U.S. patent number 3,618,889 [Application Number 04/863,228] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-09 for casing-device for the reinforced or prestressed concrete flange of a girder.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Procedes Nouveauz de Construction Preflex Societe Anonyme. Invention is credited to Abraham Lipski.
United States Patent |
3,618,889 |
Lipski |
November 9, 1971 |
CASING-DEVICE FOR THE REINFORCED OR PRESTRESSED CONCRETE FLANGE OF
A GIRDER
Abstract
A casing-device with numerous applications and varying sizes for
the lower reinforced or prestressed concrete flange of a girder.
Said flange has a substantially rectangular or square section and
is cast independently of the girder's web. Said device comprises
side-elements with side-sections and a casing soffit with
articulated soffit-sections allowing the realization of said flange
with a vertical upward or downward deflection. Said side-sections
are rigid and weighty in order to facilitate their clamping against
the soffit-sections and the tightness between these two parts.
Inventors: |
Lipski; Abraham (Uccle,
BE) |
Assignee: |
Procedes Nouveauz de Construction
Preflex Societe Anonyme (Saint-Gilles, BE)
|
Family
ID: |
3841120 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/863,228 |
Filed: |
October 2, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
249/50; 249/118;
249/155; 249/161; 425/453 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C
3/294 (20130101); B28B 7/02 (20130101); B28B
23/18 (20130101); B28B 7/266 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B28B
7/02 (20060101); B28B 23/18 (20060101); B28B
7/00 (20060101); B28B 23/02 (20060101); B28B
7/26 (20060101); E04C 3/294 (20060101); E04C
3/29 (20060101); B28b 007/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;25/2,118RR,118R,131.5A,131.5G,131.6,121R,41D
;249/50,117,118,161,168,13,18,139,155-159 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Baldwin; Robert D.
Assistant Examiner: Tobor; Ben D.
Claims
I claim:
1. A casing-device for manufacturing the lower reinforced or
prestressed concrete flange of a girder, said flange having a
substantially rectangular or square section and being cast
independently of the girder's web, said casing device
comprising:
successive soffit-sections (1) articulated to one another, each
having an upper metal plate (4),
means for supporting one soffit-section (1) out of two, comprising
jacks (9) for giving said soffit-section (1) a predetermined
inclination or for arranging it horizontally, in order to allow the
production of said lower flange with a vertical upward-or
downward-deflection,
a frame (14) for carrying said jacks (9),
means for supporting said frame (14), comprising other jacks (10)
for moving vertically said frame (14),
means for actuating said last-mentioned jacks (10) in
synchronism,
successive side-sections (2 and 3) respectively carried without
clamping by the upper plates 4 of the soffit-sections (1) on both
sides thereof, each side-section (2 or 3) comprising a weighty
concrete prism (56) with a metallic inner side of regulable height
and bearing inwardly on the upper plate (4) of the corresponding
soffit-section (1), in order to ensure the tightness between said
side-section and said soffit-section,
means for moving the side-sections (2 and 3) transversely on the
soffit-sections (1), in order to regulate the distance between said
side-sections,
compressible soffit-joints (51) extending between the
soffit-sections (1), substantially between the alignment of the
side-sections (2 and 3), and
compressible side-joints (82) extending between the side-sections
(2 and 3), above said soffit-joints (51).
