"Horizontal formwork system and safety method for installing formwork panels in a horizontal formwork system"

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to horizontal formwork systems, particularly to modular horizontal formwork systems, and to a safety method for installing formwork panels in a horizontal formwork system.

PRIOR ART

Horizontal formwork systems comprising longitudinal beams, transverse beams, formwork panels that are arranged on the longitudinal and/or transverse beams and vertical supports or struts supporting the horizontal beams, transverse beams and formwork panels are known.

For example, WO2007/003364A1 discloses a modular horizontal formwork comprising a plurality of grid elements. Each grid element comprises a plurality of longitudinal beams and at least one transverse beam that can be assembled on the vertical supports. Each basic grid element further comprises two primary beams arranged parallel to one another, each end of said primary beams being supported in one of the heads, and two corner beams arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the primary beams, each end of said corner beams being supported in one of the heads. The primary beams comprise supports for panels on which formwork panels are arranged.

FR2944821A1 discloses a formwork system comprising primary beams and secondary beams extending between the primary beams, said secondary beams supporting the formwork panels. Before assembling the formwork panels, the operator assembles a provisional and detachable protective base in the gaps in which the formwork panels will later be arranged for fall prevention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a horizontal formwork system and a safety method for installing a horizontal formwork system, as defined in the claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to the horizontal formwork system comprising longitudinal beams arranged in a longitudinal direction, and safety means protecting operators against falling when installing formwork panels, and comprising a safety structure which is arranged parallel to the formwork panels. The safety structure is arranged in a plane that is below said formwork panels, at least partially covering a gap existing immediately after the last assembled formwork panel.

The safety means comprise displacement means for moving the safety structure in the longitudinal direction, which allow the operator to move said safety structure as the operator places the formwork panel and to cover at least partially the gap immediately after the last assembled formwork panel.

A horizontal formwork system with optimized safety means is thereby obtained, since it is not necessary to place a safety structure under all the formwork panels, but rather the safety structure gradually moves as the panels are put in place. Furthermore, the safety means can be actuated by the operator from up above, i.e., when the operator is on the formwork panel, and from down below, when the operator is supported on the ground.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the safety method for installing formwork panels in a horizontal formwork system comprising the following steps:

· assembling at least one guide to the corresponding longitudinal beam in the longitudinal direction,

• coupling a safety structure comprising at least one guided element fixed in the longitudinal direction at each end of said safety structure to the corresponding longitudinal beam through the corresponding guides, the safety structure being arranged under the last assembled formwork panel, and • sliding the safety structure in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal beams covering the gap immediately after the last assembled formwork panel. Both the horizontal formwork system and the safety method for the installation allow assembling said systems more quickly and more efficiently.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the horizontal formwork system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 1 without the formwork panels. Figure 3 shows a front view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 1 without the formwork panels in a working position.

Figure 4 shows detail A of the front view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows detail C of the front view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 3 in an intermediate position between the working position shown in Figure 3 and the assembly/disassembly position. Figure 6 shows detail B of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 1 wherein blocking means are shown in a non-blocking position.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the blocking means shown in Figure 6 in the non- blocking position. Figure 8 shows a side view of the blocking means shown in Figure 6 in a blocking position.

Figure 9 shows a partial view of displacement means comprised in the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 10 shows a front view of an element of the displacement means shown in Figure 9. Figure 1 1 shows a front view of another embodiment of the horizontal formwork system according to the invention.

Figure 12 shows a partial perspective view of the embodiment of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 1 1 .

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the horizontal formwork system according to the invention.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 13 without the formwork panels.

Figure 15 shows a front view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 13 without the formwork panels in a working position. Figure 16 shows detail D of the front view of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 shows detail of the horizontal formwork system shown in Figure 13 wherein blocking means are shown in a blocking position.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 , 2, 13 and 14 show a horizontal formwork system 1 according to the invention, comprising longitudinal beams 3 each of which is arranged such that it is coupled to a corresponding head 30, transverse beams 4 each of which is arranged such that it is coupled to the corresponding head 30, struts 5 supporting the transverse beams 4 and the longitudinal beams 3 and each of which is arranged such that it is coupled to the corresponding head 30, and formwork panels 2 which are arranged such that they are supported on the longitudinal beams 3.

