Abstract:
Blast-resistant foundations are presented that can be used to support a tower, a building, a building supporting a tower, and a tower supporting a building. These foundations can be transported to an installation site and rapidly deployed. They are comprised of one or more precast foundation blocks that do not penetrate the ground beneath them, do not require adjacent foundation blocks to be bound to one-another at their sides with interconnecting steel, and do not require the buildings and/or towers they support to use guy-wires. They can include protected cavities that contain utility equipment and supplies, and they can include conduits from these cavities that can be extended upward through one or more legs of a tower.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,357 titled, “Blast-Resistant Foundations”, filed Oct. 26, 2010 and incorporated herein. This Continuation Application is related to a simultaneously filed, co-pending Division application Ser. No. 13/629,594 and having the same parent. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to blast-resistant and collision-withstanding foundations for buildings without basements, for towers, and for towers supporting elevated buildings. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the prior art, buildings without basements are often supported by foundations comprising concrete walls under the perimeter of a building along with piers at selected locations interior to that perimeter. Such foundation walls are often made of stacked precast bricks or building blocks, wherein each brick or block is smaller than approximately 50 centimeters in any canonical direction. And such foundation walls are often supported by concrete footers poured on-site into a trench prepared in the supporting ground. An approximate example of one such foundation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,110 by Lane. Another common foundation for buildings without basements comprises one or more slabs of concrete poured on-site over a graded top-surface of supporting ground. One example of a concrete slab foundation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,524 by Gonsalves. 
     Foundations for towers are typically comprised of four concrete pads, or of solid concrete blocks, spaced well apart and placed under respectively four legs of a tower. Anchor bolts set into drilled holes are often used to secure the feet of a tower to its foundation. U.S. Pat. No. 2,184,940 by Cork discloses a tower foundation of widely separated concrete blocks. U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,312 B2 by McGinnis discloses a foundation for a tower wherein the foundation is a radial array of prefabricated buildings connected near their inner corners to each other and needing no fabricated support surface beneath the buildings. 
     Foundations for towers without guy-wires and that support elevated buildings are usually piers driven or poured deep into the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,387 by Henderson discloses a pier foundation for supporting a tower, although he does not disclose supporting a building on top of a tower. 
     The prior art does not disclose a foundation without ground-penetrating support elements and that supports a guard house on top of a tower without guy wires. And none of the prior art is sufficient to withstand ramming attacks by terrorist vehicles or explosive blasts by acts of terrorism. What is needed are foundations that can be quickly and efficiently installed from previously fabricated and ready-to-install elements, without requirements for ground-penetrating support elements, and which can withstand ramming attacks by terrorist vehicles and explosive blasts by acts of terrorism. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, some aspects of the invention are summarized in the following descriptions of some possible implementation examples and aspects. 
     One implementation of the invention includes a foundation assembly comprising two or more precast blocks, wherein each of the blocks measures greater than one meter in size in each of two orthogonal directions, and at least one mounting stud extending upward from a top surface of at least one of the blocks, wherein sealant material covers gaps between the blocks. The material comprising most of the bulk of a block can be precast concrete. Reinforcing steel embedded within the concrete may be used to strengthen a block. The bottom surface of each block can be free of attachment to any poured or manufactured foundation pier or footing within the ground. Each block can have a bottom surface that contacts a top surface of supporting ground. The two or more blocks are typically not bound to one-another except indirectly by way of the at least one mounting stud or by the sealant material. At least one conduit can pass through the top surface with the at least one mounting stud. The at least one mounting stud can be one of an array of four mounting studs surrounding the at least one conduit. The top surface of at least one of the blocks can include a removable cover to close a cavity within that block from an outside environment. Examples of what such a cavity can contain include a power supply, an electrical distribution panel, a container of compressed gas, a container of liquid, a container for waste material, and a communications connector. The foundation assembly can support a building, a tower, a tower with a building on top of the tower, or a building with a tower on top of the building. Within an implementation of a foundation supporting a tower that supports a building, the implementation can further comprise: a) at least one utility compartment inside one of the blocks; b) a conduit running from the utility compartment and upward through the top surface of at least one of the blocks; c) at least one leg of the tower; and d) an extension of the conduit, wherein the extension runs inside the leg and into the building. 
     Another implementation of the invention includes an individual precast block assembly comprising: a) a block of concrete having a top surface and a bottom surface; b) a structure of reinforcing steel within the concrete; c) a cavity within the concrete large enough to contain a cube measuring 15 centimeters on a side; d) an array of mounting studs extending upward from the top surface of the concrete; and e) a conduit passing through the top surface at a location within the array of mounting studs; wherein the bottom surface is substantially planar and free of any penetrating object. Within such an implementation, the block can be a foundation element supporting a building, the bottom surface can be substantially co-planar with a top-most surface of ground supporting the block, and the block can be free of any attachment to any neighboring block using any steel attachment or connecting element. 
