Foundation construction

Abstract

A plurality of precast ground bearing foundation pads are provided at spaced-apart locations. Precast wall sections span between and bear upon the pads, each pad having a groove in its upper surface for receiving and holding a base of the wall section. Separate foundation holes may be excavated for each pad, the holes are backfilled to fix the pads in position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foundation assembly, including: 
 at least two precast ground bearing foundation pads at spaced-apart locations, and    at least one precast wall section spanning between and bearing upon said pads, wherein each pad has means for receiving a base of said wall section.    
     
     
         2 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein said means for receiving the base of the wall includes at least one groove into which the base is received.  
     
     
         3 . The foundation assembly of  claim 2  wherein said base has vertical sides and said at least one groove has corresponding vertical sides.  
     
     
         4 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein adjacent wall sections are abutted with a seal provided therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein each said pad is laterally fixed by fill material surrounding the sides of the pad.  
     
     
         6 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein each said wall section is laterally fixed by fill material on either side of the wall section.  
     
     
         7 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein adjacent wall sections abut to form a substantially continuous ring foundation.  
     
     
         8 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wall sections are topped by a cast in situ concrete floor slab.  
     
     
         9 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein the said wall sections include surfaces adapted to support wall or floor structures.  
     
     
         10 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein the said wall sections include reinforcing elements projecting from one or more faces thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein the said pad includes a pad fixture and the wall includes a wall fixture, the pad fixture and wall fixture being adapted for engagement with a lever for manual manipulation of the position of the wall relative to the pad.  
     
     
         12 . The foundation assembly of  claim 11  wherein the pad fixture is a pad recess formed in an upper surface of the pad and the wall fixture is a wall recess in the vertical face of the wall.  
     
     
         13 . The foundation assembly of  claim 12  wherein the pad recess is V-shaped in section and is formed adjacent to a medial section of the groove.  
     
     
         14 . The foundation assembly of  claim 12  wherein the wall recess has a pair of opposed walls elongated in the vertical direction.  
     
     
         15 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  further including a cast in situ foundation strip extending between two adjacent pads and supporting the intermediate section of the wall.  
     
     
         16 . The foundation assembly of  claim 2  wherein a pad is supported upon and fixed to a pile footing.  
     
     
         17 . The foundation assembly of  claim 16  wherein the pad includes an aperture having a shoulder for abutment against an end of the pile footing and a smaller section opening into the base of the groove adapted for the injection of adhesive therethrough.  
     
     
         18 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein inside faces of adjacent wall sections are joined by an angle bracket fixed to fasteners cast into the said inner faces.  
     
     
         19 . The foundation assembly of  claim 1  wherein upper faces of adjacent wall sections are joined by a bracket having a slot for adjusting the joint opening.  
     
     
         20 . A method of constructing a foundation assembly, including: at least two precast ground bearing foundation pads at spaced-apart locations, and at least one precast wall section spanning between and bearing upon said pads, wherein each pad has means for receiving a base of said wall section, the method including the steps: 
 lining the base of a pad excavation with a bed of self-compacting granular material;    placing one pad on the bed of compacted material;    surrounding the pad with fill material to set it in position; and    placing the wall section upon the pad.    
     
     
         21 . The method of constructing a foundation assembly of  claim 20  wherein the sites of the pad excavations are deeper than any excavation therebetween.  
     
     
         22 . The method of constructing a foundation assembly of  claim 20  including the further subsequent step: 
 surrounding the sides of the said wall section with fill material.  
 
     
     
         23 . A precast concrete foundation pad with a substantially planar ground bearing base, sides, and at least one groove in a top of the pad, the groove having substantially vertical sides adapted to receive and hold a precast wall section.  
     
     
         24 . A precast concrete foundation pad as claimed in  claim 23  including a pad fixture adapted for engagement with a lever for manual manipulation of the position of the wall relative to the pad.