Patent Application
20140259989
The disclosure relates generally to foundation construction and repair and, more particularly, to a pivoting bracket that may be used to support a foundation, such as a slab foundation.
Buildings, including houses, office buildings, strip malls and the like, are often constructed such that a building frame rests on a foundation. Foundation types are generally known and can include concrete slabs, reinforced concrete slabs, pier-and-beam, footings, and other types. Sometimes foundations include structures that are deep enough to contact, or tie into, solid strata such as bedrock. Other foundations are made shallow and rest on soil above the bedrock. These foundations may include structures, such as concrete slabs for example, that distribute the weight of the building across a relatively large area of the soil.
Changing soil conditions and/or improper building construction can result in portions of the building sagging or drooping. This can be caused by parts of the foundation sinking where the soil conditions are insufficient to support the structure. The sagging and drooping can, in turn, cause damage to the frame, drywall, flooring, plumbing, and other components of the building.
When a foundation structure such as a slab sinks, it becomes necessary to raise the sinking portion and support it such that it does not re-settle or sink further. Prior techniques have involved jacking up the slab and positioning pilings below the foundation for support. However, the pilings are not in contact with the solid strata, so additional foundation sinking can still occur. Additionally, these techniques can be very expensive and can be visually unpleasing as the repair components such as the pilings are typically visible after the repair work is completed.
Moreover, sometimes a foundation needs support within the perimeter boundaries of the foundation and in an area that is not easily reached from outside the edges of the foundation. For example, with a concrete slab foundation, support is sometimes needed in an area within the slab boundaries. In certain areas such as this, supporting an edge of the slab is not sufficient. And, reaching certain interior areas from the exterior of the structure over the foundation, or from the outer edges of the foundation, may involve extensive excavation. This may include substantial drilling and tunneling underneath the structure, from the outside or outer edges, to reach the area that needs support. This can be cost-prohibitive. Prior methods have involved drilling a hole through the foundation, inserting a support device and raising the support device to support the slab. Once such prior method, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,376 issued to Bracken et al., involves the use of a relatively complex support bracket. The bracket has a sleeve through which a support shaft is positioned. The bracket also includes a number of arms that move from a retracted position to an extended position. The bracket is inserted through the foundation hold with the arms in the retracted position. The arms are then adjusted to the extended position and the bracket is moved upward to engage the foundation.
Retraction and extension of the arms, however, is relatively complex. To adjust the arms to the retracted position, an adjustable collar around the support shaft is moved downwardly. This is accomplished by downward movement of a plate support that is coupled to the collar by way of several threaded rods. The downward motion of the collar pulls on linkage arms that are connected to the underside of the support arms, thereby pulling the outer ends of the support arms in a downward direction. When the bracket is in the foundation hole, the plate support is lifted to pull up the collar, thereby forcing up the outer ends of the support arms into an extended position. The plate support must be fixed on the threaded arms. Then a hydraulic ram may be used to lift the bracket, and thereby lift the support arms upwardly against the bottom of the foundation.
Certain embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and methods for supporting a foundation structure, such as, for example, a concrete slab foundation. The apparatus includes a pivoting bracket which enables the apparatus to be inserted through a hole in the foundation. The bracket may be pivoted to a first position to insert the bracket into the hole. The bracket may then be pivoted to a second position to enable support arms of the bracket to engage the bottom of the foundation. The bracket may then be raised to lift and/or support the foundation.
In one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a sleeve for accepting a support structure. The apparatus also includes a pivoting bracket coupled to the sleeve. The pivoting bracket has at least two arms extending away from the sleeve in two different directions. The pivoting bracket is rotatable to move one of the arms in a first direction and the other of the arms in a second direction different from the first direction.
In another example, a method of lifting and supporting a foundation is provided. A first step includes forming a hole in the foundation. A second step includes placing a support structure in the hole and in strata underneath the foundation. A third step includes placing a pivoting bracket on the foundation structure. The pivoting bracket has at least two arms. A fourth step includes rotating the pivoting bracket to a first position, where a transverse dimension of the pivoting bracket is less than a transverse dimension of the hole. A fifth step includes moving the bracket through the hole. A sixth step includes rotating the pivoting bracket to a second position where the transverse dimension of the pivoting bracket is greater than the transverse dimension of the hole.