2. A casing-device for manufacturing the lower reinforced or
prestressed concrete flange of a girder, said flange having a
substantially rectangular or square section and being cast
independently of the girder's web, said casing-device
comprising:
successive soffit-sections (1) articulated to one another, each
having an upper metal plate (4),
means for supporting one soffit-section (1) out of two, comprising
jacks (9) for giving said soffit-section (1) a predetermined
inclination or for arranging it horizontally, in order to allow the
production of said lower flange with a vertical upward- or
downward-deflection,
a frame (14) for carrying said jacks (9),
means for supporting said frame (14), comprising other jacks (10)
for moving vertically said frame (14),
means for actuating said last-mentioned jacks (10) in
synchronism,
successive side-sections, (2 and 3) respectively carried without
clamping by the upper plates (4) of the soffit-sections (1) on both
sides thereof, each side-section (2 or 3) comprising:
a weighty concrete prism (56),
a longitudinal iron (58) fixed to a lower projecting edge (57) of
said prism (56) and corresponding substantially to the minimum
height of the flange to be manufactured,
a lower longitudinal tightness joint (63) preferably bevelled,
arranged under said iron (58) and bearing on the upper plate (4) of
the corresponding soffit-section (1),
at least one metallic intermediate block (75) bearing on said iron
(58) in alignment therewith,
an upper longitudinal bar (74) sliding vertically alongside the
concrete prism (56) and bearing on said iron (58) or said block
(75) and determining the height of the casing,
means for tightening together said iron (58), said intermediate
block (75) and said bar (74),
means for moving the side-sections (2 and 3) transversely on the
soffit-sections (1), in order to regulate the distance between said
side-sections,
compressible soffit-joints (51) extending between the
soffit-sections (1), substantially between the alignment of the
side-sections (2 and 3), and
compressible side joints (82) extending between the side-sections
(2 and 3), above said soffit-joints (51).
3. A casing-device according to claim 2 in which each side-section
(2 or 3) rests on the corresponding soffit-section (1) only with
its lower tightness joint (63) fixed to its inner edge (57) and
with its outer edge, in order to achieve a maximum unit clamping of
said inner edge on said soffit-section (1).
4. A casing-device according to claim 3 in which an additional
tightness clamping is achieved by means of press screws (89), only
at the ends of the side-sections (1), opposite the openings between
the soffit-sections (1), without any perforation of said
soffit-sections (1) nor intermediate clamping points on said
side-sections (2 and 3).
5. A casing-device according to claim 1 in which the compressible
soffit-joints (51) are interchangeable and inserted between said
soffit-sections (1) in a precompressed or pretensioned state.
6. A casing-device according to claim 1 in which the compressible
side-joints (82) are interchangeable and inserted between said
side-sections (2 and 3) in a precompressed or pretensioned
state.
7. A casing-device according to claim 1 in which the means for
moving the side-sections (2 and 3) transversely on the
soffit-sections (1) comprises transversal threaded rods (98),
located in the lower part of the openings between the
soffit-sections (1) and drawing the ends of the side-sections (2
and 3) by means of slippers (87 to 97).
8. A casing-device according to claim 7, in which the threaded rods
(98) are operated in synchronism on the whole length of the casing
and separately on each side of this casing by two synchronizing
mechanisms.
9. A casing-device according to claim 8, in which said two
synchronizing mechanisms are also synchronized.
10. A casing-device according to claim 1, in which the jacks (10)
used for the withdrawal or the replacement of the whole casing are
mounted on trucks (38) allowing the longitudinal shift of said
whole casing without any change in its vertical polygonal shape.
Description
This invention relates to a casing-device having numerous
applications and varying size for the reinforced or prestressed
concrete lower flange of a girder. Said flange has a rectangular or
square section and is cast independently of the girder's web.
Known casing-devices for the realization of such a flange comprise
side-moulds and a soffit with articulated sections, allowing to
realize a flange having a vertical down or upwards deflection. The
side-moulds are generally fixed to the soffit by means of
through-bolts. For that reason, the soffit-sections present rows of
bond holes for the side-sections, so as to make possible the
production of girder-flanges with varying width. Consequently, when
a flange having more than the minimum width is to be realized, the
bond holes situated between the side-sections have to be
plugged.
In order to avoid these bond holes, nippers with rather long lever
arms are used to produce an effective clamping of the side-moulds
against the soffit-sections. Such a lever arm makes the effective
clamping force of the side-sections against the soffit-sections
relatively small compared to the force required to clamp the
nippers on these soffit-sections.
Thus, the known casing-devices have several disadvantages resulting
from slow assembling, due to the aforesaid bond holes or to the
ineffective clamping of the side-moulds against the soffit-sections
when using said nippers.
This invention concerns a novel casing-device, which allows to
overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the known devices.
In a casing-device according to the invention, the side-sections
are rigid and weighty, in order to facilitate their clamping
against the soffit-sections and the tightness between these two
parts.
