U.S. patent application number 09/931260 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-20 for foundation support for manufactured homes.
Invention is credited to Lorman, Leonard A., Rogers, Paul K..
Application Number | 20030033760 09/931260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25460486 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030033760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers, Paul K. ; et
al. |
February 20, 2003 |
Foundation support for manufactured homes
Abstract
The present invention relates primarily to a foundation support
for use with manufactured homes, such as mobile homes and trailers,
as well as the more conventional prefabricated home. Using a
tube-in-tube construction, where sleeves of rubber lay compressed,
one adjacent the other, intermediate an inner and outer tube,
provides an earthquake resistant support. The elastomeric portion
of the foundation support provides isolation from vibrations
produced from ground movement, wind forces or from traffic
vibrations. A screw jack located centrally within the inner
cylinder permits the ideal adjustment in providing and maintaining
support for the manufactured building at a dead level. A ball
swivel joint facilitates the installation and adjustment. As a
protective safety device, to prevent the over extension of the
screw jack, there is a stop at the distal end of the threaded jack
rod to maintain sufficient thread engagement when the jack is fully
extended.
Inventors: |
Rogers, Paul K.; (Dover,
OH) ; Lorman, Leonard A.; (Wickliffe, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph H. Taddeo
Four Commerce Park Square
23240 Chagrin Blvd., #600
Cleveland
OH
44122
US
|
Family ID: |
25460486 |
Appl. No.: |
09/931260 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/167.7 ;
52/126.6; 52/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 27/34 20130101;
E04B 1/34352 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/167.7 ;
52/126.6; 52/299 |
International
Class: |
E04B 009/00; E04B
001/98; E02D 027/42; E04B 001/00; E04G 021/00; E04G 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1) A foundation support apparatus for use with trailers,
manufactured and prefabricated homes, comprising: a tube assembly
with a lower portion mounted on a base plate and an upper portion
articulating with a clamp frame; and, means for isolating a
manufactured home from ground movement, wind forces and ground
vibrations.
2) The foundation support according to claim 1, the tube assembly
further comprising an adjusting means for correcting elevation up
to an underside of the manufactured home.
3) The foundation support of claim 2, further comprising a means
for aligning the clamp frame to avoid any misalignment of the clamp
frame.
4) The foundation support according to claim 3, the tube assembly
comprising a tube in a tube vibration insulator comprising a first
outer cylindrical tube surrounding a second inner cylindrical tube,
with an at least one elastomeric element compressed intermediate
the two tubes to absorb aberrant energy produced by undesirable
external forces and to provide a damping effect for such
forces.
5) The foundation support according to claim 4, said at least at
least one elastomeric element comprising two adjacent sleeves of an
elastomeric material compressed between the tubes for abatement of
vibration which may emanate either from below or above the
foundation support.
6) The foundation support according to claim 5, the elastomeric
material comprising rubber, whereby the foundation support provides
isolation from ground movements, wind forces and traffic
vibrations.
7) The foundation support according to claim 6, wherein the outer
cylindrical tube is welded to, and in axial alignment with, a
central axis of the mounting plate.
8) The foundation support according to claim 7, wherein the inner
cylindrical tube extends above and is in axial alignment with the
outer cylindrical tube; said tubes comprising a cylindrical facade
to provide a universal orientation of the foundation support for
optimal strength regardless of a direction from which a wind load
is applied.
9) The foundation support according to claim 8, further comprising
a threaded cap press fitted into a top section of the inner
cylindrical tube and a hex lock nut located above the cap to set an
elevation adjustment of the foundation support.
10) The foundation support according to claim 9, further comprising
a jackscrew bolt with first and second ends, threads along its
entire length, and culminating with a spherical ball at the second
end, the jackscrew bolt located centrally within the inner
cylindrical tube and threaded into the threaded cap and hex lock
nut thereof to permit a desired ideal adjustment in providing and
maintaining support for a manufactured home at a dead level.
11) The foundation support according to claim 10, further
comprising a stop at the first distal end of the threaded jackscrew
bolt to maintain sufficient thread engagement when the jack is
fully extended as a protective safety device, to prevent an over
extension of the jackscrew bolt.
12) The foundation support according to claim 11, the spherical
ball comprising a swivel joint to facilitate installation of the
foundation support by correction of any misalignment thereof.
13) The foundation support according to claim 12, said clamp frame
supported by a swivel assembly which comprises a spherical cap
seated on the spherical ball, a collar surrounding the cap and
ball, and a jam nut on the jackscrew bolt, wherein the clamp frame
is fixed by the jam nut.