     The invention also includes a foundation building method, an example of which comprises steps of: a) precasting two or more concrete blocks each with a top and a bottom surface, wherein at least two of the blocks each has at least two mounting studs jutting upward from its top surface, and wherein at least one of the at least two of the blocks has a conduit extending through its top surface at a location between its at least two mounting studs; b) transporting the at least two of the concrete blocks to a building site; c) placing the at least two of the concrete blocks with the bottom surface of each on top of supporting ground leaving gaps between blocks that are adjacent to one-another; and d) sealing over the gaps otherwise visible from above and beside the blocks. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONS 
     Objects and advantages of the present inventions include foundations that can be used to support a tower, a building, a building supporting a tower, and a tower supporting a building. These foundations can be transported to an installation site and rapidly deployed. They are comprised of multiple precast foundation blocks that do not penetrate the ground beneath them, do not require adjacent foundation blocks to be bound to one-another at their sides with interconnecting steel, and do not require the buildings and/or towers they support to use guy-wires. They can include protected cavities that contain utility equipment and supplies, and they can include conduits from these cavities that can be extended upward through one or more legs of a tower. 
     The various features and further advantages of the present inventions and their preferred embodiments will become apparent to ones skilled in the art upon examination of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. It is intended that any additional advantages be incorporated herein. The contents of the following description and of the drawings are set forth as examples only and should not be understood to represent limitations upon the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention of blast-resistant foundations comprising foundation blocks may be more readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference being had to the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Within these drawings, callouts using like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several figures (also called views) where doing so won&#39;t add confusion. Within these drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a blast-resistant foundation assembly comprising four adjacent precast blocks resting on top of the ground without elements penetrating the ground, and without steel attachment elements attaching one block to one-another. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the foundation assembly. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a cage of reinforcing steel bars used with a precast block. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a building supported by a foundation assembly. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a building supported on top of a tower that is in turn supported on top of a foundation assembly. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a building supported by a foundation assembly having only one precast block. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a foundation having a utility cavity and its access door. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following is a detailed description of the invention and its preferred embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While the invention will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a blast-resistant foundation assembly  21  comprising four adjacent precast blocks (each designated with the callout number  23 ). Each block  23  comprises a top surface  43 , four sides  39 , and a bottom surface  51 . Each block  23  in a foundation assembly  21  rests with its bottom surface  51  (see  FIG. 2 ) in contact with the top of a supporting ground surface  31 ; the blocks  23  do not need to sit in a dug-out recess in the ground surface  31 . The ground surface  31  may however comprise compacted gravel or other grading material. There are no foundation strengthening elements extending downward from the bottom surface  51  and penetrating the ground, and there are no steel attachment elements through the sides  39  of the blocks attaching one block to another. Each block  23  is located side-by-side with at least one other block  23 . In the implementation shown, four blocks are arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular array with inner-facing corners nearly touching one-another at a location  45 . Sealant  35  protects gaps  37  that are between the blocks  23 , protecting them from downward and sideways entry by environmental elements or by terror-related encroachments (a gap  37  is shown in  FIG. 2 ). In some implementations, the body  25  of each block is made of concrete. Whether made of concrete or not, the body  25  is precast at a different location than that of its installation as part of a foundation. Extending from the top surface  43  of each block shown are four mounting studs  27  spaced apart from one-another and about the location of a conduit section  29  which also extends through the top surface  43  of each block shown. An advantage of this implementation is that each block can support a leg of a tower by means of the four mounting studs  27 , and the conduit section  29  can be extended upward along the interior of the leg for protection of the conduit from damage by things outside the leg (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a block  23  having a conduit port  47 . This conduit port  47  can be part of a conduit  57  (see  FIG. 2 ) that runs to a utility cavity  53  (see  FIG. 2 ) within the block  23 . Each block  23  can have a utility access door  49  providing access to such a utility cavity  53 . One or more access doors  49  can be provided for each block  23  that contains one or more cavities  53 , and these access doors  49  can be located on any surface of a block  23 , including a top surface  43 , a bottom surface  51 , or a block side  39  surface. