Importance

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Abstract

A foundation is stabilized with a pier that extends downwardly from the foundation into the underlying surface material and at its lower end preferably bears against bedrock. At its upper end the pier is attached to the foundation through a bracket having a sleeve and a rod directed generally radially from the sleeve. To drive the pier, a hole is first drilled into the foundation wall, and the rod of the bracket is inserted into the hole, so that the sleeve lies along the wall. A jacking apparatus is fitted to the bracket, and it includes a lift member that actually engages the sleeve and a hydraulic cylinder that is located above the lift member and sleeve. The pier comprises sections which are fitted individually into the sleeve and are driven downwardly with the cylinder, with all but the first section being coupled to the section immediately below it. As the downwardly directed force is applied by the cylinder an upwardly directed reaction force is exerted on the sleeve of the bracket, and this force is transmitted to the wall through the rod. Eventually the pier encounters bedrock or other firm resistance, at which time the uppermost pier section is secured permanently to the sleeve of the bracket so as to support the foundation wall.

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First Claim