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Claims  |
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Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is:
1. Adjustable shoring apparatus which comprises
upper and lower pairs of spaced apart parallel chords having horizontally
extending longitudinal axes, the chords in said lower pair being spaced
beneath and vertically aligned with respective chords in said upper pair,
a plurality of struts extending obliquely from said upper chord pair to
said lower chord pair and between the chords in each pair in a continuous
longitudinal series of strut pairs of like substantially V-shaped
configuration having their apices at said lower chord pair, the center
lines of successive strut pairs being uniformly spaced apart,
means connecting the upper and lower ends of said struts respectively to
the chords of said upper and lower pairs in a truss-like structure
constructed essentially of said struts and said chords and adapted for
supporting a load on the chords of said upper pair,
a plurality of vertically extending elongated legs each having a vertical
series of support pin holes which extend transversely therethrough, said
legs having upper portions inserted between the chords in said lower pair
and lower portions extending below said structure to provide support
therefor, and said legs being vertically reciprocally movable relative to
said structure for adjusting the combined height thereof,
the strut pairs in said series each being adapted for inserting one of said
legs between the struts of and at the apex of the strut pair, said legs
being inserted between said struts in respective selected strut pairs and
being insertable alternatively between the struts of other strut pairs and
at other locations along the length of said structure for supporting the
structure alternatively at said other locations,
and means for supporting said structure on said legs adjustably at varying
elevations including means carried by the chords in said lower pair and
defining support pin holes, said hole-defining means being adapted for
disposing the pin holes thereof on opposite sides of each leg for registry
with said leg pin holes successively in any of said locations of the leg,
and a support pin removably insertable through a selected one of said pin
holes in each leg and through the pin holes of said hole-defining means in
registry therewith for transferring the load forces from said
hole-defining means to said legs.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein
said support pin holes in each leg include a hole adjacent to the bottom of
the leg,
said legs also are movable into out-of-the-way positions on said structure
in which said pin holes adjacent to the bottom of the legs are in registry
with the pin holes defined by said hole-defining means while the leg
bottoms lie between the upper and lower margins of the chords in said
lower pair, and
said legs are supportable on said structure in said latter positions by
inserting said support pins through the then-registering pin holes,
whereby said structure may be transported with said legs carried thereby
and in the course of transportation may be moved on rollers which rollably
engage and support said lower pair of chords without interference from
said legs.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including
a crossbrace interconnecting the struts in each of said selected pairs at
points on the struts spaced from said upper and lower chord pairs, and
tubular leg guide means fixedly mounted on each of said crossbraces and
receiving the leg inserted between the struts interconnected by the
crossbrace for guided vertical sliding relative movement therein.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein
said strut ends and said chords are provided with registering bolt holes
and bolts are inserted therethrough and secured with nuts to provide said
strut connecting means, and
said hole-defining means includes a pair of load transfer members adapted
to be disposed adjacent to respective chords of said lower pair on
opposite sides of and adjacent to each of said legs and extending
longitudinally of the chords in opposite directions from the adjacent leg
to said struts between which the leg is inserted in any of said locations
of the leg,
each of said members having bolt holes which register with said bolt holes
in the latter struts and with the chord bolt holes registering therewith,
said bolts also being inserted through said member bolt holes for
transferring the load forces from said truss-like structure to the
members, and
each of said members also having a support pin hole disposed between said
bolt holes thereof and registering with the support pin hole of the
remaining member in its pair for registry of both member pin holes
successively with said leg pin holes in the adjacent leg.
