U.S. patent application number 11/186873 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for aseismatic support platform.
This patent application is currently assigned to VIO Creation Technology Inc.. Invention is credited to Kuo-Chun Chang, Chih-Hung Huang, Sen-Nan Lee.
Application Number | 20060048462 11/186873 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35994809 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060048462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chih-Hung ; et
al. |
March 9, 2006 |
Aseismatic support platform
Abstract
The present invention relates to an aseismatic support unit, and
more particularly to an aseismatic support unit capable of being
easily and fitly in-situ assembled to become an aseismatic system.
The aseismatic support unit is mounted between a base and a loaded
article, comprising a lower support member, an upper support member
and a plurality of aseismatic units mounted therebetween. Each of
the aseismatic units includes a lower carry member having an upward
carry surface, an upper carry member having a downward carry
surface and a support roller mounted therebetween. When an
earthquake happens, shakes are transmitted from the base. Then, the
aseismatic support unit of the present invention diminishes the
extent of the shakes of the load article placed over the upper
support member and thus prevent the loaded article from overturn
and damage as a result of the earthquake.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chih-Hung; (Jiali
Township, TW) ; Lee; Sen-Nan; (Yonghe City, TW)
; Chang; Kuo-Chun; (Taipei Ciy, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
VIO Creation Technology
Inc.
Taipei City
TW
National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
35994809 |
Appl. No.: |
11/186873 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/167.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/167.5 |
International
Class: |
E04H 9/02 20060101
E04H009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 3, 2004 |
TW |
093126796 |
Claims
1. An aseismatic support unit mounted between a base and a loaded
article, comprising: a lower support member mounted on said base;
an upper support member mounted above said lower support member to
support said loaded article; and a plurality of aseismatic units
mounted between said lower support member and said upper support
member, each of which comprising: a lower carry member adjacent to
said lower support member, having an upward carry surface on the
top thereof; an upper carry member adjacent to said upper support
member, having a downward carry surface on the bottom thereof, said
downward carry surface being opposite to said upward carry surface;
and a support roller mounted between said downward carry surface
and said upward carry surface, having a side face on the side
thereof; wherein at least one ring element projects from said side
face of said support roller in a perpendicular manner and said side
face contacts with said downward carry surface and said upward
carry surface.
2. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, wherein the profile of
said upward carry surface, viewed along a rolling direction of said
support roller, is a U-shaped curve.
3. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1 wherein the profile of
said downward carry surface, viewed along a rolling direction of
said support roller, is a U-shaped curve, facing downward.
4. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, wherein part of said
downward carry surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said downward carry
surface adjacent thereto.
5. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, wherein part of said
upward carry surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said upward carry
surface adjacent thereto.
6. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, wherein two said ring
members project from two ends of said side face of said support
roller in a perpendicular manner respectively.
7. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of
said support rollers is composed of a plurality of solid spheres
enclosed by a cylindrical shell.
8. The aseismatic support unit of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of dampers disposed in an oblique manner, each of said
dampers being connected to said lower support member and said upper
support member.
9. The aseismatic support unit of claim 8, wherein at least one of
said dampers is a spring.
10. An aseismatic support unit mounted between a base and a loaded
article, comprising: a lower support member mounted on said base;
an upper support member mounted above said lower support member to
support said loaded article; and a plurality of aseismatic units
mounted between said lower support member and said upper support
member, each of which comprising: a lower carry member adjacent to
said lower support member, having an upward carry surface on the
top thereof; an upper carry member adjacent to said upper support
member, having a downward carry surface on the bottom thereof, said
downward carry surface being opposite to said upward carry surface;
and an intermediate board mounted between said upper carry member
and said lower carry member, having an upper support surface and a
lower support surface on the top and bottom thereof respectively; a
first support roller mounted between said upward carry surface of
said lower carry member and said lower support surface of said
intermediate board, having a first side face and a first central
axial line on a first side and the center thereof respectively; a
second support roller mounted between said downward carry surface
of said upper carry member and said upward support surface of
intermediate board, having a second side face and a second central
axial line on a second side and the center thereof respectively;
wherein at least one first ring element projects from said first
side face of said first support roller in a perpendicular manner
and said first side face contacts with said upward carry surface of
said lower carry member and said lower support surface of said
intermediate board; at least one second ring element projects from
said second side face of said second support roller in a
perpendicular manner and said second side face contacts with said
downward carry surface of said upper carry member and said upper
support surface of said intermediate board.
11. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein said first
central axial line of said first support roller is perpendicular to
said second central axial line of said second support roller.
12. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein said
intermediate boards are connected by means of a plurality of
links.
13. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein the profile of
said upward carry surface, viewed along a rolling direction of said
first support roller, is a U-shaped curve.
14. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein the profile of
said downward carry surface, viewed along a rolling direction of
said second support roller, is a U-shaped curve, facing
downward.
15. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein the profile of
said lower support surface, viewed along a rolling direction of
said first support roller, is a U-shaped curve, facing
downward.
16. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein the profile of
said upper support surface, viewed along a rolling direction of
said second support roller, is a U-shaped curve.
17. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein part of said
downward carry surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said downward carry
surface adjacent thereto.
18. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein part of said
upward carry surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said upward carry
other parts of said downward carry surface adjacent thereto.
19. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein part of said
lower support surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said lower support
surface adjacent thereto.
20. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein part of said
upper support surface has a frictional coefficient higher than the
frictional coefficient of the other parts of said upper support
surface adjacent thereto.
21. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein two said first
ring members project from two ends of said first side face of said
first support roller in a perpendicular manner respectively.
22. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein two said
second ring members project from two ends of said second side face
of said second support roller in a perpendicular manner
respectively.
23. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein at least one
of said first support rollers is composed of a plurality of solid
spheres enclosed by a cylindrical shell.
24. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, wherein at least one
of said second support rollers is composed of a plurality of solid
spheres enclosed by a cylindrical shell.
25. The aseismatic support unit of claim 10, further comprising a
plurality of dampers disposed in an oblique manner, each of said
dampers being connected to said lower support member and said upper
support member.
26. The aseismatic support unit of claim 25, wherein at least one
of said dampers is a spring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an aseismatic support unit,
and more particularly to an aseismatic support unit capable of
being easily and fitly in-situ assembled to become an aseismatic
system.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Earthquake disasters occur frequently around the world,
causing tremendous personal injuries and death as well as serious
loss of property that cannot be recovered. Nowadays, the industrial
and commercial communities rely heavily on exchange of a great deal
of data to perform various industrial and commercial activities
either by computer networks or common telecommunication exchanges.
In addition, the infrastructure system for supplying water,
electricity, gas and transportation to meet the basic needs for the
society functions also relies heavily on data by means of the
computer networks or the common telecommunication exchanges to
maintain their operations. Thus, an earthquake causes not only
inconveniences to our lives as a result of damages to civil
constructions such as buildings and bridges, but also abruptly
ceases the activities of the whole society as a result of damages
to the computer networks or the common telecommunication exchanges.
Hence, developments of various aseismatic systems have gradually
attracted the attention of responsible personnel. Industry has kept
investing enormous amounts of capital and human resources in
research in the hope of reducing damage to equipment, facilities
etc, such as computer network servers, telecommunication exchanges,
buildings or bridges necessary for maintaining the basic operations
of the society and so minimize the influences of the earthquake
disasters on our lives.
[0005] Aseismatic systems currently available from the market are
formed independently of the equipment such as the aforesaid
computer network server or the telecommunication exchange to be
protected, instead of being integral with the equipment being
protected. Hence, the aseismatic systems are generally assembled on
the construction site where the equipment to be protected is
mounted, for example, the telecommunication exchange room or the
computer room. However, any of these places (e.g., the computer
room) is limited in space due to being full of other machines
(servers). Thus, difficulty of in-situ installation of the
aseismatic system increases, and also, time for such installation
is prolonged. Furthermore, because the aseismatic systems currently
available are excessively large, the in-situ installation will
generally have drawbacks in the normal operation of the equipment
to be protected; for example, the equipment needs to be powered off
for wire reconnections. Therefore, the clients will worry about
these drawbacks and hesitate to install the aseismatic system.