14) The foundation support according to claim 13, said clamp frame
comprising an I-beam clamp assembly comprising a clamp base and a
pair of strap clamps each having a pair of bolts, a washer and hex
nut respective to each bolt, for placement of a support beam on the
clamp base with each strap clamp on top of a lower flange of the
beam, bolted and secured to clasp the I-beam in clamp assembly.
15) The foundation support of claim 14, further comprising a
fastening means associated with said base plate for securing the
foundation support to an anchor mount.
16) The foundation support of claim 15, wherein the fastening means
comprises a plurality of mounting holes to receive a mounting bolt
and securely fasten the foundation support to a foundation anchor
mount.
17) The foundation support according to claim 16, wherein the
foundation support is directly securable to an anchoring system
without any tie down or anchoring straps.
18) The foundation support according to claim 17, the support
having a small footprint, thereby permitting the installation of
the foundation support in close proximity to the edge of a trailer
being supported.
19) The foundation support according to claim 18, further
comprising a weatherproof crown positioned over the rubber sleeves
to prevent the collection of water and dust to increase the useful
lifetime of the support by protecting the support apparatus from
violent or severe weather conditions.
20) A method of stabilizing a manufactured home using a plurality
of foundation supports each secured to anchor mount, wherein each
foundation support comprises a base plate, a tube in tube assembly
connected to the base plate, rising vertically, and including an
elastomeric element compressed between two tubes comprising a
vibration insulator, the tube in tube assembly containing a
threaded jackscrew with a spherical head and a swivel assembly in
articulation with an adjustable clamp carriage to clasp an
undercarriage component of the manufactured home, comprising the
steps of: securing the base plate to an anchor mount; elevating the
jackscrew to a desired vertical height to clasp the undercarriage
component; adjusting the clamp carriage on the swivel assembly for
alignment with the undercarriage component; and, securing the
undercarriage component in the clamp carriage.
21) The method of stabilizing a manufactured home according to
claim 20, each foundation support further comprising a lock nut
threaded on the jackscrew immediately above the tube in tube
assembly and a jam nut threaded on the jackscrew immediately below
the swivel assembly, comprising the additional step of: tightening
the lock nut and the jam nut to fix the desired vertical height of
the jackscrew and the alignment of the swivel assembly.
22) The method of stabilizing a manufactured home according to
claim 21, wherein the elastomeric element comprises a viscoelastic
material, comprising the additional step of: isolating the
manufactured home from vibrations by a vibration absorbtion of the
viscoelastic material compressed between the tubes.
23) The method of stabilizing a manufactured home according to
claim 22, wherein the elastomeric material is minutely displaced by
a manufactured home shear load upon the foundation support,
comprising the additional step of: dampening vibrations transmitted
from both ground forces on the base plate and wind forces against
the manufactured home by a hysteretic effect of the elastomeric
material under the shear load.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates primarily to a foundation
support apparatus and more particularly to a foundation support
apparatus for use with manufactured homes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Today commercially manufactured homes are available in
several different configurations. These include mobile homes and
trailers, as well as the more conventional prefabricated style of
home. These homes are skillfully manufactured and assembled at a
central location and subsequently moved to its final location upon
completion.
[0003] The homes are designed to be readily moved from the
manufacturing plant to a location where it may be placed
permanently. During the time the home is being constructed at the
manufacturing plant, it rests on a pair of steel I-beam joists.
Upon shipment to its permanent location, it is generally mounted on
piers, where in some cases the piers are concrete blocks. Other
types of mountings include the use of either pilings or stabilizing
jacks.
[0004] The vertical support for a manufactured home is provided by
stationary piers, the piers generally being masonry piers of
concrete, or precast concrete jack stands, or prefabricated steel
beams. These mounting piers are usually located beneath the steel
I-beam joists that run parallel to each other upon which the
manufactured home rests. The vertical supports are spaced typically
eight feet apart running along each of the I-beam joists.
[0005] Once the manufactured home is installed upon the upright
vertical pier supports, the home may in the future be subjected to
other forces of nature, such as being moved by forces of the wind
or by ground movement. Without securing the home down using
conventional guy wires, straps, or other types of attachment, which
connect the home with anchors secured to the ground, the home could
be permanently damaged by these external forces. In fact, if these
external aberrant forces of nature are great enough, the home could
be shifted from its moorings and be damaged.
[0006] The use of vertical supports, such as concrete blocks and
masonry piers, provide for suitable piers upon which to rest the
home, but do not provide vibration isolation or seismic protection
because of being too rigid.
[0007] Traditionally, in the past, springs have been used by
placing them atop the vertical piers to support the inertially
loaded mass. The use of springs renders the structure to become
unstable in the presence of large wind forces or ground movement.