5. Adjustable shoring apparatus which comprises
a plurality of units of apparatus as defined in claim 1 disposed in
longitudinal alignment and adjacent to each other, the chords in said
upper pair extending longitudinally outwardly beyond the chords in said
lower pair at opposite ends of each unit for a distance equal to one-half
the distance between the center lines of successive strut pairs in the
units, the chords in said upper pair in each unit being in longitudinal
alignment with and in end-abutting relation to the chords in said upper
pair in each adjacent unit, and the chords in said lower pair in each unit
being in longitudinal alignment with and spaced from the chords in said
lower pair in each adjacent unit for distances equal to the distance
between the center lines of successive strut pairs in the units,
a pair of spaced apart parallel bridge members bridging the spaces between
the chords in said lower pairs in adjacent units, said bridge members
being constructed and arranged like respective ones of the latter chords
and being disposed in longitudinal alignment therewith and in end-abutting
relation thereto,
splice means connecting together the abutting ends of the chords in said
upper pairs, and the abutting ends of said bridge members and of the
chords in said lower pairs in adjacent units, respectively, and
an additional strut extending obliquely from each of said upper chord pairs
in adjacent units to the said bridge member pair between the units, and
extending between and connected to the chords and bridge members in each
pair to provide an additional like strut pair of substantially V-shaped
configuration having its apex at said latter bridge member pair, the
spacing between the center line of said additional strut pair and the
center line of each of the adjacent strut pairs in the units being the
same as the spacing between the center lines of successive strut pairs in
the units,
whereby said truss-like structures of the individual units are joined
together in a unitary truss-like structure having a continuous series of
uniformly spaced strut pairs extending throughout its length.
6. Adjustable shoring apparatus which comprises
upper and lower pairs of spaced apart parallel channel-shaped chords having
horizontally extending longitudinal axes and having the flanges thereof
extending horizontally outwardly and the webs thereof extending
vertically, the chords in said lower pair being spaced beneath and
vertically aligned with respective chords in said upper pair,
a plurality of rectangular tubular struts extending obliquely from said
upper chord pair to said lower chord pair and between the chords in each
pair in a continuous longitudinal series of strut pairs of like
substantially V-shaped configuration having their apices at said lower
chord pair, the center lines of successive strut pairs being uniformly
spaced apart, the opposite ends of said struts and the chord webs adjacent
thereto having registering bolt holes extending transversely therethrough,
bolts inserted through said registering bolt holes and secured with nuts to
connect said struts and chords together in a truss-like structure
constructed essentially of said struts and said chords and adapted for
supporting a load on the chords of said upper pair,
a plurality of vertically extending elongated rectangular legs each having
a vertical series of support pin holes which extend transversely
therethrough, said legs having upper portions inserted between the chords
in said lower pair and lower portions extending below said structure to
provide support therefor, and said legs being vertically reciprocally
movable relative to said structure for adjusting the combined height
thereof,
the strut pairs in said series each being adapted for inserting one of said
legs between the struts of and at the apex of the strut pair, said legs
being inserted between said struts in respective selected strut pairs and
being insertable alternatively between the struts of other strut pairs at
other locations along the length of said structure for supporting the
structure alternatively at said other locations,
a crossbrace interconnecting the struts in each of said selected pairs at
points on the struts spaced from said upper and lower chord pairs,
rectangular tubular leg guide means fixedly mounted on each of said
crossbraces and receiving the leg inserted between the struts
interconnected by the crossbrace for guided vertical sliding relative
movement therein,
and means for supporting said structure on said legs adjustably at varying
elevations including a pair of plate-like load transfer members adapted to
be disposed adjacent to the webs of respective chords of said lower pair
on opposite sides of and adjacent to each of said legs and extending
longitudinally of the chords in opposite directions from the adjacent leg
to said struts between which the leg is inserted in any of said locations
of the leg,
each of said members having bolt holes which register with said bolt holes
in the latter struts and with said chord bolt holes registering therewith,
said bolts also being inserted through said member bolt holes for
transferring the load forces from said structure to the members,
each of said members also having a support pin hole disposed between said
bolt holes thereof and registering with the support pin hole of the
remaining member in its pair for registry of both member pin holes
successively with said leg pin holes in the adjacent leg, and
a support pin removably insertable through a selected one of said pin holes
in each leg and through said member pin holes in registry therewith for
transferring the load forces from said members to said legs,
said legs also being movable into out-of-the-way positions on said
structure in which said pin holes adjacent to the bottoms of the legs are
in registry with said member pin holes while the leg bottoms lie between
the upper and lower margins of the chords in said lower pair, and
said legs being supportable on said structure in said latter positions by
inserting said support pins through the then-registering pin holes,
whereby said structure may be transported with said legs carried thereby
and in the course of transportation may be moved on rollers which rollably
engage the lower flanges of and support said lower pair of chords without
interference from the legs.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 and wherein said strut pairs are
provided with like patterns of bolt holes for bolting said crossbraces to
any of said strut pairs.
