JP2017502182A - Polygonal seismic isolation system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for using at least one seismic isolation bearing having a generally polygonal shape in top and / or bottom views. Preferably, the polygonal shape is other than a square shape, and preferably the shape is other than a rectangular shape. Such a polygonal isolation bearing can be easily and securely joined to flooring or other components of the platform, and a modular seismic isolation system that can assemble the floor or platform to fit the available space In particular. In a preferred system, the polygonal isolation bearing can be used in a small system, for example where the headspace is limited.

Description

  The present invention relates to a seismic isolation system, and more particularly to a system and method using a seismic isolation bearing body having a polygonal shape.

  Small-scale earthquakes occur on a daily basis and thousands of smaller earthquakes occur daily, but larger magnitude seismic events can cause personal injury, death and property damage, as well as environmental damage, especially in highly populated areas. Can cause damage to yours.

  Two approaches have been used in the past to prevent or limit damage or damage to objects or payloads resulting from seismic events. In the first approach, particularly used with the structure itself, the object or payload article is made strong enough to withstand the largest earthquake expected. However, in addition to the damage caused by large magnitude and long-term shaking, and the directionality of vibration is relatively unpredictable, the use of this method alone can be very expensive and the structure It is not necessarily suitable for the payload accommodated within. This approach alone is not particularly useful for payloads that are particularly fragile, delicate or susceptible to damage.

  In the second approach, the object is vibrated so that it is not subject to all the forces and accelerations of the seismic shock wave. Various methods have been proposed to achieve isolation or energy dissipation of structures or objects from seismic shaking, and these methods depend to some extent on the nature of the object being isolated.

  Thus, for example, passive systems, active systems, or hybrid systems can be used to isolate buildings and other structures. Such systems can include one or more uses of torsion beam devices, lead extrusion devices, deflected beam devices, deflecting plate devices, and lead-rubber devices, which generally deform during an earthquake. And the use of a dedicated connector to yield. While deformation is concentrated in dedicated equipment and damage to other parts of the structure is minimized, the deformed equipment often must be repaired or replaced after an earthquake event, and therefore Mainly suitable for one-time use.

  An active control system requires an energy source and a computer controlled actuator to operate braces or dampers that are installed throughout the structure to be protected. Such active systems are complex and require after-sales service or regular maintenance.

  For objects other than buildings, bridges and other structures, an isolation platform or flooring system may be preferred for such active or deformable devices. Thus, to protect fragile or sensitive equipment, such as manufacturing or processing equipment, laboratory equipment, computer servers and other hardware, optical equipment, etc., the isolation system is simpler, more effective and less expensive. A maintenance intensive alternative can be provided. Isolation systems are designed to separate protected objects (hereinafter “payloads”) from damage due to seismic ground motion.

  Isolators have various designs. Accordingly, such systems generally include the following features: a sliding plate, a support frame slidably mounted on the plate with a low friction element interposed therebetween, and between the support frame and the plate. A plurality of springs and / or axial guides disposed horizontally on the floor, a floor mounted on the support frame by a vertically disposed spring, a plurality of dampers disposed vertically between the support frame and the floor, and / or Or a combination of some or all of latching means for securing the vertical spring during normal use.

  Particular disadvantages to such existing systems are that it is difficult to establish the minimum acceleration at which the latch means is released, and it is difficult to reset the latch means after the floor is released. That it may be difficult to return the floor to its original position after it has moved horizontally, that dissipative or damping forces must be recalibrated for each load, There is a risk of swaying in the spring, and the horizontal stiffness of the vertical spring cannot be ignored for the horizontal spring, making it difficult to establish horizontal springs and estimate their effectiveness .