One or more of the embodiments may provide some, none, or all of certain of the following advantages. One advantage is that an apparatus is provided, which may be easily inserted into a hole in a foundation and subsequently used to lift and support the foundation. Another advantage is that the apparatus is easier to make and use, and is less costly than, other devices used to support foundations. Another advantage is that the apparatus may be used to lift and support foundations in areas that cannot be easily reached from the perimeter of the foundation.
Another advantage may be realized due to the configuration of the pivoting bracket. In certain embodiments, the bracket has opposed integrated arms. Also, in certain embodiments, the pivoting bracket is freely moveable about its pivot pin. Therefore, when the bracket is in a support position, force applied to the bracket apparatus is equally distributed between the arms.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Various embodiments are illustrated in
As shown in
Apparatus 10 includes a pivoting bracket 12, which pivots, or rotates, about a pair of transverse pivot pins 14. Pivoting bracket 12, as well as other components of apparatus 10, may be formed from any suitable material, such as, for example, case hardened steel or cast iron. As shown further in
Referring again to
Pivoting bracket 12 has a hole in each of the respective side walls 13, through which a pivot pin 14 may be inserted. Pivot pins 14 are affixed to sleeve 16 such that pivoting bracket 12 may pivot with respect to sleeve 16. Seat portions 20 each have a recessed portion 22 on an inner edge thereof. Recessed portions 22 allow the respective seat portions 22 to clear, or avoid contact with, outward edges of the slab bracket plate 18 when pivoting bracket 12 is rotated. As shown further in
Pivoting bracket 12 may be rotated into a second, or support, position as illustrated in
It should be understood that although apparatus 10 and pivoting bracket 12 are illustrated having a particular configuration, changes may be made which are within the scope of the claims. For example, pivoting bracket 12 does not necessarily have to have a V-shaped side profile. Preferably, pivoting bracket 12 has at least two opposed arms, each having a surface portion that may engage a surface of a foundation structure. Pivoting bracket 12 should be able to pivot, or rotate, about an axis such that arms of pivoting bracket 12 are not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of sleeve 16, and the seat portions are not parallel to slab bracket plate 18. In a second, or support, position, pivoting bracket 12 defines a transverse axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 16. Rotating the pivoting bracket 12 toward the first position causes the transverse axis of the pivoting bracket to become non-perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 16. As illustrated in
Preferably, pivoting bracket 12 is freely rotatable about its pivot point. That is, pivoting bracket may rotate about its pivot point without engaging additional mechanical components, such as screws, threaded bolts, levers, or linkage arms. In this regard, the rotation of pivoting bracket 12 is less complex than other devices. Also, when pivoting bracket is in the support position and the apparatus is lifted upwardly against the foundation, the lifting force is applied through both of the opposed arms of pivoting bracket 12 to the contact surface of the foundation.
It should also be noted that the shape of seat portions 20 may be varied as long as the seat portions can, preferably, clear the slab bracket plate when the pivoting bracket is rotated between the first and second positions. However, it is within the scope of the disclosure to have seat portions that do not clear the slab bracket plate as long as the pivoting bracket may be rotated enough to reduce its overall transverse dimension sufficiently to be inserted through a hole in the foundation. Also, while the slab bracket plate 18 is illustrated as having a generally oval shape, other shapes may be used. Preferably, slab bracket plate 18 has a least one hole, through which a guide rod may be disposed as described elsewhere herein. Further, although sleeve 16 is illustrated as being cylindrical, other shapes may be employed, particularly depending on the shape and cross section of support structure 30.
As shown further in
First seating plate 46 is placed upon apparatus 10 by feeding guide rods 42 through holes 48 in seating plate 46. Preferably, first seating plate 46 has a similar shape, and similar dimensions, to that of slab bracket plate 18. However, first seating plate 46 may have alternate shapes and dimensions. Preferably, holes 48 correspond to holes 24 in that they are disposed vertically and substantially directly above holes 24 when first seating plate 46 is mounted onto guide rods 42. First seating plate 46 is preferably slid downwardly along guide rods 42 until first seating plate 46 seats against, and on top of, an exposed upper end of foundation support structure 30. First seating plate 46 is tightened against the upper end of support 30 by tightening connectors 44, which may be any suitable type of connector. As connectors are tightened, apparatus 10 is drawn upwardly so that seat portions 20 engage lower surface 38 of foundation 34. At this point, apparatus 10 is supporting foundation 34.
