A foundation support apparatus is provided and includes a tubular piling with a rib of material fixed to an exterior or outer surface of the piling. The rib provides improved total resistive force capabilities for the support apparatus, as compared to a bare piling. The rib is positioned and dimensioned as to not impede the installation of the piling. The rib may be circular or helical, continuous or discontinuous, and is disposed coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the piling. The foundation support apparatus may be manufactured on a construction site to readily improve the load capacity of various types of vertical foundational systems, such as driven pilings. The foundation support apparatus may be encased or backfilled with grout materials which harden around the ribs of the apparatus forming an interlocking engagement between the grout and the ribs, thereby increasing load resistance capabilities of the support apparatus.

A machine and method utilize a tracked undercarriage including a frame with a central body, front and rear transverse assemblies connected to the central body and extending on opposite sides. Each of a pair of lateral tracks is connected, at the front and at the rear, to ends of the transverse assemblies. The base machine includes excavation equipment having different working positions/configurations. Each of a pair of front load cells of the tracked undercarriage is mounted between a lateral track and the front transverse assembly. Each of a pair of rear load cells is mounted between a lateral track and the rear transverse assembly. Each load detects force data indicating the reaction force exerted between the associated lateral track and the respective transverse assembly. A control system computes a barycentre planar position of the machine situated substantially at a reference plane computed as a function of the force data.

A machine and method utilize a tracked undercarriage including a frame with a central body, front and rear transverse assemblies connected to the central body and extending on opposite sides. Each of a pair of lateral tracks is connected, at the front and at the rear, to ends of the transverse assemblies. The base machine includes excavation equipment having different working positions/configurations. Each of a pair of front load cells of the tracked undercarriage is mounted between a lateral track and the front transverse assembly. Each of a pair of rear load cells is mounted between a lateral track and the rear transverse assembly. Each load detects force data indicating the reaction force exerted between the associated lateral track and the respective transverse assembly. A control system computes a barycentre planar position of the machine situated substantially at a reference plane computed as a function of the force data.

Disclosed is a pylon anchoring system in the form of an extruded strip that may be wrapped around, and affixed to, a pylon or post such that the pylon anchoring system is positioned beneath a sand line when the pylon or post is installed and set. Advantageously, when the post or pylon is installed such that the pylon anchoring strip is positioned beneath sand (or some other ground surface), a plurality of anchor elements on the system generate a counteracting force to any external force that might cause the pylon to shift from a set position.

An automated control system for a screw anchor driving and truss assembly machine. A positioning subsystem determines an orientation of a machine mast's driving axis relative to an intended drive axis and controls the mast to be positioned so that the mast's driving axis is aligned with the intended drive axis of the screw anchor foundation component. After a pair of adjacent screw anchors are driven, the controller causes motion controllers to orient the mast so that an alignment jig for supporting truss apex hardware is held in place relative to the driven screw anchors at a predetermined point in space above them so that upper leg sections can be sleeved over connecting portions of the apex hardware and down on to the driven screw anchors.

An automated control system for a screw anchor driving and truss assembly machine. A positioning subsystem determines an orientation of a machine mast's driving axis relative to an intended drive axis and controls the mast to be positioned so that the mast's driving axis is aligned with the intended drive axis of the screw anchor foundation component. After a pair of adjacent screw anchors are driven, the controller causes motion controllers to orient the mast so that an alignment jig for supporting truss apex hardware is held in place relative to the driven screw anchors at a predetermined point in space above them so that upper leg sections can be sleeved over connecting portions of the apex hardware and down on to the driven screw anchors.

An automated driving and assembly machine for driving foundation components, such as screw anchors, and for assembling foundations, such as truss foundations, using the driven screw anchors. The machine has a rotary driver and a hydraulic drilling tool. Sensors monitoring hydraulic pressure at the drilling tool will take incremental pressure readings during a driving operation. If the readings become clustered around a relative maximum, the controller will pause the driving operation and begin a drill stall mitigation sub-routine. This may involve retracting the drill and then hammering and releasing pressurized air to clear the stall. Clearance of the stall may also be derived by the controller from pressure readings.

An automated driving and assembly machine for driving foundation components, such as screw anchors, and for assembling foundations, such as truss foundations, using the driven screw anchors. The machine has a rotary driver and a hydraulic drilling tool. Sensors monitoring hydraulic pressure at the drilling tool will take incremental pressure readings during a driving operation. If the readings become clustered around a relative maximum, the controller will pause the driving operation and begin a drill stall mitigation sub-routine. This may involve retracting the drill and then hammering and releasing pressurized air to clear the stall. Clearance of the stall may also be derived by the controller from pressure readings.

The present disclosure provides a support member for a shaft of a helical pile, the support member includes a hollow shaft that can receive a shaft of the helical pile and a plurality of fins secured to the hollow shaft and extends from the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is independently movable relative to the helical pile shaft.

The present disclosure provides a support member for a shaft of a helical pile, the support member includes a hollow shaft that can receive a shaft of the helical pile and a plurality of fins secured to the hollow shaft and extends from the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is independently movable relative to the helical pile shaft.