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,049 to Ishida et al. Includes length adjustment means that preset in part the minimum acceleration required to initiate the flooring isolation effect by adjusting the length of the spring. A sliding isolation floor is proposed.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,096 to Yamada et al. Is arranged horizontally with a friction device having upper and lower friction plates with Coulomb friction characteristics, and horizontally reducing the relative displacement and residual displacement below desired values. A sliding type seismic isolation device including a spring is disclosed. The upper friction plate comprises a material that is impregnated with oil, while the lower friction plate comprises a hard chrome or nickel plate.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,031 to Stahl discloses a seismic isolation device that protects a work of art, instrument, case, or protruding housing, including, for example, a base plate connected to a floor and a frame. A movable swivel lever is connected to the spring in the frame and the base plate. An object is placed on top of the frame. Movement of the base and base plate relative to the frame and object causes compression of the lever and extension of the spring, which in turn applies a restoring force through a cable secured to the base plate, and an initial resistance to inertia causes friction between the base plate and the frame. Caused by.

  Patent Document 4 granted to Kondo et al. Is a floor system for seismic isolation of an object placed on the floor, the floor placed on the foundation, and allowing the floor to move horizontally relative to the foundation. A floor system comprising a plurality of support members for supporting the floor and a plurality of restoring devices including springs disposed between the foundation and the floor member. The restoring member includes two pairs of slidable members, each pair of slidable members being movable away from each other, wherein each pair of slidable members is disposed perpendicular to each other in a horizontal plane. The

  Patent document 5 granted to Stills et al. Is a seismic isolation system between a floor and a foundation, comprising a plurality of ball socket joints arranged between the floor and a plurality of foundation pads or piers. A system is disclosed. In this device, the bearing body comprises a movable joint attached to a hardened elastomeric material (or spring). The elastic material is attached to the upper side of the ball and socket joint and is sandwiched between the floor and the ball and socket joint. Therefore, the support body is inclined with respect to the floor in accordance with the vertical movement. The floor can adjust the buckling pressure due to ground distortion under the foundation pier. However, the disclosed device is not designed to move horizontally to resist acceleration.

  Patent Document 6 granted to Fujimoto includes various seismic isolation devices similar to Patent Document 4, and various devices including a rolling ball disposed in the tip of a column projecting downward from the floor in the same manner as a ballpoint pen. Other devices are disclosed.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,071 to Bakker relates to a building balance block that includes opposing inner concave surfaces between which bearing balls are positioned to support the weight of the building superstructure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,071 to Kemeny discloses an in-cone ball housing type support.
Patent Document 9 and Patent Document 10 granted to Kemeny disclose seismic isolation platforms including rolling ball isolation bearings.

  U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,057,086 and 6,028,009 to Hubbard and Moreno disclose devices and methods with raised access flooring structures that isolate the payload placed thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,071 to Moreno and Hubbard discloses an isolated bearing restraint device.
An isolation bearing is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,053,086, filed Sep. 25, 2012, by Hubbard and Moreno.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,049 by Moreno and Hubbard discloses a method and configuration for anti-vibration of the payload.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,071 to Chen discloses a raised floor system.

  Patent Document 17 assigned to Denton discloses a rising floor structure suitable for a missile launching facility having a spring unit that is compressible in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the vertical displacement of the underfloor floor.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,071 to Naka relates to a raised double flooring structure that resists deformation under load. The floor uses cylindrical leg members that include swivel attachments near the floor surface, which allows the floor to dissipate loads in response to lateral loads.

  All patents, patent applications and other publications cited in this patent application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, regardless of whether any particular citation is expressly indicated as being incorporated by reference. Which is individually incorporated as part of this disclosure.

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  The present invention relates, in part, to an improved seismic isolation system. The system can comprise isolated flooring and / or seismic isolation platforms. Although not exclusive, preferred examples of the present invention include a “low profile” platform or flooring system as disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT / US2013 / 028621, filed March 1, 2013. Can be used with or together.

