AU2020203851A1

AU2020203851A1 - A footing

Info

Publication number: AU2020203851A1
Application number: AU2020203851A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Michael; Anthony Rapa
Original assignee: All Footings Solutions Pty Ltd
Current assignee: All Footings Solutions Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-12
Filing date: 2020-06-11
Publication date: 2021-01-07
Also published as: PH22020050219U1; PH12020050173A1; PH22020050219Y1; AU2020104507A4

Abstract

P1623AUAU ABSTRACT A footing member 1 comprising a body portion 3 (defining a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement 3b surrounding a space), threaded fastening portions 5 and three or more pile guides 7 (through which piles are driveable). An integral body 3 5 defines the body portion and the threaded fastening portions. 3/3 404b 407b 43 403bc 417 403c 401 407 FIGURE 8 409a 409 400 401 FIGURE 9

Description

3/3

404b 407b 43 403bc 417 403c

401

407

FIGURE 8

409a 409 400

401

FIGURE 9

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A FOOTING FIELD

The invention relates to footings and to components therefor.

BACKGROUND

Australian Design Registration No. 347113 shows an existing footing plate. A representation from that registration is reproduced herein as Figure 1. The footing plate FP comprises a square plate body and a respective pile guide PG at each corner of the plate body PB. To install the footing plate, a respective pile is driven through each of the pile guides PG, e.g. driven with the aid of a jackhammer. The guides guide the piles to splay outwardly to engage the ground for transmitting load from overlying structure thereto.

The plate body PB comprises an array of four bolt-holes BH to which the overlying structure may be fastened. An existing approach entails passing bolts upwardly through the holes BH and engaging nuts with those bolts to clamp the plate body PB and define upwardly-projecting threaded studs. A mounting plate at the bottom of an overlying structure, such as the mounting plate at the bottom of a stirrup for a fence post, having a suitable array of bolt-holes can then be lowered onto the projecting studs and secured in place with further nuts.

This approach has its drawbacks. The underside of the plate PB can be difficult to access, causing difficulty if (for example) an installer forgets to place the bolts prior to installing the plate and/or the stud-defining nut and bolt assembly works loose at any point.

The plate body has a downwardly-folded flange running along each of its edges for additional rigidity. This folding operation contributes to the cost of the footing plate FP. Larger footing plates akin to the footing plate FP can be used to transmit larger loads to ground but can be heavy and therefore entail higher material costs and be more expensive, difficult and dangerous to handle.

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With the foregoing in mind, the present invention aims to provide improvements in and for footings or at least to provide an alternative for those concerned with footings.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a footing member comprising

a body portion defining a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement surrounding a space;

threaded fastening portions; and

three or more pile guides through which piles are driveable;

wherein an integral body defines the body portion and the threaded fastening portions.

The body portion is optionally parted off from a length of hollow section. In some variants, the body portion is substantially cylindrical.

Another aspect of the invention provides a footing member comprising

a body portion;

threaded fastening portions; and

three or more pile guides through which piles are driveable;

wherein an integral body defines the body portion and the threaded fastening portions; and

threaded fastening portions are threaded studs.

The threaded fastening portions are preferably welded to the body portion. Likewise, the pile guides are preferably welded to the body portion.

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Another aspect of the invention provides a footing set comprising

the footing member;

a mounting portion; and

threaded fasteners co-operable with the threaded fastening portions to mount the mounting portion.

The mounting portion may be a mounting plate.

Preferably the threaded fasteners are co-operable with the threaded fastening portions to clamp the mounting portion against the body portion.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of forming a footing member, comprising welding threaded fastening portions to an integral body portion defining a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement surrounding a space.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of forming a footing member, comprising welding threaded studs to an integral body portion.

Another aspect of the invention provides a footing member comprising

an inner ring;

an outer ring; and

first tubular pile guides each fastened, e.g. welded, to each of the inner ring and the outer ring.

Preferably each of the first tubular pile guides is about parallel, and fastened, to a respective about planar portion of the inner ring. The footing member optionally comprises second tubular pile guides each transverse to a respective adjacent about planar portion of the inner ring.

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The inner ring may comprise a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement. The outer ring may comprise a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement.

Preferably the inner ring is a square ring, in which case the footing member may comprise a respective two of the first tubular piles guides on each of all four sides of the square ring.

