Foundation lifting assembly and method of use
A lifting assembly for raising, supporting, and stabilizing a foundation or other weighted member. An anchoring bracket, which is mounted to a piling or pier that has been driven into the ground below the location where the foundation is to be poured, is attached to a jacking assembly. The jacking assembly includes a bottom plate which rests on the upper end of the vertical support column, a hydraulic jack which rests on the bottom plate, and a top plate which is supported by the hydraulic jack. Concrete which will form the foundation is poured into the foundation mold and around the anchoring bracket which rests in said mold. The concrete foundation is allowed to cure. Support rods which are secured to the anchoring bracket and bottom and top plates, transfers the upward force generated by the hydraulic lift, from said top plate to said anchoring bracket, thus lifting the foundation to which the anchoring bracket is integrally attached.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to a U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ filed ______, the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an assembly and method for lifting supporting, and stabilizing structural building foundations and more particularly, to an assembly having an anchoring portion integrally attached to said foundation which is lifted, relative to a support column, by a jacking portion of said assembly such that said foundation is lifted off the ground.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTWhen the construction of a structure such as a house or other building is set to commence, particular attention must be paid to the stability of the ground upon which the structure will be built. The foundation of the structure must rest on stable, level ground in order to prevent damage to the foundation, and very often, the remainder of the structure.
In
The prior art is replete with various methods and apparatus for lifting preexisting foundations from the ground such that the foundation which had previously rested on unstable soil, may be suspended above the ground on posts, piers, helix pilings, or other similar vertical support structures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,024 to Rupiper (hereinafter “the Rupiper patent”) discloses an assembly and method for lifting a preexisting foundation. In
Therefore, a need exists for a lifting assembly which is capable of raising, stabilizing, and supporting a structural foundation while having at least a portion thereof, integrally attached to the foundation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, there is provided herein, a lifting assembly (and method of use) that, in its preferred embodiments, is capable of raising, stabilizing, and supporting a structural foundation such that a portion of said assembly is integrally attached to said foundation.
In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of lifting assemblies may be utilized in raising a foundation. For each lifting assembly utilized, a vertical support column, such as a drilled concrete pier or helical piling, is embedded within the ground at a point where the lifting assembly is to be used. The vertical support column should be embedded a substantial distance into the earth such that it will provide a stable support for the load of the foundation which will rest thereon. However, a portion of the upper part of the support column should extend above ground level, the length of said portion being dependent upon the distance the foundation is to be raised. An anchoring bracket, having a sleeve which defines the center of said bracket, is configured to receive the support column such that said anchoring bracket may slide along said support column. The anchoring bracket, which initially rests at ground level, also includes at least one upper support structure and at least one lower support structure which are connected by means of a plurality of upper support members. The lower support structure is also supported by lower support members, thus providing additional support for the load the anchoring bracket is configured to bear.
In another aspect of the invention, each of a plurality of holes which have been formed on the upper support structure of the anchoring bracket, receive a threaded rod which is secured thereto by a nut on the underside of said upper support structure. A jacking assembly, comprising a bottom plate, top plate, and a hydraulic jack, is configured to lift the anchoring bracket. The bottom plate is removably mounted on the top end of the vertical support column, thus providing a stable support for the lifting means, which is positioned between the bottom plate and top plate. The support rods which are secured to the anchoring bracket, extend through holes formed in each of the top and bottom plates. Nuts are fastened to support rods on the upper part of each of the top and bottom plates.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the foundation of the structure being constructed is laid by pouring concrete into the mold configured for its formation such that only the upper surface of the upper support structure of the anchoring bracket it not covered in concrete. The foundation is then allowed to cure until the concrete is stable enough to raise while being support by the anchoring bracket. Once the foundation is ready for raising, the hydraulic jack may be activated such that it presses upon the top plate while resting on the bottom plate, which provides a base of support. The upward force generated by the hydraulic jack is transferred, by the plurality of support rods, to the anchoring bracket. By this means, the anchoring bracket, which is integrally attached to the foundation, is lifted to a desired height by the hydraulic lift.
Once, the foundation has been lifted to the desired height above the ground, a pin is secured within holes formed on each of the anchoring bracket sleeve and vertical support column such the anchoring bracket may no longer slide with respect to said vertical support column. The top plate, bottom plate, and hydraulic jack may then be removed and the support rods detached such that the remainder of the rod is flush with the foundation and upper support structure of the anchoring bracket.
