Method and apparatus for lifting and leveling a concrete panel

A method for lifting and transporting a concrete panel having a top, a bottom and first and opposite sides to a surface and elevating the concrete panel above the surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• embedding within the concrete panel at each of the first and opposite sides thereof a hollow threaded sleeve that extends through the panel between the top and bottom thereof;
• removably attaching to the bottom of said concrete panel a first and a second base plate such that each of said base plates is detachably coupled to a respective hollow threaded sleeve at each of the first and opposite sides of the concrete panel;
• affixing to each of said base plates an upstanding sleeve support and attaching said hollow threaded sleeve to each of said base plates so that said hollow threaded sleeve is removably received within and surrounded by said sleeve support;
• rotating a threaded lifting bolt into mating engagement with each said hollow threaded sleeve at each of the first and opposite sides of the concrete panel;
• applying a lifting force to each of the lifting bolts mated to the hollow threaded sleeves located at each of the first and opposite sides of the concrete panel to enable the panel to be lifted and transported to the surface;
• rotating said threaded lifting bolts through said hollow threaded sleeves and into engagement with each of said first and second base plates for detaching said first and second base plates from said hollow threaded sleeves and causing said first and second base plates to be displaced relative to and separated from the bottom of the concrete panel and pushed against the surface, whereby a corresponding uplifting force is generated for elevating said panel above the surface;
• and
• removing said threaded lifting bolts from said hollow threaded sleeves following the step of rotating said threaded lifting bolts through said sleeves to generate the uplifting force for elevating the panel above the surface, and filling at least some of each of the hollow threaded sleeves with a filler material to plug said sleeves.

A method for lifting and positioning a solid panel having a top and a bottom on a solid bed and elevating the solid panel above the bed, said method comprising the steps of:

• locating a threaded lifting sleeve within the solid panel so that said lifting sleeve extends through said panel between the top and the bottom thereof;
• rotating a threaded lifting bolt in a first direction into mating engagement with said threaded lifting sleeve;
• affixing a lifting sleeve support to an elevator plate and detachably connecting said elevator plate to the bottom of the solid panel such that said lifting sleeve support extends into the solid panel at which to surround and removably receive said threaded lifting sleeve;
• applying a lifting force to said threaded lifting bolt for lifting and positioning the solid panel upon the solid bed;
• rotating said threaded lifting bolt in said first direction once again after the lifting force is terminated and the solid panel is positioned on the solid bed until said lifting bolt is moved through said threaded lifting sleeve for applying a pushing force against said elevator plate for causing said elevator plate to be displaced relative to the bottom of the solid panel such that said lifting sleeve support is separated from said threaded lifting sleeve and said elevator plate is detached from the solid panel and moved against the solid bed, whereby a corresponding uplifting force is generated for causing said panel to be elevated above the solid bed;
• and
• rotating said threaded lifting bolt in an opposite direction so that said lifting bolt is removed from said threaded lifting sleeve after the solid panel has been elevated above the solid bed, and filling at least some of said threaded lifting sleeve with a filler material to plug said sleeve.