System for Forming a Movable Slab Foundation

Abstract

A system for forming a movable slab foundation has a slab foundation, a support pier, and a housing positioned within the support pier. A support sleeve is positioned within and is substantially surrounded by the housing. Portions of the support sleeve are encased within the slab foundation. The support sleeve is capable of axial movement relative to the housing. A guide plate is connected to the lower end of the support sleeve. A cavity is defined by the space between the guide plate and the lower end of the housing. A port is located in and extends through the guide plate and into the cavity. The slab foundation, the support sleeve, and the guide plate are raised to a desired height relative to the housing. The cavity is filled with support media through the port to secure the position of the slab foundation, the support sleeve, and the guide plate.

1 . A system for forming a movable slab foundation, the system comprising:
 a slab foundation;   at least one support pier;   at least one housing positioned within the at least one support pier, the at least one housing having an open upper end and a closed lower end;   at least one support sleeve positioned within and substantially surrounded by the at least one housing, portions of the at least one support sleeve being encased within the slab foundation, the at least one support sleeve being upwardly moveable relative to the at least one housing;   a guide plate connected to the at least one support sleeve, the outer peripheries of the guide plate engaging the inner surfaces of the at least one housing;   a cavity defined by the space between the lower surface of the guide plate and the lower end of the at least one housing; and   at least one port located in and extending through the guide plate and into the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one housing is cylindrical in shape;   the at least one support sleeve is cylindrical in shape; and   the guide plate is circular in shape.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one housing further comprises:
 a first cylinder with an open upper end and a closed lower end; and   a second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of the first cylinder, the second cylinder being surrounded by the first cylinder, thereby defining an interstitial space between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and the lower end of the second cylinder being connected to the closed lower end of the first cylinder.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the guide plate further comprises an aperture located in and extending therethrough, the second cylinder extending through the aperture, the guide plate surrounding the second cylinder; and   the at least one support sleeve and the guide plate positioned within the interstitial space between the first cylinder and the second cylinder of the at least one housing.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one lifting member surrounded by the second cylinder, the at least one lifting member having a body with first and second ends, the first end abuttingly contacting the closed lower end of the first cylinder, the second end adapted to be coupled to a lifting device to move the at least one support sleeve and the slab foundation axially along the length of the at least one housing.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a lifting device coupled to the second end of the body of the at least one lifting member to move the at least one support sleeve and the slab foundation axially along the length of the at least one housing; and   a plurality of attachment members connected to and extending between the least one support sleeve and the lifting device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support sleeve further comprises:
 a hollow body with inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface having at least one reinforcing bar connected to and extending outwardly therefrom, the inner surface having at least one aperture located in and extending therethrough and adapted to accept a connecting member.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one reinforcing bar further comprises:
 a first leg connected to the outer surface of the at least one support sleeve and extending parallel to the axis of the at least one support sleeve; and   a second leg connected to the lower end of the first leg and extending outwardly and downwardly at angle from the axis of the at least one support sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pumping device connected to the at least one port for pumping a support media into the cavity to support the weight of the at least one support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab, thereby securing the position of the at least one support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab relative to the at least one housing.   
     
     
         10 . A system for forming a movable slab foundation, the system comprising:
 a slab foundation;   at least one support pier;   a first cylinder with an open upper end and a closed lower end positioned within the at least one support pier;   a second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of the first cylinder, the second cylinder being surrounded by the first cylinder, thereby defining an interstitial space between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the lower end of the second cylinder being connected to the closed lower end of the first cylinder;   at least one support sleeve, a lower portion of the at least one support sleeve positioned in the interstitial space between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, an upper portion of the at least one support sleeve being encased within the slab foundation, the at least one support sleeve being upwardly moveable relative to the at least one housing;   a guide plate connected to the at least one support sleeve and positioned within the interstitial space between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the outer peripheries of the guide plate engaging the inner surfaces of the first cylinder, an aperture located in and extending through the guide plate, the second cylinder extending through the aperture, the guide plate surrounding the second cylinder;   a cavity defined by the space between the lower surface of the guide plate and the closed lower end of the first cylinder;   at least one port located in and extending through the guide plate and into the cavity; and   a lifting device connected to the at least one support sleeve to move the at least one support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation axially along the length of the first cylinder and the second cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the at least one housing is cylindrical in shape;   the at least one support sleeve is cylindrical in shape; and   the guide plate is circular in shape.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system further comprises:
 at least one lifting member substantially surrounded by the second cylinder, the at least one lifting member having a body with first and second ends, the first end abuttingly contacting the closed lower end of the first cylinder; and   the second end of the body of the at least one lifting member connected to the lifting device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one support sleeve further comprises:
 a hollow body with inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface having at least one reinforcing bar connected to and extending outwardly therefrom, the inner surface having at least one aperture located in and extending therethrough and adapted to accept a connecting member.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one reinforcing bar further comprises:
 a first leg connected to the outer surface of the at least one support sleeve and extending parallel to the axis of the at least one support sleeve; and   a second leg connected to the lower end of the first leg and extending outwardly and downwardly at angle from the axis of the at least one support sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pumping device connected to the at least one port for pumping a support media into the cavity to support the weight of the at least one support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation, thereby securing the position of the at least one support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation relative to the first cylinder and the second cylinder.   
     
     
         16 . A method for forming a movable slab foundation, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a housing with a closed lower end and an open upper end, a guide plate positioned within and surrounded by the housing, the outer peripheries of the guide plate being engaged with the inner surfaces of the housing, a cavity defined by the space between the closed lower end of the housing and the lower surface of the guide plate, a support sleeve connected to the upper surface of the guide plate, and a port located in and extending through the guide plate and into the cavity;   (b) placing a support pier below an intended slab foundation area;   (c) positioning the housing, the guide plate, and the support sleeve within the support pier;   (d) forming a slab foundation such that it encases a portion of the support sleeve; and   (e) raising the support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation upwards relative to the housing to a desired height; and   (f) filling the cavity with a support media through the port to support the weight of the support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab, thereby securing the position of the support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab relative to the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step (a) further comprises:
 providing an aperture located in and extending through the guide plate; and wherein   step (e) further comprises:   inserting a lifting member with first and second ends through the aperture, the first end of the lifting member abuttingly contacting the closed lower end of the housing; and   connecting a lifting device to the second end of the lifting member and the support sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the support pier is of concrete; and
 wherein step (c) of the method further comprises allowing the concrete support pier to set up, thereby encasing the housing in the support pier.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising after step (f):
 allowing the support media to set up, thereby securing the position of the support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation relative to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising after step (f):
 sealing the port, thereby securing the position of the support sleeve, the guide plate, and the slab foundation relative to the housing.