Adjustable pier railroad house assembly having dual adjustment capabilities

An adjustable pier assembly for use with a railroad control house includes a frame member, a movable sleeve having a pair of flanges rigidly attached to an extending sidewardly therefrom, and a pair of fine adjustment threaded members having associated hardware. By adjusting an initial adjustment bolt, an initial "rough" height adjustment is provided between the pier and the sleeve. A final fine adjustment is then provided between the sleeve and the frame of the apparatus by adjusting the location of the fine adjustment nuts which combine to capture the flanges along the lengths of their respective fine adjustment bolts. When four adjustment pier assemblies are used on four corresponding corners of a railway control equipment house, quick initial setup followed by fine leveling adjustment in two axes is readily provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates in general to railroad equipment, and particularly 
relates to an adjustable pier having multiple adjustment capabilities for 
use in supporting a railroad control equipment house and a method of using 
same. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Various adjustable support members are known in the prior art. For example, 
an adjustable support member is known which includes a pair of telescoping 
members, at one end of which is supported a threaded member threadably 
engaging a internally threaded "donut"-type end member. The end member 
fits into the end of one of the telescoping members. The telescoping 
members can be roughly adjusted for height, and then threaded engagement 
can be operated to allow for fine adjustment. Such a structure is 
typically used in providing "jack posts", for providing structural 
supports for house foundations, etc. 
Although the prior art includes advantages, it nevertheless includes 
disadvantages. For example, the known prior art does not provide an easy 
initial adjustment feature followed by fine adjustment features which 
discourage binding. 
Furthermore, there is a need in the art for the provision of railroad 
equipment control houses, which are typically placed along railroad right 
of ways which by their nature in many instances do not provide access for 
concrete trucks to pour foundations. One solution has been to provide 
precast concrete foundation sections which are bolted together at the 
site. Another prior art concept includes the use of steel foundations. 
Installation of either of these foundations can prove time consuming and 
dangerous. Furthermore, after the required excavation has settled, the 
house is typically out of level. Releveling of prior art structures can 
prove difficult considering the weight of the buildings. 
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an adjustable railroad 
house pier having multiple adjustment capabilities which discourages 
binding, allows for quick and easy installation of a railroad control 
equipment house, allows for post-installation adjustment after settling, 
and provides safety features. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an improvement over the prior art by 
providing a more efficient and safe method and apparatus for "setting" 
such equipment houses, by the use of an adjustable railroad house pier 
having multiple adjustment capabilities which discourages binding, allows 
for quick and easy installation of a railroad control equipment house, 
allows for post-installation adjustment after settling, and provides 
safety features. 
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
house pier system. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a house pier 
system which includes an improved adjustment feature. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a house pier 
system which is easy to use. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a house pier 
system which is easy to manufacture. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a house pier 
system which is an improvement over the prior art. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a house pier 
system which can be operated by personnel without a particularly high 
technical expertise. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustment 
mechanism which includes a minimum of moving parts. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustment 
mechanism which does not tend to bind. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustment 
mechanism which provides infinite adjustment features. 
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will 
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the 
preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the 
drawing and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-5, in which like numerals designate like 
items throughout the several views. 
General Construction and Operation 
The adjustable pier assembly 10 according to the present invention includes 
a frame member 12, a movable sleeve 20 having a pair of flanges 24 rigidly 
attached to an extending sidewardly therefrom, and a pair of fine 
adjustment threaded members 40 having associated hardware. By adjusting an 
initial adjustment bolt 36, an initial "rough" height adjustment is 
provided between the pier 30 and the sleeve 20. A final fine adjustment is 
then provided between the sleeve 20 and the frame 12 of the apparatus 10 
by adjusting the location of the fine adjustment nuts 44 which combine to 
capture the flanges 24 along the lengths of their respective fine 
adjustment bolts 40. When four adjustment pier assemblies 10 are used on 
four corresponding corners of a railway control equipment house such as 
100, quick initial setup followed by fine leveling adjustment in two axis 
is readily provided. 
Details of Construction 
Reference is now particularly made to FIG. 1, which is a front elevational 
view of an adjustable pier assembly 10 according to the present invention. 
In FIG. 1, a cover 13 is shown covering adjustable elements discussed in 
detail below. The cover 13 is mounted in place by a plurality of cover 
mounting screws 15, although other mounting means may be provided without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Reference is now also made to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a front elevational 
view of an adjustable pier assembly 10 according to the present invention 
with the cover removed. FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of that 
shown in FIG. 2. 
As shown by FIG. 3, the apparatus includes a frame 12, which itself 
includes an upper shelf 14, a lower shelf 16, a vertical wall 18, and a 
mounting flange 17. The mounting flange 17 and the lower shelf 16, and in 
the preferred embodiment shown, are formed out of single piece of metal. 
The upper shelf, and vertical wall are, in the preferred embodiment, made 
of separate plates of metal, although other configurations may be provided 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
When in their typical installed orientations, the upper and lower shelves 
14, 16, of the frame 12 are substantially horizontal and coplanar. Each of 
the upper and lower shelves, 14, 16, includes one major hole, and two 
minor holes extending therethrough. The major holes are substantially 
coaligned, and slidably accept an elongate hollow sleeve 20 as discussed 
elsewhere. The minor holes are likewise substantially aligned to allow 
acceptance of the fine adjustment bolts 40 such as shown in FIG. 2. 
The mounting flange 17 of the frame 12 is attached to the underside of a 
building 100 as discussed elsewhere. 
