Permanent Formwork Wall Rigid Connecting Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for connecting lost formwork walls are cumbersome, requiring complex management and installation of connecting means, often hindered by wall dimensions, thickness variations, and obstacles, and fail to provide adequate mechanical resistance to forces.

Innovation Solution

A lost formwork wall design featuring a rigid connecting means that moves between retracted and deployed positions, secured by a flexible element with a fixed and movable portion, allowing for mechanical connection between walls while accommodating obstacles and ensuring resistance to forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid connecting means are introduced inside the internal volume of two juxtaposed walls, then connection between walls is achieved, but management complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid connecting means is designed to be movable between a retracted position (stored inside the wall during transport) and a deployed position (extending outward to connect with the adjacent wall). This dynamic configuration allows the connection system to adapt between storage and operational states, reducing management complexity while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If connecting means are installed inside walls, then wall connection is enabled, but installation becomes difficult or impossible due to wall dimensions, thickness variations, and obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid connecting means is pre-assembled and pre-positioned on the wall during manufacturing, in a retracted state. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex on-site installation operations, as the connection system is already in place and only requires deployment (moving from retracted to extended position) during wall assembly, significantly improving installation ease while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If rigid connecting means extend outside the wall, then connection with adjacent walls is improved, but access to the means becomes difficult due to obstacles in the path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidaccess ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid connecting means is designed to be movable between retracted and deployed positions. During installation or maintenance, it can be retracted inside the wall to provide clear access to the wall surface and eliminate obstacles in the path. When connection is needed, it is deployed outward to provide the necessary mechanical resistance. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between providing external connection capability and maintaining access ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If flexible elements are used to secure rigid connecting means, then movement between positions is enabled, but the system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adaptabilityVSAvoidmounting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system uses flexible elements (such as flexible straps or bands) to secure the rigid connecting means to the wall. These flexible elements allow the rigid means to move between retracted and deployed positions while maintaining secure attachment. The flexibility provides position adaptability without requiring complex mechanical joints, motors, or control systems, thus limiting the increase in device complexity to a simple, elegant solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP2873781B1Permanent form wall with rigid connecting means
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 FEHR GROUPE
  • EP2873781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2873781B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2873781B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a permanent formwork wall (1): - comprising: - two spaced skins (2; 3) and an internal volume (5); - a means (6) for connecting these skins (2; 3); - a rigid means (7) for connecting this wall (1) to another juxtaposed wall (1'), such rigid connecting means (7) being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position; - means (8) for mounting such rigid connecting means (7) in a movable manner relative to the skins (2; 3). This wall is characterized in that the mounting means (8) comprise, on the one hand, at least one flexible element (9) having a fixed portion (90) and a movable portion (91) and, on the other hand, at least one means (11) for permanently attaching such rigid connecting means (7) to the movable portion (91).