Title of Invention

DEVICE TO AID THE UNLOADING OF SUPPORT ELEMENTS

Abstract Device to aid the unloading of support elements, such as props or falsework comprised of two tubular elements, a lower shaft and an upper shaft, telescopically coupled, the device comprising at least one first essentially annu- lar body, with a through-hole adapted for the upper shaft of the support element to pass through, that can rest on said first body, which rests on an intermediate unloading wedge, designed to directly or indirectly rest on the lower shaft of the support element, that slides thereon essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that the sliding of the intermediate unloading shaft causes the first body and the lower shaft to come together or move apart, and therefore reduce or increase, respectively, the total length of the support element.
Full Text WO 2006/032351 . PCT/EP2005/009422
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DESCRIPTION
Device to aid the unloading of support elements
5 Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for unloading support elements,
applicable to props for construction or falsework, of those formed by two
telescopically coupled tubular elements, which aids the support element to
uncouple quickly and easily from the formwork element or from the constructive
10 element that it supports.
Background of the Invention
Props are vertical support elements whose height can be adjusted,
normally used in construction, comprised of a vertical exterior base tube, known
15 as the lower shaft, which has a support base at its lower end and an interior
tube, or upper shaft, that is removable to a lesser or greater extent from the
lower shaft to adapt the length of the prop to the distance between the surfaces
or elements to be supported by the prop, such as formwork elements.
The props are provided with fastening means that allow the position of
20 the upper shaft to be fixed, once it has been extracted enough from the lower
shaft (base tube). These means are normally comprised of a transversal pin
that passes through the upper shaft and that at the same time rests on an
adjusting nut with handles and attached to the thread that the upper end of the
lower shaft has externally.
25 When the structure that supports the prop on the site has acquired
sufficient resistance, the prop is unloaded, i.e. the prop is uncoupled from the
formwork element that it supports. To uncouple the prop it is very difficult to
manually loosen the adjusting nut in the opposite direction to that of
adjustment, since the pressure that the loaded prop is under hinders the turning
30 of said nut with respect to the thread of the lower shaft. It is usual therefore, that
the operator hits the nut handles with a hammer or similar, in the direction to
loosen it, but this is often the cause of faults in the props. Therefore, to aid the
unloading manoeuvre, devices are used for the rapid unloading of props.
Devices are known to aid the unloading of support elements, such as
35 props, based on parts connected to the upper end of said prop, wherein the
upper edge has indentations that have a straight step, determining an

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appreciably horizontal area for the support of a transversal pin that passes
through the upper shaft, this state corresponding to the operative or working
position of the prop. The parts in question have a recess adjacent to the step,
this recess being designed to receive the pin during the descent or fall thereof
5 in the unloading position of the prop. This type of devices for aiding the
unloading have the drawback that, due to an accident or a bad manoeuvre, the
pin can move towards the edge of the step falling in the recess, which causes
the unloading of the prop whilst in working position and the dangers that this
involves. Also, to unload the prop, it is necessary to hit the pin strongly so that
10 this falls into the recess, due to the lack of inclination of the surface wherein it is
initially supported since if it were more inclined it would increase the risk of the
pin accidentally falling in the recess.
Another example of embodiment of a device to aid the unloading of
props is disclosed in document ES 2140280, wherein it provides a sliding
15 holder on the prop shaft, that is supported by the adjusting nut and which has
two indentations diametrically opposite one other, each one having on one of its
sides a sloping step, the bottom of the indentation being rounded, adapted to
receive the prop pin. The device is complemented by another part, a sliding
cylindrical device on the exterior of the prop shaft, which holds different
20 diametrically opposite extensions, which can fit, for the operative position of the
prop, in the holder indentations, preventing the accidental falling of the pin
therein. Thus, to aid the unloading of the prop, it is necessary to elevate the
cylindrical element, so that the extensions come away from the bottom of the
indentations and therefore the pin can slip, due to gravity or being hit, in the
25 sloping step until it penetrates the bottom of the indentations.
In said device to aid the unloading of props, it is necessary to first
position the holder, then put the pin through the upper shaft of the prop and
keep this supported on the sloping step of the holder, until the complementary
part has been positioned on top so that its extensions fit into the bottom of the
30 holder indentations, which complicates the construction of the unit
The lack of a device for unloading support elements such as props or
falsework, that overcomes the drawbacks of the existing devices and that
improves the speed and ease of the positioning thereof, is therefore evident.
35 Explanation of the Invention
The device for unloading support elements object of the invention, is