  For example, but not by way of limitation, an isolator bearing and system as disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 6,037,028 and 5,849, includes at least one (usually two) horizontal surfaces having a first generally recessed surface and a second surface. Seismic isolation is provided by the use of an isolated bearing that includes a bearing plate that extends to The cross-sectional profile through the mid-vertical axis of such a bearing plate has a center where the generally recessed surface includes a generally conical shape, a generally spherical shape, or a shape that includes a combination of linear and rounded shapes. It includes a shape that is generally symmetrical about the vertical axis. If the generally depressed surface of the bearing plate is the upper surface of the bearing plate, the bearing plate shall be considered to face “upward”, whereas if this surface is the bottom surface of the bearing plate, the recessed surface is “ It shall be considered to face “down”.

  Generally, at least one bearing plate supports or is supported by a rolling ball, such as a ball bearing body. In the preferred rolling ball isolation bearing system, the rolling ball is positioned above the opposing surface so that when a seismic event occurs, the horizontal ground movement of the floor or foundation is isolated from the payload supported by the isolation bearing. Between the isolation bearing plate facing down and the isolation bearing plate facing down. The horizontal ground movement of the lower support plate is weakened by the inertia of the payload mass on the upper support plate, so that the rolling ball, which is positioned stationary in the center of the support plate, exits freely from the center of the lower plate However, this is because the plate moves underneath it in any direction (relative to the lower plate) opposite to the direction of movement of the lower plate.

  The main advantage of such a bearing is that, assuming a constant force, the bearing is free to move approximately equally and freely in the same distance in any horizontal direction (ie along the x and y axes) so that the Translate and isolate non-linear forces, or forces with both x and y components, as is necessary in the case of isolation devices that use rollers, springs, skids, etc. as the primary means of isolating No additional means are required. Furthermore, due to the use of a generally concave, generally symmetric bearing surface, the bearing body “automatically initializes” and the rolling ball returns to the center of the bearing plate after an earthquake shake, thus Return the bearing body to its initial rest position.

  The advantage is that the shape of the support plate (s) is usually circular, and thus the rolling balls are free to travel the same distance in any direction, so that the support is It also means that it works equally well regardless of the direction of the. However, circular earthquake bearing plates may have practical disadvantages. Transportation, storage, manufacture and assembly of the isolation system can all be at least somewhat difficult using a bearing plate with a circular top view. Such bearing plates need to be stacked horizontally for storage. When placed side-by-side, the bearing plate contacts only at a single point, which substantially wastes storage space. Furthermore, the assembly of isolation devices using circular bearing plates often requires a specialized and somewhat inflexible design, and this customized design requirement can be configured in many different ways, for example. This is less than optimal for a flexible modular isolation system. Moreover, the actual assembly of the circular bearings in the system is difficult and the attachment of such bearing plates to the frame elements may not be as robust as desired or necessary.

  The present invention relates to improved seismic isolation bearings, systems using such seismic isolation bearings, and methods and apparatus, including methods for making and using such bearings and systems. In a particular example, the present invention includes a seismic isolation system that uses one or more “rolling ball” isolation bearings with bearing plates having a polygonal shape. That is, the isolation bearing body is a load bearing having a cross-sectional profile that includes a substantially conical shape, a substantially spherical shape, or a shape that is substantially symmetric about a central vertical axis, including a combination of linear and rounded shapes. At least one payload support “pan” or bearing plate having a polygonal shape in plan view, including a face.

  The pan or bearing plate extends horizontally and substantially radially symmetrically about a central point, eg, a central vertex (or inverted vertex). In the example described in the present invention, the pan or bearing plate has a polygonal shape when viewed in plan view. For example, a plan view of a pan (and / or its frame) can include a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, or another polygonal shape. In another example, the bearing plate is substantially circular in plan view and can be surrounded by a polygonal frame. Preferably, the polygonal shape is other than a square. Preferably, the polygonal shape is other than a triangle. Preferably, the polygonal shape is a hexagon or an octagon.