With no other means of providing damping to the spring-mass system,
with a small excitation, as might occur in a minor windstorm, the
home could oscillate sympathetically in resonance, breaking its
tethering, and dislodge the home from its moorings.
[0008] Today, there are many types of adjustable vertical support
mechanisms for supporting manufactured homes. These vertical
support mechanisms include screw jacks, pneumatic jacks, hydraulic
jacks, where some are used in conjunction with leveler springs, air
bags and the like. In general, the use of screw jacks and hydraulic
jacks are too rigid and offer no vibration isolation; the use of
pneumatic jacks, air bags, or leveler springs can result in an
undamped system, which could suffer instability from very small
perturbations.
[0009] Examples of such prior art are shown in the examples that
follow.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,629, granted Jan. 23, 1992, to M.
Takeuchi, discloses an improved screw-type jack having an auxiliary
screw barrel that is screw fitted with a supporting table in a
known telescopic triple stage jack to widen the extended jack
length.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,108, granted Oct. 6, 1992, to J. Madl,
Jr., teaches of a foundation system for manufactured buildings
having a plurality of spaced rigid support pedestals that are
vertically adjustable to support said manufactured building. Having
the pedestals shaped in a truncated pyramid form provides both
lateral and vertical support for the manufactured building. An
adjustable connector between the base of the pedestal and the upper
end allow the height of each pedestal to be independently varied to
support the manufactured home in a dead level position. To prevent
the building from shifting the upper ends of the support pedestals
are clamped to the flanges of the I-beams of the building
chassis.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,356, granted Jan. 26, 1993, to T. H.
Sul, discloses an earthquake resistant building support system that
resists horizontal forces resulting from earthquakes, where each
support is positioned on a horizontal planar base, allowing limited
horizontal motion of the support relative to its base and where
each support is secured to the building being supported and each
base is secured to the earth. Each support includes a damping
arrangement for damping horizontal oscillations of the earth. In a
third embodiment, the support rests upon an O-ring compressed by
the weight of the load and captivated in a groove to provide the
required damping for smaller motions.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,718, granted Dec. 22, 1998, to C. J.
MacKarvish, discloses a foundation for manufactured homes,
comprising stabilizer bars, extending across the lengths of the
I-beam joists, located beneath the support piers, having tie down
anchors placed at the end of the stabilizer bars, so that the
anchors cannot be pulled and bent toward the manufactured home, due
to the forces exerted by the anchor ties. Tie down shoes serve to
function to increase the resistance of the manufactured home from
shifting laterally and from lifting off the foundation.
[0014] All of the above referenced prior art disclose vertical
support systems that are either too rigid, having a high stiffness,
or too compliant, having little or no damping.
[0015] To overcome these disadvantages of the prior art, what is
needed is means of supporting a manufactured home on vertical
members that provide isolation from earth vibrations and ground
movement through the use of a novel energy absorbing design.
[0016] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide for a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes
that provides isolation from ground movement, and from the forces
of the wind, as well as, from undue vibrations arising from
traffic.
[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide for
a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes having an
elastomeric component which serves to absorb energy produced from
undesirable external forces such as from wind, earth movement, and
the like.
[0018] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide for a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes
having a tube within a tube construction, where the tubes are
separated by an elastomeric material having viscoelastic
properties, comprising an energy absorbing, element.
[0019] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide for a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes
having a cylincrical mounting base, which will withstand most
external forces arriving laterally in any radial direction.
[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide for
a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes having a ball
swivel joint at its connective end for adjustment of minor
misalignments during the installation process.
[0021] It is a final object of the present invention to provide for
a foundation support apparatus for manufactured homes having a ball
swivel joint at its connective end to maintain positive connection
even when undesirable external forces are present, should any
misalignment occur as a result of these forces.
[0022] A better understanding and appreciation of these and other
objects and advantages of the present invention will be obtained
upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention relates primarily to a foundation
support for use with manufactured homes, such as mobile homes and
trailers, as well as the more conventional prefabricated style of
home.
[0024] Using a tube in a tube construction, where two cylincrical
sleeves of an elastomeric material, preferably natural rubber, lay
compressed, one adjacent the other, intermediate the two tubes,
provides an earthquake resistant support, thereby making the
foundation support novel. The elastomeric elements of the
foundation support provide isolation from vibrations produced from
ground movement, wind forces or from traffic vibrations.
[0025] The compliance of the elastomeric elements offer a high
degree of isolation from undesirable vibrations, whereas the
damping portion of the elastomer absorbs the aberrant energy,
thereby damping said movements.