Each side-section comprises preferably at least one concrete
prism.
Each side-section advantageously lays on the corresponding
soffit-section with its inner and outer edges only. Thus, a maximum
unit-clamping of this inner edge of the side-section on the
soffit-section is achieved. In order to avoid the risk of outflow
of the cement grout between the soffit-section and the inner edge
of the side-section, the device comprises a lower longitudinal
tightness joint, which is preferably compressible and bevelled.
According to a particularity of the novel device, the inner side of
each prism is fitted with the aforesaid lower tightness joint and
further with an upper longitudinal and preferably bevelled bar,
sliding vertically, and with at least one longitudinal intermediate
block, these three elements being tightly applied the one to the
other. This particularity allows the realization of sides having
different heights, by replacing the intermediate block only.
According to another particularity of the novel device, an
additional tightness clamping is achieved by means of press-screws,
but only at the ends of the side-sections, at the openings between
the soffit-sections. These openings are necessary to allow the
translation of adjoining casing-parts. Such an additional clamping
needs neither holes in the soffit-sections, nor longarmed nippers,
nor intermediate clamping-points whatsoever.
In order to assure the casing soffit continuity, each opening
between the soffit-sections is obturated by a large,
interchangeable and compressible soffit-joint, which extends
substantially between the alignment of the side-sections. This
soffit-joint is inserted between the soffit-sections in a
precompressed or pretensioned state.
In order to assure the continuity of the side-profiles, each
opening between the side-sections is obturated by a compressible
wide side-joint presenting the same vertical inner section as the
side-sections. This side-joint is inserted between the
side-sections in a precompressed or pretensioned state.
According to another characteristic of the novel device,
translation of the side-sections is operated by transversal
threaded rods, located in the lower part of the openings between
the soffit-sections and drawing the corresponding ends of the
side-sections through slippers. These threaded rods are preferably
operated in synchronism on the whole length of the casing by two
separate synchronizing mechanisms, which are located on each side
of this casing, and which can be, in their turn, synchronized.
The novel device gives the possibility to form with the soffit- and
side-sections a vertical Cantilever system. In this case, one
soffit-section out of two is supported by a pair of vertically
movable jacks, assembled in two systems. The first of these systems
is used to adjust the vertical polygonal shape of the casing by an
individual action on each jack, the second system is intended for
the withdrawal or the replacement of the whole casing, without
changing its aforesaid polygonal shape, by a synchronized action on
all the jacks. The jacks situated opposite each other in the
first-mentioned system are preferably synchronically operated.
The casing supports, particularly the above-mentioned jack-pairs,
are advantageously mounted on trucks allowing a longitudinal
translation of the whole casing without change in its vertical
polygonal shape. This characteristic allows to increase the
utilization rate by discharging a cast flange before it can be
transported.
Other details and particular features of the present invention will
appear in the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawings which give, by way of example only, an
embodiment of the device according to the invention.
In these drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an embodiment of a
casing-device according to the invention, in a horizontal
position;
FIG. 2 is a similar diagrammatic elevation of a device for the
realization of a girder-flange with a downward deflection;
FIG. 3 is also a similar diagrammatic elevation of a device for the
realization of a girder-flange with an upward deflection;
FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are partial longitudinal elevations of the
casing-device;
FIG. 5 is a half-cross section of the device in lower position;
FIG. 6 is a half-cross section of the device in upper position;
FIG. 7 is a horizontal section of the threaded rod of a jack of the
device, along the line VII--VII of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal section of the device, along the
line VIII--VIII of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a cross section of a truck of the device, along the line
IX-IX of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal section of the device, along the
line X-X of FIG. 5;
FIG. 11 is a horizontal section of the device along the line XI--XI
of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a partial longitudinal section of the device, along the
connecting joint between two soffit-sections;
FIG. 13 is an elevation of a support for the soffit-sections;
FIG. 14 is another elevation of a soffit-section;
FIG. 15 is a vertical cross section of a soffit-section, along the
line XV--XV of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an elevation of a side-section;
FIG. 17 is a cross section of a side-section;
FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are horizontal sections of a side-section along
respectively the lines XVIII--XVIII, XIX--XIX and XX--XX of FIG.
