Formwork system and a method of forming a wall

Abstract

A formwork system that is readily repositionable to facilitate casting of material is disclosed. A front panel and a rear panel are disposed opposite to each other to define a forming space therebetween to receive the material. The front and rear panels sheath the material so as to retain it in the forming space. A coupler extends over the forming space between the front and rear panels and is pivotably coupled thereto to allow rotation of the front and rear panels about the coupler. A tie is spaced apart from the coupler and extends over the forming space between the front and rear panels. The tie is selectively contractible to cause rotation of the front and rear panels away from each other to move the formwork system from a forming position to a release position to selectively engage and disengage with the front and rear panels with the material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A formwork system for casting of material for construction, comprising:
 a front panel;   a rear panel disposed opposite to the front panel to define a forming space between the front and rear panels for receiving the material for casting, the front and rear panels being suitable to sheath the material so as to retain the material in the forming space;   a coupler that extends across the forming space between the front and rear panels and is pivotably coupled to the front panel and to the rear panel to allow rotation of the front and rear panels about the coupler towards and away from each other; and   a tie that extends across the forming space between the front and rear panels and that is spaced apart from the coupler, the tie being selectively contractible such that contracting the tie causes rotation of the front and rear panels away from each other to move the formwork system from a forming position, in which the front and rear panels are engaged with the material to retain the material in the forming space, to a release position, in which the front and rear panels are disengaged from the material to prevent the material from impeding movement of the front and rear panels.   
     
     
         2 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the material is earth that is cast by ramming into the forming space, the tie being suitable to be lengthened so as to support the material in the forming space and to apply pressure onto the material to facilitate ramming while the formwork system is in the forming position. 
     
     
         3 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the tie defines a front end and a rear end connected to each other via an intermediate connector threadably engaged with the front end and threadably engaged with the rear end to allow lengthening of the tie so as to support the material in the forming space and apply pressure onto the material in the forming space. 
     
     
         4 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is wheeled to facilitate, while the formwork system is in the release position, wheeled movement of the front panel along a structure formed by casting of the material in the forming space. 
     
     
         5 . The formwork system of  claim 4 , wherein the formwork system is aerially suspended and is translatable along the structure by wheeled movement of the front panel while the formwork system is in the release position. 
     
     
         6 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a front member that is attached to the front panel and is pivotably coupled to the coupler to rotate around a front pivot axis, and the rear panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a rear member that is attached to the rear panel and is pivotably coupled to the coupler to rotate around a rear pivot axis, the front member extending across the front panel opposite to the forming space lateral to the front pivot axis to support the front panel, the rear member extending across the rear panel opposite to the forming space lateral to the rear pivot axis to support the rear panel. 
     
     
         7 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a front member that is attached to the front panel, and the rear panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a rear member that is attached to the rear panel, the front member being received through a front slot of the coupler and being revolutely joined to the front slot to facilitate uniaxial rotation of the front member about the coupler, the rear member being received through a rear slot of the coupler and being revolutely joined to the rear slot to facilitate uniaxial rotation of the rear member about the coupler. 
     
     
         8 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a front member that is attached to the front panel and is pivotably coupled to the coupler, and the rear panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a rear member that is attached to the rear panel and is pivotably coupled to the coupler, the tie defining a U-shaped front end suitable to receive and to frictionally engage with the front member, the tie further defining a U-shaped rear end opposite to the front end suitable to receive and frictionally engage with the rear member. 
     
     
         9 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front member attached to the front panel and pivotably coupled to the coupler;   a rear member attached to the rear panel and pivotably coupled to the coupler; and   a frame resting on a stationary base, the coupler being selectively engageable with the frame to selectively hold the coupler in-place relative to the frame to hold the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie in-place relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the forming position and to allow the coupler to move relative to the frame to move the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the release position.   
     