An arrangement of one or more lengths of support material may span an interior of the inner ring. Preferably a mounting plate portion spreads across substantially all of an or the interior of the inner ring. The mounting plate portion is welded to the inner ring.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of making the footing member comprising fastening the first tubular piles guides to the inner ring and to the outer ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art footing plate;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a footing member equipped with a trio of nuts;

Figure 3 is a top view of the footing member;

Figure 4 is a side view of the footing member;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a footing set;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a footing set;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a footing set and associated reinforcing bars;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a footing member; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a footing unit comprising the footing member of Figure 8.

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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The footing 1 comprises a central body portion 3, a trio of threaded fastening portions 5, and a trio of pile guides 7.

Body portion 3 is a short, upright, tubular section defining a cylindrical wall arrangement encircling a central space S. Preferably the ring 3b is parted off from a length of hollow section. Other wall arrangements are possible. By way of example, the ring 3b may be a square ring comprising an arrangement, of four walls, surrounding the space S.

In this example, the threaded fastening portions 5 take the form of studs formed of portions of all-thread welded to the wall arrangement 3b, whereby the parts 3b, 5 are integrated to form a single integral body 3 of material.

For the avoidance of doubt, 'integral' and similar terminologies are used herein in their conventional sense to refer to a single, continuous piece of material. Bodies can be integrated by welding but not via typical mechanical fastening techniques. Likewise, 'hollow section' and similar terminologies are used herein in their conventional sense so as to take in products constructed by roll-forming and seaming, extrusion and/or pultrusion, and to take in products conventionally referred to as rectangular hollow section (RHS), such as square hollow section (SHS), and tube steel.

Preferably the threaded fastening portions are equispaced about the ring 3b.

The pile guides are parted off portions of hollow section arrayed about, and welded to, the exterior of the ring 3b whereby the footing member 1 is a single, integral body of material in this example. Figure 2 illustrates the footing member 1 carrying a trio of nuts 11.

The pile guides 7 are set at oblique angles to guide the piles into a divergent formation. Preferably each pile guide has at least one transverse fastener hole 7a through which a fastener can be placed to fasten the pile relative to its pile guide. In

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this example, each pile guide has an end face oblique to the guide's own axis so as to sit horizontally.

Of course, variations on these principles are possible. By way of example, the studs 5 might be replaced by nuts welded to the body 3b. Welding is not the only way of attaching guides to the body 3b, and guides other than tubular guides are possible, albeit not preferred.

Preferably the footing is supplied as a set comprising the member 1, the nuts 11 and a mounting plate 9. In this example, the mounting plate 9 is a circular plate having a trio of notches 9a equispaced about its perimeter. The notches 9a are complementary to the studs 5 and the mounting plate 9 has a diameter (or other transverse measurement) commensurate with the corresponding transverse measurement of the ring 3b so that (prior to the placement of the nuts 11) the plate 9 can fit over the ends of the studs 5 and rest on the top of the ring 3b. The nuts 11 can then be fitted to clamp the mounting plate 9 against the ring 3b.

The mounting plate 9 might be supplied as a simple plate to which an end user might fasten other elements, e.g. might weld the lower end of a fence post. Alternatively, the plate 9 might be integrated into other structural elements, such as integrated into the base of a stirrup for a fence post or building stump.

The mounting member 1 advantageously has a very simple and a robust design that can be cost-efficiently produced using a series of simple manufacturing operations comprising parting off the ring 3b, parting off the guides 7, and then assembling and welding these components to form a single weldment. With the aid of suitable jigs and fixtures, this welding operation can be very straightforward, even for an unskilled worker. Machine welding is another possibility.

In this example, the ring 3b and guides 7 are parted off from tube steel, whereby the mounting member is predominantly metallic. Predominantly metallic construction is preferred, although other materials and other modes of construction are possible. By way of example, injection moulding from a suitable engineering-grade plastic may well be a low-cost option for some applications.

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Preferred variants of the footing set 1, 9 are well adapted for lighter weight constructions such as decks, verandas and sun shades. A heavier variant comprising four equispaced threaded fastening portions and four equispaced pile guides is contemplated. Figure 5 illustrates a square footing set 101, 109. Three of the four sides of the square each have a respective pile guide. The guides, each side of the guideless side, are oriented to guide piles downwardly beyond the guideless side. This orientation is helpful in locations where obstacles such as property boundaries and services restrict access for pile driving.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternate footing system 201, 209 that is also four sided. Two opposite sides of the square each carry a divergent two guides. The set 201, 209 may be advantageously employed in the context of trench wherein the piles may be oriented to extend downwardly at an oblique angle whilst remaining under the trench. In contexts such as in concrete slabs, reinforcing bars 215 may be directly tied to the system 201, 209, e.g. directly tied to the member 209 as illustrated.