8. Adjustable shoring apparatus which comprises
a plurality of apparatus as defined in claim 6 in longitudinal alignment
and adjacent to each other, the chords in said upper pair extending
longitudinally outwardly beyond the chords in said lower pair at opposite
ends of each unit for a distance equal to one-half the distance between
the center lines of successive strut pairs in the units, the chords in
said upper pair in each unit being in longitudinal alignment with and in
end-abutting relation to the chords in said upper pair in each adjacent
unit, and the chords in said lower pair in each unit being in longitudinal
alignment with and spaced from the chords in said lower pair in each
adjacent unit for distances equal to the distance between the center lines
of successive strut pairs in the units,
splice means connecting together the abutting ends of the chords in said
upper pairs, said splice means including a bar inserted between and bolted
to said chord ends and bridging the joint therebetween,
a pair of spaced apart parallel channel-shaped bridge members bridging the
spaces between the chords in said lower pairs in adjacent units, said
bridge members being constructed and arranged like respective ones of the
latter chords and being disposed in longitudinal alignment therewith and
in end-abutting relation thereto,
splice means connecting together the abutting ends of said bridge members
and of the chords in said lower pairs in adjacent units, respectively,
said latter splice means including a bar inserted between and bolted to
said chord ends in each of the latter lower pairs and also inserted
between and bolted to said bridge members and bridging the joint
therebetween, and
an additional rectangular tubular strut extending obliquely from each of
said upper chord pairs in adjacent units to the said bridge member pair
between the units, and extending between and bolted to the chords and
bridge members in each pair to provide an additional like strut pair of
substantially V-shaped configuration having its apex at said latter bridge
member pair, the spacing between the center line of said additional strut
pair and the center line of each of the adjacent strut pairs in the units
being the same as the spacing between the center lines of successive strut
pairs in the units,
whereby said truss-like structures of the individual units are joined
together in a unitary truss-like structure having a continuous series of
uniformly spaced strut pairs extending throughout its length. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to adjustable shoring apparatus, in particular, to
apparatus which is especially adapted for supporting a concrete form and
which may be employed in unitary concrete form installations or assemblies
of the flying deck type.
Vertically adjustable shoring apparatus has become increasingly popular for
use in supporting concrete floor slab formwork, owing to the relative ease
and rapidity with which the apparatus can be set up and used, and
thereafter removed from beneath the floor slab and transported to another
pour site. Efficiency has been increased by providing relatively large
assemblies of shoring apparatus, which may be in modular form. It is
especially advantageous to employ concrete form installations of the
flying deck type, which are combinations of shoring apparatus and deck
forms designed for use in the construction of multi-story structures
having typical slabs. Concrete form installation units are placed in
side-by-side and end-to-end relation, to provide a continuous deck form,
which serves as a base for a concrete pour. After the floor slabs have
hardened, the vertically adjustable shoring apparatus employed in the
units is collapsed, permitting the units to be moved endwise or sidewise
between the floors. The units are moved laterally from between the floors
and transported or "flown" by means of a crane to the next adjacent upper
floor level for reuse thereat. Examples of prior apparatus employed for
the foregoing purposes include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,826,057, 3,902,289 and
3,977,536, which disclose shoring apparatus embodying truss-like
structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An important object of the present invention is to provide adjustable
shoring apparatus which incorporates supporting legs both vertically
adjustable to vary the overall height of the apparatus and horizontally
adjustable as regards their positions along the length of the apparatus to
provide support at varying locations therealong, for supporting a load in
an optimum manner while reducing to a minimum the number of legs in the
apparatus.
Another important object is to provide adjustable shoring apparatus which
combines the features of strength, relatively light weight, adaptability
and ease of assembly. More particularly, it is an object to provide such
an apparatus which is adapted for use in any desired size and in modular
form.
A particular object is to provide apparatus having the foregoing
characteristics and which embodies a truss-like structure for strength and
rigidity, and supporting legs combined therewith in a unitary apparatus. A
more specific object is to provide such apparatus which is adapted for
retracting the legs into out-of-the-way positions on the truss-like
structure, to facilitate transportation of the apparatus and enable the
apparatus to be moved on rollers in the course of transportation.