  In a preferred example, each seismic isolation bearing included in the seismic flooring or platform system can include at least two opposing bearing plates separated by a rigid ball, such as a metal ball bearing. Two or more such bearing rigid balls support the payload on the frame, flooring element or platform. In a particularly preferred example, the seismic isolation bearing included in the seismic flooring or platform system includes two bearing plates separated by a rigid ball, such as a metal ball bearing. In such a configuration, the upper bearing plate can be joined to a frame, flooring element or platform, while the lower bearing plate can be placed or secured to a floor, foundation or other similar support surface. it can. The lower bearing plate may be oriented “up” so that when the system is at rest, the rigid ball will be centered on the bearing surface of the lower bearing plate. The upper bearing plate may be oriented “down” so that when the system is at rest, the rigid ball rests in the center point at the bearing surface of the upper bearing plate.

  Preferably, at least the lower support plate includes a polygonal outer shape in plan view. Polygonal shapes, particularly preferably (but not essential) octagonal shapes, can add seismic isolation system stability in at least two ways.

  First, the straight surfaces of at least two adjacent upper or lower isolation bearing upper and / or lower polygonal bearing plates can be joined or connected together, so that during an earthquake event Polygonal seismic isolation bearings can be assembled to increase the stability of these bearings. In certain examples, a single upper or lower polygonal bearing plate can be joined to two or more adjacent bearing plates and / or flooring, frame or platform elements. Further, when more than two isolated bearings are used in a single platform or flooring system, the frame, platform and / or flooring elements and bearings are combined together as a whole upper and / or lower bearing element array. Can be connected together in a single reinforcing structure or network that is locked to

  Second, the polygonal shape facilitates connecting the bearing plate to the frame, platform and / or flooring element. For example, a circular isolation bearing plate has only one point (contact) that contacts the surface of a straight edge. Thus, even when the upper and / or lower polygonal bearing plates are not connected to each other, the connection between the frame, platform and / or flooring element and the bearing plate is the outer periphery of the bearing plate (or bearing plate frame). When the straight edge portion of the element is joined to the straight portion of such an element, it becomes even stronger and stiffer.

  Each of these advantages makes manufacturing and assembling a seismic isolation system with a polygonal isolation bearing substantially easier than a system that uses a circular isolation bearing. Due to the straight edges of the isolated bearing plate of the present invention, the seismic isolation system can be designed to fit stronger and more accurately than a seismic isolation system having a circular bearing plate.

  In addition, if the isolation system uses an array of three or more, or four or more, or five or more or six or more isolation bearings having the same or complementary polygonal shape, these bearings are loaded Depending on factors including, but not limited to, payload location, size, mass, and the size and / or shape of the space in which the seismic isolation system is installed. It can be arranged in various ways.

  The polygonal bearing plate of the present invention can be manufactured as a circular bearing plate in which the polygonal “frame” is joined by suitable fasteners (such as welds, screws, bolts, etc.). In another example, the polygon bearing plate can again be manufactured as a polygon, preferably preferably surrounded by a polygon frame.

  Polygonal frames, bearing plates, etc. may have rounded or “rounded” corners without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the term “polygonal” or “polygonal” includes “substantially polygonal”, ie, at least two (preferably at least three) linear faces, and the sum of all curves and angles is 360. It shall be interpreted as intended to be °.

  The use of polygonal bearing plates makes manufacturing and assembly of the seismic isolation system practically easier. For example, a connection such as (but not limited to) a screw or bolt hole or bracket to join the connector component to, for example, a polygonal support plate (s) and / or a frame, flooring or platform element With a standard arrangement of fittings, it can easily be made from metal tubes, flat plates or square iron. These connector component / bearing plate assemblies can thus extend the desired length or width of the isolation system, the length of the connector and the number of bearing plates being at least partly the expected mass of the payload It depends on. In a particular example, each of the opposing sets of polygonal top and bottom bearing plates are connected by and joined to a connector component to form a top and bottom flooring or platform assembly. In addition or alternatively, two or more adjacent polygonal top and / or bottom bearing plates can be joined together to form a rigid and rigid isolation assembly.