17;
FIGS. 21A-21E show how to realize side-sections of different
heights;
FIG. 22 is a partial cross section of the device between two
soffit-sections and the corresponding side-sections;
FIG. 23 is a partial longitudinal section of the device along the
line XXIII--XXIII of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a partial horizontal section of the device along the
line XXIV--XXIV of FIG. 22.
In these figures, same reference numerals refer to similar
elements.
The shown device is used to realize a casing having numerous
applications and varying dimensions for the lower reinforced or
prestressed concrete flange of a girder. Such a device is used when
the lower flange, which has a substantially rectangular or square
section, is cast independently of the girder's web, i.e. not
simultaneously with it. The considered casing-device comprises
essentially a casing soffit and side elements.
The casing soffit comprises several successive articulated
longitudinal elements 1. The sides are formed of the same number of
side-sections 2 and 3 respectively aligned along each side of the
soffit-sections. Thus each soffit-section 1 supports two
side-sections 2 and 3 parallel to its longitudinal edges and
symmetrically to the vertical median plane of the device.
The soffit-sections 1 and the side-sections 2 and 3 form vertically
a Cantilever-system, which gives the possibility to realize the
lower flange of the girder with an up or downward deflection. Such
a Cantilever-system is shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3.
In the shown embodiment, each soffit-section 1 comprises a flat
metal plate 4 without any perforation. The corresponding
side-sections 2 and 3 lay upon the soffit-plate 4 with their inner
edges.
The soffit-plate 4 is attached to cross-pieces 5 constituted of
angle-irons. The crosspieces 5 are fixed on two stringers 6, formed
of I-shaped girders. These stringers 6 are fastened to plates 7,
laying on shock-absorber blocks 8, which are supported by the
supports of the device. The shock-absorber blocks 8 constitute
elastic supports for the whole of the soffit-sections 1 and the
side-sections 2 and 3.
Each support for a soffit-section 1 and the corresponding
side-sections 2 and 3 is essentially formed of two jacks 9 and 10
which can be mechanical jacks. These jacks 9 and 10 are of the
"vertical movement" type.
Each jack 9 comprises a vertical threaded rod 11 which can move up
or downwards along its longitudinal axis. A plate 12 is welded on
the upper end of the threaded rod 11 and bears the corresponding
shock-absorber block 8.
Each threaded rod 11 is screwed in a threaded pinion 13 which lays
on a horizontal frame 14 through an antifriction disc 15.
The threaded pinion 13 comprises a wheel 16 which enables it to be
rotated, in order to assure the vertical movement of the
corresponding threaded rod 11.
In the chosen example, each threaded pinion 13 presents a
toothed-wheel 17 forming a chain-wheel. Thus, the threaded pinions
13 placed symmetrically to the vertical median plane of the device
and facing one another can be synchronically operated by means of a
linking chain 18, mounted on their toothed-wheels 17.
In order to maintain each threaded rod 11 of every jack 9 in
position, after its height-adjustment, the lower end of each rod 11
is provided with a counternut 19 comprising a control-wheel 20. The
counternut 19 enables a firm clamping of an elastic blocking-disc
21 against the aforesaid frame 14.
This frame 14 is essentially constituted of stringers and
crosspieces. The stringers are formed of two U-shaped irons 22,
connected to one another by an upper plate 23 and a lower plate 24,
both welded to their flanges. The crosspieces are constituted each
of two other U-shaped irons 25.
Each threaded rod 11 of every jack 9 goes through circular holes
presented respectively by the antifriction disc 15, the plates 23
and 24 and the flexible disc 21. The threaded rod 11 extends
between the U-shaped irons 22 of the corresponding stringers as
well as between the U-shaped irons 25 of the corresponding
crosspiece.
The jacks 9 are operated two by two by hand. They are used to
adjust the vertical polygonal shape of the casing constituted by
the soffit-sections 1 and the side-sections 2 and 3. In other
embodiments, said jacks 9 can be electromechanically operated,
individually or all together.
Each jack 10 comprises a vertical threaded rod 26, which can rotate
around its longitudinal axis without sliding along it.