The footing system 201, 209 has two guideless faces. Figure 6 illustrates a footing set 301, 309 akin to the set 201, 209 but further including a respective guide on each of the two formerly guideless sides. The set 301, 309 has six pile guides to suit heavier duty applications.

Turning to Figures 8 and 9, the footing unit 400 comprises a footing member 401 and a mounting plate 409. In this example, the plate 409 is integrated with the member 401. Preferably the unit 400 is a member substantially consisting of a single integral body of material although other modes of construction are possible.

The member 401 comprises an inner ring 403b surrounded by an outer ring 403c. The ring 403b consists of a weldment of four flat bars. In this case the bars are 400 mm x 50 mm x 6 mm flat bars connected end to end to form a square ring in the vicinity of 400 mm x 400 mm. The flat bars are substantially identical to each other and each comprises a respective U-shaped cutout 404b along its top edge.

Other modes of construction are possible, e.g. a 1,600 mm long strip might be folded at three places and welded at a final corner. Other sizes are also possible, although

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preferably the inner ring is rectangular, e.g. square, and has a length in the range of 400 mm ±50 mm, or more preferably 400 mm ±30 mm, and a width in the range of 400 mm ±100 mm, ore more preferably 400 mm ±30 mm.

The outer ring 403c comprises four flat bars each being about 500 mm x 50 mm x 6 mm and having a U-shaped cutout along its lower edge.

The ring 403c is outwardly offset from the ring 403b to define a clearance all around the ring 403b. In this case, the rings 403b, 403c are geometrically similar and mutually concentric whereby the clearance has a consistent horizontal width all the way around. Other shapes and sizes are possible, for example in line with the variations foreshadowed in Figures 5 to 7.

The clearance between the rings 403b, 403c is dimensioned to accommodate a mutually divergent pair of first tubular pile guides 407 on each side of the square member 401. The cylindrical guides are oriented to downwardly diverge (and thereby oriented to guide piles to downwardly diverge) and run parallel to the vertical side walls of the inner and outer rings to facilitate secure weldment along each side of a line of contact between the cylindrical exterior of each guide 407 and the planar surfaces of the inner and outer rings. Non-cylindrical guides are also possible.

Of course, modes of attachment other than welding are possible and about parallel alignment may be convenient in the context of other modes of fastening. By way of example, the alignment illustrated in Figure 8 may be convenient in the context of riveted connections between the guide 407 and the rings 403b, 403c. Whilst in this example there are two of the first tubular pile guides on each of the straight sides, other variations are possible e.g. there might be one guide 407 on each side to produce a lighter-weight version of the footing unit 400, or there might be three or four guides clustered on one side to create a heavier-weight footing.

In addition to the first tubular pile guides 407, the unit 400 comprises a quartet of second tubular pile guides 407b running transverse to the adjacent planar portions of the rings 403b, 403c. In this particular version, each of the four sides has a respective one of the guides 407b. Optionally, the guide 407b runs downwardly in a

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vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of the adjacent wall portions.

The unit 400 has a total of twelve pile guides spaced around its perimeter. 'First' and 'second' are used in this context only as convenient labels rather than to suggest any order or priority. By way of example, some variants of the unit 400 might comprise guides akin to the guides 407b without any guides akin to the guides 407 (or vice versa).

The square interior of the ring 403b is spanned by an arrangement 417 of lengths of supporting material. In this example, the lengths are further lengths of 50 mm x 6 mm flat plate. Various layouts of the lengths are possible although preferably at least some of the lengths run about radially from an about centre point of the inner ring 403b. In this case, the arrangement 417 is a cruciform arrangement. In this example the lengths are upright wall sections. Other layouts are possible, e.g. a mesh-like arrangement is possible. The arrangement 417 of lengths, e.g. of 50 mm x 6 mm flat plate, may be arranged to divide the square interior of the ring 403b into nine squares, e.g. into nine squares of substantially equal size to each other. Preferably the arrangement is not proud of a top of the ring 403b. Most preferably it is about flush therewith.