Another object is to provide adjustable shoring apparatus having the
foregoing characteristics and which is adapted for use as a component of a
unitary concrete form installation or assembly of the flying deck type,
which installation may be assembled in varying heights, widths, and
lengths, as desired.
An additional object is to provide an assembly of a plurality of units of
adjustable shoring apparatus having the foregoing characteristics, and
bridging structure which serves to interconnect the units, the assembly
having uniform load-bearing characteristics throughout its structure.
Adjustable shoring apparatus according to the invention includes upper and
lower pairs of spaced apart parallel chords having horizontally extending
longitudinal axes, the chords in the lower pair being spaced beneath and
vertically aligned with respective chords in the upper pair, a plurality
of struts extending obliquely from the upper chord pair to the lower chord
pair and between the chords in each pair in a continuous longitudinal
series of strut pairs of like substantially V-shaped configuration having
their apices at the lower chord pair, the center lines of successive strut
pairs being uniformly spaced apart, means connecting the upper and lower
ends of the struts respectively to the chords of the upper and lower pairs
in a truss-like structure constructed essentially of the struts and the
chords and adapted for supporting a load on the chords of the upper pair,
a plurality of vertically extending elongated legs each having a vertical
series of support pin holes which extend transversely therethrough, the
legs having upper portions inserted between the chords in the lower pair
and lower portions extending below the structure to provide support
therefor, and the legs being vertically reciprocally movable relative to
the structure for adjusting the combined height thereof, the strut pairs
in said series each being adapted for inserting one of the legs between
the struts of and at the apex of the strut pair, the legs being inserted
between the struts in respective selected strut pairs and being insertable
alternatively between the struts of other strut pairs and at other
locations along the length of the structure for supporting the structure
alternatively at said other locations, and means for supporting the
structure on the legs adjustably at varying elevations including means
carried by the chords in the lower pair and defining support pin holes,
the hole-defining means being adapted for disposing the pin holes thereof
on opposite sides of each leg for registry with the leg pin holes
successively in any of said locations of the leg, and a support pin
removably insertable through a selected one of the pin holes in each leg
and through the pin holes of the hole-defining means in registry therewith
for transferring the load forces from the hole-defining means to the legs.
A plurality of units of the apparatus are assembled in a preferred manner
in accordance with the invention, in longitudinal alignment and adjacent
to each other, the units being connected together at abutting upper pairs
of chords in adjacent units, and with the addition of a pair of bridge
members between spaced apart lower pairs of chords in adjacent units, and
an additional like strut pair is provided, of substantially V-shaped
configuration extending between adjacent units and having its apex at the
bridge member pair.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,
without limitation thereto. In the drawings, like elements are identified
by like reference symbols in each of the views, and:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete form installation or assembly
unit of the flying deck type, with portions of the formwork thereof broken
away and parts removed to reveal the shoring assembly unit thereof;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a shoring assembly unit constituting
part of the form installation unit of FIG. 1, illustrating a raised,
out-of-the-way position for the legs thereof at one end of the assembly
unit;
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the shoring assembly unit
illustrated in FIG. 2, taken substantially on line 3--3 thereof and drawn
to a slightly enlarged scale;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of shoring
apparatus as employed in the structures shown in the preceding views;
FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the shoring
apparatus taken adjacent the top thereof, and showing its connection to a
structural member in the formwork;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure illustrated
in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view on a reduced scale of a shoring assembly
incorporating a shoring assembly unit as illustrated in FIG. 2 and an
additional shoring assembly unit, in end-to-end relation;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the assembly of FIG. 7,
illustrating the structure at the joints between the two units; and
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a splice member as employed at the
joints of the structure illustrated in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a concrete form installation
or assembly unit 10 of the flying deck type constituting a preferred
embodiment of the invention. The form installation unit 10 includes a
shoring assembly unit 12 and a formwork unit 14 supported thereby. The
shoring assembly unit 12 is a modular three-dimensional structure having
as its principal components two like narrow, elongated shoring apparatus
units 16 and 18. The shoring apparatus units 16 and 18 are rigidly secured
together in spaced parallel transversely aligned relation by unit
crossbraces 20 at the opposite ends of the shoring assembly unit 12. The
formwork unit 14 is constructed of a plurality of spaced parallel
joist-like structural members 22, which are seated on and connected to the
shoring assembly unit 12, and extend transversely thereof. The formwork
unit 14 also includes a deck 24 formed of rows of plywood panels 26, which
are secured to the structural members 22.
