Bearing Head Bracing for Formwork Load Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling formwork systems face challenges in dissipating large horizontal loads without excessive structural effort, often resulting in tilting or tipping due to point loads and limited capacity to handle significant forces.

Innovation Solution

A bearing head with a transversely aligned guying crossmember that engages both side edges of the formwork panel, allowing for collective distribution and transfer of horizontal loads, reducing the need for multiple guying elements and facilitating faster assembly by supporting the panel at two points simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If multiple separate guying elements are used to brace each side of the formwork panel, then the horizontal loads can be distributed, but the device complexity and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehorizontal load transfer capacityVSAvoidnumber of bracing elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple bracing functions into a single integrated bearing head assembly. The bearing head includes a vertical support with bracing arms that can simultaneously brace multiple sides of the formwork panel, eliminating the need for separate guying elements at each corner and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining load distribution capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing head is designed as a multi-functional component that provides both vertical support and horizontal bracing functions. The vertical support element can accommodate bracing arms in different orientations and configurations, allowing a single component to perform multiple bracing functions that would otherwise require separate elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If individual bracing is provided at each support point, then local stability is improved, but the assembly time and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformwork panel stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing head integrates multiple bracing arms and support functions into a single pre-assembled unit that can be installed in one operation. The vertical support with attached bracing arms provides simultaneous stabilization at multiple points, reducing the number of separate assembly operations required compared to installing individual bracing elements at each corner

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If point loads are applied at single attachment points, then the connection is simple, but the formwork panel experiences high stress concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidstress concentration on panel
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing head divides the load application into multiple segments through its bracing arm configuration. Instead of concentrating all horizontal bracing forces at a single point, the bracing arms distribute the load across multiple attachment points on the formwork panel, reducing stress concentration while maintaining connection simplicity through the integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3599323B1Bearing head comprising a clamping device and corresponding ceiling formwork system
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 PERI GMBH
  • EP3599323B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3599323B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3599323B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a slab formwork system with a formwork panel (10) that can be supported on at least one vertical support (12) via a bearing head (14). The invention is characterized in that the bearing head (14) has a bracing beam which, in the assembled state, is oriented transversely to the vertical support, the length of which corresponds to at least one side length of the slab formwork panel to be supported, so that the ends of the bracing beam (16) can be fixed to the side edges of the slab formwork panel.