Consequently, the main target of the researches for the aseismatic
systems in the industry is to reduce the size of the presently
existing aseismatic systems and simplify the process for installing
the aseismatic system.
[0006] A construction unit 10 for forming a conventional aseismatic
system is shown in FIG. 1a, having a lower support member 11, an
upper support member 12 and two aseismatic units 13 respectively
consisting of an upper carry member 14, a lower carry member 15 and
a support roller 16, in which a downward carry surface 141 is of a
V shape in section, facing downward, and two flanges 142 on the
both sides thereof are mounted on the bottom of the upper carry
member 14 while an upward carry surface 151 is of a V shape in
section and two flanges 152 on the both sides thereof are mounted
on the top of the lower carry member 15. In addition, the support
roller 16 contacts with the downward carry surface 141 of the upper
carry member 14 and the upward carry surface 151 of the lower carry
member 15. As shown in FIG. 1b, a conventional aseismatic system 17
formed by welding a plurality of links 18 to two construction units
10 as shown in FIG. 1a is pre-fabricated according to the size of
the base area of equipment (a computer network server or a
telecommunication exchange) to be protected. Then, the whole
aseismatic system 17 is carried to the construction site on which
it is installed beneath the equipment (computer network server or
telecommunication exchange) to be protected.
[0007] When the conventional aseismatic system 17 and the equipment
being protected by the system 17 shake as a result of an
earthquake, the equipment (computer network server or
telecommunication exchange) to be protected and the two
construction units 10 of the aseismatic system 17 will swing back
and forth due to the inertial actions. At the same time, the
support roller 16 of the construction unit 10 rolls back and forth
between the downward carry surface 141 and the upward carry surface
151 to gradually retard the swing of the equipment (computer
network server or telecommunication exchange) being protected.
However, as mentioned in the above, because both the downward carry
surface 141 V-shaped in section, facing downward, and the upward
carry surface 151 V-shaped in section, as provided in the
construction unit 10 are irregular, the support roller 16 keeps
hitting against the irregular downward carry surface 141 V-shaped
in section, facing downward, or the irregular upward carry surface
151 V-shaped in section when the support roller 16 rolls back and
forth between the downward carry surface 141 and the upward carry
surface 151, resulting in an obstructed rolling of the support
roller 16 between the downward carry surface 141 and the upward
carry surface 151. In addition, the strokes will bring about very
noisy sound, and also, chances of overturning the equipment being
protected increase.
[0008] Moreover, the construction unit 10 of the conventional
aseismatic system 17 relies merely on the flanges 142 disposed on
the edges of the downward carry surface 141 and the flanges 152
disposed on the edges of the upward carry surface 151 to define the
rolling range of the support roller 16. Thus, when the support
roller 16 rolls rapidly (when a major earthquake happens), the
support roller 16 of the conventional aseismatic system 17 is very
likely to roll out of the predetermined rolling range and finally
rests on somewhere between the flanges 142 and 152 in an inclined
manner. Then, the aseismatic system 17 will not operate normally
and the equipment mounted above and supposedly being protected by
the aseismatic system 17 will overturn.
[0009] In addition, as stated in the above, the conventional
aseismatic system 17 is composed of two construction units 10 and
the links 18 by welding in the factory in advance. Thus, the
assembled conventional aseismatic system 17 will be noticeably
oversized and heavy to a certain extent. As a result, the
conventional aseismatic system 17 has difficulties in
transportation thereof and complex installing procedures so that
the time for the installation will be prolonged. Furthermore,
because the peripheries of the conventional aseismatic system 17
are all welded, the wires for connecting the equipment to be
protected to external devices must be pulled out for proceeding
with the installation of the aseismatic system 17 and reconnected
for resuming the power after the installation of the conventional
aseismatic system 17 is completed. Therefore, services such as
computer network services will be interrupted due to the
installation of the conventional aseismatic system 17, causing an
inconvenience to the clients and the public.