Each threaded rod 26 is screwed in a threaded block 27 welded
between the corresponding U-shaped irons 25 of the aforesaid frame
14.
Each threaded rod 26 is operated by a spiral gear 28, which is
fixed to a nave 29, welded on the threaded rod 26 and engaged with
an endless screw 30, which assures its rotation.
The nave 29 of each threaded rod 26 lays on another horizontal
frame 31 through an antifriction disc 32. The lower end of each
threaded rod 26 bears a disc 33 maintained by a pin 34.
Each frame 31 comprises stringers and crosspieces. The stringers
are constituted of two U-shaped irons 35 connected to a lower plate
36. Each crosspiece comprises two U-shaped irons 37 forming a
box.
Each frame 31 is mounted on a truck 38 movable along the vertical
median plane of the device. The truck 38 comprises a frame formed
of two stringers, each constituted of two U-shaped irons 39, braced
by an upper plate 40 and a lower plate 41. In the chosen example,
the frame 31 lays with its upper plates 36 on the upper plates 40
of the two said stringers and is fastened to them. The stringers of
the truck 38 bear at their ends, axle-plates 42 mounted on two
pairs of wheels 43 rolling on rails 44 parallel to the aforesaid
vertical median plane.
Thus, the trucks 38 give the possibility of a longitudinal
translation of the whole casing without any change in its vertical
polygonal shape.
Each threaded rod 26 passes through the holes existing in the
antifriction disc 32 and the plates 36, 40 and 41. It extends
further between the U-shaped irons 35 of the corresponding stringer
and between the irons 37 of the corresponding crosspiece of the
frame 31, as well as between the irons 39 of the corresponding
stringer of the truck 38.
The jacks 10 are synchronically operated by an electromechanical
device. They serve to withdraw or to replace the whole casing
without any change in its vertical polygonal shape. Thus, the
endless screws 30, which are located on one side of the casing
constitute a single shaft. The two shafts formed by the endless
screws 30 and located respectively on each side of the casing are
connected mechanically by driving-chains 45, each of which being
mounted on two chain-wheels 46 and 47 fixed on the aforesaid
shafts. The driving-chains 45 and the chain-wheels 46 and 47
corresponding to a soffit-section 1 are advantageously equidistant
to the jack-pairs 10 of this soffit-section, as shown on FIG. 13.
One of said shafts is further coupled with an electrical motor (not
shown) which assures the simultaneous action of the jacks 10.
Two successive soffit-sections 1 are articulated the one with
respect to the other, therefore the stringers 6 corresponding to
these soffit-sections 1 bear, two by two, brackets 48 and 49 placed
side by side and presenting coaxial openings, through which pivots
50 are passing, lined up along aforesaid transverse axis.
In order to assure the soffit continuity, each opening between two
successive soffit-sections 1 is plugged by a wide, interchangeable
soffit-joint 51, which consists of a compressible material and
extends between the alignments of the corresponding side-sections 2
and 3. This soffit-joint 51 is inserted between the soffit-sections
1 in a precompressed state.
Each soffit-joint 51 in fact forms an inverted embossed element
having longitudinal and transversal lower clamps. The soffit-joint
51 is compressed or released therefore using through bolts 52
passing through the longitudinal clamp openings.
When a soffit-joint 51 is introduced between adjoining
soffit-sections 1, it is substantially compressed to a maximum by
the corresponding bolts 52 and is inserted in this state between
the soffit-plates 4 of these soffit-sections. The insertion of the
compressed soffit-joint 51 is carried on until its edges press
against the plates 53, welded on the respective soffit-plates 4 and
the clamps of said soffit-joint 51 go into touch with the
hook-shaped stops 54 also fixed on the corresponding plates 53.
When the compressed soffit-joint 51 has reached its lowest
position, where its upper face is in the prolongation of those of
the soffit-plates 4, the joint is released and is so inserted
between the soffit-sections 1, being flexibly applied in particular
against these soffit-plates 4 and maintained in this position
during a change in the relative positions of said soffit-plates 4
or of the soffit-sections 1. It should be noted, that the
soffit-joint 51 presents holes 55 extending all over its length and
making its compression easier.
