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US 10,294,623 B2Granted
Interlocking, self-aligning and torque transmitting coupler assembly, systems and methods for connecting, installing, and supporting foundation elements
AssigneePier Tech Systems, LLC
InventorsKevin Kaufman, Michael D. Wilkis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-aligning and torque transmitting coupler assembly includes an outer coupler coupled to a first shaft of and an inner coupler coupled to a second shaft. The outer coupler comprises an inner surface having primary and secondary alignment and torque transmitting features, and the inner coupler comprises an outer surface having primary and secondary alignment features. The primary and secondary alignment features are configured to interlock and facilitate alignment of the first and second shafts along a common axis in an exemplary application of a foundation support system.
Claims43
A foundation support assembly comprising:
- a first foundation support element including a first distal end and an outer coupler extending on the first distal end, the outer coupler formed with at least a first pair of fastener openings and a first alignment feature comprising a projection or a groove;
- and
- a second foundation support element including a second distal end and an inner coupler extending on the second distal end, the inner coupler comprising at least a second pair of fastener openings and a second alignment feature that is configured to engage the at least one first alignment feature;
- and
- wherein when the inner coupler and the outer coupler are partly mated and one of the inner coupler and outer coupler is rotated relative to the other of the inner coupler and the outer coupler, the first alignment feature is self-aligning with the second alignment feature and the first pair of fastener openings is self-aligning with the second pair of fastener openings;
- and
- wherein when the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature are aligned and mated and when a fastener is extended through each of the aligned first pair of fastener openings and the second pair of fastener openings, the inner coupler and the outer coupler are rotationally interlocked with one another to facilitate torque transmission from the first foundation support element to the second foundation support element while the fastener is mechanically isolated from the torque transmission.
4 more elements
A modular foundation support system comprising:
- a first foundation support element configured to support a building foundation;
- a second foundation support element configured to support the building foundation in combination with the first foundation element;
- and
- a self-aligning coupler assembly configured to interconnect the first foundation support element and the second foundation support element, the self-aligning coupler assembly comprising:
- an outer coupler extending on a first distal end of the first foundation support element, the outer coupler formed with at least a first alignment feature comprising a projection or a groove and a first pair of fastener openings offset from the first alignment feature;
- and
- an inner coupler extending on a second distal end of the second foundation support element, the inner coupler comprising at least a second alignment feature that is configured to engage the at least one first alignment feature and a second pair of fastener openings offset from the second alignment feature;
- wherein when the inner coupler and the outer coupler are partly mated and one of the inner coupler and outer coupler is rotated relative to the other of the inner coupler and the outer coupler, the first alignment feature is self-aligning with the second alignment feature and the first pair of fastener openings is self-aligning with the second pair of fastener openings;
- and
- wherein when the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature are aligned and mated and when a fastener is extended through the aligned first and second pairs of fastener openings, the inner coupler and the outer coupler are rotationally interlocked with one another to facilitate torque transmission from the first foundation support element to the second foundation support element while the fastener is mechanically isolated from the torque transmission.
7 more elements
A modular foundation support system comprising:
- a first foundation support element configured to support a building foundation;
- a second foundation support element configured to support the building foundation in combination with the first foundation element;
- and
- a self-aligning coupler assembly configured to interconnect the first foundation support element and the second foundation support element and establish a rotationally interlocked, torque transmitting relationship from the first foundation support element to the second foundation support element, the self-aligning coupler assembly comprising:
- an outer coupler extending on a first distal end of the first foundation support element, the outer coupler formed with at least a first alignment feature comprising a projection or a groove;
- and
- an inner coupler extending on a second distal end of the second foundation support element, the inner coupler comprising at least a second alignment feature that is configured to engage the at least one first alignment feature;
- wherein when the inner coupler and the outer coupler are partly mated and one of the inner coupler and outer coupler is rotated relative to the other of the inner coupler and the outer coupler, the first alignment feature is self-aligning with the second alignment feature and establishes the rotationally interlocked, torque transmitting relationship without further relative rotation when the first alignment feature is mated with the second alignment feature.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.