[0026] This novel foundation support utilizes a round base to
provide a universal orientation for optimal strength regardless of
the direction from which the wind load is applied. The use of a
small footprint permits the installation of the foundation support
to be in close proximity to the edge of building being
supported.
[0027] A screw jack located centrally within the inner cylinder
permits the ideal adjustment in providing and maintaining support
for the manufactured building at a dead level. As a protective
safety device, to prevent the over extension of the screw jack,
there is a stop at the distal end of the threaded jack rod to
maintain sufficient thread engagement when the jack is fully
extended.
[0028] Located below the clamp assembly, which clamps to the lower
flange of the I-beam, is a swivel joint that serves to accommodate
the random motion of a disturbance thereby preventing the building
load to shift off its support.
[0029] By means of a combination of a support system, as provided
by the present invention and an anchoring system, the stabilizing
system is in full compliance with the Office of Housing and Urban
Development (H.U.D.), Manufactured Home Construction Safety
Standard Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 3280.
[0030] To increase the useful lifetime of the present invention by
protecting the support apparatus from violent or severe weather
conditions, a weatherproof crown is positioned over the rubber
sleeves to prevent the collection of water and dust.
[0031] As such, the invention comprises a foundation support
apparatus for use with trailers, manufactured and prefabricated
homes that incorporates a tube assembly with a lower portion
fixedly mounted on a base plate and an upper portion articulating
with a clamp frame comprising an adjustable clamp assembly and a
means for isolating the manufactured home from ground movement,
wind forces and ground vibrations.
[0032] The tube assembly provides an adjusting means for correcting
elevation and any misalignment of the clamp assembly frame. The
tube within a tube vibration insulator is formed by a first outer
cylindrical tube surrounding a second inner cylindrical tube, with
an at least one elastomeric element, compressed intermediate the
two tubes, to absorb aberrant energy produced by undesirable
external earth or wind forces and, to provide a damping effect for
such forces.
[0033] The elastomeric element preferably consists of two adjacent
sleeves of an elastomeric material that is compressed between the
tubes for abatement of vibration which may emanate either from
below or above the foundation support. This elastomeric material is
preferably natural or synthetic rubber to provide isolation from
ground movements, wind forces and traffic vibrations.
[0034] The outer cylindrical tube is welded to, and in axial
alignment with, a central axis of the mounting plate. The inner
cylindrical tube extends above and is in axial alignment with the
outer cylindrical tube, whereby the tubes form a cylindrical facade
to provide a universal orientation of the foundation support for
optimal strength regardless of the direction from which the wind
load is applied. A threaded cap press fitted into a top section of
the inner cylindrical tube and a hex lock nut located above the cap
are adapted to set and fix an elevation adjustment of the
foundation support.
[0035] The desired vertical elevation of the foundation is achieved
with a jackscrew bolt with threads along its entire length,
culminating with a spherical ball at the upper end, and positioned
centrally within the inner cylindrical tube. A hex nut threaded on
the jackscrew proximally above the inner tube cap sets the desired
ideal adjustment for the manufactured home at dead level.
[0036] A stop, located at the first distal end of the threaded
jackscrew bolt, ensures sufficient thread engagement when the jack
is fully extended as a protective safety device for preventing over
extension of the jackscrew bolt.
[0037] The spherical ball articulates with a clamp frame through a
swivel assembly which can be fixed in an appropriate alignment by a
jam nut, that is threaded on the jackscrew just below the spherical
ball surrounded by the collar. An I-beam construction typically
undergirds or forms an undercarriage component of manufactured
homes. Thus, the invention includes a clamp frame, usually an
I-beam clamp assembly, for clasping the undercarriage component and
tying down the manufactured home.
[0038] The tube in tube configuration may include a weatherproof
crown positioned over the rubber sleeves to prevent the collection
of water and dust to increase the useful lifetime of the support.
The need for such a crown may be obviated, however, because the
elastomeric elements are so compressed between the tubes that no
foreign or extraneous matter is admitted.
[0039] Additional advantages of the foundation support of the
invention are that it is directly securable to an anchoring
foundation mount or a pier without any tie down or anchoring straps
and, it has a small footprint, thereby permitting the installation
of the foundation support in close proximity to the edge of a
trailer being supported.
[0040] When in use for stabilizing a manufactured home using a
plurality of foundation supports each secured to anchoring
foundation or pier mount, the base plate is secured to the
respective pier or anchor mount. The jackscrew is rotated for
elevation to a desired vertical height to connect with the
manufactured home I-beam or other undercarriage component. The
clamp carriage is adjusted on the spherical head swivel assembly
for alignment with the undercarriage component, whereupon the
manufactured home undercarriage component is clasped in the clamp
carriage.
