Above Grade, Rapidly Deployable Foundation System

Abstract

Disclosed is a rapidly deployable, above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system made of composite materials, and erectable at or above grade for supporting structures like equipment shelters and communication masts. These units include generator sheds, communication shelters, fuel tanks, radio masts, and the like. The foundation system has one or more layers of beams laid at right angles to each other, and is used to disperse heavy point loads of a superstructure to an acceptable ground bearing pressure. Web stiffeners were affixed to foundation beams and vertical support members were fixed to the upper surface of the foundation beams, to stiffen the foundation and structure at every footing. The foundation is adapted to be installed with little site preparation, is easily transportable with a medium lift helicopter. Essentially, the foundation was engineered to only use steel in its assembly for the metal feet, angles, plates and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system for supporting superstructure units, the foundation system comprising:
 a main frame (page  3 , line  15 ), having at least two parallel ( 12 ) and two cross-parallel ( 13 ) beams constructed of a low thermal conductivity material, the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) beams of the main frame co joined at a centroid section of the foundation system;   a centroid section defined by the intersection of the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) foundation beams;   tower mounting means fixed to an upper surface of the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) foundation beams in the centroid section;   foundation footings affixed to a bottom surface of the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) foundation beams, and the footings disposed to engage a grade surface matrix;   web stiffeners disposed and affixed to the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) foundation beams at every footing; and   vertical support members fixed to the upper surface of the foundation beams ( 12  &  13 ), the vertical support members adapted and positioned to support a superstructure unit, and the vertical support members associated with a footing.   
     
     
         2 . The above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel beams ( 13 ) are constructed of pultruded fiberglass (page  3 , line  14 ). 
     
     
         3 . The above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system of  claim 2 , wherein each parallel beam ( 12 ) is constructed as a single pultruded fiberglass beam. 
     
     
         4 . The above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system of  claim 2 , wherein each cross-parallel beam ( 13 ) is constructed as a series of pultruded fiberglass beams, the cross-parallel beam series comprising out-rigger beams ( 14 ) and crosstie beams ( 16 ). 
     
     
         5 . The above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein a 90 degree angle is formed at each intersection of a parallel beam ( 12 ) and an out-rigger beam ( 14 ), with at least one 90 degree angle at each intersection having a hypotenuse defined by a channel beam brace ( 20 ) to stabilize the intersection of a parallel beam ( 12 ) and an out-rigger beam ( 14 ), and the combination of the parallel beam ( 12 ), the out-rigger beam ( 14 ), and the channel beam brace ( 20 ) providing a mount means supporting a ballast grating ( 60 ) for containing ballast material. 
     
     
         6 . The above grade, low-thermal conducting, grillage-type foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the foundation footings affixed to the bottom surface of the parallel ( 12 ) and cross-parallel ( 13 ) foundation beams are adapted to stably engage a grade surface matrix.