Abstract: A self-climbing concrete wall form hoist for forming a concrete wall section atop a previously formed wall section has a wall mounting releasably secured to the previously formed wall section, a plurality of moveable vertical masts, an extendable cylinder inside each mast, and a platform alternatively supported on the masts, which in turn are supported alternatively on the upper and lower wall mountings. The apparatus cycles between a platform raising position when the masts and platform are supported on the upper wall mounting and a lower wall mounting raising position when the masts and platform are supported on the upper wall mounting. The extendable cylinders are extended to raise the mast and platform relative to the lower wall mounting when the masts are supported on the upper wall mounting, and the extendable cylinders are retracted when raising the lower wall mounting relative to the platform when the masts and platform are supported on the upper wall mounting.

Abstract: A modular panelized form wall include a first wall panel and a second wall panel; and a support panel having vertical steel rails which frame the vertical sides of the support panel. The support panel is arranged between the first and second wall panels. The first wall panel, the second wall panel and the support panel are connected together to form a portion of the modular panelized form wall. Wide head brackets can be connected to a top of the support panel for an overhead self-lifting grid system to be attached to the modular panelized form wall. Wide landing brackets can be connected to a bottom of the support panel to transmit the loads from the support panel to the underlying support. Shear pins can be inserted through the vertical steel rails at various locations in the support panel and through corresponding holes in the first and second wall panels, the holes to receive the shear pins to distribute the vertical loads away from the support panel to the first and second wall panels.

Abstract: A dual ratchet pawl jacking system, device, and method are presented for raising and/or lowering a platform bearing carriage along a vertical support. The ratchet pawls alternate supporting the weight of the carriage by engaging against a series of lugs on the vertical support. A first pawl is attached to the main frame of the carriage, and a second pawl is attached to a sub-carriage assembly that slides upward and downward within the carriage frame. A hydraulic jack applies a force upon the sub-carriage, causing the sub-carriage to move within the frame. The weight of the carriage is alternately borne by each pawl as the other pawl is relocated to a new lug. A pair of triggers is used to retract the first pawl and second pawl from the support. The triggers may be enabled to facilitate lowering the carriage, or disabled to facilitate raising the carriage.

Abstract: A self-raising form control system and method is provided that that may be used to form elevator shafts and other vertical building structures. The apparatus includes one or more form elements for defining an area to receive a formable material, such as concrete. Each element is attached to the form structure. A lift apparatus is provided for lifting the form elements. The lift apparatus comprises a measurement device for measuring the position of said lift apparatus relative to a fixed point. The lift apparatus is connected to the form structure. A control unit is provided for controlling the lift apparatus. The control unit is signal connected to the measurement device and is signal connected to the lift apparatus.

Abstract: A method of forming a circumferentially closed wall having the same cross-section over its entire length included providing at least two circumferentially closed inner falseworks each formed of circumferentially closed inner part and a circumferentially closed climbing strip releasably securable to an upper end of the main part. A concrete wall is formed in a plurality of concrete-placing steps, with use of the inner falseworks in more than one step. In a first concrete-placing step, an initial section of a concrete wall is formed. In each subsequent concrete-placing step, a circumferentially closed concrete wall section is formed on an upper end of an already formed section of the concrete wall.

Abstract: A method for successive concrete of high vertical walls by using a climbing shuttering system having a support structure on which various concrete shuttering elements are loaded hanging downwards. The top supporting carrier and the climbing shuttering system can be supported on completed wall sections. There is at least one lifting device that brings about a relative movement between the too supporting carrier and a lower support carrier of the climbing shuttering system. The shuttering elements can be positioned in a substantially even surface to form a shuttering and at the same time the top supporting carrier can be positioned on the shuttering elements placing them respectively against the walls.

Abstract: A construction form 10 for forming a concrete wall having an acute female corner 26 includes an outer wall 14, an inner wall 16, an intermediate wall 18 defining an inside corner 20 and an outside corner 22. The form 10 includes a corner assembly 12. mounted to the inner wall 14 by fasteners 30 which allow separation of the inner 14 and outer 16 walls from the corner assembly 12. Thereafter, the corner assembly 12 is movable in any radial direction within the female corner 26.

Abstract: The formwork system is based on the use of modules that can be coupled to each other, both laterally and vertically, with each one comprised of a pair of metal sheets (2) that determine the inner and outer faces of the formwork, with threaded transverse rods (25) that join the sheets (2) to each other, and welded to the outer sides of these are a series of trapezoidal profiles (7) and two edge profiles (7′). The system includes stiffeners (10) that are provided with tensioning devices, with the stiffeners (10) connected to the trapezoidal profiles (7) by triangular plates (13) on which act the tensioning devices in order to move these triangular plates and thereby to curve the panel, maintaining the curvature in the blocked position by means of a device installed between the triangular plate (13) and the corresponding trapezoidal profile (7) and by another tensioning device (12) applied to the stiffeners (10).

