Patent Publication Number: US-11028576-B1

Title: Lift and fill concrete raising system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to provisional patent applications entitled “Lift and Fill Concrete Raising System” filed on Dec. 3, 2017, having application No. 62/593,982, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to concrete raising devices, such as for a sunken sidewalk, and more particularly, to concrete raising systems that utilize lifting jacks. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Current cement lifting systems are very expensive to purchase and operate. An operator of a conventional cement lifting system, such are for raising a sunken sidewalk, requires a lot of skill and training to operate the conventional cement raising equipment and must know where to drill holes to inject the material in order to lift the concrete to the proper position. The resulting drill holes are ugly to look at. It is also easy to make a mistake and no way to remove the material once it is injected. Thus, a lot of equipment and skilled labor is required with conventional systems. 
     For example, using conventional concrete raising systems that inject mud below the concrete through drill holes to raise the concrete, an operator needs a hydraulic mud pump, a gas hammer drill and bit, a concrete saw, a mortar mixer, shovels, a garden hose, and a dump truck or a pick up truck and a trailer. An operator also must also clean up resulting mud, cement, and fill the drill holes. 
     With a conventional foam concrete raising system, wherein foam is injected through smaller drills holes in the concrete, an operator needs an electric hammer drill, a generator, an air compressor, a concrete saw, a two-part foam machine, a box truck or an enclosed trailer, and vehicle to tow trailer. Skilled labor also is required. The drill holes are smaller than holes drilled through the top of the concrete, but the resulting drill holes are still ugly, and the operator has to clean the equipment after each use. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an easier to operate concrete raising system that results in unsightly drill holes and is more economically and less time consuming to operate and clean after use. 
     ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a concrete raising system that is easier to operate and does not require highly skilled labor. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a concrete raising system that does not leave unsightly drill holes in the concrete after raising sunken concrete. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a concrete raising system that is more economical to use. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a concrete raising system that does not require a lot of clean up after completion of a job. 
     In order to achieve these aspects and others, the present invention provides a concrete lift and fill system that is easier to operate and more economical to use. The invention facilitates the lifting of settled concrete slabs or other objects and safely suspending them. The present invention facilitates the ability to return concrete slabs or other objects to there original position or grade, or to change the position or grade before any support material is added. 
     The present invention facilitates the installation and curing of support material that will be poured, pumped or injected into the void under a concrete slab or other objects, that are suspended by the lift. After the present invention has been located into the desired position, the present invention can be used to lift curbs, sidewalks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, statues, paving stones, steel plates, and the like. 
     The present invention facilitates the ability to lift objects that may be stuck in the dirt so that other equipment may pick them up and move them, such as a tractor with forks could pick up a steel plate. 
     The present invention facilitates the ability to do repairs under a concrete slab or object. For example, if a repair needs to be done under a sidewalk or a tree root needs to be removed that is supporting the concrete underneath, the slab of concrete sidewalk could be saw-cut at the joints on each side and lifted up. Several pieces of round pipe are placed under the slab and the slab could be rolled out of the way. The repair could be completed and the slab of sidewalk rolled back into place and lifted into position &amp; base material installed. This would eliminate the cost and the need for breaking up a section of the concrete sidewalk and pouring a new one. 
     The present invention facilitates the ability to lift a concrete slab or other objects off the ground so that electrical cables, wires, lines, and the like can be placed underneath and the concrete slab and lowered back into its original position. Such a process is much easier than having to dig under the slab or drive a pipe under and across. 
     The present invention provides two jack setups, two slip tube lifting brackets with pivoting lift ring, two lifting brackets with chain nuts and bolts, a digging shovel, and a hammer. One piece of tubing or solid bar that is rated for the weight load that is being lifted, and long enough to span past the edge of the concrete being lifted, is used as the sway and lifting tube. A few cans of expandable foam also is needed, such as Dow Great Stuff large gap filler, and a small roll of plastic tubing to slide over the tube on the can of expandable foam which can be purchased at most hardware stores or lumberyards. A concrete saw and hammer drill, are rarely needed and can be rented or purchased if necessary. 