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applicable to falsework or to props comprised of two tubular elements, a lower
shaft and an upper shaft, telescopically coupled.
In essence, the device for unloading support elements is characterised
in that it has at least one essentially annular first body, provided with a through-
5 hole adapted for the upper shaft of the support element to pass through, which
can rest on said first body, and in that this first body rests on an intermediate
unloading wedge, designed to directly or indirectly support the lower shaft of the
support element, that slides thereon in a direction essentially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis, so that the sliding of the intermediate unloading wedge
10 causes the first body and lower shaft to come closer together or further away
and, therefore, a decrease or increase, respectively, in the total length of the
support element.
Preferably, the device has a second essentially angular body, designed
to rest on the lower shaft, which can be coaxially coupled to the first body and
15 provided with a through-hole adapted for the upper shaft of the support element
to pass there through, the intermediate unloading wedge being positioned
between both bodies, coupled together, able to slide with respect thereto, said
sliding causing the two bodies to come closer together or further away in the
direction of the support element axis.
20 According to another characteristic of the invention, the intermediate
unloading wedge has retaining means adapted to block its position with respect
to the two bodies and thus fix a separation distance between said bodies,
corresponding to the operative position of the support element, so that when
the position is unblocked, the separation distance between both is reduced, and
25 the support element returns to an inoperative position.
According to another characteristic of the device to aid the unloading of
support elements, each one of the essentially annular bodies has a
diametrically opposite first projection and a second projection, that originating
from the internal base of the annular body, extend perpendicularly thereto in
30 equal proportions, their opposite internal faces forming different cylindrical
surfaces coaxial with the one with the through-hole, the exterior edge of each
projection having the respective and corresponding transversal protuberance,
cantilevered, underneath which there is a corresponding cavity, all of this
adapted so that, once both bodies are coupled, the transversal protuberances
35 can simultaneously fit into the respective cavities of the other body, which have
bases, made on the internal face of each annular body, adapted to receive the

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support of the projection from the other body and the corresponding transversal
protuberance, as both bodies are capable of moving axiaily between
themselves, abandoning the support in said bases when the device passes
from the inoperative position to the operative position.
5 According to another aspect of the invention, the bases have vertical
end stop portions, adapted to limit-the mutual turning of the first body and of the
second body when they are coupled.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the intermediate
unloading wedge consists of an annular flattened oblong body, with two
10 straight, longitudinal and parallel sides and two arched end portions, said
parallel sides being decreasing quadrangular sections, so that the straight
sides have their upper and/or lower faces forming a wedge.
According to a preferred embodiment, the annular bodies have on the
opposite faces, when both bodies are coupled with an interposition of the
15 intermediate unloading wedge, a sloping exterior surrounding surface
corresponding to the upper and lower faces of the straight sides of the
intermediate unloading wedge.
According to another feature of the invention the vertical stop portions of
each body are respectively coplanar with the surfaces of the opposite interior
20 faces of the straight sides of the intermediate unloading wedge.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the first projection
and second projection of each annular body have respectively, in the sides
opposite the transversal protuberances, a first and a second bevelled surface
parallel to the surfaces of the opposite interior faces of the two straight sides of
25 the intermediate unloading wedge, so that said bevelled surfaces have guide
devices for the intermediate unloading wedge when this slides between the two
annular bodies, at the same time that said bevelled surfaces of the same body
are guided by the vertical end stop portions of the bases of the other annular
body to which it is attached.
30 According to another characteristic of the invention, at least the first
projection of each annular body is included in the opposite face of the face with
the transversal protuberance of a third bevelled surface, which is attached to
the first bevelled surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, one of the arched ends of
35 the intermediate unloading wedge has a peripheral groove whose ends
coincide with two through-holes made in the straight sides of the intermediate