Abstract: The invention concerns a climbing shuttering system having a supporting structure on which various concrete shuttering elements are loaded hanging downwards. Said structure is connected at least to a first top supporting carrier that underprops it. The top supporting carrier has the means, to support it laterally to a completed wall section. The climbing shuttering system also has at least one lower supporting carrier, that can be supported on a completed wall section. There is at least one lifting device that brings about a relative movement between both supporting carriers. According to the invention, the top supporting carrier is designed to be supported on a substantially even surface.

Abstract: A precast wall panel has forms for flanges and a lintel embedded in place. Upon erection of the panel over a precast footing having an anchoring trough, this trough, the flanges and lintel may all be cast on-site, with appropriate reinforcing present within the core volumes that are filled with binder.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for a multimodal electromechanical insect known as an entomopter. The entomopter is a species of micro air vehicle (MAV), which is defined as a flying vehicle having no dimension greater than 15 cm. The entomopter mimics the flight characteristics of an insect by flapping wings to generate lift. The entomopter's wings are powered by a reciprocating power source. The same power source may be used to power legs to enable the entomopter to crawl along the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the power source is a compact noncombustive engine known as a reciprocating chemical muscle (RCM).

Abstract: A method of forming concrete integral box shaped modules provides dimensional accuracy and sustains closer tolerances thus permitting surfaces of adjacent modules to match. The method utilizes a standard fixed box frame with vertical walls that can be easily reset after forming a module. The method includes the steps of constructing a fixed box form with four vertical rectangular sides and a top horizontal surface, top trays extending out from top edges of the rectangular sides and bottom trays extending out from bottom edges. Corner fillers are placed in vertical corner spaces formed by the four vertical sides, steel mesh and rebar is laid on the vertical sides and in the trays, the trays are then filled with concrete and concrete is sprayed onto the vertical sides. The module is steamed to set the concrete, the trays are removed and the module is raised initially by jacking to release the module from the box form.

Abstract: The invention concerns a support for ceiling mold elements for concrete. It is effected in that, on both edges of its upper surface (2, 48) one row each of projections (3, 4, 53, 54) is provided for, the projections protruding upwardly and outwardly at separations from another and being suited for securing or attaching the ceiling mold elements (11, 29, 30) and in that the spaces between the projections (3, 4, 53, 54) correspond to twice the separation of an abutment, arranged on the underside of the mold element, from the edge of the mold element, and in that the distance between the projections (3, 4, 53, 54) matches the corresponding dimension of the mold element (11, 29, 30) to be placed in, or a fraction of this dimension. The invention furthermore provides for the surfaces of the support to be at least partially covered with a plastic cover strip.

Abstract: A device for vertical slipforming of concrete walls includes a rigid frame and at least one slipform assembly suspended from and vertically displaceable with respect to the frame. Concrete is delivered to the interior of each slipform assembly which is incrementally raised as the concrete sets and further concrete is supplied. Thus, concrete panels having a vertical orientation are progressively cast in the slipform assemblies at a job site.

Abstract: A plastic buck which is used to form an opening in a wall to be constructed of concrete or other flowable building material. The buck includes flanges on each side which contain mounting holes used to mount the buck to a wall form. Additionally, the flanges include holes for mounting fasteners onto the window buck thereby enabling the fastener to be cast within the concrete wall. The buck includes bracing members configured within the buck to prevent the forces of the building material on the window buck from causing unacceptable deformations in the buck as the wall is poured. Handles are also attached to the window buck to facilitate installation and removal of the buck. A plurality of knock blocks are located on the buck such that one may apply impact forces to the buck to remove the buck from the concrete wall after the concrete has set. Since the buck is constructed of plastic or other nonporous material, removal of the buck from the poured wall is facilitated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of building units from an afterhardening mixture containing cement and/or lime as binding material. The raw mixture is continuously fed and pressed by stamping into a die with CO.sub.2 gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric being passed through the raw mixture in the die space. Through an instantaneous reaction of carbonation, the material is hardened to a formed body. The CO.sub.2 gas is prevented from escaping by a gastight seal in the vicinity of the inlet port of the die. Further towards the outlet port, the pressure of the CO.sub.2 gas is decreased. In the vicinity of the outlet port only as much CO.sub.2 gas is fed as is necessary for the completing of the chemical reaction. Thus, any loss of gas will be minimized. The continuously discharged body is cut to size by using a saw.