     The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed invention and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention, and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a cement raising system for lifting opposing sides of a cement block configured in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention for lifting one side only of a concrete slab  26 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the lifting bracket  21  with platform  17  with chain  25  welded  28  to front of leg; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the slip tube lifting bracket  13  with pivot lift ring  18  welded to slip tube lifting bracket  13 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the air or hydraulic bottle of Jack  23  welded  28  to enlarged base  12  which is ¼″ steel plate or other suitable material for better stability; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the screw jack and stand  11  as seen in  FIG. 2  with a slip tube  19  welded to the screw that has a nut which raises and lowers the screw  15 ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates just some examples of shapes that could be used as slip tube  19  or saddles  16  mechanically fastened or welded to a jack  23 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a concrete raising system  20  configured in accordance with the present invention. Illustrated is the concrete raising system  20  uplifting and suspending of a slab of concrete  26  with foam  12  support material using the concrete raising system  20  of the present invention. The concrete raising system of the present invention comprises two opposing air or hydraulic bottle jacks  23  with slip tubes  19  that each preferably are 5 inches long, 2.5 inches in diameter, and has 3/16 inch walls. The slip tubes  19  preferably each are welded to three inch wide×seven inch long and ½″ thick steel plate  16  with rounded corners. The steel plate  16  functions as a saddle or mounting support for the steel slip tubing  19 . Each saddle  16  is welded to the extension screw  15  of a jack  23 . The slip tube  19  can be round, square, or any cross-section configuration. 
     The slip tube  19  being welded to the saddle  16 , which is secured to the extension screw  15 , has multiple functions. One function of the slip tube  19  being secured to the screw  15  via the saddle  16  is to provide height adjustment. The second function of the slip tube  19  being welded to the screw  15  via the saddle  16  is to provided a 360° turn radius or easy alignment of the sway and lifting tube  22 , which preferably is two inches in diameter. The third function of the slip tube  19  being welded to the screw  15  via the saddle  16  is to keep the sway and lifting tube  22  in position on the saddle  16  and allows the sway and lifting tube  22  to adjust itself as the jacks  23  are raised. The sway and lifting tube  22  preferably has a wall thickness of at least ¼ an inch and preferably is long enough to span past the concrete slab  26  by a minimum of ten inches on each side of the concrete slab  26 . The slip tube  19  is slightly larger in diameter than the sway and lifting tube  22 , which is made of steel, wood or any other material suitable for the material supporting a concrete slap being lifted. 
     The slip tube  19  welded on the saddle  16  preferably is square in cross-section and made of steel or any other suitable material. The square tubing  19  accommodates various geometric shaped tubing or solid bars for the sway and lifting tube or bar  22 . The slip tube  19  secured on the saddle  16  can be of any geometric shape tubing. The sway and lifting tube  22  supports two lifting tubes or bracket  13  on opposing ends of the sway and lifting tube  22 . 
     The lifting tubes  13  have pivoting lift rings  18  secured to the bottom of the lifting tubes. Each pivoting ring  18  is preferably constructed of steel and welded to a lifting tube  13 . The pivoting rings  18  enable lifting brackets  21  to be easy adjusted and aligned for lifting a concrete slab  26 . Each lifting bracket  21  has a lifting platform  17  for locating a concrete slab  26  on to lift the concrete slab  26 . 
     A steel chain  25  is welded to each lifting bracket  21 , and a steel pivoting lift ring  18  is welded to each lifting bracket or tube  13 . A steel bolt  24  is inserted through the chain  25  and secured with a nut on each side of the pivoting lift rings  18 . The lifting tubes  13  preferably have a 2.5 inch outer diameter and preferably have a 3/16 wall thickness and are preferably five inches long and constructed of steel. The chains  25  preferably are ⅜ inch thick grade  80  zinc plated steel for corrosion resistance. 
     Although welding the chain  25  to the lifting bracket  21  is preferred, the chain  25  could also be mechanically fastened to the lifting bracket. A cable can also be used in place the chain  25 . The platform  17  on the foot of the lifting bracket  21  preferably has a half circle configuration and a flat surface. The lifting platform preferably is ¼″ thick by 3.5 inch wide steel plate and is welded to the top of the foot on the lifting bracket  21 . The lifting bracket  21  has an L-shape and is preferably 14 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. The foot of the lifting bracket  21  preferably is five inches long and 1.5 inches wide and is 1.5 inches thick and made of steel or of other suitable material. 