[0010] Accordingly, there is a dire need for the industry to have
an aseismatic system which can be easily and fitly in-situ
assembled for equipment to be protected without discontinuing the
operation of the equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide an
aseismatic support unit so as to be easily and fitly in-situ
assembled for an equipment to be protected without discontinuing
the operation of the equipment.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
aseismatic support unit so as to reduce the possibility of toppling
over equipment to be protected and increase the quakeproof function
of the aseismatic system.
[0013] To attain the aforesaid object, an aseismatic support unit
according to the present invention is mounted between a base and a
loaded article, comprising a lower support member, an upper support
member and a plurality of aseismatic units mounted between the
lower support member and the upper support member. Each of the
aseismatic units includes a lower carry member having an upward
carry surface, an upper carry member having a downward carry
surface and a support roller mounted between the downward carry
surface and the upward carry surface, in which at least one ring
element projects from a side face of the support roller in a
perpendicular manner, the side face contacting with the downward
carry surface and the upward carry surface.
[0014] To attain the aforesaid object, an aseismatic support unit
according to the present invention is mounted between a base and a
loaded article, comprising a lower support member, an upper support
member and a plurality of aseismatic units mounted between the
lower support member and the upper support member. Each of the
aseismatic units mounted between the lower support member and the
upper support member includes a lower carry member having an upward
carry surface, an upper carry member having a downward carry
surface, an intermediate board which has an upper support surface
and a lower support surface on the top and bottom thereof
respectively and is mounted between the lower carry member and the
upper carry member, a first support roller mounted between the
lower carry member and the intermediate board, and a second support
roller mounted between the upper carry member and the intermediate
board, in which at least one first ring element projects from a
first side face of the first support roller in a perpendicular
manner while at least one second ring element projects from a
second face of the second support roller in a perpendicular manner
so that the first side face contacts with the upward carry surface
of the lower carry member and the lower support surface of the
intermediate board and that the second side face contacts with the
downward carry surface of the upper carry member and the upper
support surface of the intermediate board.
[0015] Accordingly, an aseismatic support unit according to the
present invention is capable of damping shakes transmitting from
ground to equipment (such as a computer network server) to be
protected and reducing the possibility of damage to the equipment
as a result of overturn of the equipment. In addition, an
aseismatic support unit according to the present invention is not
only simply constructed but also designed in module to occupy a
small amount of space. Hence, a plurality of the aseismatic support
units according to the present invention can be easily and fitly
in-situ assembled to become an aseismatic system without disrupting
the normal operation of the equipment to be protected. Further,
because the upward carry surface, the downward carry surface and
the support roller of the respective aseismatic support units
according to the present invention are specifically designed, an
aseismatic system so assembled can reduce the possibility of
toppling over the equipment to be protected and increase the
quakeproof function of the whole aseismatic system.
[0016] The profile of the upward carry surface, viewed along a
rolling direction of the support roller, is not specifically
defined; and preferably is a line, or more preferably is a smooth
curve having an upward opening, and most preferably is a U-shaped
curve. The profile of the downward carry surface, viewed along a
rolling direction of the support roller, is not specifically
defined; and preferably is a line, or more preferably is a smooth
curve having a downward opening, and most preferably is a U-shaped
curve, facing downward. The profile of the lower support surface,
viewed along a rolling direction of the support roller, is not
specifically defined; and preferably is a smooth curve having a
downward opening, or more preferably is a U-shaped curve, facing
downward. The profile of the upper support surface, viewed along a
rolling direction of the support roller, is not specifically
defined; and preferably is a smooth curve having an upward opening,
or more preferably is a U-shaped curve. The frictional coefficient
distributed on the upward carry surface, the downward carry
surface, the lower support surface and the upper support surface of
the present invention is not specifically defined. Preferably, the
frictional coefficient at each center surface is lower than that at
each marginal edge; and more preferably, the frictional coefficient
is gradually increased in a proportional manner from each center
surface to each marginal edge. The aseismatic support units
according to the present invention are arranged without a
particular limitation. Preferably, two aseismatic support units are
assembled by means of a plurality of links to form an aseismatic
system. The assembly of the plurality of links of the present
invention to an aseismatic support unit according to the present
invention is not specifically defined, and preferably is by
welding; or more preferably is by bolting. The ring element
projecting from the support roller of the present invention is
positioned without a particular limitation, and preferably is at
the end of the support roller. The ring element is not specifically
defined in number, and preferably is one ring element, or more
preferably is two ring elements. The support roller of the present
invention is constructed without a particular limitation.
