Decking beam assembly

Claim 2

A decking beam assembly for use in combination with support panels to provide shuttering for concrete structures, said beam assembly being adaptable for use with standard support panels of different sizes and comprising a lower stringer member, a pair of spaced-apart panel supporting upper members in the form of angle irons, connecting means in the form of zig-zag bars extending between, and fixedly secured to, said lower stringer member and respective ones of said panel supporting members, a plurality of spaced adjustable tie members extending between and connected to said two panel supporting members, a replaceable spacer element of generally T-shaped cross-section supported by said panel supporting members, said spacer element having a crossbar portion opposite ends of which are engaged by one edge of each of two adjacent ones of said support panels and a tail portion which is received between said two panel supporting members, and means for retaining said tail portion of said spacer element in position relative to said panel supporting members, the arrangement being such that said adjustable tie members permit a selected one of said replaceable spacer elements to be used depending on the size of said support panels.

Claim 3

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said tie members each comprise a nut and bolt arrangement which extends through brackets secured to said panel supporting members.

Claim 4

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which said spacer element comprises an inverted channel-shaped metal section providing said crossbar portion and spaced transverse webs providing said tail portion which webs are positioned between said panel supporting members and secured therein by means of said nut and bolt arrangement.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which said channel-shaped metal section forming said spacer element is provided with secondary flanges to receive support panels whereby said support panels are supported indirectly by said panel supporting members.

Claim 6

A decking beam assembly for use in combination with support panels to provide shuttering for concrete structures, said beam assembly being adaptable for use with standard support panels of different sizes and comprising a lower stringer member, a pair of spaced-apart panel supporting upper members in the form of angle irons, connecting means in the form of zig-zag bars extending between, and fixedly secured to, said lower stringer member and respective ones of said panel supporting members, a plurality of spaced tie members extending between and connected to said two panel supporting members, a replaceable spacer element of generally T-shaped cross-section ion supported by said panel supporting members, said spacer element comprising a timber member having a cross bar portion opposite ends of which are engaged by one edge of each of two adjacent ones of said support panels and a tail portion which is received between said two panel supporting members, said tail portion being tapered and having one face parallel to the co-acting face of one of said supporting members and the other face inclined relative to the co-acting face of the other of said supporting members, and means for retaining said tail portion of said spacer element in position relative to said panel supporting members, wherein said tie members comprise tie plates positioned at spaced intervals between said supporting members and fixed thereto to provide an unadjustable space between said supporting members, the arrangement being such that a selected one of said replaceable spacer elements may be received and retained between said panel supporting members depending on the size of said support panels.

Claim 7

A decking beam assembly for use in combination with support panels to provide shuttering for concrete structures, said beam assembly being adaptable for use with standard support panels of different sizes and comprising a lower stringer member, a pair of spaced-apart panel supporting upper members in the form of angle irons, connecting means in the form of zig-zag bars extending between, and fixedly secured to, said lower stringer member and respective ones of said panel supporting members, a plurality of spaced tie members extending between and connected to said two panel supporting members, a replaceable spacer element of generally T-shaped cross-section ion supported by said panel supporting members, said spacer element comprising a timber member having a cross bar portion opposite ends of which are engaged by one edge of each of two adjacent ones of said support panels and a tail portion which is received between said two panel supporting members, said tail portion being tapered and having one face parallel to the co-acting face of one of said supporting members and the other face inclined relative to the co-acting face of the other of said supporting members, and means for retaining said tail portion of said spacer element in position relative to said panel supporting members, wherein said tie members comprise tie plates positioned at spaced intervals between said supporting members and fixed thereto to provide an unadjustable space between said supporting members, the arrangement being such that a selected one of said replaceable spacer elements may be received and retained between said panel supporting members depending on the size of said support panels.

Claim 8

An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said means for retaining said spacer element in position comprise screws which are passed through one of said panel supporting members.