Adjustable step foundation

Abstract

A foundation with a variable load capacity includes a drive mechanism, an external load mechanism and an internal loading mechanism. The main body of the driving mechanism includes a support frame, a telescopic rod and a motor for driving the internal loading mechanism. The external loading mechanism includes a barrel-shaped body and an auxiliary spiral pattern, which can directly contact the soil and play the role of bearing the foundation. The internal loading mechanism is used to load the load-bearing plates and push the plates into the soil, in turn, to connect with the external load-bearing mechanism to enhance the bearing capacity of the foundation. The foundation can be factory prefabricated, motor-driven, auger soil penetrating, user adjustable via the number of load-bearing plates deployed, and requires no need for traditional building materials such as concrete.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foundation comprising:
 an external load mechanism having an open top end providing access to an at least partially hollow interior;   one or more spiral blades on an exterior of the external load mechanism;   a plurality of openings providing access between the at least partially hollow interior and an exterior of the external load mechanism;   an internal loading mechanism fitting into the at least partially interior; and   one or more load bearing plates disposed in the internal loading mechanism, where the internal loading mechanism is operable to push the one or more load bearing plates out respective ones of the plurality of openings to cause the one or more load bearing plates to extend outward from the external load mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The foundation of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal loading mechanism motor operable to move the internal loading mechanism within the at least partially hollow interior of the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The foundation of  claim 2 , wherein the motor connects to the internal loading mechanism through a sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially hollow interior includes internal threads operable to mate with external threads disposed on an exterior of the internal loading mechanism, wherein as the vertical position of the internal loading mechanism changes within the at least hollow interior, the internal loading mechanism also rotates. 
     
     
         5 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the internal loading mechanism includes pallets movable to feed a single one of the one or more load bearing plates into a loaded position. 
     
     
         6 . The foundation of  claim 4 , further comprising a pallet motor driving the pallets. 
     
     
         7 . The foundation of  claim 5 , wherein the pallet motor drives first and second pallet threaded rods threadably engaged to first and second ones of the pallets to move the pallets. 
     
     
         8 . The foundation of  claim 4 , further comprising a push plate of the internal loading mechanism operable to push the single one of the one or more load bearing plates in the loaded position out through one of the plurality of openings in the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The foundation of  claim 7 , wherein the push plate is driven by a push plate motor. 
     
     
         10 . The foundation of  claim 8 , wherein the push plate motor drives a push plate threaded rod threadably engaged with the push plate to move the push plate bi-directionally. 
     
     
         11 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings is disposed at different vertical positions along the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings is disposed in a spiral pattern about the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings includes a plurality of pairs of openings, each opening of each of the pairs of openings are disposed opposite each other. 
     
     
         14 . A foundation comprising:
 an external load mechanism having an open top end providing access to an at least partially hollow interior;   one or more spiral blades on an exterior of the external load mechanism;   a plurality of openings providing access between the at least partially hollow interior and an exterior of the external load mechanism;   an internal loading mechanism fitting into the at least partially interior;   one or more load bearing plates disposed in an internal load bearing plate storage compartment of the internal loading mechanism;   a load bearing plate loader operable to release one of the one or more load bearing plates from the internal load bearing plate into a loaded position;   a push plate of the internal loading mechanism operable to contact the one of the one or more load bearing plates in the loaded position; and   a push plate motor operable to move the push plate to push the one of the one or more load bearing plates in the loaded position out of one of the plurality of openings to cause the one of the one or more load bearing plates to extend outward from the external load mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The foundation of  claim 14 , further comprising an internal loading mechanism motor operable to move the internal loading mechanism within the at least partially hollow interior of the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The foundation of  claim 14 , wherein the at least partially hollow interior includes internal threads operable to mate with external threads disposed on an exterior of the internal loading mechanism, wherein as the vertical position of the internal loading mechanism changes within the at least hollow interior, the internal loading mechanism also rotates. 
     
     
         17 . The foundation of  claim 14 , wherein the internal loading mechanism includes pallets movable to feed a single one of the one or more load bearing plates into a loaded position. 
     
     
         18 . The foundation of  claim 17 , further comprising a pallet motor driving the pallets. 
     
     
         19 . The foundation of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of openings is disposed in a spiral pattern about the external load mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . A foundation comprising:
 an external load mechanism having an open top end providing access to an at least partially hollow interior;   internal threads disposed on an interior surface of the at least partially hollow interior of the external load mechanism;   a plurality of openings providing access between the at least partially hollow interior and an exterior of the external load mechanism;   an internal loading mechanism fitting into the at least partially interior;   an internal loading mechanism motor operable to move the internal loading mechanism within the at least partially hollow interior of the external load mechanism;   external threads disposed on an exterior of the internal loading mechanism, the external threads mating with the internal threads, wherein as the vertical position of the internal loading mechanism changes within the at least hollow interior, the internal loading mechanism also rotates; and   one or more load bearing plates disposed in the internal loading mechanism, where the internal loading mechanism is operable to push the one or more load bearing plates out respective ones of the plurality of openings to cause the one or more load bearing plates to extend outward from the external load mechanism.