     The head of the lifting bracket  21  is 3″ wide at the top and drops down on the foot side then returns at a 45% angle back to the front of the leg of the lifting bracket  21 , which puts the chain  25  over the center of the foot and allows for a straighter up and down lift. The lifting bracket  21  can be made larger or smaller depending upon the desired application. The chain  25  can be welded or mechanically fastened to the top of the lifting bracket  21  and will still lift but is not as safe. If the chain  25  is welded or fastened to the backside of the leg of the lifting bracket  21 , the lifting bracket  21  will pull out from in under material or object being lifted and could cause series injury. The back of the lifting bracket  21  head drops down and returns at a 45% angle to the leg of the lifting bracket  21 , as this is to be hit with a hammer to remove the lifting bracket  21  after the lifting process is completed. 
     The platform  17  of the lifting bracket  21  has a dual purpose. As the lifting bracket  21  with platform  17  and chain  25  are raised by the jacks  23  and the sway and lifting tube or bar  22 , the lifting bracket  21  has a tendency to pivot as the chain  25  and slip tube lifting bracket  13  adjust under the weight of the concrete slab  26 . The platform  17  gives more support area so that the foot of the lifting bracket  21  will not come out from under the concrete slab  26 . The second function of the platform  17  is the platform  17  on the lifting bracket  21  can be placed in the center of a crack in a concrete slab  26 , and the platform  17  will span and support both sides of the concrete slab  26  during the lifting process. Once the concrete slab  26  has been lifted into the desired position and suspended, the desired base support material  12  can be injected, poured pumped or placed into the void  14  under the concrete slab  26 . The support material can be expandable foam from a foam storage source  11 , such as Dow Corning Great stuff foam or Fill &amp; Seal. This is done by sliding a plastic tube  10  into the void  14  created under the concrete slab  26  by the lifting system  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The opposite end of the plastic tube  10  is now connected to the source of expandable foam  11 , such as by connecting the flexible plastic tube  10  to the output of the output of the source  11  of expendable foam  11  and releasing the expandable foam from the source  11 . The pressurized foam in the source  11 , such as a can  11 , is injected into the void  14  under the concrete slab  26  and allowed to set. 
     Below are the steps for using the apparatus  20  of the present invention to lift a concrete slab:
         At the lowest point of the outside edge of the Concrete Slab to be lifted.   1: With a shovel, in the ground next to edge of concrete dig a hole exposing the bottom of the concrete  26 . A user should always check before digging, and check for buried sprinkler lines, pipes and electrical wires.   2: With a hammer hit the Lifting Bracket  21  with chain L end down, below the bottom of the concrete slab  26 . The leg of the bracket should be tight against the side of the concrete slab  26 .   3: lay the chain  25  down on top of concrete slab  26 .   4: on the outside of the L-Lifting Bracket  21 , and on the level ground place one of the Jacks  23 .   5: Now repeat entire process on the other side of concrete slab  26 .   6: Slide the Sway and Lifting Tube or Bar  22  through the slip tubes  19  on the top of the jack  23 .   7: Now take Slip Tube Lifting Brackets  13  with Pivot Pivoting Lift Rings  18  facing downward. Now one at a time, slide the Slip Tube Lifting Brackets  13  onto the Sway and Lifting Tube  22 .   8: Then slide the sway and lifting tube  22  through the slip tube  19  on the opposite side Jack.   9: Making sure that the sway &amp; lifting tube  22  is directly over the lifting bracket with chain  18  on each side of concrete slab  26 .   10: Now slide one of the Slip Tube Lifting Brackets  13  with Pivoting Lift Ring  18 , directly over each of the Lifting Brackets  21  with Chains  25 .   11: Now place the Chain  25  from the Lifting Bracket  21  through the Pivoting Lift Ring  18  on the Slip Lifting Bracket  13  and pull Chain  25  taught. Now insert the Bolt  24  through the Chain  25  link on each side of the Pivoting Lifting Ring  18  and thread on the Nut finger tight.   12: Raise Jacks  23  buy pumping the handles or Press air valve or turn the nut on the screw  15  on each Jack  23  until the Chain  25  on each Lifting Bracket  21  is taught. Adjust as needed for alignment of Slip Tube Lifting Bracket  13  with Pivoting Lift Ring  18  and the Lifting Bracket  21  with Chain  25 . NOTE: Make sure pressure release valve on the Jack  23  is closed or Jack  23  will not raise.   