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US 12,338,599 B2Granted
Foundation support systems, assemblies and methods including sleeve coupler and shafts with torque transmitting profiled distal end edges
AssigneePier Tech Systems, LLC
InventorsKevin Kaufman, Michael D. Wilkis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Coupled shaft assemblies for a foundation support system include shafts provided with profiled distal end edges that may be directly engaged to one another to realize an interlocking torque transmitting relationship with one another along a curved engagement surface. A coupler sleeve may snugly receive the distal ends of the directly engaged shafts and may fasten the shafts to one another through the coupler sleeve with ease in an economical manufacture that does not require non-uniform wall thickness in the shafts to establish torque transmission capability.
Claims40
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- a first hollow support shaft formed with a first axial length and a first profiled distal end edge;
- a second hollow support shaft formed with a second axial length and a second profiled distal end edge;
- a hollow sleeve that is slidably movable relative to the first hollow support shaft after the first hollow support shaft is driven to a first depth in an installation of the foundation support system;
- and
- a first fastener attaching the hollow sleeve to the first hollow support shaft and maintaining the first profiled distal end edge in a fixed position relative to the sleeve;
- wherein when the second profiled distal end edge is slidably engaged to the sleeve and directly abutted and engaged to the first profiled distal end edge, a torque transmitting connection is established between the first hollow support shaft and the second hollow support shaft in order to drive the coupled shaft assembly to a second depth in the installation of the foundation support system;
- and
- wherein the first fastener is mechanically isolated from torque transmission in the coupled shaft assembly.
6 more elements
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- a first hollow support shaft formed with a first axial length and a first profiled distal end edge;
- a second hollow support shaft formed with a second axial length and a second profiled distal end edge;
- a hollow sleeve that is slidably movable relative to the first hollow support shaft after the first hollow support shaft is driven to a first depth in an installation of the foundation support system;
- and
- a first fastener attaching the hollow sleeve to the first hollow support shaft and maintaining the first profiled distal end edge in a fixed position relative to the sleeve;
- wherein when the second profiled distal end edge is slidably engaged to the sleeve and directly abutted and engaged to the first profiled distal end edge, a torque transmitting connection is established between the first hollow support shaft and the second hollow support shaft in order to drive the coupled shaft assembly to a second depth in the installation of the foundation support system;
- wherein the hollow sleeve is formed with an axial length, and the sleeve further formed with a uniform wall thickness along an entirety of the axial length;
- and
- wherein the hollow sleeve is formed with a first pair of fastener openings to receive the first fastener extended through the first pair of fastener openings, the first pair of fastener openings including a first opening having a first shape and a second opening having a different shape than the first shape.
7 more elements
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- a first hollow support shaft having a first axial length, a first profiled distal end edge, and a uniform sidewall thickness along an entirety of the first axial length including the first profiled distal end edge;
- a second hollow support shaft having a second axial length, a second profiled distal end edge, and a uniform sidewall thickness along an entirety of the second axial length including the second profiled distal end edge;
- a hollow sleeve having a third axial length and a uniform sidewall thickness along an entirety of the third axial length;
- wherein the hollow sleeve is slidably movable relative to the first hollow support shaft and relative to the second hollow support shaft, the hollow sleeve configured to receive and surround each of the first and second profiled distal end edges when directly abutted and maintain a torque transmitting connection therebetween in order to secure the coupled shaft assembly at a desired depth in an installation of the foundation support system;
- and
- at least one fastener insertable through the sidewall of the hollow sleeve and through the sidewall of one of the first hollow support shaft and the second hollow support shaft, wherein the at least one is mechanically isolated from torque transmission in the coupled shaft assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.