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unloading wedge.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the retaining means
are positioned in the peripheral groove on the intermediate unloading wedge.
According to another preferred embodiment, the retaining means are
5 made of a retention spring that is comprised of an arched portion, adapted to be
positioned in the peripheral groove of the intermediate unloading wedge, and
some ends that are folded inwards, which are designed to fit into the through-
holes of the intermediate unloading wedge.
According to another characteristic of the invention, in the operative
10 position of the support element the third bevelled surfaces of the first
projections of each annular body are comprised of non-return means for the
retaining means of the intermediate unloading wedge, so that you can only
unblock said operative position by applying force perpendicularly on the exterior
face of the arched end portion of the intermediate unloading wedge with a
15 peripheral groove capable of overcoming the retention force that the retaining
means exert.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the arched end
portion of the intermediate unloading wedge with a peripheral groove has a
widened surface which is adapted to receive the application of a force in a
20 direction essentially perpendicular to the support element.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred
embodiment of the device object of the invention. In said drawings:
25 Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a section of the prop with the device to
aid the unloading of props object of the invention, in inoperative
position;
Fig. 2, is a side view of the section of the prop of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the second body that forms part of the
30 device to aid the unloading of props object of the invention;
Fig. 4, is a cross-section of the second body of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the intermediate unloading wedge that
forms part of the device to aid the unloading of props according
to Fig. 1;
35 Fig. 6, is a cross-section of the device to aid the unloading of props in
operative position;

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Fig. 7, is a section view according to the cut A-A of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8, is a perspective view of the device to aid the unloading of props
of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9, is another perspective view of the device to aid the unloading of
5 props of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 10, is a plan view of the retaining means of the device to aid the
unloading of props object of the invention,
Detailed Description of the Drawings
10 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of the support element, in the
example of the drawing a prop, with the device to aid unloading 1 of the support
elements object of the invention, in operative position.
The prop represented is basically comprised of two telescopically
coupled tubular elements, known as lower shaft 5 and upper shaft 6. The lower
15 shaft 5 is a vertical exterior base tube, which has a support base at its lower
end, not shown on the drawing, and which has a thread at its upper end. This
thread is connected to the interior thread of an adjusting nut 29.
The upper shaft 6 is an inner tube that can be removed to a varying
degree from the lower shaft 5 and has through-holes 39 distributed
20 diametrically opposite throughout the length of said upper shaft 6. In general,
the upper shaft 6 also has a support at its upper end, not represented in figure
1, configured as a horizontal platform, whereby the prop supports the formwork
elements or other constructive elements on construction sites that require
provisional support.
25 So that the prop enters in load, i.e. receives the load of the elements
that it has to support, the length of the prop must be adjusted to the distance
between said elements to be supported, the upper shaft 6 being extracted to a
greater or lesser extent from the lower shaft 5. For this, the props are provided
with fastening means that allow them to fix the position of the upper shaft 6
30 once this has been removed axially to a sufficient degree from the lower shaft
5. To adjust the length of the prop, a pin 28 is introduced transversally in one of
the through-holes 39 of the upper shaft, so that the section extracted from the
upper shaft 6 is as close as possible to the element to be supported by the
prop. Once the pin 28 has been inserted, the latter is normally supported by
35 gravity on the upper surface of the adjusting nut 29. Thus, you finish adjusting
the length of the prop by turning the adjusting nut 29 by its handles 30 so that

