Displacement amplification method and apparatus for passive energy dissipation in seismic applications
OwnerStefano Bertoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of dissipating inter floor seismic energy within buildings and other large structures which are subject mechanical deformation in response to seismic activity, wind shear, vibration, and so forth. The present invention provides displacement amplification methods and apparatus which increase the dissipation of seismic energy that is coupled from the building under deformation to a seismic damper. By way of example, the displacement amplifier is exemplified in a number of embodiments that utilize mechanical lever arms, gear sets, and combination amplifier/dampers to amplify energy dissipation.
Claims49
An apparatus for placement within the gravity frame of a structure which amplifies inter story structural displacements to increase passive energy dissipation, comprising:
- (a) a reaction frame rigidly coupled to a base level;
- (b) means for amplifying mechanical displacement coupled between said reaction frame and said gravity frame, said means for amplifying mechanical displacement having a mechanical output;
- and
- (c) a damping device coupled to the mechanical output of said means for amplifying displacement;
- (d) said means for amplifying mechanical displacement comprising
- (i) a generally concentric rotating gearset having a first gear connected to a larger second gear;
- (ii) said first gear being coupled to a first linear coupling member subject to the relative linear displacement of the gravity frame in relation to the reaction frame;
- (iii) said second gear coupled to a second linear coupling member which is attached to said damper device.
An apparatus for placement within a gravity frame of a structure which passively dissipates energy from structural displacements of said gravity frame, comprising:
- (a) a reaction frame rigidly coupled to a base level;
- (b) a mechanical displacement amplifier having an input coupled between said reaction frame and said gravity frame;
- and
- (c) a damper assembly coupled to the mechanical output of said displacement amplifier;
- (d) wherein the mechanical displacement amplifier comprises
- (i) a gearset which is substantially concentric and contains gears of different diameters;
- (ii) a first gear within said gearset coupled to a linear coupling member subject to the relative displacement of the gravity frame relation to the position of the reaction frame;
- and
- (iii) a second gear, of larger diameter than said first gear to amplify linear motion received therein, coupled to a linear coupling member which urges movement within said damper assembly.
An apparatus for placement within a gravity frame of a structure which passively dissipates energy from structural displacements of said gravity frame, comprising:
- (a) a reaction frame rigidly coupled to a base level;
- (b) a mechanical displacement amplifier having an input coupled between said reaction frame and said gravity frame;
- and
- (c) a damper assembly coupled to the mechanical output of said displacement amplifier;
- (d) wherein said mechanical displacement amplifier comprises a generally concentric rotating gearset having a first gear attached to a larger second gear;
- (e) wherein said first gear is coupled to a first linear coupling member subject to the relative linear displacement of the gravity frame in relation to the reaction frame;
- and
- (f) wherein said second gear is coupled to a second linear coupling member which is attached to said damper assembly.
A seismic isolator configured for attachment between a rigid structure and a flexible structure to dissipate seismic energy, comprising:
- (a) means for mechanically amplifying movement of said flexible structure in relation to the position of said rigid structure, said means for mechanically amplifying movement having a mechanical output;
- and
- (b) a damper coupled to the mechanical output of said mechanical amplifying means;
- (c) wherein the means for mechanically amplifying movement comprises
- (i) concentric rotating gearset having gears of different diameters;
- (ii) a small diameter first gear within set gearset coupled to a first linear coupling member subject to the motion of the flexible structure in relation to rigid structure;
- and
- (iii) a large diameter second gear which amplifies the motion received by said first clear and couples to a second linear coupling member which is received by said damper to dissipate mechanical energy.
A seismic isolator configured for attachment between a rigid structure and a flexible structure to dissipate seismic energy, comprising:
- (a) means for mechanically amplifying movement of said flexible structure in relation to the position of said rigid structure, said means for mechanically amplifying movement having a mechanical output;
- and
- (b) a damper coupled to the mechanical output of said means for mechanically amplifying movement;
- (c) wherein the means for mechanically amplifying movement comprises
- (i) a generally concentric rotating gearset having a first gear attached to a larger second gear;
- (ii) said first gear being coupled to a first linear coupling member subject to the motion of the flexible structure in relation to the rigid structure;
- (iii) said second gear coupled to a second linear coupling member:
- and
- (iv) said second linear coupling member configured for attachment to said damper.
In a seismic isolator configured for attachment within the frame of a civil structure to direct lateral displacement into a damper mechanism, the improvement comprising;
- an apparatus configured for mechanically amplifying the displacement of the civil structure and directing said amplified displacement into a damper assembly;
- wherein the mechanical amplification apparatus comprises
- (i) a rotating gearset having gears of different diameters;
- (ii) a small diameter gear within said gearset coupled to a linear coupling member subject to the motion of the flexible structure in relation to rigid structure;
- and
- (iii) a large diameter gear within said gearset which amplifies the motion received by said first gear and couples to a linear coupling member which is received by said damper assembly to dissipate mechanical energy.
In a seismic isolator configured for attachment within the frame of a civil structure to direct lateral displacement into a damper mechanism the improvement comprising:
- an apparatus configured for mechanically amplifying the displacement of the civil structure and directing said amplified displacement into a damper assembly;
- the mechanical amplification apparatus comprising:
- (a) a rotating gearset having gears of different diameters;
- (b) a small diameter gear within said gearset coupled to a linear coupling member subject to the motion of a flexible structure in relation to a rigid structure, and
- (c) a large diameter gear within said gearset which amplifies the motion received by said first gear and couples to a linear coupling member which is received by said damper assembly to dissipate mechanical energy;
- wherein the coupling between the gears and the linear coupling members comprise rack and pinion mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.