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US 12,359,388 B2Granted
Tapered, locking, anti-reverse coupler assembly for foundation support system
AssigneePier Tech Systems, LLC
InventorsKevin Kaufman, Michael D. Wilkis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupled shaft assembly for a foundation support system includes conical-shaped inner and outer couplers with mating helical ribs and grooves, and an anti-reverse element extending through different shaped openings in the inner and outer couplers that accommodates a limited degree of relative rotation of the couplers and thereafter precludes further relative rotation and an undesirable disengagement of the inner and outer couplers when subjected to reverse rotation.
Claims32
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- an inner coupler extending on a first end of a first hollow foundation support shaft, the inner coupler formed with a first main body having a first sidewall and at least a first opening formed through the first sidewall;
- an outer coupler extending on a second end of a second hollow foundation support shaft, the outer coupler formed with a second main body having a second sidewall and at least a second opening formed through the second sidewall;
- wherein one of the first opening and the second opening is elongated and wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening is not elongated;
- and
- an anti-reverse rotation element received through the first opening and the second opening when the first main body is received in the second main body;
- wherein the elongated opening provides a guide path for a limited relative movement of the anti-reverse rotation element relative to one of the first or second main body when one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation or an uplift force;
- and
- wherein the guide path of the elongated opening extends helically in the first or second sidewall.
6 more elements
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- an inner coupler extending on a first end of a first hollow foundation support shaft, the inner coupler formed with a first main body having a first sidewall and at least a first opening formed through the first sidewall;
- an outer coupler extending on a second end of a second hollow foundation support shaft, the outer coupler formed with a second main body having a second sidewall and at least a second opening formed through the second sidewall;
- wherein one of the first opening and the second opening is elongated and wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening is not elongated;
- and
- an anti-reverse rotation element received through the first opening and the second opening when the first main body is received in the first second main body;
- wherein the elongated opening provides a guide path for a limited relative movement of the anti-reverse rotation element relative to one of the first or second main body when one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation or an uplift force;
- wherein one of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one rib;
- wherein the other of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one groove;
- and
- wherein when the at least one rib is received in the at least one groove a torque transmitting connection is established between the first main body and the second main body;
- wherein the at least one rib extends helically on one of the first main body and the second main body;
- and
- wherein the at least one groove extends helically on the other of the first main body and the second main body.
11 more elements
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- an inner coupler extending on a first end of a first hollow foundation support shaft, the inner coupler formed with a first main body having a first sidewall and at least a first opening formed through the first sidewall;
- an outer coupler extending on a second end of a second hollow foundation support shaft, the outer coupler formed with a second main body having a second sidewall and at least a second opening formed through the second sidewall;
- wherein one of the first opening and the second opening is elongated and wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening is not elongated;
- and
- an anti-reverse rotation element received through the first opening and the second opening when the first main body is received in the second main body;
- wherein the elongated opening provides a guide path for a limited relative movement of the anti-reverse rotation element relative to one of the first or second main body when one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation or an uplift force;
- wherein one of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one rib;
- wherein the other of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one groove;
- and
- wherein when the at least one rib is received in the at least one groove a torque transmitting connection is established between the first main body and the second main body;
- wherein the at least one groove is oversized relative to the at least one rib, thereby permitting a limited degree of side-to-side motion of the at least one rib in the at least one groove.
9 more elements
A foundation support system comprising:
- a coupled shaft assembly comprising:
- an inner coupler extending on a first end of a first hollow foundation support shaft, the inner coupler formed with a first main body having a first sidewall and at least a first opening formed through the first sidewall;
- an outer coupler extending on a second end of a second hollow foundation support shaft, the outer coupler formed with a second main body having a second sidewall and at least a second opening formed through the second sidewall;
- wherein one of the first opening and the second opening is elongated and wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening is not elongated;
- and
- an anti-reverse rotation element received through the first opening and the second opening when the first main body is received in the second main body;
- wherein the elongated opening provides a guide path for a limited relative movement of the anti-reverse rotation element relative to one of the first or second main body when one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation or an uplift force;
- wherein one of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one rib;
- wherein the other of the first main body and the second main body is formed with at least one groove;
- and
- wherein when the at least one rib is received in the at least one groove a torque transmitting connection is established between the first main body and the second main body;
- wherein the at least one rib has a first longitudinal length;
- wherein the elongated opening has a second longitudinal length;
- and
- wherein the second longitudinal length is less than the first longitudinal length;
- wherein each of the first and second longitudinal length extend spirally on the first main body or the second main body.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.