Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
203~041 S DEVICE FOR RAISING AND SUPPORTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF A BUILDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention: The present invention relates to a device capable of raising the concrete foundations of a building and of supporting these foundations after they have been raised. The device according to the invention is particularly useful to stabilize snagged concrete foundations. 2. Brief description of the prior art: Buildings such as houses are usually constructed on concrete foundations. Such foundations generally comprise a footing on which is erected a vertical foundation wall. After a building has been erected, the soil conditions may change, causing the foundations to sag. This may in particular be caused by settling of the soil. Unless the situation is rapidly corrected, this may cause major damages such as cracks or fissures in the concrete footing, in the foundation wall as well as in the exterior brick covering. Also, the floors and walls of the building are no longer horizontal or vertical. 2031041 An example of prior art apparatus for raising and supporting sagged building foundations is described in United States patent No. 4,673,315 (SHAW et al.), granted on June 16, 1987. This prior art apparatus comprises a lifting arm assembly for supporting the foundations. The latter assembly includes an L-shaped bracket with an horizontal portion applied to the underside of the footing. The lifting arm assembly also comprises a vertically oriented sleeve in which a cylindrical tubular pile is disposed and can slide longitudinally. The apparatus of United States patent No. 154,673,315 also comprises a clamping assembly including an outer ring concentric with the pile and surrounding the same. The clamping assembly is positioned on the pile above the lifting arm assembly. 20The lifting and clamping assemblies are interconnected by a pair of diametrically opposed hydraulic cylinders. In order to drive the pile into the soil, three inner arcuate inserts are interposed between the inner surface of the outer ring and the outer surface of the pile. These inserts are tapered in a vertical direction so that upon retraction of the hydraulic cylinders they will grab, or engage, the pile to drive it into the soil and, when the lower end of the pile has reached soil of sufficient hardness, to raise the lifting assembly and accordingly the foundations. As the cylinders extend, the inserts slide over the pile. 3 203 1 04 1 One skilled in the art can appreciate that the ring and inserts of the clamping assembly of United States patent No. 4, 673,315 operate satisfactorily only with a pipe having a generally cylindrical geometry. Piles with other cross sectional shapes cannot be utilized. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the above discussed drawback of the prior art by replacing the clamping assembly of United States patent No. 4, 673,315 with an assembly of articulated jaws suitable for use in particular but not exclusively with a pile of rectangular cross section. These jaws pivot to enable the assembly to slide upwardly on the pile but to grasp that pile when a downward force is applied to the assembly in order to drive the pile into the ground. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for raising and supporting the foundations of a building, comprising: X'' ,~ 203 1 04 1 an elongated, generally vertical tubular pile having a generally rectangular cross section and a lower end; a lifting assembly secured to the foundations of the building for supporting these foundations as they are raised and after they have been raised, the lifting assembly comprising pile guiding means for slidably receiving the pile and for guiding longitudinal movement of the pile; a jaw assembly comprising (a) a rigid frame embracing the pile and being longitudinally slidable on that pile, (b) two jaws disposed on respective opposite sides of the pile, each jaw having (i) a proximate end distant from the pile and pivotally mounted on the rigid frame, and (ii) a distal end lower than the proximate end and defining an anti-slip surface contacting the pile, (c) means for urging the distal ends of the jaws upwardly to thereby force the anti-slip surfaces against the pile, and (d) means for limiting upward pivotal movement of the distal ends of the jaws; and a plurality of extendible and retractable hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the lifting assembly and the rigid frame for (i) applying an upward force to the rigid frame in order to slide both the rigid frame and the jaws upwardly on the pile, or (ii) applying a downward force to the rigid frame ~, 203 1 04 1 whereby these jaws grasp the pile to drive the pile into the soil and, after the lower end of the pile has reached soil of sufficient hardness, to raise the lifting assembly and accordingly the foundations. After the foundations have been raised at the desired level, the pile guiding means of the lifting assembly and the pile, advantageously both made of steel, can be welded together to stabilize the foundations. The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the appended drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a foundations raising and supporting device in accordance with the invention, comprising a pile, a lifting assembly, a jaw assembly, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders; X`' . ~ ,=_ 5~ 203 1 04 1 Figure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the pile of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear, perspective view of the lifting assembly of the device of Figure 1; and 1 A .. . ... 