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the coupling by threads between the adjusting nut 29 and the upper end of the
lower shaft 5 drags the pin 28 in its ascent and therefore also the upper shaft 6.
When the upper end of the upper shaft 6 comes into contact with the
element to be supported, it is said that the prop enters in load, i.e. it is in
5 operative position. Once the concrete of the element to be supported has
acquired sufficient resistance to be able to take down the formwork, the prop is
unloaded, wherein the upper shaft 6 has to separate from the constructive
element that it supports. So that the prop unloads and enters an inoperative
position, devices are used to aid the unloading, that quickly cause the
10 shortening of the length extracted from the upper shaft 6, subsequently aiding
the turning of the adjusting nut in the opposite direction to the tightening, by
subjecting the prop to the compression generated by the load that it supported
previously.
The terms operative position and inoperative position are applicable
15 both to the prop and the device to aid the unloading 1 object of the invention.
Operative position is understood to mean that position wherein the prop is
loaded, and inoperative position when it is no longer loaded and it is free of the
element that it supports.
Figs. 1 and 2 show that the device to aid the unloading 1 is positioned
20 between the upper surface of the adjusting nut 29 and the pin 28, so that the
device to aid the unloading receives by gravity the support thereof.
The device to aid the unloading 1 of props shown in the drawings has a
first body 2 and a second body 3 that are identical, essentially annular, and
have a through-hole 7 adapted for the upper shaft 6 of the prop to pass through
25 and which can be coaxially coupled. The device to aid the unloading 1 further
comprises an intermediate unloading wedge 4, positioned between both bodies
2 and 3 coupled together, that slides over the prop perpendicularly to its
longitudinal axis.
When the intermediate unloading wedge 4 slides between the first body
30 2 and the second body 3, it causes said bodies to respectively come together
and then move apart in the direction of the prop axis, therefore the distance
between the two upper surfaces of the adjusting nut 29 and the pin 28 varies.
The intermediate unloading wedge 4 has retaining means 8 adapted to block
the unloading shaft in a certain position with respect to the two bodies 2 and 3
35 and, therefore, fix the separation distance between said bodies, a position that
corresponds to the operative position of the prop, so that when said position is

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unblocked, the separation distance between the two bodies is reduced, and the
prop returns to its original inoperative position wherein the reduction of the
distance between the two bodies 2 and 3 is sufficient to allow the prop to
unload and uncouple from the element that it supports.
5 In Figs. 1 and 2, the device to aid the unloading 1 of props is in
inoperative position. The operative position of the device to aid the unloading 1
is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the prop is not shown. Comparing Figs. 2 and 6, you
can see the difference in the separation distance between the first body 2 and
the second body 3.
10 Each one of the essentially annular bodies 2 and 3 has a first projection
9 and a second projection 10 diametrically opposite one another that,
originating from the internal base of the annular body, extend perpendicularly
therefrom to an equal length, their opposite internal faces configuring cylindrical
surfaces 32 coaxial with a through-hole 7.
15 Furthermore, as you can see in Figs. 3 and 4, the exterior edge of each
projection 9 and 10 has a corresponding and respective transversal
protuberance 11 and 12, cantilevered, underneath which there is a
corresponding cavity, so that, once both bodies 2 and 3 are joined together, the
transversal protuberances 11 and 12 of a body simultaneously fit together fairly
20 loosely in the respective cavities of the other body, and are supported by the
bases 13 and 14 made in the internal face thereof, and vice versa. These bases
13 and 14 of each body are adapted to receive the support of the projections 9
and 10 and of the corresponding transversal protuberances 11 and 12 of the
other body, and the bodies 2 and 3 are capable of moving axially between
25 themselves, so that the projections 9 and 10 and the transversal protuberances
11 and 12 leave the support of the bases 13 and 14 when the device passes
from inoperative position to operative position.
Fig. 8 represents the device to aid the unloading 1 of props in operative
position. In said Fig. 8 you can see that between the transversal protuberances
30 11 and 12 of the first body 2 and the second body 3, there are no separations
preventing, when knocking against each other, that the bodies 2 and 3 keep
separating axially from one another. Equally you can see that in operative
position, the bases 13 and 14 do not have the support of the ends of each
projection 9 and 10 and of their respective transversal protuberances 11 and

