US2946111A - Collapsible core form - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1960 J. G. FRANCIS, JR

COLLAPSIBLE CORE FORM Filed Jan. 2'7, 1958 ma TJ 0 mm A R F & N an O J I [All/llI/l/l/ I Ill/Ill NVOE W 1 g j r ATTORNEYS Patented July 26, 1960 fice 2,946,111 r I H COLLAPSIBLE CORE FORM John G. Francis, Jr., Detroit, Mich., assignor to Thoma Steel Forms, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan I Filed Jan. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 711,511 Claims. (Cl. 25-128) The present invention relates to a collapsible form, and more particularly, to a form designed to be an internal form in the casting of a crypt or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible inner form comprising a pair of side plates movable toward and away from each other, in combination with means for moving said side plates from a separated vertical operating position to a collapsed position in which the side plates are relatively closer together and are inclined from vertical planes to occupy less overall height.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible form as described in the preceding paragraph, in combination with a top plate normally supported by the side plates in operating position and loosely connected thereto to permit relative approach and separation between said side plates and to cause inclination of said side' plates to movesaid top plate downwardly. a a v It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible form as described in the foregoing, in combination with an end plate of less height than said side plates and connected thereto by means'elfective to plates. y

, It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible form as described in the preceding paragraph, in combination with actuating means effective to product simultaneous approach between the side plates, downward movement of the top plate, and upward movement of said end plate. i

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: i

Figure l is a perspective view of the form with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on theline 2-2, Figure l. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3, Figurel.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4, Figurel. g

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view. of a corner ofasideplate. r H

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6--6, Figure l.

The collapsible form is intended as the inner form of a pair of nested forms adapted to be-used in pouring a casting, such for example as a concrete casting; The specific form illustrated herein is adapted to be used in pouring a crypt and it ismade collapsible so'that after the concrete has set, the inner form may be collapsed to smaller dimensions than in its extended operative position and withdrawn from the completed casting.

In general terms the form comprises a pair of side plates, at top plate, and an end plate. The top plate rests on the upper edges of the side plates. The side plates are movable inwardly toward each other to an inclined position in which their upper edges are at a lower position than when the side plates are vertical. Means are provided interconnecting the top' portions of the side plates and the top plate so that upon downward moveelevate said end plate upon approach between said side ment of the top portions of the side plates the top plate is moved downwardly. Connections are also provided between the side plates and end plate effective to elevate the end plate slightly when the side plates are moved inwardly so that the end plate will clear the bottom of the crypt or the support on which it was formed.

Referring now to the drawings, the collapsible form comprises side plates 10 and 12, a top plate 14, and an end plate 16. The upper edge of the side plates 10 and 12 are turned inwardly to provide horizontally extending flanges '18 upon which the top plate 14 rests as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. Similarly, the end portions of the sideplates "10 and 12 are also turned inwardly to provide the flanges 20.

In like manner, the top plate 14 is provided at the ends thereof with downwardly turned flanges 22. In order to accommodate the downwardly turned flanges 22 at the ends of the top plate 14 the corner portions of the side plates 10 are cut away as indicated at 24 in Figure 5.

Means are provided to establisha loose connection between the top portions of the side plates 10 and 12 and the top plate 14 so that when the side plates are inclined inwardly, the top plate 14 is positively moved downwardly. This means includes brackets 26 having elongated slots 27 welded or otherwise, rigidly secured to the underside of the flanges 18 which are provided at the top edge portions of the side plates 10 and 12. The top plate '14 is suitably apertured to receivebolts 28 which extend-through the slots 27 in the brackets 26. The elongated slot provides a loose connection which permits the upper edge portion of each side plate to move inwardly but nuts 30 carried by the lower end of. the bolts 28 engage the underside of the brackets 26 and the heads of the bolts will provide positive means for pulling the top plate 14 downwardly.

The end plate 16, as best seen in Figure l, is of some what less height than the side plates. In order that inward movement of the side plates may slightly raise the end plate into a position of clearance, brackets 32 are provided- Which extend inwardly from the inner side of the flanges 20 at the ends of the side plates 10 and 12. The brackets 32 may be welded to these flanges as best indicated in Figure 3. inclined camming slots 34 and welded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the end plate 16 are pins 36 which are received in the slots. Thus, as the side plates are moved inwardly the end plate is moved slightly upwardly so that it will clear the floor as the collapsi-- ble form is moved out of the casting.

Means are provided formoving the plates between collapsed position and extended operating position. This means, as illustrated in Figure 1, comprises bars 40 and 42 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner surfaces of the side plates 10 and 12 adjacent the upperportion thereof. A second set of bars 44' and 46 are rigidly secured as by welding to the inner surfaces of;

the side plates 10 and 12 adjacent the bottom edges thereof. A first actuating bar 48 is provided substantially midway between the bars 40 and 42-and is connected thereto by three sets of links each comprising a link 50 and a link 52., The link 50 is pivotedto the bar 4Q"as indicated at 54, and the link 52. is pivoted-to the bar;

42 as indicatedat 56. Gusset plates 57 are provided to is pivoted as indicated at 66 to the actuatingfbar 48,

