Enclosure Device for Concrete Column Formwork

Abstract

An enclosure device for a concrete column formwork uses an envelope comprising a tubular wall portion and a top portion supported on the formwork such that the wall portion extends about a perimeter of the column formwork and extends vertically along a height of the column formwork and such that the top portion encloses a top end of the wall portion. The envelope also has brace openings to receive formwork braces extending therethrough and slots in the envelope communicating between the brace openings and a bottom edge of the wall portion so that the envelope can be lowered downwardly over the column formwork as the braces are inserted upwardly through the slots into the brace openings.

1 . An enclosure device for curing concrete in a column formwork, the device comprising:
 an envelope sized and shaped to surround the column formwork;   the envelope comprising (i) a wall portion arranged to extend in a circumferential direction about a perimeter of the column formwork and extend vertically along a height of the column formwork and (ii) a top portion arranged to enclose a top end of the wall portion.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the wall portion is tubular in shape having an open bottom end arranged to receive the column formwork therein as the envelope is lowered onto the column formwork. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the column formwork includes a plurality of braces extending laterally outward from the formwork for connection to adjacent structures, the device further comprising a plurality of brace openings formed in the wall portion at respective brace locations to receive the braces extending therethrough respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3  wherein each brace opening further comprises a slot formed in the wall portion in communication between the brace opening at the brace location and an open bottom of the wall portion of the envelope. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the top portion of the envelope is operable between a closed position enclosing the top end of the wall potion and an open position in which the top end of the wall portion is open so as to allow access for pouring concrete into the concrete formwork through the open top end. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein the top portion of the envelope comprises a tubular extension of the wall portion, the tubular extension being formed of pliable material arranged to be cinched together at a central location above the wall portion. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein the top portion of the envelope comprises a top panel hinged on the wall portion along a first side of the top panel for pivotal movement between the open position and the closed position thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the top panel further comprises a plurality of connecting flaps protruding from a perimeter of the top panel so as to be arranged to be mounted in overlapping arrangement with the wall portion of the envelope in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one rigid support member supported on the wall portion of the envelope at each one of a plurality of different elevations along the height of the envelope. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the wall portion of the envelope has a polygonal perimeter shape, the at least one rigid support member at each different elevation comprising one rigid support member extending along each side of the polygonal perimeter shape such that the support members extend substantially fully about the perimeter of the concrete formwork. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein each rigid support member is received within a respective pocket formed in the wall portion of the envelope. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein each pocket is externally accessible such that the rigid support members are removable from the envelope from an exterior of the envelope. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the envelope is formed of a pliable sheet material including one or more woven plastic layers and a heat insulating layer lining the one or more woven plastic layers. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one vent opening formed in the envelope. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14  further comprising a vent panel at least partially covering said at least one vent opening. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the wall portion of the envelope has a rectangular perimeter shape fitted onto the column formwork. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a mounting arrangement arranged to couple the top end of the envelope to the formwork such that the wall portion is suspended from the top end of the wall portion about the formwork. 
     
     
         18 . A method of enclosing a concrete column formwork comprising:
 providing an envelope comprising a tubular wall portion and a top portion; and   supporting the envelope on the concrete column formwork such that the wall portion extends about a perimeter of the column formwork and extends vertically along a height of the column formwork and such that the top portion encloses a top end of the wall portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising:
 suspending the wall portion of the envelope from a top end of the concrete column formwork; and 
 providing rigid supports supported on the wall portion of the envelope that extend generally in a circumferential direction about the perimeter of the column formwork at different heights along the column formwork. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the formwork includes form walls extending upwardly from a supporting structure and braces extending laterally outwardly from the form walls for connection to the supporting structure, the method further comprising:
 providing a plurality of brace openings in the envelope to receive the braces extending therethrough and slots in the envelope communicating between the brace openings and a bottom edge of the wall portion; and 
 lowering the envelope downwardly over the column formwork such that the braces are inserted upwardly through the slots into the brace openings respectively.