METHOD AND SYSTEM OF RAISING AN EXISTING HOUSE IN A FLOOD OR STORM SURGE

Abstract

A method and system for raising an existing structure without use of electrical power, such as a home, during a flood condition in which pilings are positioned adjacent to an existing foundation. Pile guides are attached to the structure and are used to receive and guide the pilings during raising of the structure. A buoyancy layer is formed below the floor of the structure. During a flood condition, the buoyancy layer raises the entire structure upwardly along the pilings to support the structure above the flood waters.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system of retrofitting an existing structure such that it can be raised in a flood or storm surge to prevent damage to the structure and contents within the structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Floods and storm surges can cause havoc on building structures. Solutions have been provided to provide flood and wind resistant construction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,207 describes a lifting component, termed a liquilift, which acts to raise the objects being protected above the rising water. In one form a generally rectangular support frame, to which the object being protected is attached, is supported by four liquilifts, disposed near the corners of the support frame. Controls are used to sense the level of rising water, and to maintain the support frame in a horizontal position. A power supply is used to activate the components.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,466 describes a housing unit mobile between two positions, one supported on the ground and the other floating. The housing unit includes a frame, floating elements and guiding elements designed to be installed in a flood-risk area. The guiding elements include at least two masts fixed in the ground and arranged in the median plane of the construction along an axis F substantially parallel to the flow direction of the water and collars, designed to slide along the masts.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,451 discloses building construction of a buoyant raft foundation with steel pipe anchor and bent steel plate guide assemblies attached at corners of foundation. The raft foundation is uniformly supported on grade during dry conditions, and on water during flood conditions. The corner anchor/guide assemblies resist wind forces during dry conditions, and provide lateral stability during flood conditions. The raft foundation has plumbing trenches and access space that permit continued use of the building utilities during a flood.

The previously described patents are directed to new construction and would be impossible or extremely expensive to be used with existing construction. It is desirable to provide a method and system for retrofitting an existing home to provide buoyancy to the home during a flood condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for raising an existing structure, such as a home, during a flood condition. The home can be raised without power requirements as a passive method. The raised home prevents damage to the home and contents within the home due to flooding or storm surge. Pilings are positioned adjacent to an existing foundation of the structure. Pile guides are attached to the structure and are used to receive and guide the pilings. A buoyancy layer is formed below the floor of the structure. During a flood condition, the buoyancy layer raises the entire structure above the flood waters. The pile guides guide the structure upwardly along the pilings as the structure is raised. The pile guides do not support the load of the structure. The pile guides provide support of lateral forces from a flooding condition or storm surge.

The buoyancy layer can be integrated to a sub-floor and floor assembly of the structure. The buoyancy layer can be formed of buoyant insulation foam to provide necessary flotation of the structure as well a providing thermal insulation to the sub-floor and floor assembly. The system can include retractable mesh to act as a debris netting.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective diagram of the system of the present invention for raising an existing structure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of structural frame components that can be used in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of components that can be used in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away schematic diagram of the structural frame in a normal condition.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away schematic diagram of the structural frame in a flood condition.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure in a normal condition.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure in a flooded condition.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure in a buoyant condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is perspective schematic diagram of system for raising an existing structure during a flood condition 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. For example, structure 11 can be a house having a wood frame with a crawl space below a floor assembly. Structure 11 is supported on foundation 12.

Pilings 14 are positioned at a plurality of positions adjacent foundation 12. For example, pilings 14 can be positioned at a plurality of corners of foundation 12. Pilings 14 can be driven into the ground adjacent to foundation 12. Pilings 14 can be marine pylons formed of fiberglass. Piling 14 can be architecturally integrated or concealed within structure 11.

Pile guides 16 attach to structure 11. Pile guides 16 receive and guide pilings 14 during movement of structure 11. Buoyancy layer 18 is formed below floor 19 of structure 11. For example buoyancy layer 18 can be received in a crawl space of the structure.

