DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a spacer element for a disposable formwork and a disposable formwork incorporating such spacer element, wherein said formwork is intended in particular for the construction of walls, specifically both exterior enclosure walls and interior partition walls.

Various types of disposable formworks are known for the construction of walls.

A first example of a formwork for the construction of concrete walls is shown in international patent application no. WO 2014/091377, which actually refers to a disposable formwork comprising a plurality of opposing modular panels and a series of connecting means provided for coupling two panels arranged opposing one another at a certain distance from one another.

Such connecting means display a rectilinear overturned "U" shape, wherein the two respective end portions are engaged within slots formed on the inside part of the same panels.

Another modular formwork solution is described in international patent application no. WO 2014/042502.

This formwork is formed by a series of panels arranged opposing one another and held together by various rows of spacer elements having a substantially rectangular shape, in which two through holes are afforded, arranged one above the other. Formworks of the known type, however, have various drawbacks and technical limits mainly connected with their use on the site.

After the cement-based mortar has been cast in the formworks, there is normally a slow and inadequate setting of the cement-based mortar itself.

A further example of a disposable formwork is shown in Italian patent application no. AN2015A000011 by the same Applicant, which, in fact, discloses a formwork substantially comprising two perforated panels, arranged opposing one another and joined through a series of spacer members.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems of the prior art highlighted above and to further perfect the technical solution proposed by the same Applicant in Italian patent application no. AN2015A000011.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer element for a disposable formwork for the construction of walls, that contributes to obtaining a wall with high mechanical resistance characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer element for a disposable formwork for the construction of walls, that allows the time required for obtaining the finished wall to be reduced.

Therefore, the specific subject matter of the present invention is a spacer element for a disposable formwork for the construction of a wall, said formwork being of the type comprising a first panel and a second panel, said spacer element being configured for mutually coupling said first panel and said second panel arranged at a certain distance one from the other, said spacer element comprising: a first connecting portion configured to be coupled, in use, to said first panel; a second connecting portion opposite said first connecting portion and configured to be coupled, in use, to said second panel; and at least one pipe provided with at least one lateral opening cornmunicating, in use, with the outside of said formwork; in said at least one pipe there being afforded at least one through hole commumcating, in use, with an inner part of said formwork in such a way as to allow the flow of air from the outside of the formwork toward said inside part and the outflow of liquids from said inside part toward the outside of the formwork.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said first connecting portion may comprise a first connecting means and said second connecting portion may comprise a second connecting means.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said first connecting means and said second connecting means may be formed in a single piece with said at least one pipe.

Preferably according to the invention, said at least one through hole in said at least one pipe may comprise at least one row of through holes arranged longitudinally to said at least one pipe.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said at least one through hole may have a diameter less than or equal to 3 mm.

Preferably according to the invention, said at least one lateral opening may comprise at least a first lateral opening arranged at said first connecting portion, and at least a second lateral opening arranged at said second connecting portion.

Again according to the invention, said at least one pipe may have a first internal slope toward said at least one first lateral opening and a second internal slope toward said at least one second lateral opening.

Preferably according to the invention, said at least one pipe may comprise three pipes mutually spaced apart and substantially parallel. Advantageously, according to the invention, said spacer element may comprise a lower engagement portion configured to be coupled, in use, to a lower alignment element.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said spacer element may comprise an upper engagement portion configured to be coupled, in use, to an upper alignment element.

Advantageously, according to the invention, in an intermediate zone of said at least one pipe, an interruption element may be provided to prevent the heat bridge phenomenon.

The subject matter of the present invention is also a disposable formwork for the construction of a wall, said formwork comprising two panels and at least one spacer element of the type indicated above, arranged between said two panels so as to couple said two panels.

Advantageously, according to the invention, in at least one panel of said two panels at least one opening may be afforded, communicating with said at least one lateral opening of said at least one pipe.

Characteristics and advantages will become more apparent in the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment shown by way of a non- hmiting example in the appended drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a disposable formwork incorporating a plurality of spacer elements, according to the present invention;

figure 2 is an axonometric view of a spacer element according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

figure 3 is a lateral view of the spacer element according to figure 2; figure 4 is a plan view from above of the spacer element according to figures 2 and 3;

figure 5 is a perspective view of a spacer element in a second embodiment of the present invention;

figure 6 is a lateral view of the spacer element shown in figure 5; figure 7 is a plan view from above of the spacer element according to figures 5 and 6;

figure 8 is a detailed view of a first side of a panel of the disposable formwork shown in figure 1; and

figure 9 is a detailed view of a second side of a panel of the disposable formwork illustrated in figure 1.