According to the inventive idea, each side-section 2 or 3 is rigid
and weighty. In the considered example, each side-section 2 or 3
comprises a reinforced concrete prism 56. The prism 56 has
substantially a parallelepipedic shape, but presents further a
lower inside projecting edge 57. The projecting edge 57 is
reinforced by an U-shaped iron 58, with a height corresponding to
the minimum height of the casing to be realized.
Each concrete prism 56 bears a half-opened shaped piece 59, fixed
on its outer lower edge and realizing a longitudinal slot, opened
downwards. Wooden blocks 60 can be fixed on the shaped piece 59 by
screws 61 screwed in nuts 62 located in the aforesaid slot and
sliding in it to adjust their position.
Each concrete prism 56 is equipped under its projecting edge 57 and
its U-shaped iron 58 with a longitudinal lower tightness-joint 63,
which consists of a compressible material, such as rubber or
similar synthetic matter. This tightness-joint 63 has preferably
bevelled edges and turns its largest face downwards.
Each concrete prism 56 achieved in this manner lays only with its
lower tightness-joint 63 and its outer blocks 60 on the
corresponding soffit-sections 1. More generally, the prism 56 is
supported by the corresponding soffit-section 1 only with its inner
and outer lower edges, in order to realize a maximum unit-clamping
of the side-section 2 or 3 on this soffit-section 1.
Above its projecting edge 57, each concrete prism 56 presents, on
the one hand, horizontal and transverse cylindric openings 64
extending between its outer and inner faces, and, on the other
hand, vertical slots 65 located at its lower face and communicating
with said openings 64.
In the vertical slots 65 of each concrete prism 56 are located
half-opened vertical shaped pieces 66, between which blocking
masses 67 of mortar are placed. Each shaped piece 66 forms actually
a slide, opened downwards. On each shaped piece 66 boltheads 68 are
welded, extending horizontally through the cylindrical openings 64
to the outer side and bearing nuts 69 screwed on the prism with
interposed discs 70.
The slide formed by each shaped piece 66 is used for the vertical
sliding of a metal sliding-block 71, having a horizontal cross
section which corresponds to the transversal inner section of the
shaped piece 66.
Each sliding-block 71 bears an angle-iron 72 fixed by means of a
screw 73 passing through the slit of the corresponding shaped piece
66. The angle-iron 72 is equipped with an upper longitudinal bar
74, which delimits upwardly the inner height of the casing to be
realized and is made, for example, of hard rubber or of a similar
synthetic matter. The upper bar 74 is further bevelled and turns
its largest face downwards.
Sliding of each sliding-block 71 allows to adjust the
height-position of the upper continuous bar 74, according to the
inner casing height to be realized. This upper bar is maintained in
position after its adjustment to the wanted height, by means of one
or more intermediate blocks 75, placed between this bar and the
U-shaped iron 58 of the projecting edge 57 of the concrete prism
56. This or these intermediate blocks 75, for example wooden
blocks, are further provided with inner tubes 76, allowing it or
them to be held around a spline 77 of the upper flange of the
U-shaped iron 58 and in an appropriate cavity in the upper bar 74.
It should be noted that the upper bar 74 and the intermediate block
or blocks 75 corresponding to the different shaped pieces 66 are
clamped against the U-shaped iron 58 by a press-screw 78 screwed in
a threaded block 79 and resting on the sliding-block 71 through one
or several shaped pieces 80 fitted in the slide of this shaped
piece 66 and corresponding to the intermediate block or blocks 75.
The threaded block 79 is removably mounted on the upper end of the
corresponding shaped piece 66, for example by a pin 81.
FIG. 21 shows various embodiments of the casing realized with the
same concrete prism 56, but using one or more intermediate blocks
75 and one or more corresponding shaped pieces 80.
Each side-section achieved in this manner and disposed on the
corresponding soffit-section 1 lays on the latter only by the
action of its own weight. No mechanical clamping of each
side-section against the soffit-section is required. An additional
tightness-clamping is nevertheless achieved, only at the ends of
successive side-sections, opposite the openings between the
corresponding soffit-sections, but without any perforation of the
soffit-plates 4 and without any intermediate clamping-points on
these side-sections.
