Pivoting Formwork Panels for Faster Battery Mould Reuse
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery moulds for precast concrete elements are inefficient in reuse due to the need for the entire mould to be occupied until concrete hardens, and there is a challenge in finding a stable drying position for the elements outside the mould and facilitating their removal and transfer into a lying state for assembly with boundary elements.
Innovation Solution
A formwork device with pivotably connected formwork elements and a spreading device that allows transition from a standing to a lying state, enabling stable drying outside the mould and facilitating the removal of precast concrete elements, using a spreading device to secure the formwork elements in a stable inverted V-shape for drying and allowing easy transfer to a lying position for assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire battery mould is occupied until concrete hardens, then the precast concrete elements can be hardened within the mould, but the battery mould cannot be reused quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork device is divided into two formwork panels that can be separated from the battery mould after concrete hardening. This segmentation allows the mould to be quickly reused while the panels remain occupied with the hardened elements for drying and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The formwork panels are extracted from the battery mould interior space after concrete hardening. The panels are removed through the opening device and transferred to the spreading device for drying operations outside the mould, enabling rapid reuse of the battery mould.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the formwork elements are kept in a standing state inside the mould, then they are stable during concrete casting, but they cannot be easily transferred to a lying state for assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork panels are connected through a hinge joint that allows dynamic transformation between standing and lying states. The opening device enables controlled movement from the stable standing position during casting to the operational lying position for assembly outside the mould.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device acts as an intermediary between the standing formwork panels and the final lying position for assembly. It provides a transition zone where panels can be gradually moved from vertical to horizontal orientation, facilitating easy transfer while maintaining stability during the transition.
3Ease of manufacture
If the formwork device is used inside the battery mould, then it facilitates concrete casting, but it cannot provide a stable drying position outside the mould
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork panels transition from a vertical dimension (standing state inside mould) to a horizontal dimension (lying state outside mould). This dimensional change enables the panels to provide stable drying positions outside the battery mould while maintaining their casting function inside the mould.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device serves as an intermediary that provides a stable drying position outside the battery mould. It receives the formwork panels from the mould and maintains them in a stable horizontal configuration for drying operations, bridging the gap between interior casting and exterior drying functions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the formwork panels are articulately connected to enable folding, then they can be transferred between states, but the connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork device is segmented into separate panels connected by simple hinge joints rather than complex articulated mechanisms. This segmentation with simple connections provides the necessary adaptability for state transfer while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge joint connection enables the formwork panels to self-transfer between standing and lying states through gravity and minimal external assistance. The simple articulation allows the panels to fold and unfold automatically during the casting and assembly processes without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a formwork device, in particular for arrangement between two bulkhead partitions of a battery mould, for manufacturing construction elements, in particular precast concrete elements, said formwork device comprising two formwork elements which each have a formwork front side for applying concrete and a formwork rear side, wherein the formwork elements are pivotably connected to one another at first end regions so that the formwork elements can be transferred from a vertical state into a horizontal state. The formwork device also comprises a spreading device for spreading apart second end regions of the formwork elements starting from the vertical state of the formwork elements, said second end regions being opposite the articulated connection. The disclosure also relates to: a battery mould comprising two bulkhead partitions and a formwork device according to the disclosure; a method for manufacturing a precast concrete element with the aid of the formwork device according to the disclosure; and a method for preparing the manufacture of a precast concrete element with the aid of the formwork device according to the disclosure.