In other embodiments according to the invention, not shown in the figures, the horizontal formwork system comprises longitudinal beams 3 connected longitudinally to each other through first heads, transverse beams 4 connected longitudinally to each other through second heads, said transverse beams 4 being connected transversely to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3 through the corresponding second head and struts 5 attached to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3.

The horizontal formwork system 1 according to the invention is a modular horizontal formwork system comprising at least two rows, each one of it comprising at least two beams 3 aligned longitudinally and coupled by the corresponding head 30, transverse beams 4 being arranged between the rows, the struts 5 resting on the ground.

In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the formwork panels 2 can be arranged such that they are supported on the transverse beams 4 or on the longitudinal beams 3 and the transverse beams 4. Furthermore, in other embodiments not shown in the drawings, instead of struts 5, the horizontal formwork system 1 can comprise scaffolds, shoring or other structures supporting the formwork panels 2 and longitudinal and transverse beams.

The modular horizontal formwork system 1 according to the invention comprises safety means 6 movable in a longitudinal direction preventing operators from falling off the formwork panels 2 as they are assembling said formwork panels 2. For understanding this description, longitudinal direction will be considered the direction parallel to the longitudinal beams 3, corresponding with the direction in which the operator assembles the formwork panels 2. The direction in which said panels are assembled, hereinafter forward movement direction, is indicated with an "X" in Figures 12, 13 and 14. There can be embodiments in which the operator firstly assembles the formwork panels 2 in a transversal direction forming a row, afterwards assembles the formwork panels 2 in a transversal direction forming a second row, and so on untill the end of the longitudinal beams 3. In such a case, the direction in which the operator assembles the formwork panels 2, in particular the rows of formwork panels 2 is also longitudinal.

The safety means 6 comprise a safety structure 7 including a mesh 8 and a support 9 for said mesh 8, and displacement means 10 for moving the safety structure 7. The support 9 is preferably metallic, and the mesh 8 is preferably metallic or fabric-based. In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the safety structure 7 can include a plurality of supports each of which supports a specific mesh, the supports being arranged such that they are attached to one another, forming the safety structure 7.

Furthermore, the safety structure 7 is arranged parallel to the formwork panels 2 in a plane that is below said formwork panels 2, at least partially covering a gap 31 existing immediately after the last assembled formwork panel 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 13. As the operator places the formwork panels 2 on the longitudinal beams 3, moves the safety structure 7 through the displacement means 10 covering, at least partially, the gap 31 immediately after the last assembled formwork panel 2, thereby assuring protection against falling. The safety structure 7 is not a support structure that is to say, the safety structure 7 does not support neither the formworks panels 2 neither the concrete over the formworks panels. The safety structure 7 is not a work platform but rather a protection platform to prevent operators from falling. Operators cannot walk on the safety structure 7, the function of the safety structure 7 is to support the operator in case of fallings. Operators can move the safety means 6 while they are on the formwork panels 2 or from the ground, preferably acting on the support 9 of the safety structure 7. The operator can move the safety means 6 continuously along the horizontal formwork system 1 in the longitudinal direction X without being necessary to disassemble the safety means 6 once they arrive to the end of the corresponding longitudinal beam 3. The operator can also move the safety means 6 through a transition zone 42 of the horizontal formwork system 1 , transition zone 42 being understood as the zone in which two longitudinal beams 3 are coupled to the corresponding head 30 and including a gap 43 between the two consecutively arranged longitudinal beams 3. The displacement means 10 for moving the safety structure 7 comprise guided elements 1 1 ; 1 1 '; 1 1 " fixed to the safety structure 7 and guides 12; 12'; 12" coupled to the longitudinal beams 3, shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 1 1 and 12, which collaborate with one another for moving said safety structure 7, the guide 12; 12'; 12" and the corresponding guided element 1 1 ; 1 1 '; 1 1 " being arranged such that they are connected to one another in a sliding manner.