The form installation unit 10 is assembled for use on a foundation or floor
slab 27. The form installation unit 10 may be employed alone or with
additional units of like character adjacent thereto in end-to-end and
side-by-side relation, according to the requirements of the concrete floor
to be formed thereon. A continuous deck is formed of the panels 26 or the
like, and concrete is poured thereon and allowed to harden. Thereafter,
the form installation unit 10 is lowered or collapsed, and then removed
for use in another location. The form installation unit 10, with the
exception of certain screw jacks thereof, is adapted to be transported
completely, as a unit, both on a supporting surface and from one elevation
to another. In particular, crane cables may be secured to the form
installation unit 10, and the unit may be moved by means of a crane from
one floor to another during the construction of a multi-story building.
The shoring assembly unit 12 may be transported alone, with no formwork
unit 14 thereon, in similar fashion.
The shoring apparatus units 16 and 18 also are adapted for individual use,
without being interconnected. As an example, the units may be employed for
the support of concrete beam forms. The shoring apparatus units 16 and 18
are capable of movement on a supporting surface and of being moved by a
crane in similar fashion to the form installation unit 10 and the shoring
assembly unit 12.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, and particularly to FIG. 4, the shoring apparatus
unit 16, representative of both units 16 and 18, is constructed of an
upper pair 28 and a lower pair 30 of spaced apart parallel channel-shaped
chords 31, 32 and 33, 34, respectively, having horizontally extending
longitudinal axes. Rectangular tubular struts or web members 36, which
have square cross sections in the illustrative embodiment, extend
obliquely from the upper chord pair 28 to the lower chord pair 30 and
between the chords in each pair, in a continuous longitudinal series of
strut pairs 37-40 (FIG. 2) of like substantially V-shaped configuration
having their apices 41 at the lower chord pair 30. The respective upper
and lower ends 36a and 36b of the struts 36 are connected to the chords
31, 32 and 33, 34 of the upper and lower pairs 28 and 30, respectively, in
a truss-like structure 42 (FIG. 2), by means subsequently described, which
structure is adapted for supporting a load on the chords 31, 32 of the
upper pair 28.
The chords 31-34 are structurally identical, differing only in length in
the illustrative embodiment, and may be used as upper or lower chords, as
required. Referring to the upper chord 31 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 as
representative, the chord includes upper and lower flanges 31a and 31b
extending horizontally outwardly at right angles from a vertically
extending integral web 31c. The web 31c is provided with a group of nine
equidistantly spaced bolt holes 44 in an axial row adjacent to each of the
opposite ends of the chord 31. For convenience of reference, the
individual bolt holes 44 in each group are identified by the letters a
through i, commencing at the inner ends of the rows. At equidistantly
spaced intervals along the chord 31, intermediate groups of three
equidistantly spaced bolt holes 46 are provided in the web 31c, in axial
rows of holes identified by the letters a through c and having the same
spacing as the bolt holes 44 in the end groups. There are three of such
intermediate groups of bolt holes 46 in the upper chords 31 and 32, and
two of such intermediate groups in the lower chords 33 and 34. The bolt
holes 44 and 46 in each chord of a pair are in transverse register or
alignment with the corresponding holes of the remaining chord of the pair.
As seen in FIG. 2, the upper chord pair 28 extends outwardly beyond the
lower chord pair 30 at both ends thereof, and the groups of bolt holes 44
and 46 in the upper chord pair 28 are in longitudinally offset or
staggered relation to the groups of bolt holes 44 and 46 in the lower
chord pair 30.