In another aspect of the invention, an inertial damper may be mounted between the upper support structure and the bottom plate, thus providing the foundation and the supported structure with added protection from forces generated by earthquakes and other seismic phenomena. In such an embodiment, the bottom plate is secured to the anchoring bracket.
A more complete understanding of the foundation lifting assembly of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Preferred embodiments of the lifting assembly according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReferring to
Both the upper support structure 306 and the lower support structure 308 are securely attached to the sleeve 312. The upper support structure 306 is attached to the sleeve 312 such that the top surface 314 of said upper support structure 306 is flush with the top of the sleeve 312. Upper support members 310 provide the means for connecting the upper 306 and lower support structures 308, as well as a means for supporting the load (foundation) that the anchoring bracket will bear. Lower support members (not shown) are attached to the bottom surface of the lower support structure 308 and the sleeve 312, offering additional support for the load the anchoring bracket 304 is configured to bear. A hole 316 is formed through the sleeve 312 which, after raising the anchoring bracket 304 and foundation (not shown), will align with a hole 318 formed in the vertical support column 302, thus permitting a pin (not shown) to be inserted which will restrict movement of the anchoring bracket 304 along said support column 302.
Additional holes 320 are formed in the upper support structure 306 which are configured to receive support rods 322. The threaded support rods 322 are each secured to the upper support structure 306 by nuts on the bottom surface of the upper support structure. Holes 326 are also formed on the lower support structure, giving the operator the option of securing the rods to said lower support structure 308. It should be noted that alternate embodiments of the invention may include a support means other than the threaded support rods and nuts, for connecting the jacking assembly 328, 332, 335 to the anchoring bracket 304.
A bottom plate 328 is removably mounted to the top end (not shown) of the vertical column 302 and provides a base upon which a hydraulic jack 332, or other lifting means, may rest. It should be noted that although the lifting means utilized in the presently preferred embodiment includes a hydraulic jack 332, any lifting means, is contemplated. For example, other lifting means such as a screw jack or pneumatic jack, may be utilized as the lifting means of the present invention. The underside of the bottom plate 328 may be formed in a manner so as to permit the top end (not shown) of the vertical column to mate with said bottom plate 328, thus providing additional stability during the lifting of the foundation. The top of the hydraulic jack 338 is mounted to a top plate 334. Both the bottom and top plates 328,334 have holes formed therein such that the support rods 322 which are secured to the anchoring bracket 304, extend through said top 334 and bottom plates 328. Unlike the anchoring bracket 304, the nuts 336, 330 which secure the support rods 322 to the top 334 and bottom plates 328, are secured to the upper surfaces of the said plates, thus as the hydraulic jack 332 lifts the top plate 334, the anchoring bracket 304 is also lifted as the upward force is transferred to said anchoring bracket 304 and the foundation to which it is integrally attached.
It is contemplated that in alternate embodiments of the invention, an inertial damper (not shown) may be secured between the upper support structure 306 and the bottom plate 328 in order to provide added protection from the forces generated by earthquakes and other seismic phenomena. In such an alternate embodiment, the bottom plate 328 will be secured to the upper support structure 306 by means of bolts which may be inserted into the holes 320 formed into said upper support structure 306 and bottom plate 328. Following the raising of the foundation, as each support rod 322 is removed, a support bolt may be inserted into the holes 320 and fastened with one or more nuts, thus allowing the anchoring bracket 304 to be supported by the bottom plate 328. It should be noted that during the pouring of the foundation, it may be necessary to shield the bottom plate 328 and upper support structure 306 from the concrete being poured. It should also be noted that the bottom plate 328 may be utilized to support the anchoring bracket 304 even in circumstances in which no inertial damper is mounted, as it is often difficult to gain access to the lower portion of the sleeve 312 containing the hole 316 formed therein, due to the presence of hardened concrete.
