Footing tube foundation

Abstract

A building foundation form apparatus and method uses column assemblies to transfer building loads into a concrete footing formed using a flexible tube form element with slits on the top to allow the column assemblies to make contact with the concrete. Rigid panels infill between the floor assembly and footing, to allow back filling.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119(E)e to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/611,269 filed on Sep. 21, 2004, which received Confirmation Number 4999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of forming a foundation for a premanufactured building or floor panel by using a flexible tube form element to form the concrete footing in conjunction with steel columns and infill panels to transfer the building loads from the floor structure through the concrete footing and into the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foundations for premanufactured buildings are typically done by forming and pouring a concrete foundation and then setting the building on the foundation either by rolling the structure in place, or by using a crane. Numerous problems result from the inaccuracy of the site built foundation matching the premanufactured building.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,321, the inventor proposes hanging wall forming panels from the perimeter of the floor in combination with a footing flexible form means. However the wall panels are cumbersome, and are difficult to adapt to uneven ground. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,393 provides a more elegant solution to the cumbersome wall forms, using a plurality of form stiffeners and a flexible sheet element to form both the walls and footing. However problems of uplift can be encountered when pouring the wall and footing at the same time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,377 proposed using a pier member to join the beam member of the premanufactured structure to the footing bag containing concrete. However this patent is used with steel beams located inside the perimeter of the structure, and cannot provide a means of providing a wall around the perimeter of the structure so that excavated material can be backfilled against the foundation.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method wherein a premanufactured structure can be supported on the perimeter using a flexible tube form to form the concrete footing, steel columns to transfer the building loads to the footing, and infill panels to allow backfilling of materials against this foundation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for installing a footing and foundation wall after the premanufactured building has been driven onto the building site, using a floater trailer and located in the desired position. Height adjustable steel columns are hung and attached from the rim joist on sufficient spacing to transfer the building loads to the footing. Infill panels are fastened to the rim joist at the top, and the columns on each side. The flexible tube form element is then laid on the ground around the perimeter directly underneath the columns and rigid panels. Slits can be cut on the top of the tube form so that each steel column base is placed inside the tube form. Temporary adjustable piers can be located under every third (approximately) column base to temporarily support the building load so the floater trailer can be removed. Concrete is then pumped inside the flexible tube form element creating the footing.

A detailed disclosure following, related to drawings, describes apparatus and method of several embodiments of the invention, which apparatus and method other than those particularly described and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the column and rigid panel installed, and the footing tube form laid out on the ground with steel reinforcing installed;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, showing two adjacent column assemblies, with the flexible tube form element laid out on the ground;

FIG. 3 is a continuation of FIG. 2, showing the rigid panel attached to the columns, with the ground sloping off to the right side;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, a continuation of FIG. 1, showing the tube form filled with concrete, and thereby making contact with the column and rigid panel;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation partially in section, where the top of the flexible tube form element has been slit to allow the insertion of the column base inside the tube.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation partially in section, showing a temporary support installed inside the flexible tube form element.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation, a continuation of FIG. 6, showing the flexible tube form element pumped full of concrete.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 a building site surface or ground 18 is shown, with the premanufactured structure 1 or floor assembly 2 being supported temporarily on a floater transport trailer used to transport the structure from the manufacturing plant to the building site.

The trailer (not shown) is used to position the premanufactured structure into exact position on the building site. Then the column assembly 6 is attached to the floor assembly 2 by using appropriate fasteners 16 to attach the column top flange 15 to the rim joist 5. Most likely, the column assembly would be manufactured from steel to ensure adequate strength. Appropriate fasteners may be screws, nuts and bolts, or if the rim joist is steel, the fastener could be the welding of the flange to the joist. In order to provide lateral stability to the column, a brace 14 is fastened using a nut and bolt 11 to the lower part of the column 7 and to the bottom of the nearest floor joist 4 using a fastener 16. An angle of 45 degrees would be normal for such brace.

As the column assemblies are used to transfer the structural loads into the footing concrete 24, they would be spaced about 5 feet on center around the perimeter of the premanufactured structure 1.

To accommodate uneven ground, the column assembly 6 could have a telescoping portion 9 that slides up and down inside the column body 7. As the ground height increases, the telescoping portion would be raised so that the distance from the ground to the column base 12 is always constant, about 5 inches. Holes 10 in the telescoping portion would allow a nut and bolt 11 to affix the telescoping elements at the correct height as well as attach the lower portion of the brace 14.

A rigid panel 17 would then be attached to the bottom of the rim joist (not shown) and to the column body using panel attachment flanges 8 and fastening means 16. In the preferred embodiment, the rigid panel would be made of a rigid insulation board about 2″ in thickness and covered with a cementitious finish to protect the insulation from site damage. The panels would 8 to 12 feet in length, with a height equal or less than the column assembly 7. The panels should be of sufficient strength to withstand lateral forces from the backfilled material.