Each opening between the successive side-sections is closed by a
wide side-part 82 of compressible material such as rubber or
similar synthetic matter. The side-part 82 has the same vertical
inner section as the adjoining side-sections and is inserted
between these in a precompressed or, in some cases, a pretensioned
state.
As shown on the last figure, each side-part 82 may present a shape
similar to that of the aforementioned soffit-sections. The clamps
of these side-parts 82 have also similar holes passed through by
the corresponding bolts 83. The clamps may be brought together by
the latters at the maximum compressibility of the side-part 82. The
side-part 82 is inserted in this highly compressed state between
the two corresponding side-sections, until its edges are applied
against the vertical angle-irons 84, fixed to those side-sections
and its clamps are in touch with the hook-shaped stops 85 fixed to
these angle-irons 84. When the insertion of the side-part 82 has
reached its limiting position described hereinbefore, the bolts 83
tying its clamps together are released. Thus the side-part 82 is
flexibly applied against the corresponding side-sections and
maintained in this position during the change in their relative
positions. The inner vertical section of the side-part 82 and the
adjoining side-sections are then aligned.
The side-sections 2 and 3 simply laying on the soffit-sections 1
are adjustable with regards to the vertical, the longitudinal and
the median plane of the device. This adjustment is easily achieved
by the simultaneous sliding of the side-sections on the
soffit-sections under the action of operating means placed between
the latter.
The adjoining side-sections located at the same side of the median
plane of the device are equipped with at least one driving element.
In the considered embodiment, this driving element is constituted
of an U-shaped iron 86 fixed to the concrete prism 56. The U-shaped
irons 86 of two successive side-sections are projecting one to the
other between these irons and in the same plane.
The U-shaped driving-irons 86 of successive side-sections are
connected mechanically to a slipper 87 formed of an I-shaped girder
sliding on the edges of the soffit-plates 4 of the corresponding
soffit-sections 1. For this purpose, the upper flange of the
slipper 87 presents on each side of its web two identical openings
and bears, opposite to these, two welded screwnuts 88. Screws 89
are screwed in the nuts 88 and pass through the above mentioned
openings in such a manner, that their lower ends enter through
discs 90, for example rubber-discs, into the corresponding openings
of the respective U-shaped iron-webs 86.
In order to be guided along the edges of the floor-plates 4 of the
two corresponding soffit-sections 1, each slipper 87 comprises a
guide 91 fixed on its lower flange. In the chosen example, the
guide 91 consists of an upper plate 92, a lower plate 93 and a
connection-block 94. The plates 92 and 93 are disposed on each side
of the edges of the soffit-plates 4 and are rubbing against the
latters through layers 95 of an antifriction material.
The guide 91 of each slipper 87 bears a clamp 96 extending
downwards and provided along its lower edge with a sleeve-nut 97,
to which a transverse threaded rod 98 is screwed. Rotation of the
threaded rod 98 causes a sliding of the whole slipper 87 and an
identical shifting of the corresponding side-sections.
Each threaded rod 98 controlling the transversal shifting of the
corresponding side-sections extends at the lower part of the
opening between the corresponding soffit-sections. This rod 98 is
set in a bearing 99 fixed to the corresponding angle-irons 5 of the
supports of these soffit-sections. Said threaded rod 98 bears a
welded nave 100, on which a spiral gear 101 is locked, engaged with
an endless screw 102.
The endless screws 102 of all the threaded rods 98, corresponding
to the side-sections situated on each side of the casing, are all
placed on the same driving-shaft, so as to be driven in
synchronism. The two driving-shafts of the two series of endless
driving-screws 102 are further driven under the control of an
appropriate synchronization-mechanism, resulting in a synchronical
drive.
Thus, the distance-adjustment of the side-sections is easily and
simultaneously achieved on each side of the vertical median plane
of the device.
The present invention is obviously not limited to the shown
embodiment. Many modifications can be made in the form, the
arrangement and the structure of some of the elements, which take
place in the realization thereof, according to the invention,
provided that these modifications are not in contradiction with the
content of any of the following claims.
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