The struts 36 have a bolt hole 52 in each of the upper and lower ends 36a
and 36b thereof, adjacent to their extremities, and pairs of bolt holes 54
spaced inwardly thereof, such holes 52 and 54 extending through the struts
and facing laterally of the structure 42. Each strut also has a bolt hole
56 facing longitudinally of the structure 42, between the inner bolt holes
54 adjacent each end of the strut. The end bolt holes 52 of the struts 36
each register with one of the bolt holes 44 or 46 in the webs 31c, 32c,
33c and 34c of the respective chords 31-34, the registering chord hole
being one of those identified by the letters a and c.
The chords 31-34 and the struts 36 are connected together in the truss-like
structure 42 by connecting bolts 58 and connecting nuts 60 threaded
thereon. Referring particularly to FIG. 5, each bolt 58 has a hexagonal
head 58a, a generally cylindrical shank 58b, and a threaded stem 58c of
reduced diameter with respect to the shank, which is inserted in a
threaded bore in the head 58a and the shank 58b and welded in place
therein. The nut 60 is similarly constructed of a hexagonal head 60a and a
generally cylindrical shank 60b having a threaded opening therethrough for
engagement with the stem 58c of the bolt. The bolts 58 are inserted
through the bolt holes 44 or 46 in the chords 31-34 and the registering
bolt holes 52 in the struts 36 and secured with the nuts 60 to connect the
struts and the chords together in the structure 42. The shanks 58b of the
bolts and the shanks 60b of the nuts are received in the registering bolt
holes 44 or 46 and 52, as illustrated in FIG. 5, closely but not
force-fitting, to produce tight connections for load transfer purposes
while enabling the structure 42 to be assembled and disassembled readily
and rapidly.
As noted above, the ends of the struts 36 are connected to the chords at
the bolt holes 44a and 44c, or 46a and 46c, with the ends of two struts
adjoining at each group of bolt holes in each chord pair, except where the
end struts terminate at the upper chord pair 28. The axes of the bolt
holes 44b and 46b between the adjoining strut ends may be referred to as
the "panel points" of the truss-like structure 42. Such panel points are
uniformly or equidistantly spaced apart the same distance along each chord
pair 28 and 30, and the panel points of each chord pair are in
longitudinally off-set relation to those of the other chord pair by a
distance equal to one-half the distance between panel points. The vertical
center lines 61 of the successive strut pairs 37-40 intersect the panel
points of the lower chord pair 30, and likewise are uniformly spaced apart
for a distance equal to the distance between panel points. The chords 31,
32 in the upper pair 28 extend longitudinally outwardly beyond the chords
33, 34 in the lower pair 30 at opposite ends of the structure 42 for a
distance equal to one-half the distance between the center lines 61 of
successive strut pairs 37-40.
Each of the shoring apparatus units 16 and 18 includes a plurality of
elongated tubular legs 62 of rectangular cross section, being square in
the illustrative embodiment, which extend vertically in the unit. In the
illustrative embodiment, there are two such legs in each of the shoring
apparatus units 16 and 18, and four legs in the shoring assembly unit 12.
Each of the legs 62 has a vertical series of support pin holes 64, there
being eight such holes in the illustrative embodiment, including a lower
hole 64a adjacent the bottom of the leg. The support pin holes 64 extend
through each leg 62 and between the opposite laterally facing sides
thereof. The support pin holes 64 are spaced equidistantly along the
length of each leg 62, except for the lower hole 64a and the next adjacent
hole 64, which are closer together. At the top of each leg 62, on one of
the longitudinally facing sides thereof, a stop block 66 is welded to the
leg.
The upper portion of each leg 62 is inserted between the chords 33 and 34
in the lower pair 30 in each of the shoring apparatus units 16 and 18.
Each leg also is inserted between the struts 36 in a selected one of the
strut pairs 37-40 at the apex 41 thereof, there being provided suitable
spacing between the lower ends 36b of the struts in each pair for that
purpose. In the illustrative embodiment, legs 62 are inserted between the
struts 36 of the end strut pairs 37 and 40 of each truss-like structure
42. The lower portion of each leg 62 in functional position extends below
the structure 42 to provide support therefor. The legs 62 are vertically
reciprocally movable relative to the structure 42, for adjusting the
combined or overall height of the structure and the legs.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a pair of spaced parallel horizontal strut
crossbraces 68 in the form of channel bars interconnects the struts 36 in
each of the strut pairs 37 and 40 having legs 62 inserted therebetween.