20310~1 Figures 4 and 5 are respectively front elevational and side elevational views of the jaw assembly of the device of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF l~E PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As partially illustrated in Figure 1, conventional foundations of houses and other buildings are made of concrete and comprise a footing 2, a foundation wall 3 and a concrete floor 4. The foundation wall 3 is vertical and erected onto the footing 2, and the floor 4 covers the entire surface delimited by the foundations walls 3. A foundations raising and supporting device in accordance with the present invention, generally identified by the reference numeral 1 in the appended drawings, comprises a lifting assembly 5, a pile 6, a jaw assembly 7, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders 8 and 9. The structure of the pile 6, made of steel, is illustrated in Figure 2. It comprises pile sections such as 10 and 11, generally square in cross section. A head 12 includes a point 13 in order to facilitate driving of the pile 6 into the soil, and a tubular section 14 also square in cross section and dimensioned to fit in the lower end of pile section 10. When tubular section 14 has been placed into the 20~10~1 lower end of the pile section 10, the head 12 and pile section 10 are welded together. As the pile 6 is driven into the soil, lengthening of this pile can be required to reach hard soil. A steel insert 15, square in cross section, is then used. This insert 15 comprises a first tubular section 16 dimensioned to fit into the upper end of the pile section 10, and a second tubular section 17 fitting into the lower end of the pile section 11. Sections 16 and 17 are separated from each other by an outer flange 18 on which the corresponding ends of the pile sections 10 and 11 abuts. When the tubular sections 16 and 17 have been introduced in the pile sections 10 and 11, respectively, these sections 10 and 11 are both welded to the flange 18 of the insert 15. If required, other inserts such as 15 and other pile sections such as 11 can be used to further lengthen the pile 6. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the square cross section of the pile 6 increases its stiffness. The cross section area of the pile 6 can accordingly be substantially reduced. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a pile 6 with a square cross section, it is within the scope of the present invention to use piles having generally a rectangular cross section. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the appended drawings, the lifting assembly 5, made of 2031041 steel, comprises a vertical and tubular member 19 substantially square in cross section. The pile 6 snugly fits into the tubular member 19 but is free to slide longitudinally therein. A pair of angle irons 20 and 21 are welded to the outside of the tubular member 19 on opposite sides thereof. These angle irons each comprise a planar portion 20' and 21' lying into a common plane. These portions 20' and 21' are provided with holes such as 22 through which the lifting assembly 5 is bolted to the concrete on the outside of the foundation wall 3 and/or footing 2. Figure 1 shows expansion bolts such as 23 anchored in the concrete to secure the assembly 5 to the foundation wall 3 and/or footing 2. The lifting assembly 5 further comprises two horizontally extending steel bars 24 and 25. The bar 24 has a proximate end welded on the same outer face of the tubular member 19 as angle iron 20, while bar 25 has its proximate end welded on the outer face of the tubular member 19 on which iron angle 21 is itself welded. As can be seen, the distal end of the steel bars 24 and 25 are beveled to facilitate insertion of the lifting assembly under the footing 2. The lifting assembly finally comprises an horizontal and rectangular steel plate 27 welded onto the top edge surface of the bars 24 and 25. As illustrated in Figure 1 of the appended drawings, the angle irons 20 and 21 are secured to the 203104~L outside of foundation wall 3 and/or footing 2 through the bolts 23, with the plate 27 applied against the underside of the footing 2 in order to support the foundations upon and after raising thereof. Grout can be added to closely fit the lifting assembly on the foundations. Better stabilization of the foundations is thereby obtained. As illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the jaw assembly 7 comprises a pair of parallel and rectangular steel plates, namely a front plate 28 and a rear plate 29. The spacing between the plates 28 and 29 is adequate to enable sliding of the pile 6 between them. The plates 28 and 29 are also secured to each other by means of lower steel shafts 30 and 31 welded to the plate 29 but bolted to the plate 28 (see the axial bolts 56 and 57 in Figures 4 and 5). The corresponding end of the shafts 30 and 31 are reduced in diameter and received in a cylindrical cavity formed in the inner face of the plate 28 (see 60 in Figure 5). The bolts 56 and 57 each traverse a hole in the plate 28 and are each screwed into a threaded, axial bore in the end of the corresponding shaft 30 and 31 (see 61 in Figure 5). This type of assemblage is well known in the art and accordingly will not be further described. Again the spacing between the shafts 30 and 31 is adequate to enable sliding of the pile 6 between them. Welded to the top edge surface of the plates 28 and 29 are transversely and horizontally extending steel bars 32 and 33, respectively. The bars 32 and 33 are interconnected by means of a pair 2031041 of end steel shafts 36 and 37 perpendicular to these bars. The shafts 36 and 37 are welded to the rear bar 33 but traverse respective holes in the front bar 32 and are attached to this front bar 32 by means of pins 58 and 59, respectively. The pile 6 is of course capable of sliding between the steel bars 32 and 33. As can be appreciated, the bolts 56 and 57 and the pins 58 and 59 enable dismantlement of the jaw assembly 7. A first jaw 34 comprises a pair of parallel flat steel arms 38 and 39 having a proximate end pivotally mounted