With reference to the enclosed figures, 1 indicates a modular disposable formwork for the construction of walls of buildings, specifically both exterior enclosure walls and interior partition walls.

The formwork 1 comprises a first panel 2 and a second panel 3 of a substantially square or rectangular shape, and a plurality of spacer elements 4 arranged between said first panel 2 and second panel 3.

The spacer elements 4, like the first panel 2 and the second panel 3, are preferably made of plastic materials.

The first panel 2 and the second panel 3 each have a first side 5a and a second side 5b opposite to said first side 5a.

In the assembled configuration of the formwork 1 shown in figure 1, the first panel 2 and the second panel 3 are opposing one another, i.e. with the respective first sides 5a mutually facing one another. On the first side 5a of each of said panels 2, 3 a plurality of guides 6 is provided, arranged on various vertically aligned rows, which perform the function of enabling the connection with the aforementioned plurality of spacer elements 4.

Each guide 6 is formed by two L-shaped tabs 6a, 6b, arranged opposing one another so as to form an empty space 7 between them, open at the top through a first horizontal slit 8, at the bottom through a second horizontal slit 9, on the first side 5a through a third vertical slit 10 and on the second side 5b with a fourth opening 11.

Each of said first panel 2 and second panel 3 further has a series of openings 6' for allowing the ventilation of the inside part of the formwork 1 and the outflow of liquids from the latter after the concrete has been cast in the formwork 1 itself, as better specified below.

On the first panel 2 and on the second panel 3, ventilation openings 12 are also afforded, for allowing the ventilation of the cement-based mortar after it has been cast in the formwork 1.

On the perimetral edges of each of said first panel 2 and second panel 3, there are portions conformed like connecting elements to allow connection with other panels of the type described above, both in the vertical and horizontal direction.

Now, with reference to figure 1, the spacer elements 4 are of the same number as the vertical rows of guides 6 provided on each panel.

In the specific case shown in the enclosed figures, there are three spacer elements 4.

As mentioned above, the spacer elements 4 are interposed between the first panel 2 and the second panel 3.

Each spacer element 4 is formed by a frame 13 comprising three mutually parallel cross members, i.e. an upper cross member 14, a lower cross member 15 and a central cross member 16 arranged in a substantially equidistant position with respect to the upper cross member 14 and the lower cross member 15.

The upper cross member 14, the lower cross member 15 and the central cross member 16 are each formed by a pipe defining respectively a first lateral opening 14', 15', 16' and a second lateral opening 14", 15", 16", for the ventilation of the inner part of the formwork 1 and the outflow of liquids, and in which four respective longitudinal rows of through holes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d are afforded.

In particular, the first lateral openings 14', 15', 16' provided on one side of the spacer element 4, like the second lateral openings 14", 15", 16" provided on the other side, are arranged so that, in the assembled configuration of the formwork 1, they are each facing towards the openings 6'.

Each hole of the aforementioned longitudinal rows of through holes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d preferably has a diameter less than or equal to 3 mm.

The inside part of the upper cross member 14, the lower cross member 15 and the central cross member 16 are not perfectly straight; they each have two opposing slopes that originate from the respective central zone, lowering towards the relative ends, to facilitate the outflow of liquids towards the outside, as better specified below.

The frame 13 further comprises a set of three upper uprights comprising a first lateral upper upright 17a, a second lateral upper upright 17b and a central upper upright 17c, which extend perpendicularly from the central cross member 16 to the upper cross member 14.

The frame 13 also comprises a set of three lower uprights formed by a first lateral lower upright 18a, a second lateral lower upright 18b and a central lower upright 18c, which extend perpendicularly from the central cross member 16 to the lower cross member 15.

In particular, the first lateral upper upright 17a, the second lateral upper upright 17b and the central upper upright 17c are respectively aligned with the first lateral lower upright 18a, the second lateral lower upright 18b and the central lower upright 18c, so as to form, together with the upper cross member 14, the lower cross member 15 and the central cross member 16, four empty spaces 19, 20, 21, 22 of a substantially identical shape.

On a first lateral edge of the spacer element 4, at the first lateral upper upright 17a and at the first lateral lower upright 18a, a first flat element 23 is provided, arranged in the most external position with respect to the first lateral openings 14', 15', 16' of the pipes of the cross members 14, 15, 16, so that respective slits are formed between the cross members 14, 15, 16 and the first flat element 23.

