Multiple piece bracket assembly for lifting and supporting a structure

Abstract

An improvement for a bracket assembly of the type used in lifting and supporting a structure or shallow foundation element on a pile is provided. The bracket assembly rests on top of a deep foundation pile positioned adjacent to a structure. The bracket has inside and outside sections, the inside section is a weldment consisting of a bearing member which engages and attaches to the structure or foundation element. The inside section also functions as a guide for installing a pile. The outside section is further divided into upper and lower parts. The lower outside section has a pile guide and a spaced apart U-shaped adjustment bolt that together cradle the pile. The upper outside section caps the pile and attaches to the lower outside section using threadably adjustable rods. The outside section attaches to the inside section thereby fixing the bracket assembly against horizontal translation and rotation about a horizontal axis with respect to the pile.

1 . A bracket assembly for lifting and supporting a structure, said bracket assembly being applied in cooperation with a pier adjacent to a foundation to initiate foundation support, an angled plate having a first plate for securement to the edge of a foundation, and an integral lower plate that locates beneath the edge of the foundation to provide support therefor, a temporary pile guide connecting to said first wall of the angled plate and provided for positioning said pile during its installation within the ground to a structure supporting depth, wherein pile guide is then removed, a bracket means securing to said angled plate, said bracket means having an upper portion that secures with the first wall of the angled plate, and said bracket having a lower portion that locates under the angled plate and supports the foundation, the lower portion of the bracket capable of being rigidly connected to the angled plate, an installation bracket temporarily securing to the upper portion of the bracket to accommodate a jack means therein for lifting the bracket means for supporting the foundation upwardly relative to its installed pier, and fastening means tightened to fix the angled plate and its bracket means for supporting the structure at its lifted position.  
   
   
       2 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the installation bracket and the jacking means are removed once the bracket means and the angled plate has been affixed to the pier to maintain the lifted structure relative to said pier.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket assembly of  claim 2  wherein said installation bracket includes a load plate, secured to the upper end of an installed pier, and which is removable once the bracket means has lifted the structure relative to the installed pier, and the bracket means has been affixed to the installed pier.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein upon removal of the temporary pile guide, the bracket means is connected to the outer upper surface of the first wall of the angled plate, and said bracket means is then pivoted into position downwardly wherein its supports underneath the lower wall of the angled plate in preparation for installation of the installation bracket and jacking means for lifting the structure relative to the installed pier.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  and including a pair of vertical plates, one of each vertical plate affixed to the outer edge of the first wall of the angled plate, and said plates capable of being fastened to initially the temporary pile guide, and then the bracket means for initially driving a pile into the ground, and for securement of the bracket means to the installed pile once the structure has been lifted by the bracket assembly during its operation.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket assembly of  claim 4  and including a U-bolt means applied to the lower portion of the bracket means and embracing the installed pier to reduce the horizontal axis of rotation of the bracket relative to the pier during lifting and support of the foundation through application of the bracket assembly.