The flexible tube form element 19 would be unrolled under the column assemblies and rigid panels in preparation of the placing of concrete. This flexible tube form element could be made of a flexible woven fabric or geotextile material, sewn or welded into a long tube of constant circumference. The circumference would be such that when filled with concrete, the desired footing contact width and height would be obtained. For example, a 54″ circumference would provide a concrete footing with a 16″ width and 8″ height. The rolls could be about 120′ long, or they could come in 20′ lengths to aid in the placement of reinforcing steel. The tube could have premanufactured slits on the top of the tube, spaced at about 2″ on center, so that the column base 12 could be inserted in the tube as an alternative embodiment. The slit must run perpendicular to the roll length so that it will not open under the concrete pressure. Slits could also be cut on site by the contractor, should the contractor wish to use the alternative method.

In FIG. 2, a front elevation is shown of the proposed invention, showing two adjacent column assemblies 6 attached to the rim joist 5. In this building site, the ground is sloping off approximately 2″ over the distance between the two columns. To accommodate this difference, the contractor has lowered the telescoping portion 9 of the column assembly, and affixed in a hole 10 using a nut and bolt 11. Therefore the distance between the bottom of the column 12 and the ground 18 remains approximately constant. This will ensure the footing maintains a constant thickness, which is required by the structural loads. The installation of the rigid panel 17 as an infill between the adjacent column assemblies 6 is shown in FIG. 3. The bottom edge has been trimmed with a saw to accommodate the height difference of the two column assemblies 6. Fasteners 16 are used to attach the panel to the panel attachment flanges 8. The flexible tube form element 19 is unrolled on the ground as shown, directly below the columns and panel.

The contractor will then fill the flexible tube form element with concrete as shown in FIG. 4. A concrete pump must be used, with the hose either being placed in a slit in the tube, or through a joint. The tube will be blown up by the concrete until the desired height is obtained as shown in FIG. 4 or the alternative, FIG. 5. Note that the bulge in the footing tube will hold the base of the rigid panel 17 in position, as well as the column base 12. If wind uplift is a problem on the building site, then uplift pins can be punctured through the top of the tube fabric and into the concrete. This is easily done once the tube has been filled with concrete. A liquifier could be used in the concrete to make it flow well inside the tube form.

As an alternative, FIG. 5 shows where the contractor desires to place the base of the column 12 inside the tube form. To do this, he will slit the top of the bag about 6″ long perpendicular to the tube direction. Then he will insert the column base 12 and steel reinforcing inside the tube form 19 as shown. In FIG. 6 a temporary support 22 with threaded adjustor 23 is shown. These supports would be used to take the structural loads so that the delivery trailer could be removed. The supports would be left in the concrete and form part of the foundation assembly, as shown in FIG. 7. Typically the temporary supports would be installed at about 12′ on center around the perimeter.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A building foundation apparatus adapted to vertically engage the floor assembly of a building structure with the ground, comprising:

a. A column member having an upper and lower end;

b. A fastening means for connecting the upper end of column member to floor assembly;

c. A rigid panel of sufficient area to infill between the floor assembly and a portion of column member height;

d. Fastening means for connecting rigid panel to floor assembly and column members;

e. A flexible tube form element positioned under said column members and rigid panel;

f. A flowable and settable foundation material placed in said flexible tube form element so as to inflate and engage the lower column end and lower rigid panel edge;

2. A foundation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of column is supported by an adjustable pier;

3. A foundation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rigid panel has insulation capability;

4. A building foundation apparatus adapted to vertically engage the floor assembly of a building structure with the ground, comprising:

a. A column member having an upper and lower end;

b. A fastening means for connecting the upper end of column member to floor assembly;

c. A rigid panel of sufficient area to infill between the floor assembly and a portion of column member height;

d. Fastening means for connecting the rigid panel to floor assembly and column members;

e. A flowable and settable foundation material into which said lower end of column member is embedded;

f. A flexible tube form element with slits on the upper side such that: i. the lower end of the column member penetrates the slit, ii. the flowable and settable foundation material is contained by the flexible tube form element;

5. A foundation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lower end of column is supported by an adjustable pier;

6. A foundation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rigid panel has insulation capability;

7. A method for installing a building foundation apparatus comprising:

a. Attaching a column, having an upper and lower end, such that said upper end is fastened to floor assembly, while lower end is suspended above ground;

b. Attaching a rigid panel such that the upper edge of panel is fastened to floor assembly and body of panel attached to column members;

c. Laying out flexible tube form element on ground under said columns and rigid panels;

d. Pumping a flowable and settable material into said flexible tube form element so as to inflate and engage the lower end of column and lower edge of rigid panel;

8. A method for installing a building foundation apparatus comprising:

a. Attaching a column, having an upper and lower end, such that said upper end is fastened to floor assembly, while lower end is suspended above ground;

b. Attaching a rigid panel such that the upper edge of panel is fastened to floor assembly; body of panel attached to column members;

c. Laying out flexible tube form element on ground under said columns and rigid panels;

d. Cutting slits on top of flexible tube form element and inserting column base inside the flexible tube form element;

e. Pumping a flowable and settable material into said flexible tube form element so as to inflate and engage the lower end of column and lower edge of rigid panel.