Formwork Panel Corner Rounding for Removal Ease

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current formwork systems for vertical castings face difficulties in easy removal and manual handling due to their quadrangular shape and sharp edges, which lead to pressure concentration and increased labor during disassembly, and the panels' considerable weight without grip elements.

Innovation Solution

A panel design with partially sharp edges and recesses at the corners, allowing for lever-based removal and grip profiles for easier handling, featuring a metallic frame with a wood plane and perforated crossmembers for accessory connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If panels are made with sharp edges and quadrangular shape, then structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but pressure concentration occurs during casting and removal becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidremoval ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing sharp edges with rounded edges at the corners of the panel. This geometric modification distributes the pressure more evenly during concrete casting and facilitates easier removal of the panel after casting, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and removal ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by modifying only the corner regions of the panel while maintaining the overall quadrangular shape and simple construction. The rounded edges are localized to the corners where pressure concentration occurs, preserving the simplicity of the rest of the panel structure while eliminating the harmful pressure concentration effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If panels are made with quadrangular shape and sharp edges, then structural simplicity is improved, but handling difficulty increases due to weight and lack of grip elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded edges provide natural grip surfaces that reduce sliding and increase friction, making the panels easier to handle manually. This curvature modification adds no structural complexity while significantly improving handling ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The panel design uses its own geometric features (rounded edges) to provide grip elements without requiring additional accessories or complex structures. The panel serves itself by incorporating handling features directly into its basic geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If panels are made with sharp edges, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but pressure concentration hinders removal during disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpressure concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded edges eliminate the sharp corners that cause pressure concentration during concrete casting. This geometric change distributes stresses more evenly across the panel corners, preventing the harmful pressure concentration effect while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of corner regions (where pressure concentration occurs) into a benefit by rounding them. The rounded corners actually reduce the harmful pressure concentration effect, turning a problematic feature into a beneficial one for both casting and removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3947855B1Panel for formwork for vertical castings
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 FARESIN FORMWORK SPA
  • EP3947855B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3947855B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3947855B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A panel (10) for formwork for vertical castings, comprising: - a frame (11) for supporting a plane (12), the frame (11) comprising two end posts (13a, 13b) and two end crossmembers (14a, 14b), the two end crossmembers (14a, 14b) extending between two end posts (13a, 13b), - the plane (12), associated with a first portion of the frame (11), to be directed toward the inside of the formwork, the frame (11) forming a quadrangular external perimetric border for the panel (10), the plane (12) having an external perimetric border that substantially coincides with the external perimetric border of the frame (11); the panel (10) has, at the comers (15) of the perimetric border, at least some of the edges (16) that are only partially sharp.