clamp KK. The form braces ST are also clamped in the same manner as with the straight bar coupling by means of the brace clamps TK (or by means of the side brace clamps STK) to the two bars L. The flange dimension ES of the corner clamp ELK may be up to about 50 cm; the adjacent brace ST can be spaced at a distance A of 30 cm.

FIG. 21 shows a top view of an outside corner element EL for an exterior corner as is found in preparing a form for a wall or column. A bar coupling LK is inserted into each of the two flanges 19 of the corner element EL which again is assembled from two Z-profiles. The element EL is clamped by means of a coupling clamp KK to the bar coupling LK. Each of the two bar couplings LK bear on the outside of the base plate 2 of the brace clamp TK for a brace ST and on the inside on the distance plate 5 of a blind butt joint BL. Four corner elements EL, four bar couplings LK and the normal brace clamps TK, blind clamps BL and coupling clamps KK, columns of square or rectangular cross section of desired sizes can be enclosed as seen in FIG. 22 for one of the four exterior corners of a support column.

The system, using only clamp connections, fully eliminates screwed or nailed connections, fitting or improvised working, and permits 100 percent adjustability of the distances to be spanned and forms to be braced, in the two main directions, i.e., vertical and horizontal, for walls and length- and cross-wise for ceilings. The system is mobile and uses standardized elements to permit placement of forms in non-standardized patterns.

The clamp for the clamping of the brace ST to the bar L in its various embodiments, as described (as brace clamp TK, as double brace clamp DTK and as side brace clamp STK) as well as the coupling clamp KK may be used as clamps independently of the bars L.