Insulated concrete form

Abstract

A concrete wall forming system including interconnected mold units that include a top surface containing a first portion bond beam form, a first top ledge, a first top lip seal portion, a second top ledge, and a second top lip seal portion; a bottom surface containing a second portion bond beam form, a first bottom ledge, a first bottom lip seal portion, a second bottom ledge, and a second bottom lip seal portion; and two or more column forms extending from the top depression to the bottom depression. The first top lip seal portion and first bottom lip seal portion and second top lip seal portion and second bottom lip seal portion are adapted to form a seal between two mold units such that the bond beam form portions are combined to form a bond beam form. The system can be used to form an insulated concrete wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention is directed to a concrete wall forming system and insulated concrete walls formed using the wall forming system.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Concrete walls in building construction are most often produced by first setting up two parallel form walls and pouring concrete into the space between the forms. After the concrete hardens, the builder then removes the forms, leaving the cured concrete wall.[0005]This prior art technique has drawbacks. Formation of the concrete walls is inefficient because of the time required to erect the forms, wait until the concrete cures, and take down the forms. This prior art technique, therefore, is an expensive, labor-intensive process.[0006]Accordingly, techniques have developed for forming modular concrete walls, which use a foam insulating material. The modular form walls are set up parallel to each other and connecting components hold the two form w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

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Problems solved by technology

This prior art technique has drawbacks.

Formation of the concrete walls is inefficient because of the time required to erect the forms, wait until the concrete cures, and take down the forms.

This prior art technique, therefore, is an expensive, labor-intensive process.

Although the prior art includes many proposed variations to achieve improvements with this technique, drawbacks still exist for each design.

The large amount of horizontal and vertical joints that require bracing to correctly position the blocks during a concrete pour, restricts their use to shorter wall lengths and lower wall heights.

This results in a more expensive wall that is not suitable for larger wall construction applications.

The highly skilled labor force that is required to place, block, shore and apply finishes in a block system seriously restricts the use of such systems when compared to traditional concrete construction techniques.

Current existing manufacturing technology has limited this increase to 24 inches in height and eight feet in length.

However, none of the approaches described above adequately address the problems of form blowout at higher wall heights due to pressure exerted by the poured concrete, fast and easy construction with an unskilled labor force, and low cost.

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