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US 12,392,103 B2Granted
Snap lock, anti-reverse rotation coupler assembly for foundation support system
AssigneePier Tech Systems, LLC
InventorsKevin Kaufman, Michael D. Wilkis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupled shaft assembly for a foundation support system includes inner and outer couplers with mating helical ribs and grooves, and spring element that resiliently interlocks the inner and outer couplers in an axial direction. Built-in anti-reverse rotation elements in each coupler accommodates a limited degree of relative rotation of the couplers and thereafter precludes further relative rotation that could otherwise negatively impact the spring element and lead to an undesirable disengagement of the inner and outer couplers.
Claims25
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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- 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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- and
- a spring automatically establishing an axial, snap-lock connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler when the inner coupler is received in the outer coupler and when the at least one rib of one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is located in the at least one groove in the other of the inner and outer coupler to establish a torque transmitting connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler;
- wherein the at least one rib or at least one groove in each of the inner and outer coupler includes a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge opposite the first longitudinal side edge;
- wherein each of the first and second longitudinal side edges extend helically on the inner coupler or the outer coupler;
- and
- wherein one of the first and second longitudinal side edges includes a built-in anti-reverse rotation section precluding more than a limited relative degree of movement of the inner coupler and the outer coupler when one of the inner coupler and the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation and/or an uplift force, thereby reducing mechanical shear stress on the spring associated with each of the reverse rotation and the uplift force.
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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- 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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- and
- a spring automatically establishing an axial, snap-lock connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler when the inner coupler is received in the outer coupler and when the at least one rib of one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is located in the at least one groove in the other of the inner and outer coupler to establish a torque transmitting connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler;
- wherein the at least one rib or at least one groove in each of the inner and outer coupler includes a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge opposite the first longitudinal side edge;
- wherein the at least one groove is oversized relative to the at least one rib, thereby permitting a limited relative motion of one of the inner coupler and the outer coupler with respect to the other of the inner coupler and outer coupler when one of the inner coupler and the outer coupler is subjected to a forward rotation or a reverse rotation;
- and
- wherein one of the first and second longitudinal side edges includes a built-in anti-reverse rotation section precluding more than the limited relative motion of the inner coupler and the outer coupler when one of the inner coupler and the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation and/or an uplift force, thereby reducing mechanical shear stress on the spring associated with each of the reverse rotation and the uplift force.
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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- 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 at least one rib or at least one groove;
- and
- a spring automatically establishing an axial, snap-lock connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler when the inner coupler is received in the outer coupler and when the at least one rib of one of the inner coupler or the outer coupler is located in the at least one groove in the other of the inner and outer coupler to establish a torque transmitting connection between the inner coupler and the outer coupler;
- wherein the at least one rib or at least one groove in each of the inner and outer coupler includes a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge opposite the first longitudinal side edge;
- wherein one of the first and second longitudinal side edges includes a built-in anti-reverse rotation section precluding more than a limited relative degree of movement of the inner coupler and the outer coupler when one of the inner coupler and the outer coupler is subjected to a reverse rotation and/or an uplift force, thereby reducing mechanical shear stress on the spring associated with each of the reverse rotation and the uplift force;
- and
- wherein the built-in anti-reverse rotation section defines an anti-reverse rotation stop surface.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.