Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Means compensating earth-transmitted force – Relative motion means between a structure and its foundation
Patent
1999-02-23
2000-07-11
Stephan, Beth A.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Means compensating earth-transmitted force
Relative motion means between a structure and its foundation
521671, 521674, E04B 198, E04H 902
Patent
active
060854731
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional guiding apparatus, and more particularly to a three-dimensional guiding apparatus suitable for use in a vibration isolator used in a vibration isolating floor structure.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, some buildings have employed a vibration isolating structure specially designed to minimize the effect of seismic vibrations in view of the properties of the seismic vibrations. One such vibration-isolated building incorporates a vibration isolator disposed between the ground and the building for minimizing forces transmitted to the building due to earthquakes.
According to such a vibration isolator, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B of the accompanying drawings, a building 301 is not fixed to a foundation 302, but a plurality of guiding apparatuses 303 for allowing the building 301 to move on the foundation 302 are disposed between the foundation 302 and the building 301. When seismic forces higher than a certain level are applied, the building 301 slides on the guiding apparatuses 303 to prevent the seismic forces from acting on the building 301.
There has been proposed a curved guiding apparatus or a three-dimensional guiding apparatus using steel rollers or balls as the guiding apparatus.
One such guiding apparatus comprises a guide member having a downwardly convex arcuate surface and steel rollers disposed between the guide member and a lower end of a building which is complementary in shape to the guide member (see Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 6-346627). Another guiding apparatus comprises a downwardly convex spherical guide member mounted on a foundation and steel balls disposed between the guide member and a lower end of a building which is complementary in shape to the guide member (see Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 5-24823).
With the vibration isolating structure employing the curved guiding apparatus or the three-dimensional guiding apparatus as described above, when vibrations such as seismic vibrations are not applied, the building is stably held in a steady position on the three-dimensional guiding apparatus or the like. When an earthquake occurs and the ground vibrates, vibrations are isolated between the ground and the building by the three-dimensional guiding apparatus or the like, and no substantial seismic vibrations are transmitted to the building.
After the vibrations of the ground have disappeared, the vibrations of the building attenuates with respect to the ground, and the building is stabilized in the steady position on the three-dimensional guiding apparatus.
The three-dimensional guiding apparatuses which have heretofore been proposed are designed and produced to suit individual buildings. There have not been available any three-dimensional guiding apparatus as component units of the vibration isolating structure having sufficient load-resistant performance and smooth operability for use as guiding apparatus used in vibration isolating structures of vibration-isolated buildings. There has been a demand for such three-dimensional guiding apparatus.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional guiding apparatus which is capable of bearing large loads and can be used in a vibration isolating structure of a vibration-isolated building.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
To achieve the above object, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a three-dimensional guiding apparatus which, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, has a base 23, a first curved guiding apparatus 21 mounted on the base 23 and having an arcuate track, a second curved guiding apparatus 22 disposed above the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and having a plane of movement along an arcuate track which crosses the plane of movement of the first curved guiding apparatus 21, and an intermediate member 24 positioned between the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and the second curved guiding apparatus 22 and interconnecting the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and the second curved guiding appar
REFERENCES:
patent: 5261200 (1993-11-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 5442883 (1995-08-01), Nishimura et al.
patent: 5934029 (1999-08-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 5970666 (1999-10-01), Kurabayashi et al.
Hirokawa Tadashi
Ishikawa Hirokazu
Konomoto Masashi
Suga Yoshikazu
Teramachi Hiroshi
Glessner Brian E.
Stephan Beth A.
THK Co. Ltd.
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