Abstract: A traveling mold for forming a pre-cast, box-like concrete structure has movable frame means for supporting the mold. Inner and outer wall forms of the traveling mold are movable, vertically and transversely, away from a formed reinforced concrete wall section, after the wall section has hardened sufficiently to be self-supporting. A method for forming a pre-cast reinforced concrete building structure having a floor and at least one upstanding wall, using the traveling mold, is also described.

Abstract: In a climbing scaffolding or in a climbing formwork a guide rail (11) for the sole purpose of guiding the scaffolding during the lifting and lowering movements is provided, which is detachably secured to the concrete wall by at least two mounting parts (3, 4) for the climbing scaffolding section (6). This allows rapid lifting, and instead of a crane a lifting gear which is supported on the mounting parts can also be used for lifting.

Abstract: Setting block and process for setting up the shuttering for a building wall involving accurate positioning of the wall shuttering with an upwardly protruding positioning rod case in an underlying wall and after the floor shuttering has been placed, the placing the setting block so that its vertical bore grips around the rod.

Abstract: A system for casting cement uses a plurality of lightweight forms made from a ladder-like, aluminum member covered on one side by a sheet of transparent plastic. The forms may be assembled and erected in any desired and suitable shape or configuration. As cement is poured, its surface may be viewed through the transparent plastic to find and correct surface blemishes. A series of connector and optional connection points enables the system to be used in many alternative ways.

Abstract: In forming a concrete structure, reusable modular forms are joined together to provide one or a number of tunnel-like sections. The forms include inside form units which can be connected together and aligned so that they provide a continuous planar surface. Outside form walls and other form sections combine with the inside form units in completing the form required to pour in one monolitic pour one section of the concrete structure, consisting of load bearing concrete walls, slabs, and in the case of multistory structure, (wall) curbs. Removable central keys are a part of the top surface of each inside form unit and by removing the keys, the inside form units can be stripped from a poured section, moved and positioned for pouring another section. Turnbuckles attached to each inside form unit enable them to be secured in position to pour one section and, after the section has been poured, to strip the form unit so that it can be moved and reused.

Abstract: As a means of casting concrete floors in concrete and other structures the invention provides a type of formwork in which a platform is supported from vertical elements of the structure, the platform having vertically extending housing means depending from its under side which are associated hinged formwork members. The arrangement is such that the formwork may be set up so that one or more concrete floors of a building may be cast, the hinged formwork members being arranged in a horizontal position so as to form a support for the floor or floors. After casting and setting of the concrete the hinged formwork members are folded into the housing so that the platform may be raised vertically drawing the housing and formwork members through apertures left in the cast floors. The floors are completed by filling the apertures with concrete.

Abstract: Climbing formwork for use in the erection of reinforced concrete structures in which the raising of the formwork from storey to storey is carried out by the use of movable vertically extending members the height of which when fully extended is in excess of the height of two storeys of a building to be erected, the members being maintained in their correct vertical positions by supporting tubes set into the concrete of the structure. The members carry between them beams or the like for supporting the outer forms and preferably some or all of the inner forms used for pouring the structure and are raised to a height equivalent to that of one storey of the structure after the completion of the pouring of the concrete of a storey. The vertically extending members are preferably in the form of double acting hydraulic cylinders having a piston extendable under hydraulic pressure, the extension of the piston being utilized for raising the forms.

Abstract: A method of progressively constructing a wall of cementitious material, including the steps of supporting a formwork support structure on a lower foundation, or completed wall section, by means of hydraulic jacks each including a hydraulic ram assembly carrying the formwork support structure and adapted to climb up a vertically extending jack tube, raising said formwork support structure by said jacks to a higher pouring position, supporting said formwork support structure on the lower foundation, or wall section, by auxiliary support means, raising the jack tubes for each jack through its associated ram assembly, moving a formwork section on the outside of the wall toward a formwork section on the inside of said wall to provide a cavity for the receipt of cementitious material, pouring a quantity of said material into said space between said formwork sections, the lower foundation, or completed wall section, and the lower ends of the jack tubes, allowing said cementitious material to solidify, and moving the

Abstract: Apparatus for progressively constructing a wall of cementitious material, including means for supporting a formwork support structure on a lower foundation, or completed wall section, by means of hydraulic jacks each including a hydraulic ram assembly carrying the formwork support structure and adapted to climb up a vertically extending jack tube, raising said formwork support structure by said jacks to a higher pouring position, supporting said formwork support structure on the lower foundation, or wall section, by auxiliary support means, raising the jack tubes for each jack through its associated ram assembly, moving a formwork section on the outside of the wall toward a formwork section on the inside of said wall to provide a cavity for the receipt of cementitious material, pouring a quantity of said material into said space between said formwork sections, the lower foundation, or completed wall section, and the lower ends of the jack tubes, allowing said cementitious material to solidify, and moving the