Swaged pier system and method of installing same

Abstract

A pier system ( 10 ) for at least partially supporting a-building broadly comprises a plurality of swaged pier segments ( 12 ) having a length, wherein each swaged pier segment ( 12 ) is operable to be connected to another of the swaged pier segments ( 12 ); a hinged lifting platform ( 14 ) operable to be secured to an uppermost one of the swaged pier segments ( 12 ′); at least one intermediate swaged pier segment ( 16 ) having a length, said length of the intermediate swaged pier segment ( 16 ) being different than the length of the swaged pier segment ( 12 ), said intermediate swaged pier segment ( 16 ) operable to be connected to the uppermost swaged pier segment ( 12 ′); and an encasement ( 22 ) for at least partial receipt of the at least one intermediate swaged pier segment ( 16 ).

1 . A pier system for at least partially supporting a building, the pier system comprising:
 a plurality of swaged pier segments having a length, wherein each swaged pier segment is operable to be connected to another of the swaged pier segments;   a lifting platform operable to be secured to an uppermost one of the swaged pier segments;   at least one intermediate swaged pier segment having a length,
 said length of the intermediate swaged pier segment being different than the length of the swaged pier segment, 
 said intermediate swaged pier segment operable to be connected to the uppermost swaged pier segment; and 
   first and second mating faceplates for at least partial receipt of the at least one intermediate swayed pier segment therebetween.   
   
   
       2 . The pier system of  claim 1 , wherein each swaged pier segment includes a body and a swaged segment, and together the body and swaged segment are formed of a generally unitary piece of steel. 
   
   
       3 . The pier system of  claim 2 , wherein concrete is formed within at least a partial portion of the body and the swaged segment of each swaged pier segment. 
   
   
       4 . The pier system of  claim 1 , wherein each swaged pier segment includes
 proximal and distal ends,   an open segment generally at the distal end, and   a swaged segment generally at the proximal end, the swaged segment further including
 a swaged rise, and 
 a neck, such that the swaged rise is tapered to the neck so as to connect the body of the swaged pier segment with the neck. 
   
   
   
       5 . The pier system of  claim 4 , wherein the neck has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the body, so as to receive the open segment at the distal end of the body of the swaged pier segment for connecting one or more swaged pier segments together. 
   
   
       6 . The pier system of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of intermediate swaged pier segments each having a length that is different than the length of any other intermediate swaged pier segment and the swaged pier segment. 
   
   
       7 . The pier system of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a generally cylindrical body with concrete formed therein, and each spacer having a length that is different than a length of the other spacers. 
   
   
       8 . The pier system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second mating faceplates has a footing plate extending generally perpendicular from a vertical axis of the said one faceplate, such that the footing plate is configured to be positioned generally adjacent to the building. 
   
   
       9 . The pier system of  claim 2 , the lifting platform further including
 left and right sections, each having a base for receipt of a lifting apparatus for lifting the building during installation of the pier system,   a contoured pier segment-receiving section for receipt of the uppermost pier segment during installation, the contoured section presenting a profile of the swaged segment of the uppermost pier segment that mates with the swaged segment for temporary securement of the lifting platform to the uppermost pier segment.   
   
   
       10 . A pier system for at least partially supporting a building, the pier system comprising:
 a plurality of swaged pier segments having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, each swaged pier segment including
 a generally cylindrical body having a diameter, 
 a swaged segment at a generally proximal end of the pier segment, the swaged segment including a swaged rise extending from the body to a neck having a diameter less than the diameter of the body, 
 concrete formed within an at least partial portion of the body and the swaged segment, and 
 an open segment at the distal end of the pier segment, the open segment operable to receive the neck of the swaged segment of another pier segment for connection of the pier segment to the other pier segment; 
   a lifting platform operable to be removably secured to an uppermost one of the swaged pier segments, the platform including a contoured pier segment-receiving section presenting a profile of the swaged segment of the uppermost pier segment, such that the platform is operable to be secured to the uppermost pier segment by mating the contoured section with the swaged section of the uppermost pier segment;   at least one intermediate swaged pier segment having a length,
 said length of the intermediate swaged pier segment being different than the length of the swaged pier segment, 
 said intermediate swaged pier segment operable to be connected to the uppermost swaged pier segment; and 
   first and second mating faceplates for at least partial receipt of the at least one intermediate swaged pier segment therebetween,
 said one of the first and second mating faceplates having a footing plate positioned generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of the faceplate, such that the footing plate is configured to be positioned generally adjacent the building so that a compressive load of the building is along only one vertical axis of the pier system. 
   
   
   
       11 . The pier system of  claim 10 , wherein the body and the swaged segment of each pier segment are together formed of a generally unitary piece of steel. 
   
   
       12 . The pier system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second faceplates each includes a half-cylindrical body and a pair of flanges extending therefrom along a length of the body. 
   
   
       13 . The pier system of  claim 12 , further including at least one spacer for positioning atop the intermediate swaged pier segment. 
   
   
       14 . The pier system of  claim 13 , further including at least one shim for positioning atop the spacer. 
   
   
       15 . The pier system of  claim 14 , wherein the half-cylindrical bodies of the first and second faceplates are configured to generally surround at least a portion of the intermediate swaged pier segment, the spacer, and the shim. 
   
   
       16 . The pier system of  claim 10 , further including a plurality of intermediate swaged pier segments each having a length that is different than the length of any other intermediate swaged pier segment and the swaged pier segment. 
   
   
       17 . A method for installing a pier system for at least partially supporting a building, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a plurality of swaged pier segments having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, each swaged pier segment including
 a generally cylindrical body having a diameter, 
 a swaged segment at a generally proximal end of the pier segment, the swaged segment including a swaged rise extending from the body to a neck having a diameter less than the diameter of the body, concrete formed within an at least partial portion of the body and the swaged segment, and 
 an open segment at the distal end of the pier segment, the open segment operable to receive the neck of the swaged segment of another pier segment for connection of the pier segment to the other pier segment; 
   (b) driving a first of the swaged pier segments at least partially into the earth;   (c) connecting a second of the swaged pier segments to the first swaged pier segment by placing the open segment of the second pier segment over the neck of the first pier segment;   (d) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the first swaged pier segment driven into the earth reaches a point of refusal;   (e) providing a lifting platform operable to be removably secured to an uppermost one of the swaged pier segments;   (f) securing the lifting platform to the uppermost pier segment;   (g) providing at least one intermediate swaged pier segment having a length that is different than the length of the swaged pier segment and that is operable to be connected to the uppermost swaged pier segment;   (h) connecting the intermediate pier segment to the uppermost pier segment; and   (i) providing an encasement for at least partial receipt of the at least one intermediate swaged pier segment and configured to be at least partially adjacent the building.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein upon installation of the pier system, a compressive load of the building supported by the pier system is along only one vertical axis of the pier system. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lifting platform includes a contoured pier segment-receiving section presenting a profile of the swaged segment of the uppermost pier segment, such that the platform is operable to be secured to the uppermost pier segment by mating the contoured section with the swaged section of the uppermost pier segment. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the encasement comprises first and second faceplates, said one of the first and second mating faceplates having a footing plate positioned generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of the faceplate, such that the footing plate is configured to be positioned generally adjacent the building so that a compressive load of the building is along only one vertical axis of the pier system.