  In other possible configurations, the top and / or bottom isolation assembly can be configured without the use of a separate connector component. For example, the polygonal shape of the seismic support plate facilitates the direct joining of one support plate to at least one adjacent support plate, the at least one adjacent support plate further comprising at least one additional Joined to the support plate to form a rigid, mutually stable structure.

  One or more of the bottom bearing plates can also be joined directly or indirectly to the foundation or floor. For example, the one or more bearing plates can be concrete anchors or adhesives that fasten plastics or metals to concrete, such as 3M Scotch-Weld brand urethane, acrylic and epoxy adhesives. Can be used to fasten directly to the foundation.

  One or more of the upper bearing plates are preferably fastened directly or indirectly to the platform or flooring element. For example, the upper bearing plate can be fastened directly to one or more flooring support “tiles” or areas using bolts, screws or other similar fasteners, or the payload, bearing plate Alternatively, it can be joined to a frame that supports the tile.

In one example, the present invention is a polygonal seismic isolation plate,
a) a concave hardened load bearing surface component; and b) a hardened frame component that is sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system in the event of an earthquake. A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to the bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a polygonal shape, such that the frame component is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one linear edge. The structure relates to a polygonal base isolation plate.

  In such systems, the load bearing surface components can be welded or otherwise firmly joined to the outer ring (thus considered to be part of the load bearing surface) Can then be joined to the frame component or directly to the frame component. The frame components are preferably polygonal in shape and are configured to be joined to other bearing plate assemblies or other components of the isolation flooring or platform assembly. In particularly preferred embodiments, the polygonal shape is neither square nor rectangular.

In another example, the present invention is a polygonal seismic isolation assembly comprising:
a) a hardened ball,
b) an upper isolation support plate;
c) arranged between the bottom isolation bearing plate,
Hardened balls,
With
Each of the upper isolation support plate and the lower isolation support plate
i) a concave hardened load bearing surface component; and ii) a hardened frame component that is sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system during an earthquake, the load A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to the bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a polygonal shape, such that the frame component is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one linear edge. The structure relates to a polygonal base-isolated bearing assembly.

  Preferably, one or both frame elements of the top or bottom isolation bearing plate are welded or otherwise joined to their respective load bearing surface components. As noted above, the frame components are preferably polygonal in shape and are structured to be joined to other bearing plate assemblies or other components of the isolation flooring or platform assembly. In particularly preferred embodiments, the polygonal shape is neither square nor rectangular.

  In addition, either or both of the top and bottom isolation bearing plates can be joined directly or indirectly to one or more other isolation bearing plates in substantially the same plane. An example of indirect joining is due to each bearing plate being in substantially the same plane being joined to the same connector component. Another example of indirect joining is by having each bearing plate in substantially the same plane joined to a common flooring or platform component.

In another example, the present invention is a base isolated floor or platform assembly comprising a plurality of polygonal isolation bearing assemblies, each such bearing assembly comprising:
a) a hardened ball,
b) an upper isolation support plate;
c) arranged between the bottom isolation bearing plate,
Hardened balls,
With
Each of the upper isolation support plate and the lower isolation support plate
i) a concave hardened load bearing surface component; and ii) a hardened frame component that is sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system during an earthquake, the load A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to the bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a polygonal shape, such that the frame component is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one linear edge. The structure relates to a base-isolated floor or platform assembly.

For a base-isolated floor or platform assembly, at least two of the plurality of polygonal isolation bearing assemblies are:
i) the upper isolation bearing plate is joined directly or indirectly together, or ii) the bottom isolation bearing plate is joined directly or indirectly together, or iii) both the upper isolation bearings Plates are joined directly or indirectly together, and the bottom isolation bearing plates are joined together directly or indirectly;
It can join by the method selected from the group which consists of.

  The invention will now be described by elaborating specific non-limiting examples.