on the shaft 36. The jaw 34 also comprises a distal end comprising a steel plate 40 welded to the arms 38 and 39 and provided with a anti-slip convex surface 41. The surface 41 prevents downward slippage of the jaw 34 over the outer surface of the pile 6. A pair of aligned cylindrical members such as 42, respectively welded to the inside of the bars 32 and 33, extend between these two bars and limit pivoting of the jaw 34 in the direction 43. A coil spring 45 however forces the surface 41 of the jaw 34 on the pile 6. A second jaw 35 comprises a pair of parallel flat steel arms 46 and 47 having a proximate end pivotally mounted on the shaft 37. The jaw 35 also comprises a distal end comprising a steel plate 48 welded to the arms 46 and 47 and provided with a anti-slip convex surface 49. The surface 49 prevents downward slippage of the jaw 35 over the outer surface of the pile 6. A pair of aligned cylindrical members 2031041 such as 50, respectively welded to the inside of the bars 32 and 33, extend between these two bars and limit pivoting of the jaw 35 in the direction 51. A coil spring 52 however forces the surface 49 of the jaw 35 on the pile 6. The lifting assembly 5 also comprises a bracket 54 welded on the face of the tubular member 19 on which the angle iron 20 and the steel bar 24 are themselves welded. The lifting assembly 5 further comprises a bracket 55 welded on the face of the tubular member 19 on which the angle iron 21 and the steel bar 25 are themselves welded. The hydraulic cylinder 8 has a lower end formed with a pair of clevises such as 65 and 65 " for pivotally connecting this lower end to the bracket 54 through a pin, and an upper end pivotally mounted on the shaft 36 between the arms 38 and 39. The hydraulic cylinder 9 also has a lower end formed with a pair of clevises for pivotally connecting this lower end to the bracket 55 through a pin, and an upper end pivotally mounted on the shaft 37 between the arms 46 and 47. In order to install the device according to the invention, the area close to the foundations which corresponds to the position of this device is first excavated to evacuate the soil and enable the installers to access the foundation wall 3 and the underside of the footing 2. The upper face of the steel plate 27 of the lifting assembly 5 is then applied against the underside of the footing 2 and the 2031041 iron angles 20 and 21 are secured to the foundation wall 3 and/or footing 2 by means of the expansion bolts 23 mounted into holes drilled in the concrete. It may be required to trim or cut the outside and 5 underside of the footing 2 so that this footing defines with the foundation wall 3 a right angle adequate to receive the lifting assembly 5 as illustrated in Figure 1. As mentioned in the foregoing description, grout can be added to closely 10 fit the lifting assembly 5 on the footing 2 and foundation wall 3. After the lifting assembly has been positioned as described above, the pile 6 is slid into 15 the tubular member 19 until its point 13 reaches the soil. The jaw assembly 7 is then assembled onto the pile 6 above the lifting assembly 5 by means of the bolts 56 and 57 and the pins 58 and 59, while the said lifting 5 and jaw 7 assemblies are interconnected by 20 means of the cylinders 8 and 9. These hydraulic cylinders are of course supplied with pressurized fluid by means of a pump (not shown) in accordance with conventional techniques. With the pump, the cylinders 8 and 9 are simultaneously operated, that is both alternately extended and retracted. As the two cylinders extend, an upward force is applied to the jaw assembly 7 and the surfaces 41 and 49 of the jaws 34 and 35 slide upwardly over the pile 6. On the contrary, as the cylinders 8 and 9 retract, the springs 45 and 52 urge the distal ends of the jaws 34 and 35 upwardly to force the anti-slip surfaces 41 and 49 on the pile 6 2031041 13 whereby these jaws grasp the latter pile to drive the pile in the soil. The members 42 and 50 prevent excessive upward pivotal movement of the distal end of the two jaws. By alternately extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinders 8 and 9, one can easily drive the pile 6 into the soil until its point 13 reaches hard soil. After the point 13 has reached soil of sufficient hardness, further retraction of the hydraulic cylinders raises the lifting assembly and accordingly the foundations. After stabilization of the pile 6, that is after the pile 6 can support the foundations at the desired level without being further driven into the soil, the pile 6 is welded to the tubular member 19 whereby the foundations are supported and stabilized by the driven pile and lifting assembly. In order to reach stabilization, the point 13 of the pile 6 should obviously reach a soil of adequate hardness. The cylinders 8 and 9 and the jaw assembly are then disassembled and can subsequently be used to raise other foundations. The section of pile remaining above the tubular member 19 can of course be cut if desired or required. By distributing foundations raising and supporting devices as illustrated in Figures 1-5 in the periphery of sagged building foundations, such foundations can be easily and adequately raised and supported and therefore stabilized. It should however be kept in mind that the different devices must be so operated as to raise and support the entire 2031041 14 foundations or the entire portion thereof that must be raised and supported. When the foundations have been raised, are supported by the devices in accordance with the invention and are stabilized, the space between the soil and the so raised concrete footing and floor such as 2 and 4 in Figures 1 is filled with concrete. The excavated area around each device can then be filled with soil to complete the procedure. Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, such an embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.
