Formwork Stripping Device Using Intermediate Strut Leverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing frame formwork elements from concrete walls are cumbersome and risk damaging either the formwork or the concrete, especially when the concrete has not fully hardened, as they require complex maneuvers with tools like jacks or lifting irons, which are often unsuitable for walls without overhead sections.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses holes in the frame formwork elements' intermediate struts to allow a goose foot or lifting iron to be inserted, enabling the formwork to be pushed away from the wall by leveraging the device's placement on these struts, allowing for detachment at any accessible point and facilitating removal without damaging the concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a crowbar or lifting bar is inserted into holes at the corners of connected frame formwork elements for removal, then the formwork can be detached from the wall, but the removal process becomes very cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from corner-based removal (2D plane operation) to center-based removal (3D spatial optimization). By positioning the lever tool at the center of the formwork panel and utilizing the intermediate strut as a fulcrum, the removal operation gains dimensional advantage, allowing the operator to apply force more effectively and detach the formwork with fewer manual maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate strut serves as a mediator between the lever tool and the formwork panel. Instead of directly prying the heavy panel with a crowbar at the corner, the lever tool engages the intermediate strut which acts as a fulcrum, providing mechanical advantage and enabling easier detachment of the formwork from the wall.
2Ease of operation
If a wedge or similar device is driven between the concrete surface and the frame formwork element during removal, then the formwork can be detached, but the concrete surface becomes chipped and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate strut acts as an intermediary element that distributes the detachment force evenly across the formwork panel structure. By engaging the lever tool with the intermediate strut rather than applying direct point forces to the concrete surface, the system avoids localized stress concentrations that would cause chipping and damage to the freshly poured concrete.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate strut is pre-installed as part of the formwork system before concrete pouring. This preliminary placement ensures that the strut is already positioned to provide structural support and future detachment points, eliminating the need for post-pouring modifications that could damage the concrete surface.
3Ease of operation
If the device is placed on the upper frame element and a stamp is pressed against the wall for detachment, then the formwork can be removed, but the device becomes unusable when no wall section lies above the frame formwork element
Solution Approach 1:
The lever tool is designed with universal applicability to work from any position along the formwork panel - whether at the top, bottom, or intermediate positions. Unlike stamp-based devices that require overhead space, this lever tool can engage the intermediate strut and formwork panel at any vertical location, making it adaptable to walls of any height and various construction scenarios including ground-level formwork removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of pressing downward from above (as with stamp devices), the lever tool operates by inserting upward or laterally at the intermediate strut level and using the strut itself as a fulcrum to lever the panel away from the wall. This inverted approach eliminates the requirement for overhead clearance and adapts the removal mechanism to work from any accessible position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and safe removal of frame formwork elements from concrete walls without causing damage, allowing for easier handling and reducing the time and effort required for this process.
Implementation Method 1
so that a goat's foot or lifting iron can be inserted between the frame profile of the adjacent panel formwork element and the panel formwork element to be released can be pushed away from the wall using the leverage of the goat's foot or lifting iron
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The device (15) for stripping the formwork from frame formwork elements (1) comprises two rectangular elements (17, 19) rigidly connected to each other at right angles, with element (17) being longer than element (19). At least one, preferably two, bolts (21) are attached to the shorter element (19). The device (15), held by the at least one bolt (21), can be inserted into the holes on the intermediate struts (7) of the frame formwork element (1). Using a crowbar or a lever inserted between the vertical profile tube (3) of an adjacent frame formwork element (1), the latter can be pulled away from the wall.