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the foundation assembly. The cross-sectional view taken is that indicated by the arrows numbered “ 2 ” in  FIG. 1 . This view shows the supporting ground surface  31  and the bottom surface  51  of the blocks contacting the supporting ground surface  31 . This view also shows a gap  37  that is defined by two oppositely facing sides  39  of blocks  23  where they are aligned next to one-another wherein the gap  37  between the blocks  23  is small relative to a width of a side  39  of any of the blocks  23 . The gap  37  is filled with a gap filler  38  such as sand. Sealant  35  is shown covering the gap from things that could otherwise enter from above the foundation assembly  21 . Sides  39  that are not facing one another are shown facing open air. And a utility cavity  53  is shown in each block  23 , where each cavity is covered by a utility access door  49 , and a conduit  57  intersects the inner space of each cavity. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a rebar cage  59  of reinforcing steel bars as used in some embodiments of a precast block  23 . The rebar cage  59  is shown in this example as comprising longitudinal bars  61  connected to vertical bars  63  and to horizontal cross bars  65 . In this example, horizontal cross bars  65  and vertical bars  63  make up loops  67 . Four such loops  67  are shown in this example, interconnected by four longitudinal bars  61 . Other embodiments that use reinforcement to strengthen the concrete body  25  of a block can use alternative materials such as woven mesh of metal, plastic, and/or fibers such as fiber-glass. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a building  71  on a foundation assembly  21 , the combination being a building on a foundation assembly  69 . The building  71  includes a door  73 . A stairway  75  is shown leading from the supporting ground surface  31  to the threshold of the door  73 . A conduit  77  is shown connected between one of the blocks  23  of the foundation assembly  21  and the supporting ground surface  31 . The embodiment of the foundation assembly  21  is similar to that described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The building  71  can be secured to the foundation assembly  21  by means of the mounting studs  27  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). And utilities can be fed into the building  71  by way of the conduit sections  29  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Utility supplies and hardware can be kept in the utility cavities  53  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an assembly  79  of a building  71  supported on top of a tower  81  that is in turn supported on top of a foundation assembly  21 . The embodiment of the foundation assembly  21  is similar to that described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 . The tower  81  includes tower legs  83  fastened to the foundation assembly  21  by means of the feet  85  at the bottoms of the legs  83 , and by means of the mounting studs  27  on top of the foundation assembly  21 . A ladder  87  provides a means of human access from the foundation assembly  21  to the building  71 . The building  71  is shown to include at least one window  89 . A conduit extension  89  is shown running up the interior of a leg  83 , as viewed in this illustration through a drawing cut-out in the leg  83 . The conduit extension  89  connects utility supplies and hardware in a utility cavity  53  (see  FIG. 2 ) within a block  23  to the building  79 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a building  71  on a foundation assembly  21 ′, wherein the foundation assembly  21 ′ is made from only one precast block, the combination being a building on a foundation assembly  69 ′. The embodiment of the foundation assembly  21 ′ is similar to that described above and shown in  FIG. 4  except for the foundation assembly  21 ′ having only one precast block  23 ′ rather than four precast blocks. The building  71  can be secured to the foundation assembly  21 ′ by means of mounting studs  27  extending from the top of the block (similar to studs  27  shown in  FIG. 1 ). And utilities can be fed into the building  71  by way of a conduit section  29  (similar to a conduit section  29  shown in  FIG. 1 ). Utility supplies and hardware can be kept in a utility cavity  53  (similar to a cavity  53  as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of a utility access door  49  located on the bottom of the block  23 ′ that is shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the foundation assembly  21 ′ shown in  FIG. 6 , with the view taken as indicated by the arrows numbered “ 7 ” in  FIG. 6 . This view shows the supporting ground surface  31  and the bottom surface  51  of the block contacting the supporting ground surface  31 . A utility cavity  53  is shown in the block  23 ′, and the utility access door  49  provides access to it. Also shown are a conduit section  29 , which intersects the inner space of the cavity  53 , and mounting studs  27 . Providing an access door  49  beneath a foundation block provides maximum protection against terrorist threats but requires digging to get access to it, and back-filling after any job is completed that required an entry to the cavity  53 . 
     Embodiments of the invention include foundation building methods. One such method comprises steps of: a) precasting two or more concrete blocks each with a top and a bottom surface, wherein at least two of the blocks each has at least two mounting studs jutting upward from its top surface, and wherein at least one of the at least two of the blocks has a conduit extending through its top surface at a location between its at least two mounting studs; b) transporting the at least two of the concrete blocks to a building site; c) placing the at least two of the concrete blocks with the bottom surface of each on top of supporting ground leaving gaps between the blocks; d) filling the gaps with a gap filler such as sand; and e) sealing over the gaps otherwise visible from above and beside the blocks. 
     Several embodiments are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations are covered by the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope thereof. Method steps described herein may be performed in alternative orders. The examples provided herein are exemplary and are not meant to be exclusive. 
     Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement configured to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of various embodiments of the invention includes any other applications in which the above structures and methods are used.