     
         10 . The formwork system of  claim 9 , wherein the coupler extends horizontally over the forming space, the formwork system further comprising:
 an anchoring member extending horizontally over the forming space and vertically spaced apart from the coupler, the anchoring member being selectively engageable with the frame to selectively hold the anchoring member in-place relative to the frame and to allow the anchoring member to move relative to the frame; and   a hoist connecting the coupler to the anchoring member to support the coupler and to allow lifting of the coupler relative to the anchoring member while the anchoring member is engaged with the frame to be held in-place relative to the frame and the coupler is disengaged with the frame to allow movement of the coupler relative to the frame.   
     
     
         11 . The formwork of  claim 10 , wherein the anchoring member is disposed between the tie and the coupler, the anchoring member defining a front anchor slot for receiving the front member to constrain horizontal movement of the front member and a rear anchor slot for receiving the rear member to constrain horizontal movement of the rear member. 
     
     
         12 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the formwork system is aerially suspended by hoisting of the coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The formwork system of  claim 1 , wherein the front and rear panels extend between a pair of torsion boxes defining opposing ends of the forming space lateral to the front and rear panels. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a formwork system that is readily repositionable to facilitate casting of material, comprising:
 causing connection of a front panel to a rear panel disposed opposite to the front panel, via a tie extending between the front and rear panels, to define a forming space between the front and rear panels for receiving the material for casting, the front and rear panels being suitable to sheath the material so as to retain the material in the forming space, a coupler extending across the forming space between the front and rear panels and being pivotably coupled to the front panel and to the rear panel to allow rotation of the front and rear panels about the coupler towards and away from each other, the tie being selectively contractible such that contracting the tie causes rotation of the front and rear panels away from each other to move the formwork system from a forming position, in which the front and rear panels are engaged with the material to retain the material in the forming space, to a release position, in which the front and rear panels are disengaged from the material to prevent the material from impeding movement of the front and rear panels.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 forming a front revolute joint between the coupler and a front member that is attached to the front panel, the front revolute joint being spaced apart from the forming space to prevent obstruction of the forming space; and   forming a rear revolute joint between the coupler and a rear member that is attached to the rear panel, the rear revolute joint being spaced apart from the forming space to prevent obstruction of the forming space.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the front panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a front member attached to the front panel, and the rear panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a rear member attached to the rear panel, the coupler being selectively engageable with a frame resting on a stationary base to selectively hold the coupler in-place relative to the frame to hold the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie in-place relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the forming position and to allow the coupler to move relative to the frame to move the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the release position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 repositioning the front and rear panels by hoisting the coupler vertically up to an anchoring member that is held fixed to the frame while the coupler is disengaged with the frame, the coupler and the anchoring member extending horizontally over the forming space.   
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a wall using a formwork system, comprising:
 receiving material, for casting, in a forming space defined between a front panel and a rear panel disposed opposite to the front panel, the front and rear panels being suitable to sheath the material so as to retain the material in the forming space and pivotably coupled to a coupler extending across the forming space between the front and panels to allow rotation of the front and rear panels about the coupler towards and away from each other; and   after casting of the material, shortening a tie spaced apart from the coupler, coupled to the front and rear panels, and extending across the forming space to rotate the front and rear panels away from each other to move the formwork system from a forming position, in which the front and rear panels are engaged with the material to retain the material in the forming space, to a release position, in which the front and rear panels are disengaged from the material to prevent the material from impeding movement of the front and rear panels.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the front panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a front member attached to the front panel, and the rear panel is pivotably coupled to the coupler via a rear member attached to the rear panel, the coupler being selectively engageable with a frame resting on a stationary base to selectively hold the coupler in-place relative to the frame to hold the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie in-place relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the forming position and to allow the coupler to move relative to the frame to move the front and rear panels, the front and rear members, and the tie relative to the frame while the formwork system is in the release position, the method further comprising:
 repositioning the front and rear panels by hoisting the coupler vertically up to an anchoring member that is held fixed to the frame while the coupler is disengaged with the frame, the coupler and the anchoring member extending horizontally over the forming space.