Furthermore, in the first flat element 23 three first openings 24a, 24b, 24c are afforded, respectively arranged substantially opposite the first lateral openings 14', 15', 16' of the pipes of the cross members 14, 15, 16.

Likewise, on a second lateral edge of the spacer element 4, opposite the aforementioned first lateral edge, there is a second flat element 25 arranged parallel to the first flat element 23 and in a more external position with respect to the second lateral openings 14", 15", 16" of the pipes of the cross members 14, 15, 16, so that, also in this case, respective slits are formed between the cross members 14, 15, 16 and the second flat element 25.

In the second flat element 25 three second openings 26a, 26b, 26c are also provided, respectively positioned substantially opposite the second lateral openings 14", 15", 16" of the pipes of the cross members 14, 15, 16.

In the lower part of the lower cross member 15 a lower engagement portion 27 is provided, from whose lower edge two lower openings 28', 28" extend, of a substantially rectangular shape.

Likewise, in the upper part of the upper cross member 14 an upper engagement portion 29 is provided, from whose upper edge two upper openings 30', 30" extend, of a substantially rectangular shape.

The lower openings 28', 28" and the upper openings 30', 30" are adapted to engage with respective complementary elements (not shown in the enclosed claims) arranged longitudinally with respect to the formwork 1, for the purpose of performing the alignment in the space of all the spacer elements 4.

In each of the empty spaces 19, 20, 21, 22 a curved appendage 31, 32, 33, 34 is provided, which extends, respectively, from said first lateral upper upright 17a, second lateral upper upright 17b, first lateral lower upright 18a and second lateral lower upright 18b, towards the central cross member 16.

Such curved appendages 31, 32, 33, 34 act as guides for the passage of pipes and/ or cables for installations of any kind, the latter being able to pass into the formwork 1 in the spaces defined by them, before the cement-based mortar is cast.

Each spacer element 4 is formed in a single piece.

For the assembly of the formwork 1, the spacer elements 4 must be coupled to the corresponding vertical rows of guides 6 provided on the first panel 2 and on the second panel 3, by inserting the first flat element 23 into the housings 7 identified by the guides 6 of one of said panels, and making the second flat element 25 pass into the housings 7 identified by the guides 6 of the other panel, so that said panels 2, 3 are arranged parallel to one another and opposing one another.

Once the entire structure of formworks 1 has been built for the construction of the wall, by coupling them appropriately in the horizontal and/ or vertical direction, the cement-based mortar can be cast in the formworks 1 which comprise such structure, and then the surface finishing works on the wall being built can be performed.

At this point, it is necessary to wait for the cement-based mortar used for the finished wall to set completely.

Now, with specific reference to figures 5, 6 and 7, number 4' indicates a further spacer element, still according to the present invention.

Such spacer element 4' has an identical structure to that of the above-described spacer element 4 except that the pipes of the three cross members have a respective interruption 35', 36', 37' in the relative central part so that each pipe is, in fact, configured as a pair of pipes 38', 39'; 40', 41'; 42', 43' separate from one another and closed in the respective face facing towards the inside of the spacer element 4', so as not to be communicating with one another.

The provision of such interruptions 35', 36', 37' allows the particularly unwanted phenomenon of heat bridges to be prevented, which would otherwise arise in the finished construction.

Whereas, in relation to the methods for assembling the formwork 1 in the event of using the spacer elements 4' they remain the same as those indicated above with reference to the spacer elements 4.

When using the formworks 1 described above for the construction of a wall, a double effect has surprisingly been found, i.e. a significant reduction in the setting times of the cement-based mortar and a net improvement in the mechanical and structural performance of the wall itself due to a more homogeneous and uniform setting process of the wall.

Such double effect arises due to the provision of the above-described cross members 14, 15, 16 in each spacer element 4, which on one hand allow the liquid products of the cement-based water to flow out of the formwork 1 from the openings 14', 14", 15', 15", 16', 16" passing through the through holes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, and on the other hand allow the air in the external environment to reach the inside part of the formwork 1 passing into the pipes comprising the cross members 14, 15, 16, in order to promote the drying and therefore the setting of the cement-based mortar.

The above is intended to provide an exemplificative and non-limitative description, therefore any construction variations are considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present technical solution as described above and claimed below.