It is a figure which shows an example of the completed polygonal (octagonal) isolation | separation support plate of this invention. FIG. 2 shows an intermediate stage in the production of the polygonal (octagonal) isolation bearing plate of FIG. 1 showing certain components. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the completed polygonal (octagonal) isolation support plate of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows another example of the completed polygonal (octagonal) isolation | separation support plate of this invention. FIG. 5 shows an intermediate step in the production of the polygonal (octagonal) isolation bearing plate of FIG. 4 showing certain components. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the completed polygonal (octagonal) isolation bearing plate of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the top view of the example of a connector component. FIG. 7B is an end view of the connector component of FIG. 7A. It is a figure which shows the example of the top view of another example of a connector component. FIG. 8B is an end view of the connector component of FIG. 8A. It is a figure which shows the example of the top view of another example of a connector component. FIG. 9B is an end view of the connector component of FIG. 9A. It is a side view of the example of the L-shaped bracket which fixes the support plate of FIG. FIG. 10B is an end view of the bracket of FIG. 10A. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of polygon bearings and connector components in an isolation platform or flooring system. It is a figure which shows another example of arrangement | positioning of the polygonal bearing body in an isolation | separation platform or a flooring system. FIG. 6 shows another example of the arrangement of polygon bearings and connector components in an isolation platform or flooring system. FIG. 6 shows another example of the arrangement of polygon bearings and connector components in an isolation platform or flooring system. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of polygon bearings and connector components in an isolation platform or flooring system.

  The following examples provide details regarding the polygonal bearing plate, various configurations of the isolated bearing assembly, and the structure of the polygonal bearing in a platform or flooring configuration. The present invention is limited only by the claims herein.

  Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an example of a completed polygonal bearing plate of the present invention, while FIG. 2 shows the same bearing plate at an intermediate stage of construction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support plate of FIG. In this example, the load bearing surface component 100 is preferably shaped from metal (such as stainless steel) as a circular symmetrical item having a central area 102 that includes a radius in cross section. See FIG. Surrounding this central area is an annular area that includes a region of constant slope 104. The bearing surface in this example is perforated with a threaded hole 106, if desired, to later secure the bearing plate to the underlying or overlying surface. The load bearing surface 100 is welded to the circular steel band 110 and the flat bottom plate 112. The assembly is then joined, eg, welded, to a frame component 114 that includes a length of hardened material (in this case cold rolled steel (“CRS”)) that is formed into an octagon, eg, by welding. As shown, each face of the frame is perforated and pierced to join, for example, screws or bolts to the frame or connector component or other bearing plate.

  The assembly shown in FIG. 2 includes eight spaces 116 between the steel band 110 and the frame component 114 (looks like a triangle in the two-dimensional top view). Next, a metal filler piece is welded to the assembly to fill the space and the load bearing surface 100 is polished to form the assembly shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of a completed polygonal (in this case octagonal) bearing plate of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows the same bearing plate at an intermediate stage of construction, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross section of the support plate of FIG. The configuration and structure of this example of the support plate are in principle the same as the configuration and structure of the support plate shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The dimensions of the support plate are different, and four connector holes, drilled and drilled, are shown in the central area of the surface of the support plate (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  FIG. 7A shows a top view of a connector component that is joined (eg, by welding) to the length of a steel pipe that is joined into a rectangular structure with two equally sized short end pieces 703. Each end piece 703 is joined to two equally sized longer spacer pieces 701. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various other connector component configurations, for example, all sides can assume the same length connector component. FIG. 7B shows an end view of the same connector component, with two holes 705 for connection to, for example, a polygonal frame component (see, eg, 114 in FIG. 1) that surrounds the bearing plate. The two end pieces of the connector component are perforated and perforated.

  FIG. 8A shows an alternative configuration of a connector component in which a flat plate 801 is used instead of a side piece, and as in FIG. 7A, the spacer piece in this example is a tube, such as a stainless steel tube. Made from. FIG. 8B shows an end view of the connector component assembly shown in FIG. 8A, drilled for connection with the frame components of the support plate as described above.