35 12.
On the other hand, the bases 13 and 14 have vertical parts 19 and 20 of

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end stops, adapted to limit the mutual turning of the bodies 2 and 3 when
coupled. Thus, once the upper shaft 6 of the prop has been inserted in the
through-hole 7, there is no way that the first body 2, the second body 3 and the
intermediate unloading wedge 4 can become uncoupled.
5 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the intermediate unloading wedge 4. The
intermediate unloading wedge 4 is a flat, oblong, annular body, with two
straight, longitudinal and parallel sides 34, and has two arched ends 25. The
straight sides 34 are of a decreasing quadrangular section, so that its upper 17
and lower 18 faces form a wedge, as you can see in Figs. 5 and 6.
10 On the other hand, the first body 2 and the second body 3 are provided
with on the opposite sides, when both bodies are coupled and interposed by
the intermediate unloading wedge 4, a surrounding exterior surface 35, sloping
in correspondence to the upper 17 and lower 18 faces 17 of the straight sides
34 of the intermediate unloading wedge 4. It should be noted that, naturally,
15 both faces 17 and 18 can slope with respect the horizontal, as shown in the
drawings, or that, optionally, only one of them could be sloping.
Fig. 3 further shows that the vertical stop portions 19 and 20 of each
body 2 and 3 are respectively coplanar with the surfaces of the opposite interior
faces 15 and 16 of the straight sides 34 of the intermediate unloading wedge 4,
20 not shown in said Fig. 3.
Furthermore, the first projection 9 and the second projection 10 of each
body 2 and 3 have, on the opposite sides to the faces with the transversal
protuberances 11 and 12, first and second bevelled surfaces 26 and 27 parallel
to the surfaces of the interior opposite faces 15 and 16 of the straight sides 34
25 of the intermediate unloading wedge. The first and second bevelled surfaces 26
and 27 comprise guide means for the intermediate unloading wedge 4 when
the latter slides between the two bodies 2 and 3, at the same time as said
bevelled surfaces in each body are guided, respectively, through the vertical
portions 19 and 29 of the bases 13 and 14 of the other body to which it is
30 coupled.
Figs. 5 and 6 show that one of the arched ends of the intermediate
unloading wedge 4 has a peripheral groove 21 whose ends coincide with the
through-holes 22 and 23 made in the straight sides 34 of the intermediate
unloading wedge 4. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 also show that the retaining means 8 are
35 housed in said peripheral groove 21.
The retaining means 8 represented in the drawings are comprised of a

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retention spring that has an arched portion 36 and ends that are folded inwards
37, as you can see in Fig. 10. The arched portion 36 is adapted so that it can
be positioned in the peripheral groove 21 of the intermediate unloading wedge
4, and the ends that are folded inward 37 are designed to fit in the through-
5 holes 22 and 23 of the intermediate unloading wedge. This arrangement of the
retaining means 8 is that which is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
In the operative position of the prop, third bevelled surfaces 24 of the
first projections 9 of each annular body 2 and 3 comprise non-return means for
the retaining means 8 of the intermediate unloading wedge 4, by retaining the
10 ends that are folded inwards 37 in said operative position. Thus, the only way to
unblock said operative position is by applying a force, in an essentially
perpendicular direction with respect to the exterior face of the arched end
portion 25 of the intermediate unloading wedge 4 which has a peripheral
groove 21, capable of overcoming the retention force that the retaining means 8
15 exert.
As you can see in Fig. 8, the arched end portion 25 of the intermediate
unloading wedge 4, which has a peripheral groove 21, has a widened surface
38. This widened surface 38 is adapted to receive the application of the force in
an essentially perpendicular direction to the axis of the prop, that allows the
20 unblocking of the operative position of the prop.
The functioning of the device to aid the unloading 1 of props is the
following. Whilst adjusting the length of the prop so that the upper shaft 6
comes into contact with the constructive element to be supported, the device to
aid the unloading 1 must be in operative position. In this operative position, the
25 separation distance between the first body 2 and the second body 3 is the
maximum possible for its coupling, as shown in Fig. 3, since there is contact
between the respective transversal protuberances 11 and 12 of the first and
second projections 9 and 10. Getting the device object of the invention to adopt
the operative position is done quickly and easily by moving the intermediate
30 unloading wedge 4, from an inoperative position, in the direction that is
indicated by the arrow of Fig. 6, until the ends that are folded inwards 37 of the
retaining means 8 go over the third bevelled surfaces 24 of the first projections
9, protruding from the through-hole 7 and therefore also the upper shaft 6 of the
prop.
35 To aid the unloading of the prop, it is only necessary to apply to the
widened surface 38, as explained above, a force in an essentially perpendicular

