WO2025059712A1

WO2025059712A1 - Jacking system

Info

Publication number: WO2025059712A1
Application number: PCT/AU2024/050980
Authority: WO
Inventors: Justin John Williamson; Jason Edmonds
Original assignee: Sta Certification Group Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Sta Certification Group Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2023-09-18
Filing date: 2024-09-13
Publication date: 2025-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-18

Abstract

A jacking system enables lifting a heavy object, such as a side or corner of a house, without needing to place a jack directly under the heavy object. The system includes: a support post; a frame that fits around the support post, the frame comprising a distal bracing member; and a lifting arm connected to the frame and that extends outward from the support post. In use a jack is positioned inside the frame and adjacent a distal end of the support post, and extending the jack forces a ram of the jack against an underside of the bracing member and a bottom of the jack against the distal end of the support post, driving the frame and the lifting arm along a longitudinal axis of the support post.

Description

JACKING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a jacking system. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a jacking system for heavy duty applications, such as lifting houses.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Lifting houses with hand-operated jacks is common in house repair, renovation and construction. For example, in warmer climates houses are often supported on wooden, concrete or steel stumps, piles or posts. The stumps can rot or corrode and then require replacing, which generally includes jacking up the house adjacent to each stump during the replacement. Also, houses on stumps are often lifted during renovations to add extra rooms underneath or to improve the views from upstairs rooms. Further, houses on stumps are sometimes jacked up and placed on trucks and moved to an entirely new location. In addition, houses on concrete, stone or brick foundations sometimes sink or become unlevel, requiring one or more sides or corners of the house to be jacked up, re-levelled and reinforced.

[0003] House stumps, piles or posts are often supported on concrete footings or foundations. Alternatively, steel “screw piles” include angled blades that can be screwed into dirt, clay or sand, providing a secure, cost-effective and environmentally friendly support. For example, international patent application publication WO 2019/051537 A1 of Patented Foundations Pty Ltd describes various screw pile designs that include improved lateral load bearing capacity. FIG. 1 is a side view of one such prior art screw pile design.

[0004] However, screw piles are generally installed using a hydraulic motor, which can require adequate access from above the screw pile. Thus, installing a new screw pile in a confined space, such as a crawl space under a home, sometimes can be difficult.

[0005] Further, jacking up a home often requires the tedious assembly of timber frames or other structures to support a jack, and/or substantial digging under a home or foundation to provide adequate space for a jack and support frame.

[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved house jacking system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is a preferred object of the invention to provide methods and/or apparatuses and/or systems that address or ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and/or provide a useful commercial alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one form, although not necessarily the broadest form, the invention resides in a jacking system, comprising: a support post; a frame that fits around the support post, the frame comprising a distal bracing member; and a lifting arm connected to the frame and that extends outward from the support post. In use, a jack is positioned inside the frame and adjacent a distal end of the support post, and extending the jack forces a ram of the jack against an underside of the bracing member and forces a bottom of the jack against the distal end of the support post, driving the frame and the lifting arm along a longitudinal axis of the support post.

[0009] Preferably, the support post is a screw pile.

[00010] Preferably, the frame comprises a plurality of threaded rods that extend parallel to the support post and where each rod in the plurality of rods is connected to the distal bracing member and to a frame bottom member.

[00011] Preferably, the lifting arm comprises a pair of bars extending approximately transversely to the support post. [00012] Preferably, the jack is a manually operated hydraulic jack.

[00013] Preferably, the frame includes a hollow cylinder that receives the support post and is slidable over the support post.

[00014] Preferably, a frame bottom member is connected to the hollow cylinder and supports the lifting arm.

[00015] Preferably, the frame is lockable to the support post.

[00016] Preferably, the distal end of the support post includes a cap that supports the bottom of the jack.

[00017] Preferably, elements of the frame are welded or cast together as integral elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00018] To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[00019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a screw pile as disclosed in international patent application publication WO 2019/051537 A1.

[00020] FIG. 2 is a side view of a jacking system installed on a screw pile and in position to lift a foundation supporting a wall of a house, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[00021 ] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a jacking system, which is similar to the jacking system shown in FIG. 2, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[00022] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the jacking system of FIG. 3. [00023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a prototype system of the jacking system of FIG. 1 assembled at a work site, adjacent to a corner of a house wall and supported by a screw pile, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00024] The present invention relates to a jacking system, including for heavy duty applications such as lifting houses. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can apply to various other jacking applications. Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description.

[00025] According to one aspect, the present invention is defined as a jacking system, comprising: a support post; a frame that fits around the support post, the frame comprising a distal bracing member; and a lifting arm connected to the frame and that extends outward from the support post. In use, a jack is positioned inside the frame and adjacent a distal end of the support post, and extending the jack forces a top of the jack against an underside of the bracing member and forces a bottom of the jack against the distal end of the support post, driving the frame and the lifting arm along a longitudinal axis of the support post.

[00026] Advantages of some embodiments of the present invention include the ability to lift a heavy object, such as a side or corner of a house, without needing to place a jack directly under the heavy object. Further, embodiments of the invention enable a solid foundation for supporting a jack to be prepared quickly and efficiently, using for example a screw pile.