  FIG. 9A is another example of a connector component. In this example, the spacer piece 901 is shaped from a length of square iron while the end piece 902 is a flat plate as in FIG. 8A. FIG. 9B shows an end view of this connector component assembly, showing the outline of a square iron spacer piece 901.

  FIG. 10A shows a top view of an L-shaped bracket component that connects to a frame component of the bearing plate assembly of FIG. 1, for example. FIG. 10B shows an end view of the same bracket assembly.

  FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of a polygonal bearing plate assembly in an isolation flooring or isolation platform assembly. As can be seen in this example, a pair of octagonal isolation bearing plates 1101 are joined together (eg, bolted) along a shared flat side. Each bearing plate is also joined to the connector component 1103 and at least one surface of the frame 1105 that encloses the flooring or platform assembly. Similar or different structures can be used for the top and bottom bearing plates. The bearing plate can also be joined to the underlying or overlying surface, such as the floor or foundation (in the case of the bottom bearing plate) or the platform or frame (in the case of the upper bearing plate).

  FIG. 12 illustrates another exemplary arrangement of polygonal bearing plates in an isolation flooring or isolation platform assembly. In this example, three pairs of isolation support plates 1201 are joined together (eg, bolted) along a shared flat side, and each of these pairs is not joined together (eg, a bottom support plate). Separated by a single isolated bearing plate 1203 that rests or is joined to the underlying or overlying surface, such as the floor or foundation (or in the case of an upper bearing plate) or platform or frame. It is done. Similar or different structures can be used for the top and bottom bearing plates.

  FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary arrangement of polygonal bearing plates in an isolation flooring or isolation platform assembly. In this example, each of the four polygonal isolation support plates 1301 is joined to two faces of a frame 1303 that encloses the flooring or platform assembly. Each isolation bearing plate is also joined to a connector component 1305. As shown, each connector component is joined to two isolation bearing plates.

  FIG. 14 illustrates another exemplary arrangement of polygonal bearing plates in an isolation flooring or isolation platform assembly. In this example, each of the four polygonal isolation support plates is joined to the two faces of the frame surrounding the flooring or platform assembly and one other isolation support plate. Each isolation bearing plate is also joined to a connector component. As shown, each connector component is joined to two isolation bearing plates.

  FIG. 15 shows another exemplary arrangement of polygonal bearing plates in an isolation flooring or isolation platform assembly. In this example, each of the four polygonal isolation support plates is joined to the two faces of the frame surrounding the flooring or platform assembly and one other isolation support plate. Each isolation bearing plate is also joined to a connector component. As shown, each connector component is joined to two isolation bearing plates. This arrangement is similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 14 except that the connector components are relatively elongated.

  While the above invention has been illustrated and described in detail in other ways for clarity of understanding, modifications, substitutions and rearrangements to the clear description may be made within the scope of the appended claims. It is clear that it is good. For example, the invention described herein can be practiced within or in combination with any other feature, element, method or structure element described herein. In addition, features shown herein as being present in a particular embodiment are not otherwise shown in this patent application in other aspects of the invention, or in a form not present in that particular embodiment. It is intended to be combinable with features that are explicitly excluded from the present invention or described elsewhere in this patent application. Only the language of the claims shall define the present invention. All publications and patent documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each were individually indicated.

Claims (23)

