Modular turntable for a building

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising a pair of support wheels mounted on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby;
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• said rotatable floor surface defining a peripheral edge;
• and
• drive means for rotatable driving said assembled panel units about said central vertical axis, said drive means including a drive roller in bearing engagement with said peripheral edge.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units each having a skeletal frame construction including a pair of radially extending support beams at opposite side edges thereof;
• means for interconnecting said panel units in side-by-side array to form a generally circular turntable defining a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• said interconnecting means comprising a plurality of wheel units each for interconnecting an adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, each of said wheel units including a wheel bracket for connection to adjacent radial support beams of said adjacent pair of panel units, and each of said wheel units further including a pair of support wheels carried by said wheel bracket on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units, said adjacent panel units being incapable of disassembly when said wheel unit is connected thereto;
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• and
• drive means for rotatably driving said assembled panel units about said central vertical axis.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally Pie-shaped panel units each having a skeletal frame construction including a pair of radially extending support beams at opposite side edges thereof;
• means for interconnecting said panel units in side-by-side array to form a generally circular turntable defining a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• said interconnecting means comprising a plurality of wheel units each for interconnecting an adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, each of said wheel units including a wheel bracket for connection to adjacent radial support beams of said adjacent pair of panel units, and each of said wheel units further including a pair of support wheels carried by said wheel bracket on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units;
• center bearing means for rotatable supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• and
• drive means for rotatably driving said assembled panel units about said central vertical axis;
• wherein said rotatable floor surface defines a peripheral edge, and further wherein said drive means includes a drive roller in bearing engagement with said peripheral edge.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising at least one wheel unit having a wheel bracket connected to said adjacent pair of said panel units, and a pair of support wheels carried by said wheel bracket on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby, said adjacent pair of panel units being incapable of disassembly when said wheel unit is connected thereto;
• center bearing mans for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• track means defining a elevationally adjustable wheel support surface for rolling support of said support wheels of said wheel units;
• means for connecting said track means to said center bearing means to retain said track support surface in a predetermined position relative to said assembled panel units;
• and
• drive means for rotatably driving said assembled panel units about said central vertical axis.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom alone radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising at least one wheel unit having a wheel bracket connected to said adjacent pair of said panel units, and a pair of support wheels carried by said wheel bracket on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby;
• center bearing means for rotatable supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• track means defining an elevationally adjustable wheel support surface for rolling support of said support wheels of said wheel units;
• means for connecting said track means to said center bearing means to retain said track support surface in a predetermined position relative to said assembled panel units;
• and
• drive means for rotatable driving said assembled panel units about said central vertical axis;
• wherein said rotatable floor surfaces defines a peripheral edge and further wherein said drive means includes a drive roller in bearing engagement with said peripheral edge.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, and wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising a wheel bracket connected to said adjacent pair of panel units, said wheel bracket having at least one support wheel for supporting said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby, said adjacent pair of panel units being incapable of disassembly when said wheel bracket is connected thereto;
• and
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a turntable unit defining an upwardly presented turntable surface area with a peripheral edge, said turntable unit having an underside surface with a plurality of support wheels mounted thereon in a generally annular array;
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the turntable unit for rotation about a central vertical axis;
• and
• seismic tie-down means for preventing substantial vertical upward displacement of said turntable unit at said peripheral edge, relative to the building, said seismic tie-down means being disposed below said upwardly presented turntable surface area.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising a pair of support wheels mounted on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby;
• and
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis and about a vertical column in a building;
• said center bearing means comprising an annular bearing ring connected to said panel units and adapted for mounting about a vertical column in a building, and a circumferential array of bearing means for engaging an outer margin of said bearing ring.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units comprising a pair of support wheels mounted on opposite sides of said radial line of separation for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby;
• and
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis,
• said rotatable floor surface defining a peripheral edge and further including seismic tie-down means disposed below said rotatable floor surface for preventing substantial vertical upward displacement of said assembled panel units at said peripheral edge thereof, relative to the building.

A turntable for installation into a building, comprising:

• a plurality of modular generally pie-shaped panel units adapted for assembly to cooperatively define a rotatable floor surface of generally circular shape, wherein each of said panel units is disposed between an adjacent pair of panel units and separated therefrom along radial lines of separation;
• means for interconnecting each adjacent pair of said panel units along the radial line of separation therebetween, said interconnecting means for each adjacent pair of said panel units permitting flex movement of said adjacent pair of panel units along said radial line of separation therebetween;
• each adjacent pair of said panel units further including at least one wheel unit connected thereto generally along said radial line of separation therebetween for shared load distribution of said adjacent pair of panel units and loads carried thereby;
• and
• center bearing means for rotatably supporting the assembled panel units for rotation about a central vertical axis.