Powered Lifting Station for Slab Foundation Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for lifting and supporting slab foundations above ground are inefficient and labor-intensive, as they require manual rotation of threaded rods at multiple lift stations to maintain the foundation's level, which can lead to damage and uneven lifting.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the installation of piers and forms with a polygonal receptacle, a fixture with an anti-rotation member, and a tool adapter that allows for incremental lifting of the slab foundation using a threaded rod, enabling a single worker to lift the foundation efficiently by rotating the adapter less than 360 degrees and engaging stop members to lift in increments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual rotation of threaded rods with large wrenches is used at multiple lift stations, then the foundation can be lifted, but the process becomes labor-intensive and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical rotation with a powered rotation device that automatically rotates the threaded rod. This substitution eliminates the need for workers to manually operate large wrenches at multiple lift stations, significantly improving productivity while reducing manual labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation device is designed to automatically perform the lifting operation without continuous manual intervention. The device self-regulates the rotation of the threaded rod, allowing a single worker to operate multiple lift stations efficiently, thereby transforming a labor-intensive process into an automated self-service system.
2Manufacturing precision
If workers move from lift station to lift station to incrementally lift the slab, then the foundation can be kept level, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation device is designed as a universal tool that can be applied at multiple lift stations with the same operating procedure. The device performs the same function of rotating threaded rods to lift slabs at each station, eliminating the need for different techniques or multiple specialized tools, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates mechanisms that prepare and position components in advance, such as pre-positioning the threaded rod and configuring the rotation device before engagement. This preliminary preparation reduces the time required at each lift station while ensuring the foundation is lifted levelly and precisely.
3Reliability
If incremental lifting is performed to maintain foundation level, then damage to the foundation is avoided, but the operation becomes complicated and requires multiple workers
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation device incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that automatically adjust the lifting speed and increment based on real-time conditions. This dynamic adjustment ensures the foundation is lifted incrementally to maintain levelness and prevent damage, while the automated control simplifies the operation and reduces the need for multiple workers despite the complexity of maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes feedback mechanisms that monitor the lifting process, such as level sensors and position detectors, to ensure the foundation remains level during incremental lifting. This feedback control maintains foundation integrity by preventing over-lifting or uneven raising, while the automated feedback loop reduces operational complexity by eliminating the need for constant manual measurement and adjustment.
4Ease of operation
If threaded rods are rotated manually with large wrenches, then lifting can be performed, but the process requires significant physical effort and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical rotation with a powered rotation device that automatically rotates the threaded rod. This substitution eliminates the need for workers to manually operate large wrenches at multiple lift stations, significantly improving productivity while reducing manual labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation device is designed to automatically perform the lifting operation without continuous manual intervention. The device self-regulates the rotation of the threaded rod, allowing a single worker to operate multiple lift stations efficiently, thereby transforming a labor-intensive process into an automated self-service system.
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
This method allows for efficient and level lifting of slab foundations with reduced manual labor, minimizing the risk of damage and enabling a single worker to lift the foundation to a selected height with improved safety and precision.
Implementation Method 1
A technician inserts a threaded rod into the cavity and rotates the threaded rod through the threaded aperture
Implementation Method 2
A tool rotates the tool adapter and the adapter stop member about the axis, lifting the slab foundation an increment until the adapter stop member engages a stop side of the fixture stop member
Data Source
AI summary
A technician positions a form with a threaded aperture on a pier. Concrete is poured around the form to create a slab foundation. A fixture is then placed on the slab foundation, the fixture having a polygonal anti-rotation member that inserts into a polygonal upper end of the form. The fixture has an upward extending fixture stop member. A threaded rod with a tool adapter on its upper end is screwed into the threaded aperture. The adapter has an adapter stop member extending laterally relative to the fixture stop member. A power tool rotates the adapter to lift the slab foundation until the adapter stop member swings into contact with the fixture stop member. The technician then removes the adapter, places the adapter stop member adjacent an opposite side of the fixture stop member, then again rotates the adapter.