Preferably, the support roller is constructed by a solid cylinder,
or more preferably, a cylindrical shell enclosing a plurality of
solid spheres. The aseismatic support unit of the present invention
reduces shakes in the vertical direction without a particular
limitation; and preferably by means of a soft pad disposed between
the upper support member and the loaded article, or more
preferably, by means of a damper for connecting the upper support
member to the lower support member to absorb shakes in the vertical
direction. The damper of the present invention is positioned
without a particular limitation, and preferably is between the
upper support member and the lower support member in an oblique
manner. The damper of the present invention is not specifically
defined; and preferably is a spring, or more preferably is a
pneumatic damper; and most preferably is a hydraulic damper.
[0017] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1a is an exploded view of a construction unit of a
conventional aseismatic system.
[0019] FIG. 1b is a schematic view of a conventional aseismatic
system.
[0020] FIG. 2a is an exploded view of an aseismatic support unit
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the aseismatic support unit
of FIG. 2a.
[0022] FIG. 3a is an exploded view of an aseismatic support unit
according to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the aseismatic support unit
of FIG. 3a.
[0024] FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A' line of
the aseismatic support unit of FIG. 3b.
[0025] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are schematic views illustrating
modifications of the structure of a support roller according to the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred
embodiment according to the present invention, in which a
decelerator is used to damp both rolling of a support roller and
shakes of equipment to be protected.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a computer network server.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a building.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a bridge.
[0030] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a virtual reality simulation system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, an aseismatic unit 20
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
constituted by a lower support member 21, an upper support member
22 and two aseismatic units 23 each of which includes a lower carry
member 25 having an upward carry surface 24, an upper carry member
27 having a downward carry surface 26 and a support roller 28
disposed between the lower carry member 25 and the upper carry
member 27. The support roller 28 has a side face 281 in contact
with the upward carry surface 24, the downward carry surface 26 and
two ring elements 282 projecting from two ends of the side face 281
respectively to pre-define the rolling range of the support roller
28. In addition, the profile of the downward carry surface 26,
viewed along a rolling direction of the support roller 28, is a
U-shaped curve, facing downward, while the profile of the upward
carry surface 24, viewed along a rolling direction of the support
roller 28, is a U-shaped curve. The two ring elements 282 project
from two ends of the side face 281 of the support roller 28
respectively. Hence, when a shake happens, the support roller 28 of
the aseismatic support unit 20 of the present invention rolls
smoothly within the rolling range prescribed by the two ring
elements 282 and gradually slows down to a stop, as opposed to the
irregular and very noisy rolling back and forth of the conventional
support roller which may even escape from the predetermined rolling
range and finally come to rest in an inclined manner. Thus, the
aseismatic support unit 20 of the present invention is capable of
achieving the object of preventing equipment to be protected from
overturn and damage.
[0032] Referring next to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, in which an exploded
view of an aseismatic support unit according to another preferred
embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3a, a
perspective view of the aseismatic support unit of FIG. 3a is shown
in FIG. 3b, and a cross-sectional view taken along A-A' line of the
aseismatic support unit of FIG. 3b is shown in FIG. 3c.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3a, an aseismatic support unit 30 according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is constituted
by a lower support member 31, an upper support member 32 and two
aseismatic units 33 each of which includes a lower carry member 34
having an upward carry surface 341, an upper carry member 35 having
a downward carry surface 351, an intermediate board 36 mounted
between the lower carry member 34 and the upper carry member 35, a
first support roller 37 mounted between the lower carry member 34
and the intermediate board 36, and a second support roller 38
mounted between the upper carry member 35 and the intermediate
board 36. The intermediate board 36 has an upper support surface
361 and a lower support surface 362. The first support roller 37
has an upward carry surface 341 and a side face 371 in contact with
the lower support surface 362, and two ring elements 372 projecting
from two ends of the side face 371. The second support roller 38
has a downward carry surface 351 and a side face 381 in contact
with the upper support surface 361, two ring elements 382
projecting from two ends of the side face 381.