As shown in
Second guide rods 62 are attached to exposed ends of first guide rods 42 by couplers 64. Second seating plate 70 is attached to the apparatus by feeding guide rods through holes in second seating plate 70, similar to that done with first guide rods 42 and first seating plate 46. Second seating plate 70 is slid downwardly along second guide rods 62 until second seating plate 70 is firmly seated upon an upper end of lifting device 68. Second seating plate 70 is secured by connectors 66. Once second seating plate 70 is secured to apparatus 10, then lifting device 68 may be engaged to lift second seating plate 70. Because the various components are now interconnected, the upward force against second seating plate 70 draws apparatus 10 in an upward direction, thereby lifting foundation 34. Once foundation 34 is in the desired position, apparatus 10 may be affixed to support structure 30. This may be accomplished by any suitable method, including, for example, welding or otherwise coupling sleeve 16, or another suitable portion of apparatus 10, to support structure 30. Now foundation 34 is supported in the desired position.
An example method of using apparatus 12 to lift and support a foundation structure will now be described. It should be understood that the various steps in the method are examples only, and variations in the steps, as well as variations in the order of the steps, are encompassed by this description. Likewise, steps may be added or deleted and the resulting methods are still within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
In a first step, a hole is created in a foundation, such as, for example, the hole 32 in foundation 34 illustrated in
In a second step, a support structure, such as a foundation support pipe, is driven into the strata in the hole. Preferably, the support structure is driven to a point where the downward end comes into contact with solid strata such as bedrock.
In a third step, a foundation support apparatus, such as that illustrated in
In a fourth step, the pivoting bracket of the apparatus is pivoted. The pivoting bracket may be pivoted either direction to place the pivoting bracket in a first, or insertion position. Preferably, the pivoting bracket is pivoted at least to a point where the apparatus will clear the sides of the hole as the apparatus is lowered along the length of the support structure. In this position, the bracket may be pivoted so far as to permit the seating portion at the downward arm of the bracket to clear the slab bracket plate of the apparatus. In the first position, the pivoting bracket has a transverse dimension that is less than a transverse dimension of the hole. That is, the overall horizontal dimension of the pivoting bracket is less than the width of the hole.
In a fifth step, the apparatus is slid downwardly along the support structure to a point where pivoting the pivoting bracket back to a second, or support, position may be accomplished without the bracket being impeded by the foundation. That is, the apparatus is low enough such that the pivoting bracket may be pivoted to the support position without the bracket arms and the seating portions hitting the foundation.
In a sixth step, the pivoting bracket is pivoted into a second, or support, position. This may be accomplished by pivoting the pivoting bracket in a direction opposite that done in the fourth step. In the second dimension, the pivoting bracket has a transverse dimension that is greater than a transverse dimension of the hole. That is, the pivoting bracket has an overall horizontal dimension that is greater than the width of the hole.
In a seventh step, a pair of first guide rods is attached to the slab bracket plate of the apparatus. This may be accomplished by threading a nut onto each first guide rod, feeding an end of the rod through its respective hole in the slab bracket plate of the apparatus, and threading another nut onto the guide rod on the opposite side of the slab bracket plate from the first nut.
In an eighth step, a first seating plate is placed onto the upper ends of the first guide rods. This may be accomplished by feeding the upper ends of the first guide rods through holes in the first seating plate. The first seating plate is moved downwardly along the first guide rods until it seats firmly against an upper, exposed end of the support structure. The first seating guide is then fixed in place with its connectors. This draws the seating portions of the pivoting bracket into engagement with the underside surface of the foundation.
In a ninth step, a lifting device is placed onto the first seating plate.
In a tenth step, second guide rods are affixed to exposed upper ends of the first guide rods.
In an eleventh step, a second seating plate is placed onto the upper ends of the second guide rods. The second seating plate is moved downwardly along the second guide rods until the second seating plate is firmly engaged with an upper end of the lifting device. The second seating plate is then fixed in place with its connectors.
In a twelfth step, the lifting device is lifted to raise the second seating plate, thereby lifting the foundation. The foundation is raised to a desired level.
In a thirteenth step, the apparatus is affixed to the support structure. This may be accomplished, for example, by affixing the sleeve of the apparatus to the support structure. For instance, the sleeve of the apparatus may be welded to the support structure.
In a fourteenth step, the hole in the foundation is repaired.
It should be understood that
Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be ascertained by those skilled in the art and it is intended that the present invention encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations and modifications as falling within the spirit and scope of this description.
While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.