The crossbraces 68 are connected at points on opposite sides of the struts
36 and spaced from the upper and lower chord pairs 28 and 30, by means of
bolts 70 inserted through holes 74 in the webs of the crossbraces and
through one of the inner bolt holes 54 in the pair of such holes adjacent
the lower end 36b of each strut, and secured by nuts 75. A vertical leg
guide member 76 in the form of a rectangular tube is fixedly mounted on
the crossbraces 68 therebetween, by welds 78, thereby providing a leg
guide assembly 80. The leg guide member 76 in the illustrative embodiment
has a square cross section, and closely receives the leg 62 inserted
between the interconnected struts 36 for guided vertical sliding relative
movement therein. The stop block 66 prevents the leg 62 from falling out
of the guide member 76.
The leg guide assembly 80 is readily and rapidly connected to and
disconnected from any of the strut pairs 37-40 selected for insertion of a
leg 62 between the struts thereof. It need not be employed with the
remaining strut pairs. The leg guide assembly 80 functions both to
maintain a leg 62 in proper vertical alignment and to brace the struts 36
connected thereto and thereby increase their lateral stability under load,
but the leg guide assembly 80 carries no vertical load.
The support pin holes 64 of each leg 62 register successively with the bolt
holes 44b in the lower chords 33 and 34, as the leg is raised and lowered.
As noted above, the axes of the bolt holes 44b are at the center lines 61
of the strut pairs 37 and 40. The truss-like structure 42 may be supported
on the legs 62 at a selected elevation, by inserting a support pin or the
like through the bolt holes 44b adjacent each of the ends of the lower
chords 33 and 34, and through a selected one of the support pin holes 64
in each leg. In the preferred construction of the invention, however, a
relatively lightweight material is employed for fabricating the chords
31-34, such as an aluminum alloy. In view of the concentration of load
stresses at the junctures of the lower chords 33 and 34 with the struts 36
and with the legs 62, it is preferred to employ load transfer members 82,
which are in the form of rectangular plates, to transfer the load from the
struts 36 to the legs 62. The load transfer members 82 and the legs 62
preferably are constructed of material having relatively high structural
strength, and in the preferred embodiment, are constructed of steel. The
struts 36, the crossbraces 68, and the leg guide member 76 like the chords
31-34, preferably are constructed of extruded aluminum alloy, and together
with the load transfer members 82 and the legs 62 provide a relatively
lightweight structure having the requisite strength and rigidity.
The load transfer members 82 are employed in pairs connected to the strut
pairs 37 and 40, or other selected strut pairs, between which the legs 62
are inserted. One member 82 is disposed adjacent each of the webs 33c and
34c of the lower chords, on the outer side thereof. Each member 82 is
provided with two bolt holes 84 adjacent opposite ends thereof, and a
support pin hole 86 centrally disposed between and spaced from the bolt
holes. The transfer member bolt holes 84 and support pin hole 86 are
aligned in an axial row and are spaced apart between centers the same
distance as the spacing of the bolt holes 44 and 46 in the chords 31-34.
The bolt holes 84 of the transfer members 82 have the same diameter as the
diameter of the chord bolt holes 44 and 46, and of the end strut bolt
holes 52. The support pin hole 86, on the other hand, has a smaller
diameter than the chord bolt holes 44 and 46, and, in particular, has a
smaller diameter than the holes 44b and 46b in the lower chords 33 and 34,
which latter holes are adapted for registry therewith.
The bolt holes 84 in each load transfer member 82 of a pair of members
register with the lower chord bolt holes on opposite sides of the adjacent
leg 62, which latter holes are identified as holes 44a and 44c in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. At the same time, the load transfer
member bolt holes 84 register with the bolt holes 52 at the lower ends 36b
of the struts 36 between which the leg 62 is inserted. Connecting bolts 58
are inserted through such registering bolt holes of the load transfer
members 82, the lower chords 33, 34, and the struts 36, for transferring
the load forces from each truss-like structure 42 to its transfer members
82.