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direction to the axis of the prop, e.g. by hitting with a hammer or similar on said
widened surface 38, to move the intermediate unloading wedge 4 in the
opposite direction to the previous.
To go from the operative position to the inoperative one and vice versa,
5 you must overcome in both cases the resistance of the retention spring to the
increase in the separation distance between the ends that are folded inwards
37. The slope of the third bevelled surface 24 of the first projection 9 of each
body 2 and 3 and the cylindrical configuration of the exterior surface of said
projection aid the transition from one position to the other, as long as you apply
10 sufficient force overcome the retention force that the retaining means 8 exert.
Thus, as you have to overcome the force applied at a certain threshold value,
this stops the props unloading accidentally.
The retaining means 8, that make sure that the intermediate unloading
wedge 4 does not move accidentally, are particularly essential when the sloping
15 of the wedge is not very marked, in which case the intermediate unloading shaft
is sufficiently blocked, by the pressure of the annular bodies 2 and 3 against
said wedge, when the prop, in the operative position, supports the work load.
It should be mentioned that the second inferior body 3, could also be
essential supporting, in this case, the intermediate unloading wedge 4 directly
20 over the upper surface of the adjusting nut 29. Nevertheless, the direct contact
of the intermediate unloading wedge 4 with the adjusting nut 29, especially
when the prop goes from the operative position to the inoperative position, can
cause a certain accelerated wear or cause faults with time, due to the forced
friction, in the adjusting nut 29 or in the intermediate unloading wedge 4. The
25 incorporation of the two annular bodies 2 and 3, that remain fixed with respect
to the respective upper and lower shafts, resolves said drawback, since the
intermediate unloading wedge 4 does not directly rest on any prop component.

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CLAIMS
1. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements, such as props or
falsework comprised of two tubular elements, a lower shaft (5) and an upper
5 shaft (6), telescopically coupled, characterised in that it is comprised of at least
one essentially annular first body (2), with a through-hole (7) adapted so that
the upper shaft of the support element can pass through, which can rest on said
first body, and in that the first body rests on an intermediate unloading wedge
(4), designed to directly or indirectly support the lower shaft (5) of the support
10 element, that slides along said support element in a direction essentially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that the sliding of the intermediate
unloading wedge causes the two first bodies and the lower shaft to come
together or move apart and, therefore, a reduction or increase, respectively, in
the total length of the support element.
15
2. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claim 1,
characterised in that it is comprised of a second essentially annular body (3),
designed to rest on the lower shaft (5), which can be coaxially coupled to the
first body (2) and with a through-hole (7) adapted for the upper shaft of the
20 support element to pass through, the intermediate unloading wedge (4) being
positioned between both bodies coupled together, able to slide with respect
thereto, said sliding causing the two bodies to move away or come together in
the direction of the support element axis.
25 3. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claim 2,
characterised in that the intermediate unloading wedge (4) has two retaining
means (8) adapted to block its position with respect to the two bodies (2 and 3)
and therefore to fix a separation distance between said bodies, corresponding
to the operative position of the support element, so that when unblocked from
30 said position, the separation distance is reduced between the two bodies,
returning the support element to an inoperative position.
4. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
2 or 3, characterised in that each of the essentially annular bodies (2, 3) has a
35 first projection (9) and a second projection (10) diametrically opposite one other
that, originating from the internal base of the annular body, extend

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perpendicularly thereto at an equal length, their opposite internal faces
configuring cylindrical surfaces (32) coaxial with the through-hole (7), the
exterior edge having a projection of a corresponding respective transversal
protuberance (11, 12), cantilevered, under which there is a corresponding
5 cavity, all this adapted so that, once the bodies are coupled together, said
transversal protuberances can simultaneously fit into the respective cavities of
the other body, bases (13, 14) being arranged in the internal face of each
annular body, adapted to receive the support of the projection of the other body
and of the corresponding transversal protuberance, the bodies being capable of
10 moving axially between one another, leaving behind the support of said bases
when the device passes from the inoperative position to the operative position.
5. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claim 4,
characterised in that the bases (13,14) have vertical end stop portions (19, 20),
15 adapted to limit the mutual turning of the first body (2) and the second body (3)
when they are coupled.
6. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to previ-
ous claims, characterised in that intermediate unloading wedge (4) is comprised
20 of an annular flat oblong body, with two straight longitudinal and parallel sides
(34), and two arched end portions (25), and said parallel sides being of de-
creasing quadrangular section, so that the straight sides have their upper (17)
and/or lower (18) faces forming a wedge.
25 7. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to any of
claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the annular bodies (2, 3) have on the oppo-
site faces, when both bodies are coupled with interposition of the intermediate
unloading wedge (4), an exterior surrounding surface (35) sloping according to
the upper (17) and lower (18) faces of the straight sides (34) of the intermediate
30 unloading wedge.
8. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
5 to 7, characterised in that the vertical stop portions (19, 20) of each body (2,
3) are respectively coplanar with the surfaces of the opposite interior faces (15,
35 16) of the straight sides (34) of the intermediate unloading wedge (4).