A polygonal seismic isolation plate,
a) a hardened cured load bearing surface component; and b) a hardened frame component that is sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system during an earthquake, the load A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to the bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a non-rectangular polygonal shape that is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one straight edge. Polygonal seismic isolation plate that is structured like   The bearing plate of claim 1, wherein the frame component is welded to the load bearing surface component. The load bearing surface components of the bearing plate are:
i) a combination of linear and curved shapes;
ii) a combination of different linear shapes,
iii) a combination of different curved shapes,
The bearing plate of claim 1, having a cross-sectional profile that includes a shape selected from the group consisting of:   The support plate according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal shape of the frame component is an octagon.   The bearing plate of claim 1, wherein the frame component includes a series of holes for joining to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system. At least one of the components is
i) another isolation bearing plate,
ii) connection components;
iii) the frame element of the isolation platform or flooring system, and iv) the floor or foundation,
The bearing plate according to claim 1, selected from the group consisting of:   The bearing plate of claim 1, wherein the load bearing surface component includes a generally circular shape in a top view.   The bearing plate according to claim 1, wherein the load bearing surface component includes a substantially polygonal shape other than a rectangle in a top view. A polygonal seismic isolation assembly,
a) a hardened ball,
b) located between the top isolation support plate and c) the bottom isolation support plate,
Hardened balls,
With
Each of the top isolation support plate and the bottom isolation support plate
i) a concave hardened load bearing surface component; and ii) a hardened frame component sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system during an earthquake, wherein the load A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to the bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a non-rectangular polygonal shape that is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one straight edge. Polygonal seismic isolation assembly that is structured like   10. A bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least frame components of the upper and lower isolation bearing plates are welded to their respective load bearing surface components.   The bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the frame components of both the upper and lower isolation bearing plates are welded to their respective load bearing surface components. The load bearing surface component of the bearing assembly is:
i) a combination of linear and curved shapes;
ii) a combination of different linear shapes,
iii) a combination of different curved shapes,
The bearing assembly of claim 10, having a cross-sectional profile that includes a shape selected from the group consisting of:   The bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the polygonal shape of the frame component is an octagon.   14. A bearing assembly according to claim 13, wherein the frame component (s) includes a series of holes for joining to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system. At least one of the components is
i) another bearing plate in substantially the same plane,
ii) connection components;
iii) the frame element of the isolation platform or flooring system, and iv) the floor or foundation,
15. A bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bearing assembly is selected from the group consisting of:   The bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the load bearing surface component includes a generally circular shape in a top view.   The bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the load bearing surface component comprises a generally polygonal shape other than rectangular in top view. A base-isolated floor or platform assembly comprising a plurality of polygonal isolation bearing assemblies, each of said bearing assemblies comprising:
a) a hardened ball,
b) a hardened ball placed between the top isolation support plate and c) the bottom isolation support plate;
With
Each of the top isolation support plate and the bottom isolation support plate is
i) a concave hardened load bearing surface component; and ii) a hardened frame component sufficiently strong to support the load bearing surface component during use in an isolated platform or flooring system during an earthquake, comprising: A hardened frame component joined directly or indirectly to a load bearing surface component;
With
In a top view, the frame component includes a non-rectangular polygonal shape that is joined to at least one other component of the isolation platform or flooring system along at least one straight edge. A base-isolated floor or platform assembly that is constructed as described. At least two of the plurality of polygonal isolation bearing assemblies are:
i) the upper isolation bearing plates are joined directly or indirectly together, or ii) the bottom isolation bearing plates are joined directly or indirectly together, or iii) both of the upper isolation bearings Plates are joined directly or indirectly together, and the bottom isolation bearing plates are joined together directly or indirectly;
19. A base isolation floor or platform assembly according to claim 18 joined in a method selected from the group consisting of:   20. A seismic isolation floor or platform assembly according to claim 19, wherein at least two of the bearing plates are joined along a straight edge of each bearing plate.   20. A seismic isolation floor or platform assembly according to claim 19, wherein at least two of the bearing plates are each joined to a connector component along a straight edge of each bearing plate. At least two bearing plates
i) another isolation bearing plate in substantially the same plane,
ii) connection components;
iii) the frame element of the isolation platform or flooring system, and iv) the floor or foundation,
20. The base isolation floor or platform assembly according to claim 19, joined to at least one component selected from the group consisting of: At least two bearing plates
i) another isolation bearing plate in substantially the same plane,
ii) connection components;
iii) the frame element of the isolation platform or flooring system, and iv) the floor or foundation,
The base isolation floor or platform assembly of claim 18, wherein the base isolation floor or platform assembly is joined to at least one component selected from the group consisting of:

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