13: Once everything is in alignment. Raise Jacks to lift concrete to it&#39;s desired position, and stop. If the position of concrete is not correct lower the concrete and reposition the lifting brackets and try again. This can be done as many times as necessary until desired position is achieved.   14: Now take your Flexible Plastic Extension Tube  10  and cut it to length and place it over the tube on the Can Of Foam  11 .   15: Now slide you&#39;re Flexible Plastic Extension Tube  10  through the opening next to the Lifting Bracket  21  with Chain, and into the Void Under The Slab  26  that was created by The Lifting System  20 .   16: Now through a side opening in the gap between concrete  26  and the ground install your desired base material, pump, pour or inject it. If using Foam, follow the instructions on your can of foam and inject foam  12  under concrete  26  until you can see it start to come out of the hole  14 , that the tube  10  is in. Once you see the foam, stop injecting and let material set. Foam  12  can also be injected through any cracks in the concrete that the tube  10  will fit in.   17: The foam that was injected under the concrete will expand and fill voids under the Slab  26 . The Foam will also expand out of the holes next to the Lifting Bracket With Chain  21  which is normal.   WARNING!!! Do not Seal off the Holes! If you do the Foam will expand and lift the Concrete Slab higher then desired. If this happens release the pressure on the Jacks slightly to lower Slab back into position. This will only work if the Foam is still soft and has not set.   18: Once the Foam has set under the Concrete Slab  26  release pressure on Jacks  23 , remove lifting System  20 . Break off or cut off excess harden material  12  and remove. Finally put dirt back in holes surrounding concrete  26  and you&#39;re done.       

     Optional Materials:
           19 : Dry or wet materials can also be used, such as sand, pea gravel, other aggregate, concrete, self leveling concrete, mortars, grouts, clay, ball mix, or any combinations of dry materials &amp; expandable foam. Wet materials like fast set concrete or grout and expandable foam or self leveling concrete and expandable foam.   20: If the existing ground base material is bad. An impact auger can be used to put small post holes that can be filled with concrete for extra support along the perimeter of the concrete at any desired spacing or angle.       

     The Lift &amp; Fill process of lifting concrete solves the problem of over lifting, lifting in the wrong spot. If an operator lifts in the wrong spot, the operator just lowers and moved the equipment over until equipment is positioned correctly. Then inject the support material  12 . The present invention eliminates excessive labor, excessive material, excessive equipment, material storage and handling, clean up, material availability, excessive training, virtually anybody can be trained to do the job, and is extremely cost-effective. Support material goes in from the side no ugly holes. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a further embodiment  35  of the present invention for lifting one side only of a concrete slab  26 . It included one hydraulic bottle jack  23  with an opposing screw jack stand  34  with stop nut  32  this is to support the sway &amp; lift tube or bar  22 . One lifting bracket  21  with platform  17  and chain  25 , and nut and bolt  24 . One slip tube lifting bracket  13  with pivoting lift ring  18 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the lifting bracket  21  with platform  17  with chain  25  welded  28  to front of leg; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the slip tube lifting bracket  13  with pivot lift ring  18  welded to slip tube lifting bracket  13 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the air or hydraulic bottle of Jack  23  with weld  28  to enlarged base  40  which is ¼″ steel plate or other suitable material for better stability. This is preferred, however, as the Jack  23  could be placed on a peace of wood or other material. With a slip tube  19  welded to the saddle  16  that has been welded  28  to the jack screw not visible in this illustration but is seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the screw jack and stand  50  as seen in  FIG. 2  with a slip tube  19  welded to the screw that has a nut which raises and lowers the screw  15 . The screw jack and stand  50  has been welded  28  to a larger base  52  for better stability. This is preferred however screw jack  50  could be placed on a peace of wood or other material; and 
       FIG. 7  illustrates just some examples of shapes that could be used as slip tube  19  or saddles  16  mechanically fastened or welded to a jack  23 . 
     While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point out fundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the invention illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.