[0034] As shown in. FIGS. 3a and 3c, because the profiles of the
upward carry surface 341 and the lower support surface 362, viewed
along a rolling direction of the first support roller 37, are a
smooth U-shaped curve and a smooth U-shaped curve, facing downward,
respectively, and the two ring elements 372 project from two ends
of the side face 371 of the first support roller 37, the first
support roller 37 will smoothly roll back and forth along with
shakes caused by an earthquake. Similarly, because the profiles of
the downward carry surface 351 and the upper support surface 361,
viewed along a rolling direction of the second support roller 38,
are a smooth U-shaped curve, facing downward, and a smooth U-shaped
curve, respectively, and two ring elements 382 project from two
ends of the side face 381 of the second support roller 38, the
second support roller 38 will smoothly roll back and forth within
the predetermined rolling range along with shakes caused by the
earthquake. Hence, when shakes caused by the earthquake occur, the
first support roller 37 and the second support roller 38 of the
aseismatic support unit 30 of the present invention roll back and
forth within the rolling ranges prescribed by the ring elements 372
and 382 respectively in a smooth manner and gradually slow down to
a stop, as opposed to the irregular and very noisy rolling back and
forth between the upper carry member and the lower carry member of
the conventional support rollers, which may even escape from the
predetermined rolling range and finally set aside in an inclined
manner, in the conventional aseismatic system. Thus, the aseismatic
support unit 30 of the present invention is also capable of
achieving the object of preventing equipment to be protected from
overturn and damage.
[0035] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are schematic views illustrating
modifications of the structure of a support roller according to the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 4a, a support roller 41 has two
projecting ring elements 411 in positions respectively spaced apart
from the support roller 41, other than at two ends of the support
roller. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4b, a support roller 42
has only a ring element 421 positioned at the center of the support
roller 42. Thus, both the number and the position of the ring
element projecting from the support roller of the present invention
are not specifically defined so long as the rolling range of the
support roller can be predetermined. In addition, as shown in FIG.
4c, a support roller 43 is constituted by a cylindrical shell
enclosing a plurality of solid spheres 433, including two ring
elements 431 projecting from two ends of the support roller 43. The
support roller of the present invention does not have to be solid,
and can be a cylindrical shell enclosing said plurality of solid
spheres, to save materials and manufacturing costs.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred
embodiment according to the present invention, in which a
decelerator is used to damp both rolling of a support roller and
shakes of equipment to be protected. An aseismatic support unit 50
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
constituted by a lower support member 51, an upper support member
52 and an aseismatic unit which includes a lower carry member 54
having an upward carry surface 541, an upper carry member 55 having
a downward carry surface 551, an intermediate board 56 mounted
between the lower carry member 54 and the upper carry member 55, a
first support roller 57 mounted between the lower carry member 54
and the intermediate board 56, and a second support roller 58
mounted between the upper carry member 55 and the intermediate
board 56. The intermediate board 56 has an upper support surface
561 and a lower support surface 562. The first support roller 57
has a side face (not shown) in contact with the upward carry
surface 541 and the lower support surface 562, including two ring
elements 571 projecting from two ends thereof and two buffer
portions 572. The second support roller 58 has a side face (not
shown) in contact with the downward carry surface 551 and the upper
support surface 561, including two ring elements 581 projecting
from two ends thereof and two buffer portions 582. The buffer
portions 572 of the first support roller 57 and the second buffer
portions 582 of the second support roller 58 respectively rub
against the respective side faces of the lower support member 51,
the intermediate board 56 and the upper support member 52 to
gradually reduce the back-and-forth rolling of the first support
roller 57 and the second support roller 58 and shorten the time
that equipment being protected shakes in a diminishing manner. In
this preferred embodiment, the buffer portions 572 and 582 are made
of a braking rubber having an adequate surface friction
coefficient.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system 60
according to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support
unit is applied to a computer network server. When the aseismatic
system 60 of the present invention is installed on the construction
site (computer room), a hoist (not shown) is used to lift equipment
(computer network server 61) to be protected to an adequate level
at the beginning. Then, aseismatic support units 621 and 622 of the
present invention are moved in order to arrive at adequate
positions beneath the computer network server, and also, links 631,
632, 633, 641, 642 and 643 are fixed to the aseismatic support
units 621 and 622 by bolting so that the two aseismatic support
units 621 and 622 are assembled to become the aseismatic system 60.