The guided elements 1 1 ; 1 1 '; 1 1 " are arranged, respectively, such that they are fixed to the support 9 of the safety structure 7, in the longitudinal direction of the formwork system 1 . In turn, the guides 12; 12'; 12" are arranged, respectively, such that they are coupled to the longitudinal beams 3 in the longitudinal direction of the formwork system 1. Particularly, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 16, the safety structure 7 has two guided elements 1 1 ; 1 1 '; 1 1 ". Each of the guided elements 1 1 ; 1 1 '; 1 1 " is arranged such that it is fixed at the corresponding side of the safety structure 7, extending longitudinally along the safety structure 7. The safety structure 7 is coupled to both longitudinal beams 3 arranged parallel to one another, through the corresponding guide 12; 12'; 12" coupled to the respective longitudinal beam 3.

In the embodiments shows in the figures, the guides 12; 12'; 12" are attached to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3. In other embodiments not shown, said guides can be coupled to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3 through the corresponding heads, the guides being integrated in the corresponding head.

For safety reasons, the width d1 of the safety structure 7 is larger than the distance L1 between the guides 12; 12" arranged facing one another, as shown in Figures 3 and 15.

In the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 to 10, the guided element 1 1 includes a profile which is arranged such that it is partially housed in a profile of the guide 12. Both profiles of the guided element 1 1 and of the guide 12 respectively have a C- shaped cross-section, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, which allows each guided element 1 1 to slide on the corresponding guide 12 when the operator acts on the safety structure 7.

To enable assembling and disassembling the safety structure 7 in the horizontal formwork system 1 shown in Figures 1 to 10, the displacement means 10 comprise couplings 14 which couple each guide 12 to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3. Each coupling 14 enables the pivoting of the guide 12 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3. Therefore, when the operator assembles the safety structure 7 from down below, said safety structure 7 initially pushes the guides 12 upwards, forcing them to pivot as shown in Figure 5, from the (substantially horizontal) working position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the (substantially vertical) assembly/disassembly position as a result of the respective couplings 14. Once the safety structure 7 surpasses the guides 12, said guides 12 are lowered, returning to the working position, the guided elements 1 1 of the support structure 7 being arranged such that they are partially housed respectively in the guides 12 in said working position.

In turn, the displacement means 10 comprise supports 13 which are arranged such that they are fixed to the bottom of the corresponding longitudinal beams 3, each guide 12 being arranged such that it is pivotably coupled to the corresponding support 13 between a working position shown in Figures 3 and 4, and an assembly/disassembly position shown in Figure 5. Each support 13 of the displacement means 10, shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 7, comprises a base 15 which is fixed to the bottom of the corresponding longitudinal beam 3 and extensions 16, each coupling 14 being coupled to each extension 16 preferably through bolts not depicted in the drawings. Each coupling 14 has, at one end, a support surface 18 on which the guide 12 is arranged such that it is supported thereon, and at the other end, a stop 17 abutting against the support 13 in the working position, keeping the guide 12 in a horizontal position. In the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 to 10, each support 13 of the displacement means 10 at least partially supports two guides 12 arranged parallel to one another, pivotably coupled to said support 13 through the corresponding couplings 14. In other embodiments, each support 13 supports one guide 12 instead of two guides 12. In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the safety structure 7, particularly the support 9 of the safety structure 7, can be a flexible or folding structure, and said safety structure 7 can even be telescopic, which would allow assembling and disassembling the safety structure without the guides 12 having to be able to pivot. In a second embodiment shown in Figures 1 1 and 12, each guide 12' is arranged such that it is fixed respectively to the bottom of the respective longitudinal beam 3, and includes at least one rolling element 40 which is arranged such that it is housed inside the respective guided element 1 1 ', particularly inside a profile of the guided element 1 1 the profile of the guided element 1 1 ' sliding with respect to the rolling element 40 of the guide 12' when the operator pushes the support structure 7. The profile of the guided element 1 1 ' includes a groove 44 through which the corresponding rolling elements 40 are arranged such that they are housed therein. The rolling elements 40 are arranged such that they are fixed to supports 13' fixed to the respective longitudinal beams 3, particularly they are arranged such that they are fixed to respective bases 15' of the supports 13'.