[00027] Further, by enabling a jacking system to be assembled adjacent to an objected to be lifted, minimal disruption to an existing support structure, such as a house foundation, is required. That also provides more space directly below the object to be lifted for repairing or adding new support structures.

[00028] Also, some embodiments of the present invention enable a jacking system to be assembled and disassembled quickly and efficiently. Also, some embodiments of the present invention enable improved work-site safety, by allowing jack operators to work adjacent to but not directly under a heavy object to be lifted.

[00029] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all of the above advantages are necessarily included in all embodiments of the present invention.

[00030] FIG. 2 is a side view of a jacking system 200 installed on a screw pile 205 and in position to lift a foundation 210 supporting a wall 215 of a house, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The system 200 includes a frame 220 and a lifting arm 225. The lifting arm 225 includes a pair of bars 230, which extend outward from the screw pile 205 and are positioned under the foundation 210.

[00031] The frame 220 includes a bottom member 235 that is connected to a hollow cylinder 240, which receives a shaft of the screw pile 205 and is slidable over the shaft of the screw pile 205. A distal bracing member 245 of the frame 220 is connected to the bottom member 235 via four threaded rods 250. Each of the threaded rods 250 is secured, via one or more nuts 255, to a corner of the distal bracing member 245 at a top end and to a corner of the bottom member 235 at a bottom end.

[00032] A cap 260 is positioned over the top distal end of the screw pile 205. During use, a jack such as a typical bottle jack 265 is positioned inside the frame 220 and on top of the cap 260. As is well known in the art, the bottle jack 265 includes a ram 270 that can be extended by manually pumping a handle 275 of the jack 265. Extending the jack 265 forces the ram 270 of the jack 265 against an underside of the bracing member 245, and forces a bottom of the jack 265 against the cap 260 and the distal end of the screw pile 205. That drives the frame 220 and the lifting arm 225 upward and along a longitudinal axis of the screw pile 205. Accordingly, the lifting arm 225 lifts the house foundation 210 and the wall 215 of the house.

[00033] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a jacking system 300, which is similar to the jacking system 200, according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown, each bar 330 of a pair of bars 330 is clamped against the bottom member 335 of a frame 320.

[00034] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various types of jacks can be used in accordance with the present invention, including, for example, scissors jacks, bottle jacks, and various other hydraulic or pneumatic jacks. Further, depending on the conditions of the work site, the jacks can be actuated manually, automatically or remotely.

[00035] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the jacking system 300. In particular, a series of nuts 355 are clearly illustrated on each of the four threaded rods 350, which securely clamps the elements of the frame 320 together.

[00036] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various alternative designs of a frame are within the scope of the present invention. For example, rather than using threaded rods 250, the frame 220 or 320 can be replaced by an integral box or tube structure. Elements of the frame also can be welded together using steel or other high-strength components.

[00037] Further, some embodiments of the present invention are not limited to lifting objects vertically, but also can be designed to force objects in other directions, such as laterally, obliquely or sideways.

[00038] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a prototype system 500 of the jacking system 200 assembled at a work site, adjacent to a corner of a house wall 510 and supported by a screw pile, according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown, a ground region 520 adjacent to the house wall 510 and foundation 530 can be readily excavated from above and a screw pile, on which the system 500 is supported, can be efficiently wound into the ground to a level below the foundation 530. Thus, only very modest excavation is required directly beneath the house foundation 530 in order to receive the lifting arm 225 of the system 200.

[00039] In this patent specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, top and bottom, up and down, upper and lower, rear, front and side, etc., are used solely to define one element or method step from another element or method step without necessarily requiring a specific relative position or sequence that is described by the adjectives. Words such as “comprises” or “includes” are not used to define an exclusive set of elements or method steps. Rather, such words merely define a minimum set of elements or method steps included in a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[00040] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. Numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this patent specification is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the above described invention, which is determined by the following claims.

Claims

1 . A jacking system, comprising: a support post; a frame that fits around the support post, the frame comprising a distal bracing member; and a lifting arm connected to the frame and that extends outward from the support post; wherein in use a jack is positioned inside the frame and adjacent a distal end of the support post, and extending the jack forces a ram of the jack against an underside of the bracing member and a bottom of the jack against the distal end of the support post, driving the frame and the lifting arm along a longitudinal axis of the support post.

2. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the support post is a screw pile.

3. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of threaded rods that extend parallel to the support post and where each rod in the plurality of rods is connected to the distal bracing member and to a frame bottom member.

4. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm comprises a pair of bars extending approximately transversely to the support post.

5. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the jack is a manually operated hydraulic jack.

6. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a hollow cylinder that receives the support post and is slidable over the support post.

7. The jacking system of claim 6, wherein a frame bottom member is connected to the hollow cylinder and supports the lifting arm.

8. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the frame is lockable to the support post.

9. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the support post includes a cap that supports the bottom of the jack.

10. The jacking system of claim 1 , wherein elements of the frame are welded or cast together as integral elements.