In one embodiment, structural frame 20 includes pilings 14, pile guides 16 and buoyancy layer 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Pile guides 16 are positioned at corners 22 of frame 20. Piles guides 16 can be coupled or integral with frame sections 24. Structural frame 20 can be formed of metal and set into slots in foundation 12. Buoyancy layer 18 is formed of a material to support structure 11, such as 55 PCF floatation capacity. Buoyancy layer 18 can provide insulation and be formed of one or more blocks. Alternatively, a suitable material for buoyancy layer 18 is insulation spray foam 19.

Pile guides 16 can include a plurality of rollers 30 attached to pile guide frame 32 with arm members 34 as shown in FIG. 3. Piling 14 is received between rollers 30 as shown in FIG. 3. Pile extension 40 can be coupled or integral with piling 14 for extending the length of piling 14 to compensate for a change in flood elevation without using electrical power. For example piling 14 can have a length which is two to four feet above known flood limits and extension 40 can be used to further extend the flood limits.

Retractable flood mesh 50 can extend downwardly from structural frame 20 during a flood condition. Retractable flood mesh 50 extends between structure 11 and foundation 12 for preventing floating debris from being received under structure 11. Retractable flood mesh 50 can be formed of heavy plastic.

Utility quick disconnect apparatus 60 can be used for disconnecting utilities, such as water and gas. Utility quick disconnect apparatus 60 can include a pressure release coupling for plumbing. Utility quick disconnect apparatus 60 can also include flexible and extendible utility connections, such as coiled connections.

FIG. 4 illustrates structural frame 20 including buoyant layer 18 between floor 19 and foundation 12 in a normal condition. FIG. 5 illustrates structural frame 20 including buoyancy layer 18 in which buoyancy layer 18 floats as flood water rises.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of system 10 in a normal condition. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of system 10 in a flooded condition before raising of structure 11.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of system 10 in a buoyant condition. Pile guides 16 move upwardly in the direction of arrow A₁ along pilings 14 as buoyant layer 18 raises structure 11 without applying electrical power.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for raising a structure comprising:

one or more pilings adapted to be positioned adjacent the structure;

one or more pile guides attached to the structure, each of the one or more pile guides guiding a respective one of the one or more pilings; and

a buoyancy layer associated with the structure,

wherein said buoyancy layer floats during a flooded condition to raise said structure along said one or more pilings.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said structure is an existing structure and said one or more pilings are positioned adjacent said existing structure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more pilings are positioned at one or more corners of a foundation of said structure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said structure is a frame with a crawl space below a floor assembly supported on a foundation, said one or more pilings are positioned at one or more corners of the foundation.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said one or more pilings are driven into the ground adjacent the one or more corners of the foundation.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said buoyancy layer is received in the crawl space.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said buoyancy layer is insulation spray foam.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more pilings are formed of fiberglass.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said buoyancy layer is formed below a floor of said structure.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more pile guides are coupled or integral with a frame.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said frame is set into slots in a foundation of said structure.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more pile guides comprise a pile guide frame and one or more rollers attached to the pile guide frame.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more pile extensions, said one or more pile extensions being coupled or integral with said one or more pilings.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a retractable flood mesh extending downwardly from said structure.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said structure comprises a structural frame and a foundation, said retractable flood mesh being attached to said structural frame and wherein said retractable flood mesh extends between said structural frame and said foundation for preventing floating debris from being received under said structure.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said buoyancy layer comprises one or more insulation blocks.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a utility quick disconnect apparatus for disconnecting utilities from said structure.

16. A method for raising a structure comprising:

inserting one or more pilings into ground adjacent the structure;

attaching one or more pile guides to the structure, each of the one or more pile guides receiving a respective one of the one or more pilings; and

associating a buoyancy layer associated with the structure,

wherein said buoyancy layer floats during a flooded condition to raise said structure along said one or more pilings

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said one or more pilings are positioned at one or more corners of a foundation of said structure.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said buoyancy layer is an insulation spray foam sprayed onto said structure or in a crawl space of said structure.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said one or more pile guides comprise a pile guide frame and one or more rollers attached to the pile guide frame.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

disconnecting utilities from said structure.