In the third embodiment, shown in Figures 13 to 17, the guided element 1 1 " includes a profile which is arranged such that it is partially housed in a profile of the guide 12". The profile of the guided element 1 1 " has a L-shaped cross-section as shown in Figures 15 and 16 and it is attached in each side of the support structure 7, extending longitudinally along the support structure 7. The displacement means 10 comprise a plurality of guides 12" each coupled to the bottom 3b of each longitudinal beam 3, the guides 12" being discrete elements arranged along the corresponding longitudinal beam 3. Each guide 12" comprises a first cavity 50 in which the longitudinal beam 3 is partially housed, the geometry of the longitudinal beam 3 being complementary to the first cavity 50 so that the guide 12" is kept coupled to the longitudinal beam 3 and a second cavity 51 in which the corresponding guided element 1 1 " is partially housed, said guided element 1 1 " resting on the corresponding guide 12". Furthermore, each guide 12" comprises a third cavity 52 symmetrically to the second cavity 51 wherein the guided element 1 1 " of another support structure 7 can be housed.

The second cavity 51 and the third cavity 52 are open cavities. The second cavity 51 is delimitated by a first surface 53 substantially horizontal, limiting the upwards vertical displacement of the safety structure 7 once the guided element 1 1 " is housed in said cavity 51 , and by a second surface 54 substantially vertical, limiting the horizontal displacement of the safety structure 7. Analogously, the third cavity 52 is delimitated by the corresponding first surface 53 and second surface 54.

In turn, the horizontal formwork system 1 comprises blocking means 20; 20' for blocking the displacement means 10; 10' for moving the safety structure 7 in the longitudinal direction, said blocking means 20; 20'. Said blocking means 20; 20' furthermore allow the movement of the safety structure 7 in the direction opposite the forward movement direction X. In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, the blocking means 20 act by blocking the movement of the safety structure 7 when they are no longer in contact with the respective guides 12. The blocking means 20 are arranged such that they are pivotably coupled to the guided elements 1 1 . The blocking means 20 comprise a first part 21 and a second part 22, both parts 21 and 22 being coupled to the safety structure 7 and pivotably coupled to one another. When the blocking means 20 are not acting (non-blocking position shown in Figures 6 and 7), both the first part 21 and the second part 22 are supported on the corresponding guide 12. In contrast, when the safety structure 7 passes through the transition zone 42 of the horizontal formwork system 1 , the first part 21 and the second part 22 pivot to a blocking position shown in Figure 8 in which the second part 22 abuts against the guide 12 arranged after the gap 43 in the forward movement direction X.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, in this embodiment the first part 21 and the second part 22 pivot in opposite directions. The first part 21 goes through a plate 23 comprised in the second part 22, said plate 23 being arranged such that it is supported on the corresponding guide 12 in the non-blocking position shown in Figures 6 and 7. The second part 22 further comprises at the end opposite the plate 23 a stop 24 which, when actuated by the operator, pivots the second part 22, forcing the first part 21 to pivot until both the first part 21 and the second part 22 release the following guide 12 arranged in the forward movement direction X and the safety structure 7 can once again move along the next guide 12, the first part 21 and the second part 22 sliding along the corresponding guide 12. In the third embodiment, the blocking means 20', shown in figure 17, act also by blocking the movement of the safety structure 7 in the longitudinal direction. The blocking means 20' include at least a support 45 attached to the safety structure 6, in particular to the support 9 of the safety structure 7, and a stop 47 included in at least one guide 12". The support 45 includes a projection 46 extending in a transversal direction, the projection 46 abutting against the stop 47 in the blocking position. The stop 47 has a wedge shape with a limiting surface 47b substantially vertical against which the projection 46 abuts and an inclined surface 47a continuous to the limiting surface 47b along which the projection 46 slides to the non-blocked position once the operator rises the safety structure 7 till the projection 46 does not abut against the limiting surface 47b.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a safety method for installing formwork panels in the horizontal formwork system 1 comprising the following steps:

