Orthogonal Roller Guides for Jackable Foundation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jackable building foundation designs fail to maintain a level platform under variable and unevenly-distributed lifting forces, posing a risk of jamming during elevation and lowering, especially in flood-prone areas with increasing storm surges and rising water levels.
Innovation Solution
A steel beam support frame platform with cuboidal column guides and platform jacks, combined with a remote control system and backup power, allows for controlled vertical movement and real-time monitoring, using hydraulic or electric actuators and orthogonal roller orientations to suppress torque-induced jamming, and incorporates extendible utility connections and flood vents to manage water pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional jackable foundation designs are used, then the building can be elevated to avoid flood damage, but the platform becomes unstable and uneven under variable lifting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation system is divided into multiple independent roller frames positioned at different locations, with each roller frame containing rollers that can independently engage with guide columns. This segmentation allows each roller to independently adjust to uneven lifting forces, maintaining overall platform stability and levelness during elevation and lowering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Rollers serve as intermediary elements between the lifting force applied by jackable foundations and the platform they support. The rollers engage with guide columns to mediate the transmission of lifting forces, converting vertical lifting forces into controlled vertical movement while suppressing torque-induced jamming and maintaining platform levelness.
2Reliability
If the platform is raised high to avoid flood waters, then flood damage is minimized, but utility connections become difficult to accommodate
Solution Approach 1:
The utility connections are designed with dynamic characteristics, including flexible conduits and adjustable connections that can accommodate the vertical movement of the platform. The utility connections are configured to dynamically adapt to changes in platform elevation, allowing the platform to be raised and lowered without compromising utility connections or requiring complex reconfiguration.
3Force
If hydraulic jacks are used to lift the platform, then lifting force is generated, but torque-induced jamming occurs during movement
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers act as intermediary elements between the hydraulic jacks and the platform, mediating the transmission of lifting forces. The rollers engage with guide columns to convert the lifting force into controlled vertical movement while suppressing torque-induced jamming. This intermediary mechanism ensures smooth platform movement even under variable and unevenly-distributed lifting forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical linkage system is replaced with a roller-based guidance system. Instead of using complex mechanical linkages to control platform movement, the invention uses rollers engaging with guide columns to constrain the platform's vertical movement, eliminating torque-induced jamming while maintaining lifting force efficiency.
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 solution ensures stable and level platform movement, minimizing flood damage by allowing remote control of elevation, real-time monitoring, and accommodating rising water levels while preventing platform jamming and debris accumulation, thus effectively addressing the challenges of uneven lifting forces and flood risks.
Implementation Method 1
an I-beam engaged between the flanges on either side by two rollers supported on horizontal axes
Implementation Method 2
two rollers supported on horizontal axes... suppress torques generated by uneven jacking
Implementation Method 3
The platform jacks can be hydraulic jacks or electrically driven machine screw actuators
Implementation Method 4
vertical movement of the platform in response to jacking
Data Source
AI summary
A jackable building foundation system includes a steel beam support frame platform to which one or more platform jacks are attached. Vertical movement of the platform in response to jacking is constrained by cuboidal column guides at the four corners. Each of the column guides comprises two tiers of square roller frames, within each of which is an I-beam engaged between the flanges on either side by two rollers supported on horizontal axes. The orientations of the I-beams and rollers alternate orthogonally at each corner of the platform, so that torques generated by uneven jacking are suppressed and do not result in jamming of the platform as it rises. The system is remotely controlled and monitored by a digital device, such as a smartphone, using application software.