Air Injection Devices for Foundation Heave Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foundation heave due to soil expansion causes differential movement, leading to structural, cosmetic, and functional distress in buildings, which existing methods fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising compressed air sources, dry air sources, and heat sources to deliver air with controlled humidity and temperature through elongated air injection devices into the soil to reduce soil expansion forces, using air injection devices with perforations and helical blades to stabilize the foundation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If air injection devices are used to reduce soil expansion forces, then foundation heave is alleviated, but the system complexity increases due to multiple components (compressed air source, dry air source, heat source, aftercooler)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoundation stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple air treatment functions (compression, drying, heating, cooling) into an integrated system that delivers controlled air to the injection devices. The compressed air source, dry air source, heat source, and aftercooler work together as a unified system to provide air with specific properties (low humidity, controlled temperature) to the injection devices, thereby reducing soil expansion forces and foundation heave while managing system complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If dry air with low relative humidity is supplied to reduce soil moisture, then soil expansion is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to compression and drying processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil expansionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the air supplied to the soil by controlling its temperature, pressure, and humidity. The compressed air source increases pressure, the dry air source reduces humidity to ≤30% (preferably ≤5%), and the heat source raises temperature to at least 150°F. These parameter changes transform the air into a medium that effectively reduces soil moisture and expansion forces, addressing the harmful effect of soil expansion while accepting the energy cost of achieving these parameter changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If air is heated to high temperature to evaporate soil moisture, then soil shrinkage is accelerated, but risk of thermal damage to foundation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil shrinkage rateVSAvoidthermal damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of water in the soil by heating air to at least 150°F to evaporate soil moisture. The heat source raises the air temperature, and when this heated air contacts the moist soil, it causes water to transition from liquid to vapor phase, accelerating soil shrinkage. The aftercooler then condenses excess moisture from the air stream itself, demonstrating controlled use of phase transitions to achieve productivity gains while managing potential harmful thermal effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces soil expansion forces, alleviating foundation heave and associated structural, cosmetic, and functional distress by shrinking the soil beneath the foundation, thereby stabilizing the structure.

Implementation Method 1

a compressed air source configured to propel air having a relative humidity that is less than or equal to 30 percent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressed air: Gas Compressor

Implementation Method 2

the conduit configured to be in fluid communication with the compressed air source such that the conduit receives air propelled by the compressed air source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a heat source configured to supply air having a temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit to the conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

shrinking the soil beneath the foundation, thereby stabilizing the structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal shrinkage: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 5

an aftercooler in fluid communication with the one or more air injection devices and configured to cool air supplied to the conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS10961682B1System and methods for concrete slab foundation repair

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 WILLIAMS JOHN DUSTIN

AI summary

The present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for correcting foundation heave. Some systems may include a compressed air source configured to propel air having a relative humidity that is less than or equal to 30 percent and one or more air injection devices each configured to be disposed within an earth formation to deliver the air. Some air injection devices include an elongated body having: a length that is greater than or equal to 3 feet, a sidewall that defines a conduit extending along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body, the conduit being configured to be in fluid communication with the compressed air source, and a plurality of perforations, each extending through the sidewall and in fluid communication with the conduit.