It is also contemplated that the connections between the elements of the lifting assembly 300 will be made by welds unless otherwise indicated herein (nuts, support rods, hydraulic jack, bottom plate). However, other means for attaching said elements may be effectuated, as those skilled in the art will appreciate. For example, alternate embodiments of the anchoring bracket 304 may be fabricated monolithically such that the upper support structure 306, lower support structure 308, sleeve 312, and upper and lower support members 310, 800 are all integrally attached. Those who manufacture the anchoring bracket 304 may find it less costly to fabricate said anchoring bracket 304 monolithically. It should be noted that the materials used to construct the elements of the lifting assembly 300 should be chosen with respect to their ability to support the extremely heavy loads which they will bear. Although steel is the material chosen to construct the presently preferred embodiment, any other materials which may bear the loads the lifting assembly 300 will support, are also contemplated for use in alternate embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now specifically to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Although the lifting assembly 300 of the presently preferred embodiment has been described with reference to a newly formed foundation 900, it should be noted that the lifting assembly 300 may alternately be implemented with respect to preexisting foundations 900 with only minimal changes made to the method of use described herein. In order to implement the lifting assembly 300 such that a preexisting foundation 900 may be raised, leveled, supported, or stabilized, it will be necessary to excavate a portion of said preexisting foundation 900 at the location where the lifting assembly 300 is to be utilized. A vertical support column 302 must be driven into the ground underneath the place where the lifting assembly 300 is to be used. Next, a new mold of concrete, integral to both the preexisting foundation as well as the anchoring bracket, may be poured. Rebar or other materials may be used to provide support to the newly formed concrete. The lifting assembly may then be implemented in the fashion described above.
It should be noted that the descriptions and embodiments disclosed herein are not exhaustive and are illustrative only. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
Claims
1. A lifting assembly comprising:
- (a) an anchoring bracket having a sleeve which defines a center of said bracket, said sleeve being sized and formed to mount to, and slide along, a vertical support column;
- (b) a jacking assembly having a bottom plate which is removably securable to an upper end of said vertical column, a lifting means which rests on said bottom plate, and a top plate which is supported by said lifting means; and
- (c) a plurality of support means which are removably fastened to said upper plate and said anchoring bracket;
- wherein said anchoring bracket is integrally attached to a weighted member;
- wherein said plurality of support rods transfer a lifting force generated by said lifting means from said top plate to said anchoring bracket, whereby said anchoring bracket is lifted,
- wherein a securing means secures said anchoring bracket to said vertical column.
2. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a hydraulic jack.
3. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a screw jack.
4. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises rods which are threaded and secured to said anchoring bracket and said top plate with threaded nuts.
5. The lifting assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of support rods are further fastened to said bottom plate, said support rods extending through holes formed into said bottom plate.
6. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring bracket further comprises at least one upper support structure, at least one lower support structure, and upper support members connecting said upper support structure and lower structure.
7. The lifting assembly according to claim 4 wherein said anchoring bracket further comprises a plurality of lower support members attached to said sleeve and a lower support structure of said anchoring bracket.
8. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a pin which is inserted into holes formed and aligned on said sleeve and said vertical support column, whereby said pin restricts the movement of said anchoring bracket along said vertical support column.
9. The lifting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises bolts and nuts which are adapted to attach said anchoring bracket to said bottom plate.
10. A bracket for use in positioning a foundation, said bracket comprising:
- (a) at least one lower support structure, at least one upper support structure, a centrally located jacket between said upper and lower support structures,
- wherein material forming said foundation is poured between said upper and lower support structures, whereby said foundation is integrally attached to said bracket.
11. The bracket of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of upper support members connecting said upper support structure and said lower support structure.
12. The bracket of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of lower support members connecting said jacket and said lower support structure.
13. The bracket of claim 10 wherein said upper and lower support structures each include a plurality of holes formed therein whereby support rods may be inserted and secured thereto.
14. The bracket of claim 10 wherein said anchoring bracket is fabricated monolithically.
15. A method of lifting a foundation above the ground to a desired height, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing an anchoring bracket having a sleeve which defines a center of said bracket, said sleeve being sized and formed to mount to, and slide along, a vertical support column;
- (b) providing a jacking assembly having a bottom plate which is removably securable to an upper end of said vertical column, a lifting means which rests on said bottom plate, and a top plate which is supported by said lifting means;
- (c) providing a plurality of support means which are removably fastened to said top plate and said anchoring bracket;
- (d) pouring concrete into a foundation mold such that said anchoring bracket is integrally attached to said foundation; and
- (e) said lifting means delivers an upward force to said top plate which is imparted to said anchoring bracket, whereby said anchoring bracket and foundation are raised to a desired height.
16. The method of lifting a foundation above the ground to a desired height according to claim 15, further comprising a step of securing the anchoring bracket to the vertical support column by inserting a pin through holes formed in each of the vertical support column and the anchoring bracket.
17. The methods of lifting a foundation above the ground to a desired height according to claim 15, further comprising a step of attaching the anchoring bracket to said bottom plate, whereby said anchoring bracket is secured to said bottom plate and support by said vertical support column.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 22, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 24, 2008
Inventors: Wilson D. Roberts (Austin, TX), Trent D. Fuller (Fort Worth, TX)
Application Number: 11/656,161