The support pin hole 86 in each load transfer member 82 of a pair of
members registers with the lower chord bolt holes adapted to register with
the leg support pin holes 64, which latter bolt holes are identified as
holes 44b in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. A headed support pin 88
is inserted through the support pin holes 86 of each pair of load transfer
members 82 and through the lower chord bolt holes 44b registering
therewith, and also through a selected one of the support pin holes 64 in
the adjacent leg 62. The diameter of the support pin 88 is substantially
the same as the diameters of the support pin holes 64 and 86, but less
than the diameter of the bolt holes 44b. Consequently, the load forces are
transferred from the load transfer members 82 to the leg 62 via the
support pin 88, while the bolt holes 44b in the chords 33, 34 merely
provide larger openings through the chords, with clearance to allow free
passage of the support pin 88 therethrough.
The support pin 88 is provided with a hole 90 (FIG. 4) extending through
the inserted end of the pin. The support pin 88 is detachably secured in
place by a clip fastener 92 of conventional construction, having a finger
93 inserted through the hole 90 in the support pin and a ring 94 attached
to the finger and swung down over the end of the support pin in use. Each
truss-like structure 42 is vertically adjustably supported on the legs 62
at a selected elevation in the foregoing manner.
The legs 62 also are movable into out-of-the-way or retracted positions on
each truss-like structure 42, in which positions the support pin holes 64a
adjacent to the bottoms of the legs lie between the upper and lower
margins of the chords 33 and 34 of the lower pair 30. That is, the lower
edge of each leg 62 is elevated at least as far as the bottom surfaces of
the lower flanges 33b and 34b of the lower chord pair, and preferably to
locations above such flange surfaces, so that there is no obstruction to
rolling the structure 42 on such flanges. The legs are raised for this
purpose until their lower support pin holes 64a register with the bolt
holes 44b in the chords 33 and 34 of the lower pair 30 and with the
support pin holes 86 of the adjacent load transfer members 82. The legs 62
are supportable on the structure 42 in the out-of-the-way positions by
inserting the support pins 88 through the then-registering support pin
holes and bolt holes. The structure 42 then may be transported with the
legs 62 carried thereby, and in the course of transportation, it may be
moved on rollers which rollably engage the lower flanges 33b and 34b of
the lower chord pair 30 without interference from the legs. The length of
the legs 62 preferably is selected so that the upper edge or extremity of
each leg lies between the upper surfaces, on the upper flanges 31a and
32a, and the lower surfaces on the lower flanges 31b and 32b of the upper
chords 31 and 32 at this time. The legs 62 then do not encounter
interference with the formwork supported on the upper chords, such as the
illustrative formwork unit 14 or other formwork.
A screw jack 100 is provided for engagement with each of the legs 62 in the
illustrative embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the jack 100 includes a base
plate 101, four upstanding gussets 102 welded thereto at 90.degree. angles
therearound, and a screw 103 extending vertically from the center of the
base plate and welded thereto and to the gussets. The jack also includes
an internally threaded cylindrical nut 104 in threaded engagement with the
screw 103, and a pair of handles 105 welded to and extending diametrically
outwardly from opposite sides of the nut, for rotation of the nut thereby.
The upper end 103a of the screw 103 is received within the tubular leg 62,
while the lower edges of the leg seat on the nut 104. The jacks 100
provide fine adjustment of the overall height of the shoring assembly unit
12, whereas the legs 62 provide for coarse adjustment thereof. The legs 62
and the jacks 100 provide like adjustment of the height of the individual
shoring apparatus units 16 and 18 when employed separately. When the
shoring assembly unit 12 is transported from place to place, the jacks 100
may be carried in a suitable receptacle supported on the unit.
The unit crossbraces 20 which join the individual shoring apparatus units
16 and 18 together are constructed of telescoping outer and inner
rectangular tubular sections 20a and 20b, respectively, which have a row
of holes 106 therethrough. The crossbraces are joined together in
X-fashion by means of a bolt 107 (FIG. 1) which extends through
registering holes 106 in the crossbraces at their intersection and is
secured by a nut 108 (FIG. 3). The ends of the crossbraces 20 are secured
to struts 36 in the shoring apparatus units 16 and 18. In the illust | | |