The plate is about 10 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm to spread across substantially all of the inner ring 403b. In this particular example it rests atop the ring 403b. In other examples it might be set lower down. Preferably the plate 409 is fastened to the member 401. Most preferably it is welded at least about multiple points about the ring 403b. Most preferably it is also welded to the arrangement 417.

The plate 409 comprises a square array of eight radial bolting slots 409a. Other mounting holes are possible. Indeed other mounting features more generally are possible. By way of example, the plate 409 might be equipped with upwardly projecting threaded studs. In the variant of Figure 2, the plate 9 is bolted down to the member 1. The integrated threaded portions of that variant reduce the risk of forgetting to install the fasteners before lowering the plate 409. Fastening, e.g. welding, the plate 409 to the member 401 leads to additional strength which may be

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a better trade-off for some applications, particularly in the context of larger heavy duty applications. Also in the context of larger, heavy duty applications, there is often space to reach in underneath the installed footing unit 400 to place the bolts, or it easy enough to dig out a small hand-hole to do so.

The inventors have found that sandwiching the guides between the inner and outer rings is an efficient process that leads to a strong footing that is more cost-efficient and lighter weight than similar designs without one ring or the other.

Preferably the unit 400 is constructed by first producing the rings 403b, 403c and then welding the guides 407, 407b therebetween. Other options are possible. By way of example, all of the individual pieces of material of the member 401 (e.g. including each separate flat bar of the inner ring 403b) may be assembled in a jig before machine welding.

Preferably the unit 400 predominantly consists of steel, although other metallic constructions, and indeed other materials more generally, are possible. Most preferably the material has an anti-corrosion treatment, e.g. a coating such as a zinc based coating.

The invention is not limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the invention is defined by the claims.

The term 'comprises' and its grammatical variants has a meaning that is determined by the context in which it appears. Accordingly, the term should not be interpreted exhaustively unless the context dictates so.

Claims

P1623AUAU 11 CLAIMS

1. A footing member comprising

threaded fastening portions; and

three or more pile guides through which piles are driveable;

2. The footing member of claim 1 wherein the body portion is parted off from a length of hollow section.

3. The footing member of claim 1 or 2 wherein the body portion is substantially cylindrical.

4. A footing member comprising

a body portion;

threaded fastening portions; and

three or more pile guides through which piles are driveable;

threaded fastening portions are threaded studs.

5. The footing member of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the threaded fastening portions are welded to the body portion.

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6. The footing member of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the pile guides are welded to the body portion.

7. A footing set comprising

the footing member of any one of claims 1 to 6;

a mounting portion; and

8. The footing set of claim 7 wherein the mounting portion is a mounting plate.

9. The footing set of claim 7 or 8 wherein the threaded fasteners are co-operable with the threaded fastening portions to clamp the mounting portion against the body portion.

10. A method, of forming a footing member, comprising welding threaded fastening portions to an integral body portion defining a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement surrounding a space.

11. A method, of forming a footing member, comprising welding threaded studs to an integral body portion.

12. A footing member comprising

an inner ring;

an outer ring; and

first tubular pile guides each fastened to each of the inner ring and the outer ring.

13. The footing member of claim 12 wherein the first tubular pile guides are each welded to each of the inner ring and the outer ring.

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14. The footing member of claim 12 or 13 wherein each of the first tubular pile guides is about parallel, and fastened, to a respective about planar portion of the inner ring.

15. The footing member of claim 12, 13 or 14 comprising second tubular pile guides each transverse to a respective adjacent about planar portion of the inner ring.

16. The footing member of any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the inner ring comprises a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement.

17. The footing member of any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the outer ring comprises a substantially-vertical wall-arrangement.

18. The footing member of anyone of claims 12 to 17 wherein the inner ring is a square ring.

19. The footing member of claim 18 comprising a respective two of the first tubular piles guides on each of all four sides of the square ring.

20. The footing member of anyone of claims 12 to 19 comprising an arrangement of one or more lengths of support material spanning an interior of the inner ring.

21. The footing member of any one of claims 12 to 20 comprising a mounting plate portion spreading across substantially all of an or the interior of the inner ring.

22. The footing member of claim 20 wherein the mounting plate portion is welded to the inner ring.

23. A method of making the footing member of any one of claims 12 to 22 comprising fastening the first tubular piles guides to the inner ring and to the outer ring.