Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Processes – Requiring soil work
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-21
2003-04-01
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Processes
Requiring soil work
C052S169200, C052S169900, C052S126700, C052S126600, C405S230000, C405S229000, C405S233000, C405S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06539685
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fixtures, tools, and equipment used in the building construction trades, and more specifically to a system for lifting and/or stabilizing foundations, slabs, and the like, of buildings which have settled after construction. The present system includes a lifting bracket with a pipe section which fits concentrically about an anchor pier driven into the ground adjacent the building structure, and precludes any tilting or slippage of the lifting bracket as it lifts the building structure. The present device may be used with either helical or auger type piers which are turned into the ground for anchoring, with “push” type piers or pilings, which are driven straight into the underlying material, or with virtually any other type of piling or pier which might be developed for such work.
2. Description of Related Art
The slow settling of the foundations of buildings, concrete slabs, and other heavy structures is a phenomenon occurring occasionally in various areas, particularly where the underlying soil is not stable. While engineers endeavor to assure that the underlying surface is stable, and/or to construct the foundation of the structure so that it is resting upon a lower layer of stable material, such structures nevertheless will settle on occasion.
As a result, various equipment and techniques have been developed for lifting sunken or settled foundations, slabs, etc. These techniques generally involve the digging of a hole or trench along the structure to be lifted, and driving one or more pipes or piers into the ground adjacent to the structure until the pipes reach stable material or the underlying bedrock. A lifting apparatus is then installed on the support pier and extended beneath a portion of the structure to be raised, and some means (nearly universally hydraulic) is used to lift the lifting apparatus and structure resting thereon. This process is conducted simultaneously every several feet as needed along the length of the structure being raised, in order to distribute the lifting forces generally equally along the structure.
However, such lifting devices as developed in the past, suffer from various deficiencies which can result in considerable additional time and effort on the part of crews engaged in such operations. For example, many of the devices of the prior art are location beneath the edge of a slab or footing. While most such devices include bolts, pins, etc. to secure the lifting device positively to the structure, these are limited in their attachment location and cannot always provide the security desired. Moreover, many of the prior art devices are subject to tilting or cocking angularly when force is applied, thus creating further risk that the lifting device will slip from beneath the foundation or slab.
Another problem incurred using many of the devices of the prior art, is that many such devices do not provide any form of mechanical locking to secure the lifting element (plate, arm, etc.) to its corresponding anchor pier or pipe. The lifting component is raised by one or more hydraulic jacks, but some means must be provided to secure the lifting component to the pier, before the hydraulic devices can be removed. Such assemblies require additional tools in the form of welding equipment, so the lifting element can be welded to its associated anchor pier. This greatly increases the time required for the lifting operation, as well as increasing the expense due to the necessity of providing and transporting welding equipment to the job site.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for an apparatus and method for lifting sunken or settled building foundations, footings, slabs, etc., which provide much more positive support of the overlying building structure than has been the case with devices of the prior art. The present lifting apparatus overcomes this problem by means of a concentric pipe sleeve which passes around the pipe of the anchor pier, thereby precluding any tilting or cocking of the lifting plate. The present device also secures positively to the building structure, with the attachment being adjustably positionable to provide selective attachment to a solid area of the structure.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventors are aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,103 issued on May 2, 1961 to Guy H. Revesz et al., titled “Method And Apparatus For Underpinning A Building,” describes a system with a generally vertically disposed plate which bolts to the wall of the structure being lifted. The Revesz et al. disclosure primarily describes a method of setting the anchor pier into a solid underlying substrate, using the lifting plate bolted to the structure wall and other components. Revesz et al. do not provide any means of supporting the structure from beneath nor of securing the lifting plate directly to the anchor pier, as is done with the present invention. Also, the Revesz et al. lifting plate has four holes in a predetermined pattern. If bolts passing through these holes do not happen to secure to solid material, the entire apparatus must be relocated to an area of solid structural material for secure attachment thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,326 issued on Sep. 2, 1975 to George F. Langenbach Jr., titled “Apparatus And Method For Shoring A Foundation,” describes a system wherein a guide pipe has an elongate hydraulic cylinder installed concentrically therein. The cylinder is secured to a generally C-shaped bracket, which in turn grips one edge of a foundation or footing. The bracket includes a section of pipe which passes around the anchor piling or pier, and is locked thereto by a radially disposed bolt when the lifting operation is complete. However, the Langenbach, Jr. assembly has no provision for attaching the lifting device to the side of the wall, as provided by the present invention, and does not use an externally disposed jack, as is the case with the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,315 issued on Jun. 16, 1987 to Robert R. Shaw et al., titled “Apparatus For Raising And Supporting A Building,” describes a lifting plate including a pipe section which fits around the anchor pipe or pier which is driven into the ground. The plate includes laterally opposed ears or lugs, to which the ends of a pair of hydraulic jacks are secured. The upper ends of the jacks are secured to lugs extending from an adjustably positionable collar on the anchor pier. The jacks are actuated to drive the pier into the ground and eventually raise the structure, when the pier encounters sufficient resistance. However, Shaw et al. fail to provide any means of locking the lifting plate to the anchor pier, other than by welding. Thus, they require welding and metal cutting equipment to secure the lifting plate to the pier, and to remove the section of pipe or pier above the lifting plate. Moreover, Shaw et al. do not provide any means of securing the plate positively to the wall of the structure being lifted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,203 issued on Sep. 22, 1987 to Steven D. Gregory, titled “Method And Apparatus For Shoring And Supporting A Building Foundation,” describes a system functioning similarly to that of the Shaw et al. system described above, but utilizing only a single hydraulic jack centered atop the pier and lifting an inverted saddle, which in turn attaches to the lifting plate or arm by means of a pair of lugs extending therefrom. Again, no mechanical means is provided for securing the lifting plate to the pier pipe. Welding equipment must be provided to weld the assembly together, to allow the hydraulics to be removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,528 issued on Nov. 24, 1987 to Dondeville M. Rippe, titled “Process And Apparatus For Stabilizing Foundations,” describes a system more closely related to the system described further above in the '326 U.S. patent to Langenbach, Jr., than to the present invention. Rippe provides a single hydraulic jack which lifts a concentrically placed l
Bell Thomas A.
Rietveld Bill
Friedman Carl D.
Katcheves Basil
Litman Richard C.
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