A second or lower actuating bar 68 is provided intermediate the bars 44 and 46 and is connected thereto b'y' 'a Thebrackets areprovided with elongated plurality of sets of Links each comprising a link 69 and a link 70 corresponding respectively to the upper links 50 and 52. Again, an operating lever 72 is provided which is pivoted as indicated at 73 to one of the bars, as for example the bar 44, and which is pivoted at 74 to the lower actuating bar 68. Again, rigid abutment blocks 76 are provided to determine the position of the links 69 and 70 when the form is fully extended.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the operating lever 64 is effective to move the actuating bar 48 toward the open end of the form and thus to cause the upper portions of the side walls and 12 to move inwardly. In like manner, the lever 72 may be operated to move the bottom portions of the side walls inwardly. It will be observed that the linkage system comprising the bar 48, the links 50 and 52, and the lever 64, is entirely independent of the system comprising the bar 68, links 69 and 70, and lever 72. Accordingly, the side plates 10 and 12 may be moved inwardly to an inclined position by more movement of one of the levers 64 and 72 than of the other. The inclined portions of the side plates 10 and 12 will of course cause them to occupy less space vertically and since the lower edge of the plates is supported, it will have the etfect of causing the upper edge portions thereof to move downwardly. This downward movement of the upper edge portions of the side plates 10 and 12 is employed through the medium of the brackets 26 and bolts 28 to cause corresponding downward movement of the top plate 14.

It may be mentioned at this time that considerable force may be required to move any one of the plates out of engagement with the surface of the casting because of some tendency for the plates to adhere and also because the cast surface is in such intimate contact with the plate that initial separation after setting of the casting is opposed by atmospheric air pressure.

It will of course be appreciated that the elongated slots 34 are provided with sufiicient clearance with respect to the pins 36 as to permit the required inclination from the vertical of the side plates 10 and 12.

Attention is also directed to the fact that, as best seen in Figure 4, the width of the top plate 14 is somewhat less than the spacing between the outer surfaces of the side plates 10 and 12 when they are in extended operating position. This means that when the side plates are moved inwardly, the lateral edges of the top plate have clearance with respect to the side surfaces at the interior of the casting. Similarly, as best seen in Figure 1, the height of the end plate 16 is. somewhat less than the normal vertical height of the side plates 10 so that upward vertical movement of the end plate 16 is permitted to clear the floor or support, without interfering with the undersurface of the top of the casting. In like manner, as seen in Figure 3, the width of the end plate 16 is somewhat less than the spacing between the outer surfaces of the side plates 10 and 12 so that the end plate may be withdrawn through the open end of the casting without engaging the inner surfaces of the side walls thereof.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved collapsible form in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A collapsible inner form comprising relatively movable generally vertical side plates, a general vertical end plate of less height than said side plates, and a generally horizontal top plate, actuating means interconnecting upper and lower portions of said side plates to move said side plates inwardly from an outer vertical position to an inner inclined position in which the upper edge portions of said side plates are moved downwardly, and cam means directly connecting said end plate and side plates operable to raise the end plate slightly upon inward movement of said side plates. V

2. A collapsible inner form comprising relatively movable generally vertical side plates, a generally vertical end plate of less height than said side plates, and a generally horizontal top plate, actuating means interconnecting upper and lower portions of said side plates to move said side plates inwardly from an outer vertical position to an inner inclined position in which the upper edge portions of said plates are moved downwardly, means directly interconnecting the upper edge portions of said side plates and said top plate operable to move said top plate downwardly upon inward movement of said side plates to the inner inclined position, and cam means directly connecting said end plate and side plates operable to raise the end plate slightly upon inward movement of said side plates.

3. A collapsible form comprising a pair of side plates movable toward and away from each other from an operating position in which said plates are vertical and spaced apart a maximum amount and a collapsed position in which said plates are closer together and inclined to reduce their overall vertical dimension, actuating means connected to said side plates to move said plates between said operating and collapsed positions, an end plate of less height than said side plates located beyond the ends of said side plates, cam means connecting said side plates to said end plate and operable to raise said end plate in a clearance position upon inward movement of said side plates.

4. A collapsible form comprising side plates, an end plate and a top plate, said end plate being of less height than said side plates, and manually operable means for moving said side plates inwardly to an inclined clearance position, said means comprising a first lever actuated linkage connecting the top portions of said side plates and a second lever actuated linkage connecting the lower portions of said side plates, said linkages being independently operable to provide for inclining said side plates in collapsed position to move the top portions of said side plates downwardly, direct connections between top portions of said side plates and said top plate to cause downward movement of said top plate upon the aforesaid inward movement of said side plates, and cam means connecting said side plates and said end plate to cause upward movement of said end plate on inward movement of said side plates.

5. A collapsible form comprising separate generally vertical side and end plates, and a horizontal top plate, linkage connected only to said side plates and operable to move said side plates toward and away from each other and to incline said side plates inwardly, cam means interconnecting said side plates and said end plate to effect limited vertical movement of said end plate upon movement of said side plates toward each other, said side plates having top edge portions, said top plate having side edge portions overlying the top edge portions of said side plates, and means directly connecting the top edge portions of said side plates to the side edge portions of said top plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,814 Johnson May 19, 1908 1,016,284 Meek et al. Feb. 6, 1912 1,060,188 Jacobson Apr. 29, 1913 1,096,047 Miller May 12, 1914 1,233,567 Furry July 17, 1917 1,242,092 Wazbinski Oct. 2, 1917 1,249,942 Fisher Dec. 11, 1917 1,925,221 Watnoske Sept. 5, 1933 2,306,722 Fox Dec. 29, 1942 2,578,310 Lager Dec. 11, 1951 2,733,495 Lucas Feb. 7, 1956 2,827,683 Benart et al Mar. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 226,604 Germany Oct. 6, 1910

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