Expendable Fluid Drive Actuators for Foundation Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydraulic and pneumatic lifting assemblies for slab foundations are not designed to sustain continual downward forces and often fail due to maintenance issues and stressful environments, leading to potential foundation sinking or collapse.

Innovation Solution

The use of expendable fluid drive actuators with a piston housing and ram, configured with fluid pressure mechanisms and locking mechanisms to retain the foundation in a lifted position, utilizing chemically curable media or locking mechanisms to endure the weight of the foundation and its occupants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hydraulic and pneumatic lifting assemblies are used to raise a slab foundation, then the foundation can be lifted to the desired position, but the actuators often fail due to maintenance issues and stressful environments, leading to potential foundation sinking or collapse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable hydraulic cylinders that are installed in a compressed state and then expanded to lift the foundation. These cylinders are designed to be replaced rather than maintained, eliminating the reliability issues associated with conventional actuators that require ongoing maintenance. The disposable nature ensures consistent performance without degradation from maintenance issues or environmental stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Force

If conventional actuators are used for foundation lifting, then lifting capability is achieved, but they are not designed to sustain continual downward forces from the weight of the foundation and occupants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting forceVSAvoidsustained load duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic cylinders are pre-installed in a compressed state within the foundation structure during construction. This preliminary installation ensures they are positioned to sustain continual downward forces from the beginning, rather than being added later as retrofits. The cylinders are designed to bear the full weight of the foundation and occupants continuously, not just during periodic lifting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If lifting assemblies are installed underneath a lifted slab foundation, then the foundation can be raised, but the assemblies become difficult to access for maintenance and repairs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By designating the hydraulic cylinders as disposable components, the patent eliminates the need for maintenance and repairs entirely. The cylinders are installed to perform their lifting function and then remain in place to sustain loads, with no requirement for access or intervention. This approach trades the initial installation complexity for complete elimination of future maintenance needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

The system effectively maintains the foundation in a lifted position, mitigating the failure issues of conventional actuators by using expendable components that remain with the foundation, resisting gravitational forces and ensuring long-term stability.

Implementation Method 1

fluid pressure mechanisms and locking mechanisms to retain the foundation in a lifted position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

utilizing chemically curable media or locking mechanisms to endure the weight of the foundation and its occupants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical curing: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS10422102B1Systems and methods using expendable fluid drive actuators for foundation lifting

Publication Date: 2019.09.24 TELLA FIRMA LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for foundation lifting and retention using fluid drive actuators are described. A foundation lift system of embodiments may include expendable fluid drive actuators operable to provide lifting forces with respect to a foundation structure using a fluid pressure (e.g., hydraulic and/or pneumatic) drive mechanism and utilize one or more locking mechanisms and/or fluids operable to persistently lock the lift assemblies in an extended state to retain the foundation structure in its lifted position. Curable fluids injected into expendable fluid drive actuators of embodiments may be configured to solidify within the drive mechanism and impede movement of the lift assemblies subsequent to a foundation lifting operation. Additionally, one or more locking mechanisms may be configured to engagedly retain the expendable fluid drive actuator in an extended state subsequent to the foundation lifting operation.