The sleeve 20 is tubular and elongate and includes an elongate bore for 
accepting a length of the pier 30 as discussed elsewhere in this 
application. Two opposing flanges 24 extend sidewardly from the outside 
surface of a middle part of the sleeve 20. The opposing flanges 24 are 
substantially planar, in one preferred embodiment being composed of flat 
plate stock having one edge welded to the outside surface of the sleeve 
20. As discussed elsewhere, this flat plate stock is captured between two 
corresponding fine adjustment nuts 44 and facilitate fine adjustment of 
the pier assembly 10. 
The pier 30 is substantially elongate and tubular. The pier 30 is tubular 
although a solid configuration is contemplated without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the present invention. The pier includes a plurality 
of initial adjustment holes 34 extending transversely to the longitudinal 
axis of the elongate pier 30. These holes 34 accept the transverse cross 
section of an initial adjustment bolt 36, when it extends through the 
holes 34 and also the single hole in the sleeve 20, as shown in FIG. 3. 
Bolt 36 screws into a threaded aluminum lug welded to the back of sleeve 
20. 
A pier foot is attached to the lower end of the pier for contact with a 
supporting surface such as the ground. 
The fine adjustment bolts 40, and their associated hardware, are similar in 
operation; therefore, one will be discussed as an example of the other. 
The fine adjustment bolts 40 have a head 41, and a threaded body. The 
threaded body is substantially elongate, and extends through two holes, 
one hole in the upper shelf 14, and another hole in the lower shelf 16. 
Associated hardware mounts the fine adjustment bolt relative to the frame 
12. Fine adjustment nuts 44 "snug" up next to each flat surface of the 
flange 24. By adjusting the fine adjustment nuts 44, the flange 24 may be 
raised or lowered as desired. As the flange 24 is rigidly attached to the 
sleeve 20, this likewise provides an adjustment feature between the frame 
12 and the sleeve 20. As the sleeve 20 is attached to the pier 30 by the 
initial adjustment bolt 36, this likewise provides an overall adjustment 
feature for the adjustable pier assembly 10. 
Installation and Adjustment 
Reference is now also made to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
FIG. 5 shows a house or building 100 equipped with four externally mounted 
adjustable pier assemblies 10 although only two are viewable. This allows 
installation and precise leveling of the house without the necessity of 
entering the enclosure until the house is secured in place. 
Installation of the apparatus can take many forms, but one method includes 
the use of a crane (not shown) for lifting the house with the piers at a 
preset length. After four holes or two long parallel trenches are dug, the 
crane suspends the house over the excavated site at a initial height 
relative to the ground. 
For installation and adjustment, the protective covers 13 should be removed 
from the remainder of the apparatus. This is accomplished by removing the 
two cover mounting screws 15 from the top lip of the cover 13 (see FIG. 
1). 
While the house is still suspended by the crane, the adjustable piers 30 
are each lowered into place by removing their corresponding pier initial 
adjustment bolt 36 (see FIG. 2), allowing the pier to drop until its foot 
contacts the excavated surface. The initial adjustment bolt 36 is then 
replaced through one of the initial adjustment holes in the pier itself, 
allowing for leveling in 1" increments. The initial adjustment bolt 36 is 
then securely tightened in place. At this point the house can be released 
by the crane, and backfill can be placed stop the feet such that the feet 
are buried as desired, at a depth typically around 3-4 feet. 
Exact leveling is accomplished through the fine adjusting nuts 44 on the 
sides of the adjustment mechanism. The house can be adjusted approximately 
+/-3" from its center position by raising or lowering the fine adjusting 
leveling nuts 44 on the fine adjustments bolts 40. This allows for an 
infinite number of settings to insure accurate leveling of the house. Note 
that the fine adjustment bolts 40 themselves do not need to be rotated. 
After leveling, the cover 13 should be replaced over the adjustment 
mechanism. Cast aluminum top caps (not shown) are shipped in the house to 
be placed on the ends of the adjustable piers. 
Alternative Designs 
In the preferred embodiment, the flanges 24 extend sidewardly, and 
generally oppositely, from the sleeve 20. In the preferred embodiment, 
each of the flanges are welded to the sleeve 20, although other 
configurations, such as a single cast configuration are contemplated 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Other alternative designs may be provided without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the present invention. 
Materials 
The materials used to provide the various elements of the invention include 
but are not limited to aluminum with a hot dip galvanized steel pier and 
hot dip galvanized steel hardware. 
Advantages 
The present invention provides many advantages over the prior art, in the 
areas of installation, post-installation adjustment, and general safety. 
With respect to installation, the fine tune adjustable pier allows for 
quicker and easier installation of a railroad control equipment house. The 
design of the piers does not require house excavation to be completely 
level on all points of foundation excavation. 
With respect to adjustment, the fine tune adjustable pier allows for 
adjustment both at the time of installation and after a period of 
settling. The house can be leveled at any point at any time without the 
use of heavy lifting or excavating equipment. 
With respect to safety, the fine tune adjustable pier is designed to reduce 
safety hazards both during and after installation. When the house is being 
set, it is not necessary to enter the excavations for the piers. Unlike 
some prior art designs, there is also limited exposure underneath 
suspended objects. Complete installation can be made to secure the 
equipment house without the need to enter the house before it is in place. 
Conclusion 
Therefore it may be seen that the present invention provides many 
improvements over the art. The piers according to the invention are an 
integral part of the house and no assembly is required. There is no need 
for workers to be in the excavation when setting the house, as the pier 
feet are dropped in from above. The house and pier combination allows for 
the hose to be leveled at any time without the use of a crew or heavy 
equipment. Finally, the house/pier combination is cost effective compared 
to other methods. 
While this invention has been described in specific detail with reference 
to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that many variations 
and modifications may be effected within the spirit and scope of the 
invention as described in the appended claims.