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9. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
4 to 8, characterised in that the first projection (9) and the second projection
(10) of each annular body (2, 3) have, on the faces opposite the faces with
5 transversal protuberances (11,12), a first and second bevelled surface (26, 27)
parallel to the surfaces of the opposite interior faces (15, 16) of the straight
sides (34) of the intermediate unloading wedge (4), so that said bevelled sur-
faces form guides for the intermediate unloading shaft when this slides between
the two annular bodies (2, 3), at the same time that said bevelled surfaces are
10 guided along the interior walls (19, 20) of the bases (13, 14) of the other annu-
lar body (3,2) to which it is coupled.
10. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
4 to 9, characterised in that, at least the first projection (9) of each annular body
15 (2, 3) is provided, on the face opposite the face with a transversal protuberance
(11), with a third bevelled surface (24), adjacent to the first bevelled surface
(26).
11. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
20 6 to 10, characterised in that one of the arched ends of the intermediate
unloading wedge (4) has a peripheral groove (21) whose ends coincide with
two through-holes (22, 23) made in the straight end sides (34) of the intermedi-
ate unloading wedge.
25 12. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claim
11, characterised in that the retaining means (8) are positioned on the periph-
eral groove (21) of the intermediate unloading wedge (4).
13. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to the
30 previous claim, characterised in that the retaining means (8) are comprised of a
retention spring that is comprised of an arched portion (36), adapted to be
housed in the peripheral groove (21) of the intermediate unloading wedge (4),
and ends that are folded inwards (37), designed to fit into the through-holes
(22,23) of the intermediate unloading wedge.

WO 2006/032351

PCT/EP2005/009422

-15-
14. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to claims
10 to 13, characterised in that in the operative position of the support element
the third bevelled surfaces (24) of the first projections (9) of each annular body
5 (2, 3) form non-return means for the retaining means (8) of the intermediate
unloading wedge (4).
15. Device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to the
previous claim, characterised in that the upper arched portion (25) of the inter-
10 mediate unloading wedge (4) which has a peripheral groove (21) has a widened
surface (38) adapted to receive the application of a force in a direction essen-
tially perpendicular to the axis of the support element.
16. Support element for construction, such as a prop or falsework, that in-
15 corporates a device to aid the unloading (1) of support elements according to
any of the previous claims.


Device to aid the unloading of support elements,
such as props or falsework comprised of two tubular elements, a
lower shaft and an upper shaft, telescopically coupled, the device
comprising at least one first essentially annu- lar body, with a
through-hole adapted for the upper shaft of the support element
to pass through, that can rest on said first body, which rests on an
intermediate unloading wedge, designed to directly or indirectly
rest on the lower shaft of the support element, that slides thereon
essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that the sliding
of the intermediate unloading shaft causes the first body and the
lower shaft to come together or move apart, and therefore reduce
or increase, respectively, the total length of the support element.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=AE3rTLlvJan89rZaLAbIqg==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 279970
Indian Patent Application Number 1235/KOLNP/2007
PG Journal Number 06/2017
Publication Date 10-Feb-2017
Grant Date 06-Feb-2017
Date of Filing 09-Apr-2007
Name of Patentee INVERAL, S.A.
Applicant Address 33, CALLE GARROTXA, E-08029 BARCELONA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 XAMMAR BOVE PEDRO POLIGON INDUSTRIAL PLA D'EN COLL, 1, CAMI DE LA FONT FREDA, E-08110 MONTCADA I REIXAC
PCT International Classification Number E04G 25/06
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2005/009422
PCT International Filing date 2005-09-01
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 P 200402236 2004-09-20 Spain