US 12,674,289 B2Granted

Seismic damping pier foundation system for seismic isolation

AssigneeCover Technologies, Inc.

InventorsCraig Derian, Alexis Xavier Rivas, Gregory Nielsen, Hamahito Hokyo

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Abstract

A foundation system includes: a pier supporting a bottom surface of a structure; a collar on the pier 1defining a first and second cable guide; a thrust bearing on the collar opposite the pier; a thrust plate on the bottom surface of the structure configured to mate with the thrust bearing; a first cable extending through the first cable guide along a first horizontal axis; a second cable extending through the second cable guide along a second horizontal axis; a first spring assembly coupled to the bottom surface of the structure and to the first cable configured to tension the first cable along the first horizontal axis to return the structure to a center position; and a second spring assembly coupled to the bottom surface of the structure, and configured to tension the second cable along the first horizontal axis to return the structure to the center position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A foundation system comprising:

a first pier:
configured to support a bottom surface of a structure;
and
comprising:
a distal end configured to install below a terrestrial frost line;
and
a proximal end configured to extend above the terrestrial frost line;
a first collar:
arranged on the proximal end of the first pier;
defining a first cable guide extending along a first horizontal axis;
and
defining a second cable guide extending along a second horizontal axis orthogonal to the first horizontal axis;
a thrust bearing arranged on the first collar opposite the first pier;
a thrust plate arranged on the bottom surface of the structure;
configured to:
mate with the thrust bearing;
and
transfer a vertical load of the structure onto the first pier via the thrust bearing;
a first cable:
defining a first end coupled to the bottom surface of the structure;
extending along the first horizontal axis;
passing through the first cable guide;
and
defining a second end opposite the first end;
a second cable:
defining a third end coupled to the bottom surface of the structure;
extending along the second horizontal axis;
passing through the second cable guide;
and
defining a fourth end opposite the third end;
a first spring assembly:
coupled to the bottom surface of the structure and to the second end of the first cable;
configured to tension the first cable on the first horizontal axis to resist motion of the structure along the second horizontal axis;
configured to yield to tension in the first cable resulting from motion of the structure along the second horizontal axis from a center position;
and
configured to tension the first cable along the first horizontal axis to return the structure to the center position;
and
a second spring assembly:
coupled to the bottom surface of the structure and to the fourth end of the second cable;
configured to tension the second cable along the second horizontal axis to resist motion of the structure along the first horizontal axis;
configured to yield to tension in the second cable resulting from motion of the structure along first horizontal axis from the center position;
and
configured to tension the second cable along the first horizontal axis to return the structure to the center position.

40 more elements

A system comprising:

a first pier:
configured to support a bottom surface of a structure;
and
comprising:
a distal end configured to install below a terrestrial frost line;
and
a proximal end configured to extend above the terrestrial frost line;
a collar:
arranged on the proximal end of the first pier;
defining a first cable guide extending along a first horizontal axis;
and
defining a second cable guide extending along a second horizontal axis orthogonal to the first horizontal axis;
a thrust bearing arranged on the collar opposite the first pier;
a thrust plate arranged on the bottom surface of the structure;
configured to:
mate with the thrust bearing;
and
transfer a vertical load of the structure onto the first pier via the thrust bearing;
a first cable:
defining a first end coupled to the bottom surface of the structure;
extending along the first horizontal axis;
passing through the first cable guide;
and
defining a second end opposite the first end;
a second cable:
defining a third end coupled to the bottom surface of the structure;
extending along the second horizontal axis;
passing through the second cable guide;
and
defining a fourth end opposite the third end;
a first spring assembly:
coupled to the bottom surface of the structure and to the second end of the first cable;
and
configured to tension the first cable along the first horizontal axis to resist motion of the structure along the second horizontal axis;
and
a second spring assembly:
coupled to the bottom surface of the structure and to the fourth end of the second cable;
and
configured to tension the second cable along the second horizontal axis to resist motion of the structure along the first horizontal axis.

36 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/225,402Filed 24 Jul 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 22 Jul 2022
Published: US 2024/0026617 A125 Jan 2024
Granted: 7 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E01D 19/02
Structural or constructional details of bridges: piers ; Abutments ; Protecting same against drifting ice
E02D 27/34
Foundations for special purposes: foundations for sinking or earthquake territories
E02D 27/35
Foundations for special purposes: foundations formed in frozen ground, e.g. in permafrost soil
E01D
Construction of bridges, elevated roadways or viaducts