Foundation Piling Base and Method of Underpinning Therefor

Abstract

A piling base apparatus, method for making same, a corresponding foundation pile system, and process for installation, the piling base apparatus having a generally solid body, a top end surface, a bottom end surface, and a side surface extending between the top end surface and the bottom end surface. The surface area of the bottom end surface is less than the surface area of the top end surface. At least one ridge extends generally about the side surface in a generally downward direction from the top end surface to the bottom end surface. Each ridge has an offset surface extending generally outward from the surface of the side surface. An end of a strand is fixed to the piling base apparatus, the strand extending outwardly from the top end surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A piling base apparatus comprising:
 a generally solid body having,
 a top end surface; 
 a bottom end surface, said bottom end surface having a surface area that is less than the surface area of said top end surface; 
 a side surface extending between said top end surface and said bottom end surface; and 
 said side surface having at least one ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface, wherein said at least one ridge has an offset surface extending generally outward from the surface of said side surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The piling base of  claim 1  wherein said generally solid body further comprises means for connecting pile segments to the piling base. 
     
     
         3 . The piling base of  claim 1  wherein said generally solid body further comprises an end of a strand fixedly received therein, said strand extending outwardly from said top end surface of the piling base. 
     
     
         4 . The piling base of  claim 1  wherein said generally solid body forms a frustum between said top end surface and said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         5 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each said ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said side surface tapers approximately sixty degrees from said top end surface to said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         7 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bottom end surface has a minor axis length of approximately three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         8 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bottom end surface has a major axis length of approximately one and three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         9 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the average diameter of said top end surface to the average diameter of said bottom end surface is approximately six to one (6:1). 
     
     
         10 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said offset surface of said at least one ridge forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         11 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said extension about said side surface of said ridge traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees, whereby said offset surface of said ridge forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         12 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said generally solid body is a composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The piling base apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said generally solid body further comprises an epoxy resin composition. 
     
     
         14 . A foundation pile system for supporting a structure comprising:
 a spiral lock starter segment having a generally solid body having,
 a top end surface; 
 a bottom end surface, having a surface area of said bottom end surface that is less than the surface area of said top end surface; 
 a side surface extending between said top end surface and said bottom end surface; and 
 said side surface having a ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface, wherein said ridge has an offset surface extending generally outward from the surface of said side surface; 
   a pile segment disposed on said spiral lock starter segment;   a cap member disposed between the structure and said pile segment; and   a support member on a side of said cap member opposite said pile segment, said support member for abutment with said structure.   
     
     
         15 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said spiral lock starter segment further comprises means for connecting said pile segment to said spiral lock starter segment. 
     
     
         16 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment forms a frustum between said top end surface and said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         17 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein each said ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said side surface of said spiral lock starter segment tapers approximately sixty degrees from said top end surface to said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         19 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment has a minor axis length of approximately three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         20 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment has a major axis length of approximately one and three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         21 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein the ratio of the average diameter of said top end surface to the average diameter of said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment is approximately six to one (6:1). 
     
     
         22 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said offset surface of said at least one ridge of said spiral lock starter segment forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         23 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said extension about said side surface of said ridge of said spiral lock starter segment traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees, whereby said offset surface of said ridge forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         24 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein the generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment is a composite material. 
     
     
         25 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein the generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment further comprises an epoxy resin composition. 
     
     
         26 . The foundation pile system of  claim 14  wherein said pile segment further comprises a threaded sidewall surface. 
     
     
         27 . A foundation pile system for supporting a structure comprising:
 a spiral lock starter segment having a generally solid body having,
 a top end surface; 
 a bottom end surface, having a surface area of said bottom end surface that is less than the surface area of said top end surface; 
 a side surface extending between said top end surface and said bottom end surface; 
 said side surface having a ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface, wherein said ridge has an offset surface extending generally outward from the surface of said side surface; and 
 an end of a strand fixedly received therein, said strand extending outwardly from said top end surface of said spiral lock starter segment; 
   a pile segment having a hole extending longitudinally there through, whereby said strand may be threaded;   a cap member between the structure and said pile segment, whereby a second end of said strand may be affixed; and   a support member on a side of said cap member opposite said pile segment, said support member for abutment with said structure.   
     
     
         28 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment forms a frustum between said top end surface and said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         29 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein each said ridge extending generally about said side surface and in a generally downward direction from said top end surface to said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said side surface of said spiral lock starter segment tapers approximately sixty degrees from said top end surface to said bottom end surface. 
     
     
         31 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment has a minor axis length of approximately three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         32 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment has a major axis length of approximately one and three quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         33 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein the ratio of the average diameter of said top end surface to the average diameter of said bottom end surface of said spiral lock starter segment is approximately six to one (6:1). 
     
     
         34 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said offset surface of said at least one ridge of said spiral lock starter segment forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         35 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said extension about said side surface of said ridge of said spiral lock starter segment traverses about said side surface an arc distance of approximately fifteen degrees, whereby said offset surface of said ridge forms a flaring screw plane, having a curl on said flaring screw plane. 
     
     
         36 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein the generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment is a composite material. 
     
     
         37 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein the generally solid body of said spiral lock starter segment further comprises an epoxy resin composition. 
     
     
         38 . The foundation pile system of  claim 27  wherein said pile segment further comprises a threaded sidewall surface.