• assembling at least one guide 12; 12'; 12" to the corresponding longitudinal beam 3 in the longitudinal direction,

• coupling a safety structure 7 comprising at least one guided element 1 1 ; 1 1 ';

1 1 ' fixed in the longitudinal direction at each end of said safety structure 7 to the corresponding longitudinal beams 3 through the corresponding guides 12; 12'; 12", the safety structure 7 being arranged parallel to the formwork panels 2 in a plane that is below said formwork panels 2, and

• sliding the safety structure 7 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal beams 3 covering a gap 31 immediately after the last assembled formwork panel 2.

At least part of the safety structure 7 is arranged under the last assembled formwork panel 2 when it covers the gap 31 immediately after the last assembled formwork panel 2, i.e., part of the safety structure 7 overlaps with at least the last installed formwork panel.

The operator moves the safety structure 7 in the longitudinal direction along the rows comprising at least two beams 3 aligned longitudinally and coupled by the corresponding head 30 without disassembling the safety structure 7 from the corresponding beams 3. The operator moves the safety structure 7 in the longitudinal direction to the blocking position, in which blocking means 20; 20' block the longitudinal displacement of said safety structure 7. In the first embodiment, when the safety structure 7 is the block position, the blocking means are arranged such that they are coupled to at least one corresponding guided element 1 1 of the safety structure 7 reach the transition zone 42 of the horizontal formwork system, the blocking means 20 being partially housed in the gap 43 and abutting against the guide 12, blocking the movement of the safety structure 7. In the third embodiment, when the projection 46 of the safety structure 7 abuts against the stop 47 of the corresponding guide 12", the safety structure 7 stops, its longitudinal displacement being blocked. In such a case, in order to unblock it, the operator must elevate the safety structure 7 till the projection 46 overcomes the stop 47 of the guide 12".

In addition, in the first embodiment of the invention, in order to assemble the safety structure 7 on the respective longitudinal beams 3, the safety structure 7 pushes the guides 12 upwards, making them pivot upwards with respect to the corresponding longitudinal beams 3, as shown in Figure 5, until being positioned in the assembly/disassembly position, the guides 12 returning to the working position once the safety structure 7 vertically surpasses the guides 12 and the guided elements 1 1 are in contact with the respective guides 12, particularly at least partially housed in said guides 12.

In the event that it is necessary to disassemble the safety structure 7, for example to release a column, the operator must move the safety structure 7 upwards from one of its ends by releasing the guided element 1 1 arranged at said end of the safety structure 7 from the corresponding guide 12, until it vertically surpasses said corresponding guide 12. In parallel, the guided element 1 1 arranged at the other end of the safety structure 7 remains housed in the corresponding guide 12. Then the operator must push the guide 12 upwards to the assembly/disassembly position in which the operator may lower the safety structure 7, pivoting it with respect to the guided element 1 1 which remains housed in the guide 12.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the safety structure 7 is coupled longitudinally to the corresponding longitudinal beams 3, housing the respective guides 12 inside the respective guided elements 1 1 ' fixed to the safety structure 7.

Finally, in the third embodiment of the invention, to enable assembling and disassembling the safety structure 7 in the horizontal formwork system 1 shown in Figures 13 to 17, the safety structure 7 should be rotated in order to introduce or take out the guided element 1 1 " of the safety structure 7 from the cavity 51 and 52 of the corresponding guide 12", avoiding the first surface 53 and second surface 54 of the cavity 51 and 52. The safety structure 7 can also be assembled and disassembled by displacing it along the guides 12" until the guide elements 1 1 " are liberated from the corresponding guides 12".