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US 7,547,142 B2Granted
Self-centering sliding bearing
AssigneeRobinson Seismic IP Limited
InventorsWilliam Henry Robinson, Christopher Ross Gannon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing assembly having upper and lower bearing seats and a sliding load bearing member between the seats. The sliding member is fitted with an elastic self-centering element. The assembly in operation damps relative horizontal movement between the upper and lower seats, the self-centering element returning the sliding member to a centered position at rest. Typically a structure rests upon and is secured to the upper seat and the lower seat rests upon or is fixed to a foundation. The relative horizontal movement may be caused by earthquakes, wind loads or the like.
Claims19
A bearing assembly comprising:
- an upper bearing seat,
- a lower bearing seat, and
- a sliding load bearing member therebetween,
- said sliding load bearing member having an upper surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the upper bearing seat and a lower surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the lower bearing seat such that said sliding load bearing member is slideable relative to said upper and lower bearing seats, friction between said upper surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said upper bearing seat and between said lower surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said lower bearing seat, in use, damping relative horizontal movement between said upper bearing seat and said lower bearing seat,
- said assembly having an elastic self-centering device cooperable with the upper bearing seat, lower bearing seat, and the sliding load bearing member to urge said sliding load bearing member to return to or remain in a centered position, the elastic self-centering device includes two diaphragms, said sliding load bearing member being located at or near or joined to a center of said diaphragms, a periphery of each diaphragm being joined to or adjacent to a periphery of a respective one of said upper and lower bearing seats, the diaphragms being cooperable with said sliding load bearing member and said upper and lower bearing seats to urge said sliding load bearing member to return to or remain in a centered position.
2 more elements
A bearing assembly comprising:
- an upper bearing seat,
- a lower bearing seat, and
- a sliding load bearing member therebetween,
- said sliding load bearing member having an upper surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the upper bearing seat and a lower surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the lower bearing seat such that said sliding load bearing member is slideable relative to said upper and lower bearing seats, friction between said upper surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said upper bearing seat and between said lower surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said lower bearing seat, in use, damping relative horizontal movement between said upper bearing seat and said lower bearing seat,
- said assembly having an elastic self-centering device cooperable with the upper bearing seat, lower bearing seat, and the sliding load bearing member to urge said sliding load bearing member to return to or remain in a centered position, wherein the elastic self-centering device includes two diaphragms, said sliding load bearing member is located at or near or joined to a center of said diaphragms, a periphery of each diaphragm is joined to or adjacent to a periphery of a respective one of said upper and lower bearing seats, the diaphragms being cooperable with said sliding load bearing member and said upper and lower bearing seats to urge said sliding load bearing member to return to or remain in a centered position,
- the elastic self-centering device including a sleeve over an outer periphery of said upper and lower bearing seats and co-operable with said upper and lower bearing seats to urge said seats to return to or remain in a centered position relative to said sliding load bearing member, and said two diaphragms.
3 more elements
A bearing assembly comprising:
- an upper bearing seat,
- a lower bearing seat, and
- a sliding load bearing member therebetween,
- said sliding load bearing member having an upper surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the upper bearing seat and a lower surface in sliding contact with a bearing surface of the lower bearing seat such that said sliding load bearing member is slideable relative to said upper and lower bearing seats, friction between said upper surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said upper bearing seat and between said lower surface of said sliding load bearing member and said bearing surface of said lower bearing seat, in use, damping relative horizontal movement between said upper bearing seat and said lower bearing seat,
- said assembly having an elastic self-centering device cooperable with the upper bearing seat, lower bearing seat, and the sliding load bearing member to urge said sliding load bearing member to return to or remain in a centered position,
- said elastic self-centering device including a sleeve over an outer periphery of and co-operable with said upper and lower bearing seats to urge said seats to return to or remain in a centered position relative to said sliding load bearing member, and a rigid member extending peripherally outwardly from said sliding load bearing member to cooperate with said sleeve to center said sliding load bearing member between said upper and lower seats.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.