Finally, the lifted computer network server 61 descends over the
assembled aseismatic system 60 to complete the installation
process. As such, in the process for installing the aseismatic
system of the present invention, the aseismatic support units 621
and 622 are respectively moved to the adequate positions beneath
the lifted computer network server at first and then the plurality
of links are used for the assembly to complete the installing
process. Power lines and other lines (all not shown) of the
computer network server 61 need not be disconnected so that the
computer network server continues operation. In this light, it is
not necessary to have an oversized transporting vehicle and a large
space for installation of the aseismatic system 60. Hence,
difficulty in installing the aseismatic system decreases. Also, the
time causing an influence of the installation process on the
computer network server is shortened. Therefore, the customers will
be more willing to use the aseismatic system.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a building. As shown, after the foundations 73 of a
building are constructed, an aseismatic system 72 composed of
aseismatic support units of the present invention respectively
mounted at predetermined positions for setting up beams of the
building will be made in accordance with the needs. It is noted
that the aseismatic system 72 is assembled without a particular
limitation to two aseismatic support units. Instead, it can be of
only one aseismatic support unit mounted, for example, nearby the
beam on the marginal edge of the foundations, depending on the
needs of the construction site. Then, the main constructions such
as the beams of the building and the whole frame 71 of the building
are established above the installed aseismatic system 72. When an
earthquake happens, shakes are transmitted from the foundations 73
to the frame 71 of the building. Then, the building swings together
with the respective aseismatic systems 72 mounted beneath the beams
of the frame 71 thereof. The kinetic energy of the shakes caused by
the earthquake will be gradually diminished by means of the
respective aseismatic systems 72. The frame 71 of the building will
thus return to the original position without any overturn and
damage. Thus, the aseismatic support unit of the present invention
is capable of protecting the buildings and preventing the people
inside the buildings from being injured as a result of the
earthquake.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an aseismatic system according
to the present invention, in which an aseismatic support unit is
applied to a bridge. A bridge body 81 crosses over a river 85,
having a bridge support structure 82 at two ends of the bridge
body. The bridge support structure 82 is constructed over an
abutment 86 on the two sides of the river 85 by means of an
aseismatic system composed of a plurality of aseismatic support
units 83 according to the present invention. This aseismatic system
includes a plurality of hydraulic dampers 84 for restricting the
range of displacements of the aseismatic system in the vertical and
horizontal directions and further shortening the time that the
aseismatic system shakes. When an earthquake happens, shakes are
transmitted from the abutments 86 to the bridge body 81. Then, the
bridge body 81 swings together with the aseismatic system in
support of the bridge support structure 82 and gradually returns to
the original position of the bridge body without overturn and/or
collapse into the river which may cause a traffic interruption. It
will be noted that the aseismatic system composed of the aseismatic
support units 83 of the present invention can be mounted not only
over the abutments on both sides of the river but also on the
bridge over the river to provide the bridge with the quakeproof
function.
[0040] FIG. 9 is a preferred embodiment of an aseismatic system 92
composed of aseismatic support units according to the present
invention and applied to a virtual reality simulation system 90, in
which a person 91 sits on a seat 93 above the aseismatic system 92
and faces toward a display device 96. A computer device 94 having a
predetermined programs controls not only images displayed in the
display device 96 (e.g., flat panel display) but also the vertical
and horizontal movements of the aseismatic system 92 in accordance
with the image displayed on the display device 96 by means of a
driving device 95 and a transmitting device 951. With such an
arrangement, the person 91 sitting on the seat 93 over the
aseismatic system 92 gets a feeling as if actually driving on the
road in a simulation environment. Hence, by using this virtual
reality simulation system, the cost (e.g., automobile cost) for a
real operation can be saved and the safety of the operation can be
increased.
[0041] Although the present invention has been explained in
relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
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