Hydraulic and earth engineering – Foundation – Underpinning
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-15
2002-03-05
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Foundation
Underpinning
C405S231000, C405S244000, C052S169200, C052S169900, C052S169130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06352390
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of foundation supports. More specifically, the present invention discloses an apparatus for lifting and supporting a foundation of a structure under tension or compression.
2. Statement of the Problem
The surface of the ground is made up of clays such as bentonite or other unstable soils in many areas throughout the country. The surface of the ground in these areas tend to heave and/or to sink, especially when subject to heavy rainfall, freezing and thawing temperatures, etc. This heaving and sinking causes the foundation of structures (e.g., houses, buildings, etc.) built on this soil to weaken, and may cause severe damage to the foundation and structure. Therefore, the foundations of these structures must be secured in the stable subsurface (e.g., the bedrock or at least a stable geologic stratum). However, it is often cost prohibitive to remove the unstable soil and replace it or build the foundation directly on the stable subsurface. Instead, piers are driven into the stable subsurface and the foundation is attached at various points, depending on the size and weight of the structure and other design considerations, to the piers to stabilize the foundation of the structure. Helical piers are also used for other purposes, including tensile loads.
Foundation supports have been used in the past, including the following:
Inventor
Patent No.
Issue Date
Cassidy
4,070,867
Jan. 31, 1978
May
4,634,319
Jan. 6, 1987
May
4,854,782
Aug. 8, 1989
Gregory, et al.
4,911,580
Mar. 27, 1990
Hamilton, et al.
5,011,336
Apr. 30, 1991
Holdeman et al.
5,120,163
Jun. 9, 1992
Hamilton et al.
5,139,368
Aug. 18, 1992
Hamilton et al.
5,171,107
Dec. 15, 1992
Seider et al.
5,213,448
May 25, 1993
Raaf
5,482,407
Jan. 9, 1996
Gregory
5,722,798
Mar. 3, 1998
Jones
5,800,094
Sep. 1, 1998
Gregory
5,951,206
Sep. 14, 1999
Cassidy discloses a skin friction pile. A hydraulic cylinder is used to drive the pile and casing.
May ('319) discloses a shoe attached to a structure. The shoe carries a pier driving assembly to drive a pier beneath the structure. A pier plate unit is fitted over the upper end of the pier and lifting means supported by the pier plate unit operate between the pier plate unit and the structure to lift the structure to a desired position. After the structure has reached this position, adjustable supporting means are placed between the pier plate unit and the structure to retain the structure in the desired position.
May ('782) discloses a shoe attached to the base of a structure. The shoe is guided and supported on the pier with a sleeve. A removable lift bracket is attached to the shoe and a jack is inserted between the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the lift bracket to raise the structure. Once the structure is at the desired level, pins
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are inserted through the shoe and shims are inserted between laterally extending plates of the sleeve to permanently support the structure.
Gregory et al. ('580) disclose lifting the foundation a desired amount with ram units until the plate is spaced from its original position on the rods. Nuts are then advanced to engage the plate and secure the assembly. The hydraulic ram units and the lift bracketing assembly can then be removed.
Hamilton et al. ('336) disclose a threaded, force-transmitting bolt screwed into the bracket crosspiece that engages the anchor shaft so that the anchor becomes a load-bearing support for the foundation.
Holdeman et al. disclose an inverted U-shaped coupler adapted to be temporarily secured to a foundation support assembly. A jacking device is received between the top of the coupler at and the foundation support and force is applied to the coupler so that the foundation and support are carried by the screw anchor. The nuts are then rotated to engage the undersides of respective walls to firmly affix the cross member and tubular member to the bracket assembly. The jacking device is then removed.
The patents to Hamilton et al. disclose an assembly made up of channel, bolts and jacking nuts. A jack is positioned between the cross plate to lift the bracket assembly, after which the nuts are rotated to engage washers resting on the cross plate, firmly affixing the screw anchor to the bracket assembly. The jack can then be withdrawn and the assembly may be removed from the bolts.
Seider et al. disclose inserting a bonding composition into a sleeve that is then placed over a screw anchor. An upper bracket attached to the sleeve is then attached to the foundation. If the foundation must be lifted relative to the screw anchor, a jacking assembly is positioned on the top plate and the foundation is lifted. Once lifted, nuts are tightened onto the top plate and nuts are tightened against the seat and the jacking assembly is removed.
Raaf discloses a helical outrigger apparatus that is attached to an underpinning drive assembly for exerting an auxiliary anchoring force.
Gregory ('798) discloses arms expanded until the sleeve grasps the upper end portion of the pipe segment. The ram units are then retracted to exert a vertical force against the piling, thus lifting the foundation. A pair of nuts engage a plate to secure the system. The hydraulic ram units and lift bracket assembly and pipe segment are then removed.
Jones discloses a lifting assembly removably seated over the base of a support assembly and using two hydraulic jacks to lift the foundation. Once the foundation has been raised, the nuts are tightened against the top of the support assembly base and the jacks and the lifting assembly are removed from the support assembly.
Gregory ('206) discloses a piston that is extended to exert an upwardly-directed force against the frame which raises the upper mounting assembly and the lower mounting assembly. Rods also move upwardly a distance corresponding to the distance of the lift of the foundation. Nuts are then advanced to engage the plate, securing the foundation in its raised position.
A need still exists for an apparatus that is: (1) attachable to conventionally available piers, (2) capable of lifting the foundation to a desired level before securing it in place, (3) provides support for the foundation under both tension and compression, and (4) uses a releasable lift assembly that can be reused interchangeably with other supports.
3. Solution to the Problem
The apparatus of the present invention can be attached to conventionally available piers. In addition, the apparatus can be used to lift the foundation to a desired level before securing it in place. The apparatus also provides support for the foundation under both tension and compression. After use, the releasable jack and lift bracket can be reused interchangeably with other support members of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for lifting and supporting a foundation of a structure relative to a pier anchored into the ground. A primary object of the invention is to provide a support for the foundation under tension and compression (i.e., to provide support against heaving and sinking). Another object of the invention is to provide a removable lift assembly that can be reused with other support members, and a support member that can be used with conventionally available piers.
The apparatus comprises a support member connected to the foundation by a plate and a preferably V-shaped brace. A rod passes through the support member and is connected to the pier. Two fasteners threadably engage the rod above and below the support member, respectively. As such, the central support member can be slid along the rod between the first and second fasteners. A lift bracket is preferably removably connected to the support member and a jack is inserted between the rod and the lift bracket. The jack is operated to exert a force between the rod and the lift bracket so that the support member slides along the rod between the first and second anchors as the support member lifts the foundation. The first an
Dorr, Carson , Sloan & Birney, P.C.
Mayo Tara L.
Will Thomas B.
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