[0041] The lock nut threaded on the jackscrew immediately above the
tube configuration and the jam nut just below swivel assembly are
then tightened to fix and retain the height and alignment settings.
This method for stabilizing a manufactured home incorporates
isolating the manufactured home from vibrations with the
viscoelastic material compressed between the tubes; and, further,
while the elastomeric material is minutely displaced by a
manufactured home shear load upon the foundation support, there is
a dampening of vibrations transmitted from both ground forces on
the base plate and wind forces against the manufactured home by the
hysteresis effect of the elastomeric material under the shear
load.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The present invention is pictorially illustrated in the
accompanying drawings that are attached herein.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
comprising a novel foundation support for use with manufactured
homes.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the present invention,
comprising a novel foundation support for use with manufactured
homes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] One preferred embodiment of the adjustable jackscrew
foundation support according to the present invention will be
described in detail, herein, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0046] There is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention and in FIG. 2, a cross
sectional view. Reference numeral 10 designates one embodiment of
the adjustable foundation support for a manufactured building.
[0047] A circular mounting plate or base plate 100 and the
cylindrical tube 120 provide an equal resistance to the applied
forces that are produced by the wind loads and ground forces which
are omnidirectional in nature. This mounting plate which may have a
square shape is preferably circular and made of low carbon steel,
having a plurality of mounting holes 110 into which the mounting
bolts pass through to secure each support to its anchoring
foundation mount. The outer cylindrical tube 120 is welded to the
circular mounting plate 100 so that it is in axial alignment with
the mounting plate. The outer tube is also preferably made of low
carbon steel. And its cylindrical shape provides for universal,
uniform resistance to the applied forces of wind loads from any
direction.
[0048] In axial alignment with the outer cylindrical tube 120 is
the inner tube 150, which is also made of low carbon steel. At
least one sleeve of an elastomeric material lies compressed between
the tubes. In the preferred embodiment, two elastomeric sleeves
160A and 160B, which are made preferably of rubber, are compressed
between the inner cylindrical tube 150 and the outer cylindrical
tube 120, where sleeve 160A is installed above sleeve 160B.
[0049] When the building inertial load is placed atop the
foundation support 10, the weight over the support places a shear
load on the elastomeric sleeves 160A and 160B where they are
displaced downwardly in several microinches of strain.
[0050] At the top of the outer cylindrical tube is the protective
weatherproof crown 130 that prevents water and dust from collecting
and entering into the resilient shear chamber 140. A threaded cap
170, made of low carbon steel, is press fitted into the top section
of the inner cylindrical tube 150 and retained in position by hex
lock nut 180.
[0051] Mounted to the I-beam clamp base 220 is a swivel assembly
195, comprising the spherical cap 210, and the spherical collar
clamp 230, which is retained with jam nut 240, and the swivel ball
end 200.
[0052] The jackscrew bolt 190, made of low carbon steel, is
threaded along its entire length up to its spherical ball end 200.
A spherical cap 210, which is mounted centrally on the I-beam clamp
base 220, is seated upon the spherical ball end 200 of the
jackscrew bolt 190. The spherical collar 230, made preferably from
low carbon steel, is urged against the lower portion of the
spherical ball end 200 and locked by jam nut 240.
[0053] The I-beam clamp assembly 245 is comprised of I-beam clamp
base 220, strap clamp 250A and 250B, and four (4) strap clamp bolts
260, each having a Bellville washer 280 and a hex nut 290.
[0054] The I-beam clamp base 220 is placed beneath the lower flange
of the support beam (not shown) and the two I-beam strap clamps
250A and 250B are placed upon the top of the ge of the I-beam,
being bolted and held together using strap clamp bolts 260, each
having a Bellville washer 280, and hex nut 290.
[0055] During the installation process of the foundation support of
the present invention, any small amount of misalignment can be
accommodated by unseating the ball swivel joint assembly 195 by
loosening the jam nut 240, correcting the alignment adjustment,
then retightening the ball swivel joint and jam nut 240.
[0056] As a protective safety device, to prevent the over extension
of the screw jack, there is a stop 300 at the distal end of the
threaded jack rod to maintain sufficient thread engagement when the
jack screw bolt 190 is fully extended.
[0057] It should be understood that even though the present
invention is described in detail for its particular embodiment,
there may be other variations and modifications that will become
apparent to those who are skilled in the art upon reading this
specification, and that these modifications or variations that can
be made should not detract from the true spirit of this
invention.
* * * * *